Content deleted Content added
m robot Modifying: de:Let It Be (Album) |
|||
Line 1:
{{Short description|1970 studio album by the Beatles}}{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2015}}
{{For|other albums with the same name|Let It Be (disambiguation)#Albums}}
{{Infobox album
| name
| type
| artist = [[the Beatles]]
| cover = The Beatles - Let It Be.png
| alt = A black cover with four square photos of the band members' faces
|
| recorded
*24–31 January 1969
*3, 4, 8 January 1970
*1 April 1970
| studio = [[Apple Studios (recording studio)|Apple]], [[Abbey Road Studios|EMI]] and [[Olympic Sound Studios|Olympic Sound]], London
| venue = [[The Beatles' rooftop concert|Apple Corps rooftop]], London
| genre = *[[Rock music|Rock]]
*[[blues]]<ref name="McCormick/DT" />
| length = {{duration|m=35|s=10}}
| label = [[Apple Records|Apple]]
| producer = [[Phil Spector]]
| prev_title = [[Abbey Road]]
| prev_year = 1969
| next_title = [[The Beatles' Christmas records|The Beatles' Christmas Album]]
| next_year = 1970
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist = [[The Beatles]] [[The Beatles' North American releases|North American]]
| type = studio
| prev_title = [[Hey Jude (Beatles album)|Hey Jude]]
| prev_year = 1970
| title = Let It Be
| year = 1970
| next_title = [[The Beatles' Christmas records|From Then to You]]
| next_year = 1970
}}
{{Singles
| name = Let It Be
| type = studio
| single1 = [[Get Back]]
| single1date = 11 April 1969
| single2 = [[Let It Be (song)|Let It Be]]
| single2date = 6 March 1970
| single3 = [[The Long and Winding Road]]
| single3date = 11 May 1970
}}
}}
'''''Let It Be''''' is the twelfth and final [[studio album]] <!--'twelfth' in a canonical numbering excluding the US compilation album Magical Mystery Tour but including Yellow Submarine and the rest of the EMI 13 "core catalogue" albums,.--> by the English [[Rock music|rock]] band [[the Beatles]]. It was released on 8 May 1970, nearly a month after the official announcement of [[Break-up of the Beatles|the group's public break-up]], in tandem with the [[Let It Be (1970 film)|documentary of the same name]]. Concerned about recent friction within the band, [[Paul McCartney]] had conceived the project as an attempt to reinvigorate the group by returning to simpler [[rock and roll|rock 'n' roll]] configurations.<ref name="Kot"/> Its rehearsals started at [[Twickenham Film Studios]] on 2 January 1969 as part of a planned television documentary showcasing the Beatles' return to live performance.
The filmed rehearsals were marked by ill feeling, leading to [[George Harrison]]'s temporary departure from the group. As a condition of his return, the members reconvened at their own [[Apple Studios (recording studio)|Apple Studio]], and recruited guest keyboardist [[Billy Preston]]. Together, they performed a [[The Beatles' rooftop concert|single public concert on the studio's rooftop]] on 30 January, from which three of the album's tracks were drawn. In April, the Beatles issued the lead single "[[Get Back]]", backed with "[[Don't Let Me Down (Beatles song)|Don't Let Me Down]]", after which engineer [[Glyn Johns]] prepared and submitted mixes of the album, then titled ''Get Back'', which the band rejected. As bootlegs of these mixes circulated widely among fans,<ref name="Kot">{{cite news|last=Kot|first=Greg|author-link=Greg Kot|date=17 November 2003|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2003-11-17-0311180043-story.html|title=Let It Be, Paul|newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]|access-date=6 October 2019|archive-date=6 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191006225019/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2003-11-17-0311180043-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> the project lay in limbo, and the group moved on to the recording of ''[[Abbey Road]]'', released that September.
In January 1970, four months after [[John Lennon]] departed from the band, the remaining Beatles completed "[[Let It Be (song)|Let It Be]]" and recorded "[[I Me Mine]]". The former was issued as the second single from the album with production by [[George Martin]]. When the documentary film was resurrected for a cinema release, as ''Let It Be'', Lennon and Harrison asked American producer [[Phil Spector]] to assemble the accompanying album. Among Spector's choices was to include a 1968 take of "[[Across the Universe]]" and apply orchestral and choral overdubs to "Let It Be", "Across the Universe", "I Me Mine" and "[[The Long and Winding Road]]" – the second retained the [[Psychedelia|psychedelic]] sound marked by the Beatles' earlier album, ''[[Revolver (Beatles album)|Revolver]]'' (1966). His work offended McCartney, particularly in the case of "The Long and Winding Road", which was the third and final single of the album.
''Let It Be'' topped record charts in several countries, including both the UK and the US. However, it was a critical failure at the time, and came to be regarded as one of the most controversial rock albums in history, though retrospective reception has been more positive.<ref name="AM">{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/let-it-be-mw0000192939 |title=The Beatles ''Let It Be'' |last=Unterberger |first=Richie |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=24 September 2014 |archive-date=27 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121027051643/http://www.allmusic.com/album/let-it-be-mw0000192939 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author1=Far Out Staff |title=Ranking the songs of The Beatles' final album 'Let It Be' on the 50th anniversary |url=https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/the-beatles-let-it-be-50th-anniversary-lennon-mccartney-harrison-starr/ |website=Far Out Magazine |date=8 May 2020 |quote=Arguably one of the most controversial albums of all time ... |access-date=3 October 2020 |archive-date=29 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929200211/https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/the-beatles-let-it-be-50th-anniversary-lennon-mccartney-harrison-starr/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2003, McCartney spearheaded ''[[Let It Be... Naked]]'', an alternative version of ''Let It Be'' that removes Spector's embellishments and alters the tracklist. In 2021, [[Let It Be: Special Edition|another remixed and expanded edition of ''Let It Be'']] was released with session highlights and the original 1969 ''Get Back'' mix, coinciding with ''[[The Beatles: Get Back]]'', an eight-hour documentary series covering the January 1969 sessions and rooftop concert.
==Background==
[[The Beatles]] completed the five-month sessions for their [[The Beatles (album)|self-titled double album]] (also known as the "White Album") in mid-October 1968.{{sfn|Lewisohn|2005|p=162}} While the sessions had revealed deep divisions within the group for the first time, leading to [[Ringo Starr]] quitting for three weeks, the band enjoyed the opportunity to re-engage with ensemble playing, as a departure from the psychedelic experimentation that had characterised their recordings since the band's retirement from live performance in August 1966. Before the White Album's release, [[John Lennon]] enthused to music journalist [[Jonathan Cott]] that the Beatles were "coming out of our shell ... kind of saying: remember what it was like to ''play''?"{{sfn|Schaffner|1978|p=113}} [[George Harrison]] welcomed the return to the band's roots, saying that they were aiming "to get as funky as we were in [[the Cavern]]".<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Alan|last=Smith|title=George Is a Rocker Again! (Part 2)|magazine=[[NME]]|date=28 September 1968|page=3}}</ref>
Concerned about the friction over the previous year, [[Paul McCartney]] was eager for the Beatles to perform live again.{{sfn|Sulpy|Schweighardt|1999|p=2}} In early October 1968, he told the press that the band would soon play a live show for subsequent broadcast in a TV special.{{sfn|Miles|2001|p=311}} The following month, [[Apple Corps]] announced that the Beatles had booked [[the Roundhouse]] in north London for 12–23 December and would perform at least one concert during that time.{{sfn|Miles|2001|p=313}} When this plan failed to come to fruition, Denis O'Dell, the head of [[Apple Films]], suggested that the group be filmed rehearsing at [[Twickenham Film Studios]], in preparation for their return to live performance,{{sfn|The Beatles|2021|p=29}} since he had booked studio space there to shoot ''[[The Magic Christian (film)|The Magic Christian]]''.{{sfn|Miles|2001|p=327}}
