Album: Let it Be (1970)

Released in May 1970, Let It Be was the twelfth and final studio album released by The Beatles. Although much of the material had been recorded before Abbey Road, the album became the last Beatles record to reach the public and arrived shortly after the band announced their break-up.

The album was originally conceived as part of the ambitious Get Back project, which aimed to return The Beatles to their musical roots by recording songs with minimal studio effects and capturing the band playing live. The project evolved over time and eventually became both an album and a film documenting the group’s final months together.

Featuring classics such as “Let It Be”, “Get Back”, “Across The Universe”, “I’ve Got A Feeling” and “The Long And Winding Road”, the album showcased the enduring songwriting talents of John Lennon and Paul McCartney while capturing an important moment in the band’s history.

Today, Let It Be remains one of the most significant albums in The Beatles’ catalogue and provides a fascinating insight into the group’s final chapter.

Let It Be was the twelfth and final album released by The Beatles.

When Was Let It Be Recorded?

1969

Most of Let It Be was recorded during January 1969 as part of the Get Back sessions. Unlike previous Beatles albums, the project was designed to document the band rehearsing and performing songs in a more natural and spontaneous way.

The recording sessions took place at Twickenham Film Studios and later at Apple Studios in London. Cameras captured much of the process, allowing fans to see how The Beatles worked together during their final years as a band.

Although the original project was shelved for a period, the recordings were later revisited and prepared for release.

When Was Let It Be Released?

1970

Let It Be was released on 8 May 1970 and quickly became a commercial success.

The album reached number one in several countries and produced some of The Beatles’ most memorable late-period recordings. Its release came at a bittersweet moment for fans, as Paul McCartney had recently announced his departure from the group.

Despite the circumstances surrounding its release, the album became another major success for the band.

Why Is Let It Be Important?

Let It Be occupies a unique place in Beatles history because it documents the final stage of the band’s career.

The album captures a group attempting to reconnect with the direct energy of their earlier recordings while dealing with the pressures of fame, business challenges and changing personal relationships. It provides valuable insight into how The Beatles worked together during their final years and remains an essential part of their story.

For many listeners, the album’s themes of reflection, perseverance and closure give it a particularly emotional significance.

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The Get Back Project

The origins of Let It Be can be traced to the Get Back project of 1969.

Paul McCartney proposed that The Beatles return to live performance and record a new collection of songs without relying heavily on studio experimentation. The idea was to capture the band performing as naturally as possible.

Although the project proved challenging, it generated a large amount of material and ultimately led to the creation of both the Let It Be album and film.

The project gained renewed interest decades later through Peter Jackson’s acclaimed documentary The Beatles: Get Back.

The Rooftop Concert

One of the most famous moments in Beatles history occurred on 30 January 1969 when the band performed on the roof of Apple Corps headquarters in London.

The impromptu concert featured songs including:

• Get Back
• Don’t Let Me Down
• I’ve Got A Feeling
• One After 909

The performance became the band’s final public appearance and has since achieved legendary status among Beatles fans.

Today, it remains one of the most iconic live performances in popular music history.

Phil Spector’s Production

After the original Get Back project stalled, producer Phil Spector was brought in to complete the album.

Spector added orchestral arrangements and production elements to several songs, most notably “The Long And Winding Road”. His approach has divided opinion among Beatles fans for decades, with some appreciating the grander sound and others preferring the simpler original recordings.

The debate eventually led to the release of Let It Be… Naked in 2003, presenting many of the songs in a stripped-back form closer to the band’s original intentions.

Critical Reception

Upon release, Let It Be received generally positive reviews and strong sales, although some critics compared it unfavourably to Abbey Road.

Over time, appreciation for the album has grown considerably. Many listeners now view it as an essential part of The Beatles’ catalogue and an important record documenting the final chapter of the band’s story.

Several songs from the album have become enduring classics and remain among the most popular recordings in The Beatles’ catalogue.

The Legacy of Let It Be

More than fifty years after its release, Let It Be remains one of the most important albums in popular music history.

Its songs continue to inspire musicians and audiences around the world, while the associated film and documentary projects have provided valuable insight into The Beatles’ creative process.

Although it marked the end of the band’s recording career, the album also served as a reminder of the extraordinary song writing and musical talent that made The Beatles one of the most influential groups of all time.

For many listeners, Let It Be serves as both the final chapter of The Beatles’ story and a reminder of the remarkable chemistry that made the band so successful. Despite the challenges surrounding its creation, the album continues to inspire new generations of music fans and remains an essential part of The Beatles’ legacy.

The Let It Be Film

One of the most distinctive aspects of Let It Be was its connection to the 1970 documentary film of the same name. The film offered fans a rare opportunity to see John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr working together in the studio, rehearsing songs and discussing ideas during the final years of the band.

For many years, the film became one of the most talked-about parts of Beatles history because it appeared to show some of the tensions developing within the group. Decades later, Peter Jackson’s The Beatles: Get Back documentary provided additional perspective by presenting a much broader view of the sessions.

Today, both films form an important part of the historical record surrounding the creation of Let It Be.

The Beatles: Get Back Documentary

Interest in Let It Be was renewed in 2021 with the release of The Beatles: Get Back, a documentary series directed by Peter Jackson.

Using restored footage from the original 1969 recording sessions, the series gave fans an unprecedented look at the creative process behind songs such as “Get Back”, “Let It Be” and “The Long And Winding Road”. The documentary received widespread praise and encouraged many listeners to revisit the album.

For younger fans, Get Back provided a fascinating introduction to one of the most significant periods in Beatles history.

Let It Be… Naked

In 2003, Apple Corps released Let It Be… Naked, an alternative version of the album that removed many of Phil Spector’s orchestral additions and presented the recordings in a form closer to the band’s original intentions.

The project was designed to offer listeners a different perspective on the material and has remained popular among Beatles fans who prefer a simpler, more stripped-back sound.

The existence of both versions of the album has ensured that discussions surrounding Let It Be continue many decades after its original release.

Which songs are on the album?

There are 12 songs on the Let It Be album.

You can see the track list below with links to an article for each song for more info.!

Tracklist

1) Side One

1) Two Of Us
2) Dig A Pony
3) Across The Universe
4) I Me Mine
5) Dig It
6) Let It Be
7) Maggie Mae

Side Two

8) I’ve Got A Feeling
9) One After 909
10) The Long And Winding Road
11) For You Blue
12) Get Back

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