Let It Be (album)

Let It Be is the thirteenth official and last album recorded by The Beatles. It was released on 8 May 1970 (three months after the break-up). Most of Let It Be was recorded before Abbey Road, but The Beatles were unhappy with the results and the album was temporarily shelved. Therefore, Let It Be was released after Abbey Road, making it their last album released even though Abbey Road was the last one recorded.

About
While The Beatles were recording Let It Be, they were being filmed at almost all times. The footage would eventually be used for the film of the same name.

Tensions were high in the studio, with George Harrison and Paul McCartney often feuding. John Lennon also brought his partner, Yoko Ono, to many of the sessions, which caused some of the band members to be uncomfortable.

The Beatles performed hundreds of songs during the then-called Get Back sessions. Many of the songs would be included on Abbey Road or were used on the band members' solo albums. The Beatles stopped working on Let It Be when arguments reached an all-time high.

Production
After the disastrous Get Back sessions, the album was shelved for a year until Phil Spector decided to produce it. Using the "Wall of Sound", Spector produced the album in a way different to Glyn John's. The Beatles, and the public were not satisified and called the album a "second class send off."

Paul McCartney later re-released the album as Let It Be... Naked, without Spector's additions.

Tracks
All songs written by Lennon/McCartney, except where noted otherwise.

Side one

 * 1) "Two of Us" – 3:36
 * 2) "Dig a Pony" – 3:54
 * 3) "Across the Universe"– 3:48
 * 4) "I Me Mine" (Harrison) – 2:25
 * 5) "Dig It" (Lennon/McCartney/Harrison/Starkey) – 0:50
 * 6) "Let it Be" – 4:03
 * 7) "Maggie Mae" (trad., arr. Lennon/McCartney/Harrison/Starkey) – 0:40

Side two

 * 1) "I've Got a Feeling" – 3:37
 * 2) "One After 909" – 4:05
 * 3) "The Long and Winding Road" – 3:37
 * 4) "For You Blue" (Harrison) – 2:32
 * 5) "Get Back" – 3:07

Credits

 * George Harrison:Lead and Backing Vocals.Electric and Acoustic Guitars.Sitar and Tambura
 * John Lennon:Lead,Harmony and Backing Vocals.Electric and Acoustic Guitars.Six-String Bass Guitar and Lap-Steel Guitar
 * Paul McCartney:Lead,Harmony and Backing Vocals.Bass and Acoustic Guitars.Piano,Electric Piano,Hammond Organ and Maracas
 * Ringo Starr — Drums,Maracas and Percussion
 * Billy Preston — Electric Piano, Organ
 * Phil Spector — Producer,Shaker and Arrangements
 * George Martin — Producer and Arrangements
 * Uncredited :18 Violins,4 Violas,4 Cellos,Harp,3 Trumpets,3 Trombones,2 Guitarists,Tenor Saxophone and 14 Backing Vocals.

Instruments

 * Fender Telecaster
 * Gibson Les Paul Standard
 * Epiphone 230TD Casino
 * Hofner 500/1
 * Gibson J-160E
 * Martin D-28
 * Fender VI

Trivia

 * When The Beatles broke-up, Paul McCartney filled for a lawsuit for the band's dissolution and the treatment of "The Long and Winding Road" was one of the six reasons for doing the lawsuit.
 * "The Long and Winding Road" remains the only Beatles song to have more than 3 version recorded; (Not counting George Harrison's song "Not Guilty" that was left of The White Album, despite being recorded 102 times) The first version being the 26 January 1969 take with Phil Spector's edits, the second version was the same January 26 take but without Spector's edits that was released on the Anthology 3 album in 1996, and finally the third and final version which was the January 31, 1969 take which was seen in the Let it Be film and later released in 2003 for the Let It Be... Naked album.
 * "I Me Mine" was the final song recorded by The Beatles before their break-up in 1970.
 * "Don't Let Me Down" was released as a double A-side single, but was later included as a track replacing "Dig It" in the Let It Be... Naked album from 2003.