The initial plan was that the rehearsal footage would be edited into a short TV documentary promoting the main TV special, in which the Beatles would perform a public concert or perhaps two concerts.{{sfn|The Beatles|2021|p=29}}{{sfn|Sulpy|Schweighardt|1999|pp=2, 5}} [[Michael Lindsay-Hogg]] had agreed to direct the project, having worked with the band on some of their promotional films.{{sfn|The Beatles|2021|p=29}} The project's timeline was dictated by Harrison being away in the United States until Christmas and Starr's commitment to begin filming his role in ''The Magic Christian'' in February 1969.<ref name="Irvin/Mojo">{{cite magazine|first=Jim|last=Irvin|title=Get It Better: The Story of ''Let It Be… Naked''|magazine=[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]|date=November 2003}} Available at [https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/get-it-better-the-story-of-ilet-it-be-nakedi Rock's Backpages] (subscription required).</ref> The band intended to perform only new material and were therefore under pressure to finish writing an album's worth of songs.{{sfn|Doggett|2011|p=56}} Although the concert venue was not established when rehearsals began on 2 January,{{sfn|Sulpy|Schweighardt|1999|p=5}} it was decided that the 18th would serve as a potential dress rehearsal day; the 19th and 20th would serve as concert dates.<ref>The Beatles: Get Back| Jackson| 2021| 00:10:40</ref>
==Recording and production==
===Twickenham rehearsals===
{{quote box|quote= It was a disaster. They were still exhausted from the marathon ''[[The Beatles (album)|The Beatles]]'' sessions. Paul bossed George around; George was moody and resentful. John would not even go to the bathroom without Yoko at his side ... The tension was palpable, and it was all being caught on film.{{sfn|Miles|2001|p=327}}|source= – [[Barry Miles]], ''The Beatles Diary''|width=25%|align=right|style=padding:8px;}}
The Twickenham rehearsals quickly disintegrated into what Apple Corps executive [[Peter Brown (music industry)|Peter Brown]] characterised as a "hostile lethargy".<ref>Brown, Peter and Steven Gaines, "The Love You Make: An Insider's Story of the Beatles". {{ISBN|9781440674075}}.</ref> Lennon and his partner [[Yoko Ono]] had descended into [[heroin addiction]] after their arrest on drugs charges in October and Ono's subsequent miscarriage.{{sfn|Doggett|2011|pp=55–56}}{{sfn|O'Gorman|2003|p=72}}{{sfn|Miles|2001|p=321}} Unable to supply his quota of new songs for the project, Lennon maintained an icy distance from his bandmates{{sfn|Doggett|2011|p=59}} and scorned McCartney's ideas.{{sfn|O'Gorman|2003|p=72}} By contrast, Harrison was inspired by his recent stay in the US; there, he enjoyed jamming with musicians in Los Angeles{{sfn|MacDonald|2007|pp=328–29}} and experienced a musical camaraderie and creative freedom with [[Bob Dylan]] and [[the Band]] in [[upstate New York]] that was lacking in the Beatles.{{sfn|Doggett|2011|p=57}}{{sfn|O'Gorman|2003|p=73}} Harrison presented several new songs for consideration at Twickenham, some of which were dismissed by Lennon and McCartney.{{sfn|Doggett|2011|p=59}}{{sfn|O'Gorman|2003|p=73}} McCartney's attempts to focus the band on their objective were construed as overly controlling,{{sfn|MacDonald|2007|p=329}} particularly by Harrison.{{sfn|Doggett|2011|p=59}}
The atmosphere in the film studios, the early start each day, and the intrusive cameras and microphones of Lindsay-Hogg's film crew combined to heighten the Beatles' discontent.{{sfn|O'Gorman|2003|pp=71–72}} When the band rehearsed McCartney's "[[Two of Us (Beatles song)|Two of Us]]" on 6 January, a tense exchange ensued between McCartney and Harrison about the latter's lead guitar part. During lunch on 10 January, Lennon and Harrison had a heated disagreement in which Harrison berated Lennon for his lack of engagement with the project.{{sfn|Miles|2001|p=328}} Harrison was also angry with Lennon for telling a music journalist that the Beatles' Apple organisation was in financial ruin.{{sfn|O'Gorman|2003|p=73}} According to journalist Michael Housego's report in the ''[[Daily Sketch]]'', Harrison and Lennon's exchange descended into violence with the pair allegedly throwing punches at each other.{{sfn|Winn|2009|pp=248–49}} Harrison denied this in a 16 January interview for the ''[[Daily Express]]'', saying: "There was no punch-up. We just fell out."{{sfn|Sulpy|Schweighardt|1999|p=169}}{{refn|group=nb|The film audio tapes from 22 January capture Harrison and Lennon discussing the ''Daily Sketch'' article,{{sfn|Sulpy|Schweighardt|1999|p=206}} which was titled "The End of a Beautiful Friendship?"{{sfn|Winn|2009|p=249}} Lennon was offended by the idea that the Beatles would ever use violence against one another and is heard asking O'Dell whether they can sue Housego for his false reporting.{{sfn|Sulpy|Schweighardt|1999|p=206}}}} After lunch on 10 January, Harrison announced that he was leaving the band and told the others, "See you round the clubs."<ref name="Irvin/Mojo" /> Starr attributed Harrison's exit to McCartney "dominating" him.{{sfn|Miles|2001|p=328}}<ref>{{cite book|first=Peter|last=Doggett|year=2003|chapter=Fight to the Finish|title=[[Mojo (magazine)#Special editions|Mojo Special Limited Edition]]: 1000 Days of Revolution (The Beatles' Final Years – 1 January 1968 to 27 September 1970)|publisher=Emap|___location=London|page=138}}</ref>
===Apple sessions===
During a meeting on 15 January, the band agreed to Harrison's terms for returning to the group: they would abandon the plan to stage a public concert and move from the cavernous soundstage at Twickenham to their [[Apple Studios (recording studio)|Apple Studio]], where they would be filmed recording a new album, using the material they had gathered to that point.<ref name="Irvin/Mojo" />{{sfn|Miles|2001|pp=330, 331}} The band's return to work was delayed by the poor quality of the recording and mixing equipment designed by Lennon's friend [[Magic Alex|"Magic" Alex Mardas]]{{sfn|Miles|2001|p=331}} and installed at Apple Studio, in the basement of the Apple Corps building at 3 [[Savile Row]]. Producer [[George Martin]], who had been only a marginal presence at Twickenham, arranged to borrow two four-track recorders from [[EMI Studios]];{{sfn|The Beatles|2021|p=119}} he and audio engineer [[Glyn Johns]] then prepared the facility for the Beatles' use.{{sfn|Miles|2001|p=331}}
Sessions (and filming) at Apple began on 21 January.{{sfn|Winn|2009|pp=237, 249}} The atmosphere in the band was markedly improved.{{sfn|The Beatles|2021|p=119}} To help achieve this, Harrison invited keyboardist [[Billy Preston]] to participate, after meeting him outside the Apple building on 22 January.{{sfn|Miles|2001|p=331}} Preston contributed to most of the recording and also became an [[Apple Records]] artist.{{sfn|The Beatles|2021|pp=119, 121}} McCartney and Lindsay-Hogg continued to hope for a public concert by the Beatles to cap the project.{{sfn|The Beatles|2021|p=119}}
=== Rooftop concert ===
{{Main|The Beatles' rooftop concert}}
According to Beatles historian [[Mark Lewisohn]], it is uncertain who thought of a rooftop concert, but the idea was conceived just days before the actual event.{{sfn|Lewisohn|2010|p=307}} In Preston's recollection, it was [[John Lennon]] who suggested it.{{sfn|Babiuk|2002|p=240}}
Until the last minute, according to Lindsay-Hogg, the Beatles were still undecided about performing the concert.<ref>In the Q&A session with Peter Jackson before the 30 January 2022 IMAX showing of the rooftop performance, Jackson said it was "about a half hour".</ref> He recalled that on 30 January, they had discussed it and then gone silent, until "John said in the silence, 'Fuck it – let's go do it.{{'"}}{{sfn|The Beatles|2021|p=193}} The four Beatles and Preston arrived on the roof at around 12:30 pm.{{sfn|The Beatles|2021|p=196}} When they began to play, there was confusion nearby among members of the public, many of whom were on their lunch break. As the news of the event spread, crowds began to congregate in the streets and on the flat rooftops of nearby buildings.<ref name="BBC">{{cite news |date=30 January 2008 |title=Beatles rooftop birthday: It's 40 years since the fab four's last ever concert |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/news/20090130_beatles_rooftop.shtml |access-date=12 December 2013 |publisher=BBC}}</ref>
Police officers ascended to the roof just as the Beatles began the second take of "Don't Let Me Down".<ref name="Jackson3">{{Cite web |date=2021-11-26 |title=The Beatles: Get Back Part 3: Days 17–22 |url=https://www.disneyplus.com/video/0a1a935f-d1dd-4514-bb6e-4876c65a9c13 |access-date=2021-11-29 |website=Disney+}}</ref> The concert came to an end with the conclusion of "Get Back".
