If I remember correctly, wasn't most/all of that recorded and on the shelf before Abbey Road? Then Spector came in and slapped L.i.B. together with his "wall of sound" approach?
You recall correctly, Ghost. Spector effed that album up completely.
The Beatles broke down doors and all who came afterward had the benefit of that. If you are too young too appreciate their music and don't understand why they are icons, remember that their earlier stuff was released:
-when most everyone had a black and white TV and transitor radios;
-no remotes, no cable, no rap, just crewcuts and assembly day
-nuclear excavation drills in school
-World Series games played in broad daylight.
That said, my favorite rock band now is U2.
I just bought Let it Be - Naked, uh, for my wife, yeah, for Christmas.
It will be in her stocking (but before long it'll be in my car)