Likely my favorite of the "Abbey Road" concept cover albums, this is a crisp, tight and funky interpretation of all the classics we know and love, with perfect bubbly organ and bright guitar tone. Booker T and the band actually seem to hold back a bit on most of the numbers, arranging nearly all of the "Abbey Road" songs into three medleys, and one version of Harrison's "Something", really only breaking out the dirty soul for moments of "The End" and "Come Together". And being that this was recorded in 1970, they had to test out some of the new technology and record a Moog for the intro of "Here Comes The Sun". So what makes this any better than the glut of Beatles covers that ran rampant then and now? Well, for one thing, Booker T & the MG's are one of America's most famous "backing bands", and this time, since there's no vocalist to feature, the songs can really stand on their own. No wankery solos or bombast are needed to create attention, this is a soulful and understated interpretation. Steve Cropper can say more with three notes than most can with thirty, and on songs like those found on "Abbey Road", he can say what he means effortlessly, and engagingly. There's a lot of space in between the notes, and when you're as tight as these guys, you get to hear it and appreciate it all. –Cameron
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