Recording of the project (and filming) wrapped on 31 January.{{sfn|Sulpy|Schweighardt|1999|pp=311, 313}}
===''Get Back'' mixes===
[[File:beatles_get_back_album_cover.jpg|thumb|Cover of the aborted ''Get Back'' album, mirroring the cover of the band's first album, ''[[Please Please Me]]'']]
In early March, Lennon and McCartney called Johns to Abbey Road and offered him free rein to compile an album from the ''Get Back'' recordings.{{sfn|Lewisohn|2005|p=171}} Johns booked time at [[Olympic Studios]] between 10 March and 28 May to mix the album and completed the final banded master tape on 28 May. Only one track, "One After 909", was taken from the rooftop concert, with "[[I've Got a Feeling]]" and "[[Dig a Pony]]" (then called "All I Want Is You") being studio recordings instead. Johns also favoured earlier, rougher versions of "Two of Us" and "[[The Long and Winding Road]]" over the more polished performances from the final, 31 January session (which were eventually chosen for the ''Let It Be'' film; the ''Let It Be'' album used the 31 January take of "Two of Us" but the same 26 January take of "The Long and Winding Road" that Johns had used). It also included a [[Jam session|jam]] called "Rocker", a brief rendition of [[the Drifters]]' "[[Save the Last Dance for Me]]", Lennon's "[[Don't Let Me Down (Beatles song)|Don't Let Me Down]]" and a four-minute edit of "[[Dig It (Beatles song)|Dig It]]".{{sfn|Lewisohn|2005|p=176}}{{refn|group=nb|In an interview he gave to some American journalists in early May, Lennon described the ''Get Back'' album as "Apple Skyline", referring to Dylan's just-released ''[[Nashville Skyline]]''.{{sfn|Winn|2009|pp=285–86}}}} A tape copy of this acetate would later make its way to the United States, where it was played on radio stations in [[Buffalo, New York|Buffalo]] and [[Boston]] over September 1969.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.collectorsmusicreviews.com/beatles/beatles-the-legendary-22-9-69-get-back-radio-broadcast-godfather-records-gr-412/|title = Beatles – the Legendary 22-9-69 'Get Back' Radio Broadcast (Godfather Records GR 412) – Collectors Music Reviews| date=23 September 2009 }}</ref>
The cover of the proposed album featured a photograph of the Beatles taken by [[Angus McBean]] on 13 May in the interior stairwell at [[EMI]]'s [[Manchester Square]] headquarters.{{sfn|Spizer|2003|p=162}}{{sfn|Womack|2014|p=543}} The photo was intended as an update of the group's ''[[Please Please Me]]'' cover image from 1963 and was particularly favoured by Lennon. The text design and placement similarly mirrored that of the 1963 LP sleeve.{{sfn|Lewisohn|2005|p=176}}{{refn|group=nb|Although discarded for ''Let It Be'', the two contrasting band photos were instead used for the covers of the Beatles' 1973 compilation albums ''[[1962–1966]]'' and ''[[1967–1970]]''.{{sfn|Spizer|2003|pp=162, 228}}{{sfn|Lewisohn|2005|pp=176–77}}}} The sequencing of "One After 909", a Lennon–McCartney composition from the early 1960s, as the opening track furthered the back-to-the-roots aesthetic. The Beatles rejected the album.{{sfn|Schaffner|1978|p=117}}
The ''Get Back'' album was intended for release in July 1969, but its release was pushed back to September to coincide with the planned television special and the theatrical film about the making of the album. In September, the release was pushed back to December, because the Beatles had just recorded ''[[Abbey Road]]'' and wanted to issue that album instead. On 20 September, six days before ''Abbey Road'' was released, Lennon told McCartney, Starr, and business manager [[Allen Klein]] (Harrison was not present) that he "wanted a divorce" from the group.{{sfn|Miles|1997|p=561}} By December, the ''Get Back'' album had been shelved.
On 15 December, the Beatles again approached Johns to compile an album, but this time with the instruction that the songs must match those included in the as yet unreleased ''Get Back'' film. Between 15 December 1969 and 8 January 1970, new mixes were prepared. Johns's new mix omitted "[[Teddy Boy (song)|Teddy Boy]]" as the song did not appear in the film. It added "[[Across the Universe]]" (a [[remix]] of the 1968 studio version, as the January 1969 rehearsals had not been properly recorded) and "[[I Me Mine]]", on which only Harrison, McCartney and Starr performed, as Lennon had already left the band. "I Me Mine" was newly recorded on 3 January 1970, as it appeared in the film since no multi-track recording had yet been made. Johns also rearranged the playlist, moving "[[Let It Be (song)|Let It Be]]" away from "[[The Long and Winding Road]]" onto the first side. The Beatles once again rejected the album.{{sfn|Lewisohn|2005|pp=195, 196}}{{sfn|Doggett|2011|p=112}}
=== Final mixing ===
Producer [[Phil Spector]] was invited by Lennon and Harrison to take on the task of turning the Beatles' abandoned ''Get Back'' recording sessions into a usable album.{{sfn|Hamelman|2009|pp=136–37}} The songs "[[Get Back (Beatles Song)|Get Back]]" and "[[Don't Let Me Down (Beatles song)|Don't Let Me Down]]" had been released on a single in April 1969 and "Let It Be" was the A-side of the band's March 1970 single.{{sfn|Sulpy|Schweighardt|1999|pp=314, 315}} To coincide with the single, the project was renamed ''Let It Be''. [[Let It Be (1970 film)|The film]], now with the new title, was premiered in New York City on 13 May 1970. One week later, UK premieres were held at the [[Liverpool]] Gaumont Cinema and the [[London Pavilion]]. None of the Beatles attended any of the premieres.<ref name="Cross">{{cite book |last=Cross |first=Craig |title=The Beatles: Day-by-Day, Song-by-Song, Record-by-Record |publisher=iUniverse |year=2005 |isbn=0-595-34663-4 |page=306}}</ref>{{listen |filename=Let It Be sample.ogg |title="Let It Be" |description=[[The Beatles]]' "[[Let It Be (song)|Let It Be]]" from ''Let It Be'' |filetype=[[Ogg]]}}
For the soundtrack album, Spector chose three tracks recorded live from the rooftop performance: "I've Got a Feeling", "One After 909" and "Dig a Pony". "Two of Us" was recorded "live in the studio" with the band members playing together in a single take, and without overdubs or splicing. Spector included "[[Dig It (Beatles song)|Dig It]]" and "[[Maggie May (folk song)#The Beatles' version|Maggie Mae]]", which were improvised during the recordings. "Get Back", on the other hand, included only the section recorded on 27 January 1969, without the coda recorded the next day, and cross-faded to the remarks at the end of the rooftop concert.
Seven of the tracks were thereby released in accordance with the original plans for the ''Get Back'' project, whereas the album versions of "[[For You Blue]]", "I Me Mine", "Let It Be" and "The Long and Winding Road" include editing, splicing and/or overdubs. "Don't Let Me Down", recorded live in the studio two days before the rooftop concert, was omitted from the album.{{sfn|Sulpy|Schweighardt|1999|pp=315–16}} "Across the Universe" is an edited version of the original 1968 recording, played back at a slower speed (which lowered the [[Key (music)|key]] from [[D (musical note)|D]] to [[D♭ (musical note)|D♭]]), which had only been rehearsed at Twickenham and not professionally recorded on multi-track tape during the January 1969 sessions.{{sfn|MacDonald|2007|p=277}}
McCartney was dissatisfied with Spector's treatment of some songs, particularly "The Long and Winding Road". McCartney had conceived of the song as a simple piano ballad, but Spector dubbed in orchestral and choral accompaniment. Lennon defended Spector's work in his "[[Lennon Remembers]]" interview for ''[[Rolling Stone]]'', saying, "He was given the shittiest load of badly recorded shit – and with a lousy feeling to it – ever. And he made something out of it. He did a great job. When I heard it, I didn't puke."<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Wenner |first1=Jann S. |title=Lennon Remembers, Part One |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/lennon-remembers-part-one-186693/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=21 January 1971 |access-date=18 April 2020 |archive-date=17 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417094034/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/lennon-remembers-part-one-186693/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
Lennon chose not to credit Johns for his contribution as a producer.{{sfn|Miles|2001|p=374}} When EMI informed Martin that he would not get a production credit because Spector produced the final version, Martin commented, "I produced the original, and what you should do is have a credit saying 'Produced by George Martin, over-produced by Phil Spector'."<ref>{{cite book |last1=Lewis |first1=Michael |last2=Spignesi |first2=Stephen J. |title=100 Best Beatles Songs: A Passionate Fan's Guide |date=10 October 2009 |publisher=Hachette Books |isbn=9781603762656 |page=42 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3R1_REbXry8C&pg=PT42 |language=en |access-date=12 April 2017 |archive-date=13 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170413084507/https://books.google.com/books?id=3R1_REbXry8C&pg=PT42 |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Packaging==
[[File:Letitbebox.jpg|thumb|The original box set packaging of ''Let It Be''. It contained a 160-page booklet with photos and quotes from [[Let It Be (1970 film)|the film]].]]In most countries except the United States,{{sfn|Spizer|2003|p=162}} the ''Let It Be'' LP was originally presented in a box with a full colour book. The book contained photos by [[Ethan Russell]] from the January 1969 filming, dialogue from the film, with all expletives removed at EMI's insistence, and essays by ''Rolling Stone'' writers Jonathan Cott and [[David Dalton (writer)|David Dalton]].{{sfn|Spizer|2003|p=162}}{{sfn|Schaffner|1978|pp=116–17}} Despite the new album title, the book was still titled ''Get Back''.{{sfn|Ingham|2006|p=59}} Its inclusion was another step in the Beatles' efforts to provide increasingly elaborate packaging for their records since ''[[Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band]]''.{{sfn|Spizer|2003|p=162}} The book's lavishness increased production costs by 33 per cent, however,{{sfn|Lewisohn|2005|p=199}} driving the retail price higher than for any previous Beatles album.{{sfn|Woffinden|1981|p=34}}
In the United States, the ''Let It Be'' album was issued in a gatefold cover and was initially distributed by [[United Artists Records]] instead of their usual [[Capitol Records]], with the record using red-tinted Apple labels to reflect this change. (Capitol would acquire United Artists in 1979.) On both sides of the disc, the words "Phil+Ronnie" are inscribed into the inner dead wax.
The LP cover was designed by [[John Kosh]] and includes individual photos of the four band members, again taken by Russell.{{sfn|Womack|2014|p=543}} On the front cover, the photos are set in quadrants on a black surround. The album title appears in white text above the images but, as on ''Abbey Road'' and other Beatles LPs, the cover does not include the band's name.{{sfn|Harris|2003|p=132}} Written by Apple press officer [[Derek Taylor]],{{sfn|Ingham|2006|p=59}} the LP's liner notes described ''Let It Be'' as a "new phase Beatles album", adding that "in come the warmth and the freshness of a live performance; as reproduced for disc by Phil Spector". Martin and Johns were among those listed for "thanks to".{{sfn|Womack|2014|p=543}}
==Critical reception and legacy==
{{Music ratings
| title = Retrospective professional ratings
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1Score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref name="AM" />
| rev2 = ''[[Far Out (website)|Far Out Magazine]]''
| rev2Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite web|title=The Beatles – Let It Be album review|url=https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/the-beatles-let-it-be-album-review/|website=Far Out Magazine|access-date=2024-10-31}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[The A.V. Club]]''
| rev3Score = B−<ref name="Klosterman">{{cite news|last=Klosterman|first=Chuck|author-link=Chuck Klosterman|url=https://www.avclub.com/chuck-klosterman-repeats-the-beatles-1798217828|title=Chuck Klosterman Repeats The Beatles|newspaper=[[The A.V. Club]]|___location=Chicago|date=8 September 2009|access-date=26 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522154556/http://www.avclub.com/articles/chuck-klosterman-repeats-the-beatles%2C32560/|archive-date=22 May 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>
| rev4 = ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''
| rev4Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/review/6561045/beatles-let-it-be-track-by-track-album-review|title=The Beatles' 'Let It Be' at 45: Classic Track-by-Track Album Review|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=8 May 2015|access-date=26 July 2017|last=Partridge|first=Kenneth|archive-date=7 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170707195450/http://www.billboard.com/articles/review/6561045/beatles-let-it-be-track-by-track-album-review|url-status=live}}</ref>
| rev5 = ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]''
| rev5Score = {{Rating|2.5|4}}<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-3852140.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180108175100/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-3852140.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 January 2018|title=Beatle Discs|newspaper=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]|date=26 October 1987|access-date=20 April 2017|last=McLeese|first=Don|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
| rev6 = ''[[Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies|Christgau's Record Guide]]''
| rev6Score = A−<ref>{{cite book|chapter-url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_album.php?id=3483|chapter=The Beatles: Let It Be|access-date=3 October 2015|title=Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the '70s|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|publisher=[[Ticknor and Fields]]|year=1981|isbn=0-89919-026-X|via=robertchristgau.com|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/christgausrecord00robe_1}}</ref>
| rev7 = ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]''
| rev7Score = {{Rating|2|5}}<ref name="McCormick/DT">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/the-beatles/6139196/The-Beatles-Let-It-Be-8th-May-1970-review.html|title=The Beatles – Let It Be (8th May, 1970), review|newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|date=8 September 2009|access-date=11 December 2021|last=McCormick|first=Neil|archive-date=16 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170516073426/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/the-beatles/6139196/The-Beatles-Let-It-Be-8th-May-1970-review.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
| rev8 = ''[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]''
| rev8Score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>{{cite book|last=Larkin|first=Colin|author-link=Colin Larkin (writer)|year=2006|publisher=[[Muze]]|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]|volume=1|page=489|isbn=0195313739}}</ref>
| rev9 = ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]''
| rev9score = 9.1/10<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/13430-let-it-be/|title=The Beatles: Let It Be|work=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|date=10 September 2009|access-date=3 October 2015|last=Richardson|first=Mark|archive-date=6 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151006211353/http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/13430-let-it-be/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| rev10 = ''[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide]]''
| rev10Score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>{{cite book|chapter=The Beatles|last=Sheffield|first=Rob|author-link=Rob Sheffield|title=[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide|The New Rolling Stone Album Guide]]|publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]]|edition=4th|year=2004|editor1-last=Brackett|editor1-first=Nathan|editor2-last=Hoard|editor2-first=Christian|isbn=0-7432-0169-8|pages=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/51 51–54]}}</ref>
| rev11 = ''[[Sputnikmusic]]''
| rev11Score = 4/5<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sputnikmusic.com/review/31609/The-Beatles-Let-It-Be/|title=The Beatles – Let It Be (album review 2) – Sputnikmusic|work=sputnikmusic.com|access-date=3 October 2015|archive-date=7 August 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130807193654/http://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/31609/The-Beatles-Let-It-Be/|url-status=live}}</ref>
}}
''Let It Be'' topped album charts in both the US and the UK, and the "Let It Be" single and "The Long and Winding Road" also reached number one in the US. Despite its commercial success, according to ''Beatles Diary'' author Keith Badman, "reviews [were] not good".<ref>{{cite book|last=Badman|first=Keith|title=The Beatles Diary Volume 2: After the Break-Up 1970–2001|publisher= Omnibus Press|___location=London|year=2001|isbn=978-0-7119-8307-6|page=9}}</ref> ''[[NME]]'' critic Alan Smith wrote: "If the new Beatles' soundtrack is to be their last then it will stand as a cheapskate epitaph, a cardboard tombstone, a sad and tatty end to a musical fusion which wiped clean and drew again the face of pop."<ref>{{cite news|last=Smith|first=Alan|title=The Beatles: ''Let It Be'' (Apple)|work=[[NME]]|date=9 May 1970|page=2}} Available at [http://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/the-beatles-let-it-be-apple Rock's Backpages] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907083941/http://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/the-beatles-let-it-be-apple |date=7 September 2015 }} (subscription required).</ref> Smith added that the album showed "contempt for the intelligence of today's record-buyer" and that the Beatles had "sold out all the principles for which they ever stood".{{sfn|Doggett|2011|p=137}} Reviewing for ''Rolling Stone'', [[John Mendelsohn (musician)|John Mendelsohn]] was also critical of the album, citing Spector's production embellishments as a weakness: "Musically, boys, you passed the audition. In terms of having the judgment to avoid either over-producing yourselves or casting the fate of your get-back statement to the most notorious of all over-producers, you didn't."<ref name="rollingstone.com">{{cite magazine|last=Mendelsohn|first=John|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/let-it-be-19700611|title=The Beatles Let It Be Album Review|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=11 June 1970|access-date=25 March 2015|archive-date=17 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171017094329/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/let-it-be-19700611|url-status=live}}</ref>
John Gabree of ''[[High Fidelity (magazine)|High Fidelity]]'' magazine found the album "not nearly as bad as the movie" and "positively wonderful" relative to the recent solo releases by McCartney and Starr. Gabree admired "Let It Be", "Get Back" and "Two of Us", but derided "The Long and Winding Road" and "Across the Universe", the last of which he described as "bloated and self-satisfied – the kind of song we've come to expect from these rich, privileged prototeenagers".<ref>{{cite magazine|first=John|last=Gabree|title= Review: The Beatles ''Let It Be''; Paul McCartney ''McCartney''; Ringo Starr ''Sentimental Journey''|magazine=[[High Fidelity (magazine)|High Fidelity]]|date=August 1970|page=110}}</ref> While questioning whether the Beatles' split would remain permanent, [[William Mann (critic)|William Mann]] of ''[[The Times]]'' described ''Let It Be'' as "Not a breakthrough record, unless for the predominance of informal, unedited live takes; but definitely a record to give lasting pleasure. They aren't having to scrape the barrel yet."<ref name="Harris/CanUDigIt" /> In his review for ''[[The Sunday Times]]'', [[Derek Jewell]] deemed the album to be "a last will and testament, from the blackly funereal packaging to the music itself, which sums up so much of what The Beatles as artists have been – unmatchably brilliant at their best, careless and self-indulgent at their least."<ref name="Harris/CanUDigIt">{{cite book|first=John|last=Harris|chapter=Let It Be: Can You Dig It?|title=[[Mojo (magazine)#Special editions|Mojo Special Limited Edition]]: 1000 Days of Revolution (The Beatles' Final Years – 1 January 1968 to 27 September 1970)|publisher=Emap|___location=London|year=2003|page=132}}</ref>
In a retrospective review, [[Richie Unterberger]] of [[AllMusic]] described ''Let It Be'' as the "only Beatles album to occasion negative, even hostile reviews", but felt that it was "on the whole underrated". He singles out "some good moments of straight hard rock in 'I've Got a Feeling' and 'Dig a Pony'", and praises "Let It Be", "Get Back" and "the folky 'Two of Us'".<ref name="AM" /> Reviewing for ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' in 2009, [[Neil McCormick]] described ''Let It Be'' as a "slightly sad postscript", adding, "there are still monster tunes here by anyone else's standards, but it lacks sonic clarity, and is peppered with under-developed, sub-standard blues."<ref name="McCormick/DT" />
''Let It Be'' was ranked number 86 in ''Rolling Stone''{{'}}s list of the [[Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time|500 Greatest Albums of All Time]] in 2003,<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/6598123/86_let_it_be |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060316134717/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/6598123/86_let_it_be/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 March 2006 |title=The RS 500 Greatest Albums of All Time |date=18 November 2003 |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=10 December 2007}}</ref> number 392 in the 2012 version,<ref>Wenner, Jann S., ed. (2012). Rolling Stone – Special Collectors Issue – The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. USA: Wenner Media Specials. {{ISBN|978-7-09-893419-6}}</ref> and number 342 in the 2020 edition.<ref>{{Cite magazine|date=22 September 2020|title=The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-albums-of-all-time-1062063/|access-date=10 July 2021|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US|archive-date=22 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922163403/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-albums-of-all-time-1062063/|url-status=live}}</ref>
It was voted number 890 in the third edition of [[Colin Larkin]]'s ''[[All Time Top 1000 Albums]]'' (2000).<ref name="Larkin">{{cite book|title=[[All Time Top 1000 Albums]]|first=Colin|last=Larkin|author-link=Colin Larkin|publisher=[[Virgin Books]]|date=2006|edition=3rd|isbn=0-7535-0493-6|page=273}}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], the 50th Anniversary multi-disc Super Deluxe Edition of the album holds a score of 91 out of 100, based on seven professional reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".<ref name="Metacritic">{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/let-it-be-2021-mix-super-deluxe-edition-box-set/the-beatles |title=Let It Be [2021 Mix – Super Deluxe Edition]|publisher=[[Metacritic]]|access-date=21 October 2021}}</ref>
In 1971, ''Let It Be'' won the [[Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media|Grammy Award for the Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Special]].{{sfn|Schaffner|1978|p=216}} It was also one of the nominations for the [[Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals|Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus]].{{sfn|Womack|2014|p=544}} Despite his objections to Spector's embellishments and the expensive packaging, including the "blatant hype" printed on the LP's back cover,{{sfn|Lewisohn|2005|p=199}} McCartney personally accepted the band's award.{{sfn|Schaffner|1978|p=138}}{{refn|group=nb|McCartney later said that when preparing the ''Let It Be'' album for release in 1970, they all knew that the Beatles were no more and, with regard to the sleeve's "new phase" claim, "nothing was further from the truth." He added that Klein had arranged for the album to be "reproduced" because he did not find it sufficiently commercial.{{sfn|Womack|2014|pp=543–44}}}} That same year, the Beatles won the [[Academy Award]] for the [[Academy Award for Best Original Music Score#1970s|Best Original Song Score]] for the songs in the film.<ref>{{cite web |title=The 43rd Academy Awards, 1971 |url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1971 |website=Oscars |date=4 October 2014 |publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences |access-date=17 April 2017 |language=en |archive-date=2 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402003910/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1971 |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 1988, the Slovenian band [[Laibach]] released a [[martial industrial]] version of the album, also titled ''[[Let It Be (Laibach album)|Let It Be]]''.{{sfn|Miles|2001|p=381}} Beatles author [[Kenneth Womack]] comments on Laibach's notable exclusion of the title track and describes the album as "military style interpretations and choral pieces".{{sfn|Womack|2014|p=544}} For the magazine's October 2010 issue, ''[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]'' released ''Let It Be Revisited'',{{sfn|Womack|2014|p=544}} a CD containing interpretations of the songs by acts such as [[Beth Orton]], [[Phosphorescent (band)|Phosphorescent]], [[Judy Collins]], [[Wilko Johnson]], [[the Besnard Lakes]], [[John Grant (musician)|John Grant]] and [[the Jim Jones Revue]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Mojo 203 / October 2010|url=http://www.mojo4music.com/1889/mojo-issue-203-october-2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160830143957/http://www.mojo4music.com/1889/mojo-issue-203-october-2010|archive-date=30 August 2016|publisher=[[Mojo (magazine)|mojo4music.com]]|access-date=11 December 2021}}</ref>
==Reissues==
In 1976, the United Artists release of the ''Let It Be'' album went out of print in America until 1979, when United Artists Records was acquired by Capitol Records. ''Let It Be'' was reissued on the Capitol label, catalogue number SW 11922; during this three year hiatus, many counterfeit copies of the LP appeared on the market in the US.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_pSQEAAAAMBAJ |title=Billboard – |via=[[Internet Archive]] |date=6 November 1976 |publisher=Nielsen Business Media |access-date=21 August 2011}}</ref>
===''Let It Be... Naked''===
{{Main|Let It Be... Naked}}
Paul McCartney, long unhappy with the original Phil Spector produced ''Let It Be'' LP, initiated a remix of the album, titled ''[[Let It Be... Naked]]'' which was released in 2003. The album was presented as an alternative attempt to capture the original artistic vision of the project, to "get back" to the rock and roll sound of the band's early years. The album features alternate takes, edits, and mixes of the songs, mainly removing elements added by Spector. The album omits the group chatter, "Maggie Mae" and "Dig It", and adds a live rooftop performance of "Don't Let Me Down", a song omitted from the original album and issued as the B side of the "Get Back" single in 1969.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Naked Truth About The Beatles' Let It BeNaked [sic] |url=http://mixonline.com/recording/interviews/audio_naked_truth_beatles/ |last=Hurwitz |first=Matt |publisher=[[Mix (magazine)|Mix]] magazine/ [[Penton Media|Penton Media, Inc]] |date=1 January 2004 |access-date=21 February 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100131010312/http://mixonline.com/recording/interviews/audio_naked_truth_beatles/ |archive-date=31 January 2010}}.{{cite web |url=http://www.mixonline.com/recording/interviews/audio_naked_truth_beatles/ |title=The Naked Truth About the Beatles' Let It BeNaked |access-date=7 July 2015 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040607023829/http://www.mixonline.com/recording/interviews/audio_naked_truth_beatles/ |archive-date=7 June 2004 }}</ref>
===Deluxe editions===
{{Main|Let It Be: Special Edition}}
In November 2021, ''[[The Beatles: Get Back]]'', a new documentary directed by [[Peter Jackson]] using footage captured for the ''Let It Be'' film, was released on [[Disney+]] as a three-part [[miniseries]].<ref>{{Cite web|title='The Beatles: Get Back', a Disney+ Original Documentary Series Directed by Peter Jackson, to Debut Exclusively on Disney+|url=https://www.thebeatles.com/news/%E2%80%9C-beatles-get-back%E2%80%9D-disney-original-documentary-series-directed-peter-jackson-debut-exclusively|access-date=7 July 2021|website=The Beatles|language=en|archive-date=17 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210617142958/https://www.thebeatles.com/news/%E2%80%9C-beatles-get-back%E2%80%9D-disney-original-documentary-series-directed-peter-jackson-debut-exclusively|url-status=live}}</ref> It was originally going to be theatrically released in 2020 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the ''Let It Be'' album, but was delayed to November 2021 and moved to Disney+. A book also titled ''The Beatles: Get Back'' was released in October 2021, ahead of the documentary.<ref>{{cite web|date=13 August 2021|title=The Beatles Expanded Let It Be/Get Back Release Is Due In October|url=https://www.noise11.com/news/the-beatles-expanded-let-it-be-get-back-release-is-due-in-october-20210813|access-date=26 August 2021|publisher=noise11.com|archive-date=15 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211015165755/https://www.noise11.com/news/the-beatles-expanded-let-it-be-get-back-release-is-due-in-october-20210813|url-status=live}}</ref>
A [[Let It Be: Special Edition|super deluxe version]] of the album was released on 15 October 2021.
==Track listing==
===Original release===
All songs written by [[Lennon–McCartney]], except where noted. Lead vocals according to [[Ian MacDonald]].{{sfn|MacDonald|2007|pp=276, 328–341, 367}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Side one
| all_writing =
| extra_column = Lead vocals
| title1 = [[Two of Us (Beatles song)|Two of Us]]
| writer1 =
| extra1 = McCartney and Lennon
| length1 = 3:36
| title2 = [[Dig a Pony]]
| writer2 =
| extra2 = Lennon
| length2 = 3:54
| title3 = [[Across the Universe#Let It Be version|Across the Universe]]
| writer3 =
| extra3 = Lennon
| length3 = 3:48
| title4 = [[I Me Mine]]
| note4 = [[George Harrison]]
| extra4 = Harrison
| length4 = 2:26
| title5 = [[Dig It (Beatles song)|Dig It]]
| note5 = Lennon, McCartney, Harrison, [[Ringo Starr|Richard Starkey]]
| extra5 = Lennon
| length5 = 0:50
| title6 = [[Let It Be (song)#Album version|Let It Be]]
| writer6 =
| extra6 = McCartney
| length6 = 4:03
| title7 = [[Maggie May (folk song)#The Beatles' version|Maggie Mae]]
| note7 = traditional; arranged by Lennon, McCartney, Harrison, Starkey
| extra7 = Lennon and McCartney
| length7 = 0:40
| total_length = 19:17
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Side two
| extra_column = Lead vocals
| title1 = [[I've Got a Feeling]]
| writer1 =
| extra1 = McCartney and Lennon
| length1 = 3:37
| title2 = [[One After 909]]
| writer2 =
| extra2 = Lennon with McCartney
| length2 = 2:54
| title3 = [[The Long and Winding Road]]
| writer3 =
| extra3 = McCartney
| length3 = 3:38
| title4 = [[For You Blue]]
| note4 = Harrison
| extra4 = Harrison
| length4 = 2:32
| title5 = [[Get Back#Let It Be version|Get Back]]
| writer5 =
| extra5 = McCartney
| length5 = 3:09
| total_length = 15:50
35:10
}}
===Rejected Glyn Johns versions===
According to [[Mark Lewisohn]]:{{sfn|Lewisohn|2005|pp=176, 196}}
{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}
'''''Get Back'' version one (May 1969)'''
'''Side one'''
#"One After 909"
#"Rocker / [[Save the Last Dance for Me]]" <small>([[Doc Pomus]], [[Mort Shuman]])</small>
#"[[Don't Let Me Down (Beatles song)|Don't Let Me Down]]"
#"Dig a Pony"
#"I've Got a Feeling"
#"Get Back"
'''Side two'''
#"For You Blue"
#"[[Teddy Boy (song)|Teddy Boy]]"
#"
#"
#"
#"
#"
#"Get Back (
{{col-break}}
'''''Get Back'' version two (January 1970)'''
'''Side
#"One After 909"
#"Rocker / Save the Last Dance for Me" <small>(Pomus, Shuman)</small>
#"Don't Let Me Down"
#"Dig
#"I've Got
#"
#"Let It Be"
'''Side two'''
#"For You Blue"
#"Two
#"Maggie Mae"
#"Dig It"
#"The Long
#"I Me Mine"
#"
#"Get Back (
{{col-end}}
==Personnel==
'''The Beatles'''
* [[John Lennon]] – lead and backing vocals, rhythm guitar, lead guitar on "Get Back", [[lap steel guitar]] on "For You Blue", acoustic guitar on "Two of Us", "Across the Universe" and "Maggie Mae", [[Fender Bass VI|six-string bass guitar]] on "Dig It" and "The Long and Winding Road", whistling on "Two of Us"
* [[Paul McCartney]] – lead and backing vocals, bass guitar, acoustic guitar on "Two of Us" and "Maggie Mae", piano on "Dig It", "Across the Universe", "Let It Be", "The Long and Winding Road", and "For You Blue", [[Hammond organ]] on "I Me Mine", [[electric piano]] on "I Me Mine" and "Let It Be", [[maraca]]s on "Let It Be"
* [[George Harrison]] – lead and rhythm guitars, acoustic guitar on "For You Blue" and "I Me Mine", [[Tanpura|tambura]] on "Across the Universe", lead vocals on "I Me Mine" and "For You Blue", backing vocals
* [[Ringo Starr]] – drums, maracas on "Across the Universe"
'''Additional musicians'''
* [[Richard Anthony Hewson]] – [[String instrument|string]] and [[Brass instrument|brass]] arrangements on "I Me Mine" and "The Long and Winding Road"
* [[John Barham]] – [[choir|choral]] arrangements on "Across the Universe", "I Me Mine" and "The Long and Winding Road"
* [[George Martin]] – [[Shaker (musical instrument)|shaker]] on "Dig It", string and brass arrangements on "Let It Be", production
* [[Linda McCartney]] – backing vocals on "Let It Be"
* [[Billy Preston]] – electric piano on "Dig a Pony", "I've Got a Feeling", "One After 909", "The Long and Winding Road" and "Get Back", Hammond organ on "Dig It" and "Let It Be"
* Brian Rogers – string and brass arrangements on "Across the Universe"
'''Production'''
* [[Glyn Johns]] – [[audio engineer]]ing, [[Audio mixing (recorded music)|mixing]]
* [[Alan Parsons]] – assistant engineer
* George Martin – producer, original mixing (uncredited)
* [[Phil Spector]] – credited as producer (final overdubs), final mixing
==Charts==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
'''Weekly charts'''
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
!Chart (1970–71)
!Peak<br/>position
|-
|align="left"|[[Kent Music Report|Australian Kent Music Report Chart]]<ref name="auchart">{{Cite book|title=[[Kent Music Report|Australian Chart Book 1970–1992]]|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|publisher=Australian Chart Book|___location=[[St Ives, New South Wales|St Ives, NSW]]|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6}}</ref>
|1
|-
|align="left"|Canadian ''[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]'' [[Canadian Albums Chart|Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.3809&volume=13&issue=22&issue_dt=July%2018%201970&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=m89iq841abagb37ld9c0fdc1f3|title=RPM – Library and Archives Canada|magazine=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]|access-date=12 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011044748/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.3809&volume=13&issue=22&issue_dt=July%2018%201970&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=m89iq841abagb37ld9c0fdc1f3|archive-date=11 October 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|1
|-
|align="left"|[[MegaCharts|Dutch Mega Albums Chart]]<ref name="nlchart">{{cite web|title=dutchcharts.nl The Beatles – Let It Be|publisher=[[MegaCharts]]|url=http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=The+Beatles&titel=Let+It+Be&cat=a|language=nl|work=Hung Medien, dutchcharts.nl|access-date=12 October 2012|format=ASP|archive-date=11 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111101547/http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=The+Beatles&titel=Let+It+Be&cat=a|url-status=live}}</ref>
|1
|-
|align="left"|Finland ([[Suomen virallinen lista]])<ref name=Finland>{{cite book|first=Jake|last=Nyman|year=2005|title=Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja|edition=1st|publisher=Tammi|___location=Helsinki|isbn=951-31-2503-3|language=fi}}</ref>
|align="center"|4
|-
|align="left"|Italian Albums (''[[Musica e dischi]]'')<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicaedischi.it/classifiche_archivio.php|title=Classifiche|work=[[Musica e dischi]]|language=it|access-date=31 May 2022}} Set "Tipo" on "Album". Then, with "Beatles" in "Artista" and "Let it be" in "Titolo", click "cerca".</ref>
| 1
|-
|align="left"|[[Oricon|Japanese Oricon LP Chart]]<ref name="Jachart1">{{cite web|url=http://www7a.biglobe.ne.jp/~yamag/album2409/al_beatles.html |title=Yamachan Land (Japanese Chart Archives) - Albums Chart Daijiten > The Beatles |publisher=[[Original Confidence]] |language=ja |access-date=12 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121219134135/http://www7a.biglobe.ne.jp/~yamag/album2409/al_beatles.html |archive-date=19 December 2012 }}</ref>
|2
|-
|align="left"|Norwegian [[VG-lista]] Albums Chart<ref name="norchart">{{cite web| title =norwegiancharts.com The Beatles – Let It Be| url =http://norwegiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=The+Beatles&titel=Let+It+Be&cat=a| access-date =12 October 2012| format =ASP| archive-date =4 November 2012| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20121104132247/http://www.norwegiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=The+Beatles&titel=Let+It+Be&cat=a| url-status =live}}</ref>
|1
|-
|align="left"|Swedish Albums Chart<ref name="swechart">{{cite web| url=http://www.hitsallertijden.nl/charts/swedish%20charts/SwedishCharts%200969-0872.pdf| title=Swedish Charts 1969–1972| publisher=Hitsallertijden| language=sv| access-date=12 October 2012| archive-date=14 October 2012| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014071535/http://hitsallertijden.nl/charts/swedish%20charts/SwedishCharts%200969-0872.pdf| url-status=live}}</ref>
|2
|-
|align="left"|[[UK Albums Chart]]<ref name="UKcharts">{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/10363/beatles/|title=The Beatles – Full official Chart History|work=[[Official Charts]]|access-date=13 May 2016|archive-date=12 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160512024604/http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/10363/beatles/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|1
|-
|align="left"|US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' Top LPs]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/the-beatles/chart-history/tlp/|publisher=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=30 September 2021|title=The Beatles Chart History (Billboard 200)|language=en|date=30 September 2021|archive-date=16 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210316205331/https://www.billboard.com/music/the-beatles/chart-history/TLP|url-status=live}}</ref>
|1
|-
|align="left"|[[Media Control Charts|West German Media Control Albums Chart]]<ref name="dechart">{{cite web|url = http://www.officialcharts.de/album.asp?artist=The+Beatles&title=Let+It+Be&cat=a&country=de|title = Album Search: The Beatles – Let It Be|language = de|publisher = Media Control|access-date = 12 October 2012|format = ASP|archive-date = 14 July 2014|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140714145439/http://www.officialcharts.de/album.asp?artist=The+Beatles&title=Let+It+Be&cat=a&country=de|url-status = dead}}</ref>
|3
|}
'''Weekly charts (1987 reissue)'''
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
!Chart (1987)
!Peak<br/>position
|-
|align="left"|Japanese Albums Chart<ref name="Jachart1"/>
|8
|-
|align="left"|UK Albums Chart<ref name="UKcharts"/>
|50
|}
'''Weekly charts (2009 reissue)'''
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
!Chart (2009)
!Peak<br/>position
|-
|align="left"|Austrian Albums Chart<ref name="atchart">{{cite web|title=austriancharts.at The Beatles – Let It Be|work=Hung Medien|language=de|format=ASP|url=http://austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?interpret=The+Beatles&titel=Let+It+Be&cat=a|access-date=12 October 2012|archive-date=10 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110153702/http://www.austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?interpret=The+Beatles&titel=Let+It+Be&cat=a|url-status=live}}</ref>
|52
|-
|align="left"|Belgian Albums Chart (Flanders)<ref name="beVlchart">{{cite web|title=ultratop.be The Beatles – Let It Be|url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/album/18a9/The-Beatles-Let-It-Be|language=nl|publisher=Ultratop|work=Hung Medien|format=ASP|access-date=12 October 2012|archive-date=14 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114024919/http://www.ultratop.be/nl/showitem.asp?interpret=The+Beatles&titel=Let+It+Be&cat=a|url-status=live}}</ref>
|37
|-
|align="left"|[[Ultratop|Belgian Albums Chart (Wallonia)]]<ref name="bewachart">{{cite web|title=ultratop.be The Beatles – Let It Be|url=https://www.ultratop.be/fr/album/18a9/The-Beatles-Let-It-Be|language=nl|work=Hung Medien|format=ASP|publisher=Ultratop|access-date=12 October 2012|archive-date=13 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113234103/http://www.ultratop.be/fr/showitem.asp?interpret=The+Beatles&titel=Let+It+Be&cat=a|url-status=live}}</ref>
|64
|-
|align="left"|Danish Albums Chart<ref name="dkchart">{{cite web|title=danishcharts.dk The Beatles – Let It Be|work=danishcharts.dk|url=https://danishcharts.dk/showitem.asp?interpret=The+Beatles&titel=Let+It+Be&cat=a|format=ASP|access-date=12 October 2012|archive-date=25 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180725120554/https://danishcharts.dk/showitem.asp?interpret=The+Beatles&titel=Let+It+Be&cat=a|url-status=live}}</ref>
|40
|-
|align="left"|Finnish Albums Chart<ref name="fichart">{{cite web|title=finnishcharts.com The Beatles – Let It Be|url=http://finnishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=The+Beatles&titel=Let+It+Be&cat=a|work=Hung Medien|format=ASP|access-date=12 October 2012|archive-date=3 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103092101/http://finnishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=The+Beatles&titel=Let+It+Be&cat=a|url-status=live}}</ref>
|34
|-
|align="left"|Japanese Albums Chart<ref name="Jachart2">{{cite web| url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/819908/1| title=Highest position and charting weeks of ''Let It Be'' (2009 Remaster) by The Beatles| language=ja| work=oricon.co.jp| publisher=[[Oricon|Oricon Style]]| access-date=12 October 2012| archive-date=8 November 2012| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108173839/http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/819908/1/| url-status=live}}</ref>
|18
|-
|align="left"|[[Top 100 Mexico|Mexican Albums Chart]]<ref name="mxchart">{{cite web|title=mexicancharts.com The Beatles – Let It Be|publisher=mexicancharts.com|url=http://mexicancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=The+Beatles&titel=Let+It+Be&cat=a|access-date=12 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130525181524/http://mexicancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=The+Beatles&titel=Let+It+Be&cat=a|archive-date=25 May 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|30
|-
|align="left"|[[Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa|Portuguese Albums Chart]]<ref name="porchart">{{cite web|title=portuguesecharts.com The Beatles – Let It Be|work=Hung Medien|format=ASP|url=http://portuguesecharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=The+Beatles&titel=Let+It+Be&cat=a|access-date=12 October 2012|archive-date=24 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024230655/http://portuguesecharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=The+Beatles&titel=Let+It+Be&cat=a|url-status=live}}</ref>
|11
|-
|align="left"|Spanish Albums Chart<ref name="spanishchart">{{cite web|title=The Beatles – Let It Be|work=spanishcharts.com|url=http://spanishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=The+Beatles&titel=Let+It+Be&cat=a|format=ASP|access-date=12 October 2012|archive-date=5 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105214730/http://spanishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=The+Beatles&titel=Let+It+Be&cat=a|url-status=live}}</ref>
|45
|-
|align="left"|[[Sverigetopplistan|Swedish Albums Chart]]<ref name="sechart">{{cite web|title=swedishcharts.com The Beatles – Let It Be|format=ASP|url=http://swedishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=The+Beatles&titel=Let+It+Be&cat=a|language=sv|access-date=12 October 2012|archive-date=11 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111131738/http://swedishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=The+Beatles&titel=Let+It+Be&cat=a|url-status=live}}</ref>
|24
|-
|align="left"|[[Swiss Hitparade|Swiss Albums Chart]]<ref name="chchart">{{cite web|title=The Beatles – Let It Be – hitparade.ch|url=http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=The+Beatles&titel=Let+It+Be&cat=a|language=de|work=Hung Medien|format=ASP|publisher=Swiss Music Charts|access-date=12 October 2012|archive-date=13 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111113110403/http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=The+Beatles&titel=Let+It+Be&cat=a|url-status=live}}</ref>
|48
|-
|align="left"|[[Recording Industry Association of New Zealand|New Zealand Albums Chart]]<ref name="NZchart">{{cite web|title=charts.nz The Beatles – Let It Be|work=Hung Medien|publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of New Zealand]]|url=https://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=The+Beatles&titel=Let+It+Be&cat=a|format=ASP|access-date=12 October 2012|archive-date=25 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180725115522/https://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=The+Beatles&titel=Let+It+Be&cat=a|url-status=live}}</ref>
|29
|-
|align="left"|UK Albums Chart<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-chart/20090913/7502/|title=Official Albums Chart Top 100 (13 September 2009 – 19 September 2009)|work=Official Charts|access-date=14 May 2016|archive-date=3 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603140945/http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-chart/20090913/7502/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|49
|}
'''Weekly charts (2021 reissue)'''
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
! scope="col"| Chart (2021)
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
! scope="row"|Australian Albums ([[ARIA Charts|ARIA]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/albums-chart/2021-10-25|publisher=[[ARIA Charts]]|access-date=24 October 2021|title=ARIA Top 50 Albums for week of 25 October 2021|language=en|date=24 October 2021}}</ref>
|2
|-
{{album chart|Flanders|6|artist=The Beatles|album=Let It Be|rowheader=true|access-date=24 October 2021}}
|-
{{album chart|Wallonia|2|artist=The Beatles|album=Let It Be|rowheader=true|access-date=24 October 2021}}
|-
{{album chart|BillboardCanada|8|M|url=https://www.fyimusicnews.ca/fyi-charts/billboard-canadian-albums|title=Billboard Canadian Albums|work=FYIMusicNews|artist=The Beatles|rowheader=true|access-date=26 October 2021}}
|-
{{album chart|Czech|14|date=202142|rowheader=true|access-date=25 October 2021}}
|-
{{album chart|Finland|5|artist=The Beatles|album=Let It Be|rowheader=true|access-date=24 October 2021}}
|-
{{album chart|Germany4|3|id=6313|artist=The Beatles|album=Let It Be|rowheader=true|access-date=25 October 2021}}
|-
{{album chart|Hungary|34|year=2021|week=42|rowheader=true|access-date=28 October 2021}}
|-
{{album chart|Ireland3|3|date=20211022|rowheader=true|access-date=22 October 2021}}
|-
! scope="row"| New Zealand Albums ([[Recorded Music NZ|RMNZ]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/albums/2021-10-22|title=NZ Top 40 Albums Chart|publisher=[[Recorded Music NZ]]|date=25 October 2021|access-date=23 October 2021}}</ref>
| 5
|-
{{album chart|Poland|22|id=1399|rowheader=true|access-date=28 October 2021}}
|-
{{album chart|Spain|5|artist=The Beatles|album=Let It Be|rowheader=true|access-date=24 October 2021}}
|-
{{album chart|Switzerland|3|artist=The Beatles|album=Let It Be|rowheader=true|access-date=24 October 2021}}
|-
{{album chart|UK2|2|date=20211022|rowheader=true|accessdate=25 October 2021}}
|-
! scope="row"|US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/9650236/young-thugs-punk-number-one-billboard-200-chart/|publisher=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=25 October 2021|title=Young Thug's "Punk" Debuts at No.1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart|language=en|date=25 October 2021}}</ref>
| 5
|}
{{col-break}}
'''Year-end charts'''
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
!Chart (1970)
!Position
|-
|align="left"|[[List of Top 25 albums for 1970 in Australia|Australian Albums Chart]]<ref name="auchart" />
|6
|-
|align="left"|UK Albums Chart<ref name="UKYearend70s">{{cite web|url=http://www.everyhit.com/chartalb3.html |title=1970s Albums Chart Archive |publisher=[[The Official Charts Company]] |work=everyhit.com |access-date=12 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091006222356/http://www.everyhit.com/chartalb3.html |archive-date=6 October 2009 }}</ref>
|6
|-
|align="left"|[[Billboard Year-End|US ''Billboard'' Pop Albums]]<ref name="USYearend70">{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/archivesearch/article_display/855911?imw=Y|title=Billboard.BIZ – TOP POP ALBUMS OF 1970|access-date=12 October 2012|archive-date=8 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008070045/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/archivesearch/article_display/855911?imw=Y|url-status=live}}</ref>
|31
|-
!Chart (1972)
!Position
|-
|align="left"|Japanese Albums Chart<ref name="JAYearend7074">{{cite web|url=http://entamedata.web.fc2.com/music/music_a1970-74.html |title=Top-ten of the Japanese Year-End Albums Charts 1970–1974 |publisher=Oricon |language=ja |access-date=12 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716110547/http://entamedata.web.fc2.com/music/music_a1970-74.html |archive-date=16 July 2012 }}</ref>
|8
|-
!Chart (1973)
!Position
|-
|align="left"|Japanese Albums Chart<ref name="JAYearend7074"/>
|7
|}
'''Decade-end charts'''
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
!Chart (1970–1979)
!Position
|-
|align="left"|[[List of best-selling albums of the 1970s (Japan)|Japanese Albums Chart]]<ref name="Jachart3">{{cite book|title=Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005|publisher=Oricon Entertainment|___location=[[Roppongi]], Tokyo|year=2006|isbn=4-87131-077-9}}</ref>
|7
|}
{{col-end}}
==Certifications==
{{certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for ''Let It Be''}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Argentina|type=album|title=Let It Be|artist=The Beatles|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=1970|certyear=1991|certref=<ref name=capif>{{cite web|url=http://www.capif.org.ar/Default.asp?PerDesde_MM=0&PerDesde_AA=0&PerHasta_MM=0&PerHasta_AA=0&interprete=&album=&LanDesde_MM=1&LanDesde_AA=1980&LanHasta_MM=12&LanHasta_AA=2010&Galardon=O&Tipo=1&ACCION2=+Buscar+&ACCION=Buscar&CO=5&CODOP=ESOP |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706084844/http://www.capif.org.ar/Default.asp?PerDesde_MM=0&PerDesde_AA=0&PerHasta_MM=0&PerHasta_AA=0&interprete=&album=&LanDesde_MM=1&LanDesde_AA=1980&LanHasta_MM=12&LanHasta_AA=2010&Galardon=O&Tipo=1&ACCION2=+Buscar+&ACCION=Buscar&CO=5&CODOP=ESOP |archive-date= 6 July 2011 |title=Discos de oro y platino |access-date=30 September 2019 |publisher=[[Cámara Argentina de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas]] |language=es |url-status=dead }}</ref>}}
{{certification Table Entry|title=Let It Be|type=album|artist=The Beatles|region=Australia|certyear=2009|award=Platinum|access-date=12 October 2012}}
{{certification Table Entry|title=Let It Be|type=album|artist=The Beatles|region=Canada|relyear=1970|certyear=2022|award=Platinum|number=4|access-date=10 September 2023}}
{{certification Table Entry|title=Let It Be|type=album|artist=The Beatles|region=Denmark|relyear=1970|certyear=2016|relmonth=5|certmonth=9|award=Platinum|id=4668|access-date=12 July 2020}}
{{certification Table Entry|title=Let It Be|type=album|artist=The Beatles|region=France|certyear=1977|relyear=1970|award=Gold|source=infodisc|access-date=12 October 2012}}
{{certification Table Entry|title=Let It Be|type=album|artist=The Beatles|region=Italy|certyear=2020|relyear=1970|award=Gold|id=1668|note=sales since 2009|access-date=31 August 2020}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=album|title=Let It Be|artist=The Beatles|award=Platinum| number=2|relyear=1970|id=2009-09-11|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|note=Reissue}}
{{certification Table Entry|title=Let It Be|type=album|artist=Beatles|region=United Kingdom|relyear=1970|award=Platinum|certyear=2019|access-date=3 January 2020|id=3797-1786-2}}
{{certification Table Entry|title=Let It Be|type=album|artist=The Beatles|region=United States|relyear=1970|award=Platinum|number=4|access-date=12 October 2012}}
{{certification Table Bottom | streaming=true}}
{{small|{{sup|{{Dagger}}}} BPI certification awarded only for sales since 1994.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-23927271|title=Beatles albums finally go platinum|work=[[British Phonographic Industry]]|publisher=[[BBC News Online|BBC News]]|date=2 September 2013|access-date=4 September 2013|archive-date=10 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140410171041/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-23927271|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
==See also==
* [[Outline of the Beatles]]
* [[The Beatles timeline]]
==Notes==
{{Reflist|group=nb}}
==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
===Sources===
{{Refbegin|30em}}
*{{cite book |last=Babiuk |first=Andy |author-link=Andy Babiuk |year=2002 |title=Beatles Gear: All the Fab Four's Instruments, from Stage to Studio |publisher=Backbeat Books |___location=San Francisco, CA |isbn=978-0-87930-731-8}}
* {{cite book|author=The Beatles|title=The Beatles: Get Back|publisher=Callaway Arts & Entertainment|___location=London|year=2021|isbn=978-0-935112962}}
* {{cite book|last=Doggett|first=Peter|author-link=Peter Doggett|title=You Never Give Me Your Money: The Beatles After the Breakup|publisher=It Books|___location=New York, NY|year=2011|isbn=978-0-06-177418-8}}
* {{cite book|first=Steve|last=Hamelman|chapter=On Their Way Home: The Beatles in 1969 and 1970|editor-last=Womack|editor-first=Kenneth|year=2009|title=The Cambridge Companion to the Beatles|___location=Cambridge, UK|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-68976-2}}
* {{cite book|last=Ingham|first=Chris|title=The Rough Guide to the Beatles|publisher=Rough Guides/Penguin|___location=London|year=2006|isbn=978-1-84836-525-4}}
* {{cite book|first=Mark|last=Lewisohn|author-link=Mark Lewisohn|title=The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions: The Official Story of the Abbey Road Years 1962–1970|publisher=Bounty Books|___location=London|year=2005|orig-year=1988|isbn=978-0-7537-2545-0}}
* {{cite book |last=Lewisohn |first=Mark |author-link=Mark Lewisohn |orig-year=1992 |year=2010 |title=The Complete Beatles Chronicle: The Definitive Day-by-Day Guide to the Beatles' Entire Career |publisher=Chicago Review Press |isbn=978-1-56976-534-0}}
* {{cite book |last=MacDonald |first=Ian |author-link=Ian MacDonald |title=Revolution in the Head |year=2007 |publisher=Chicago Review Press|___location=Chicago, IL|isbn=978-1-55652-733-3 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/revolutioninhead0003macd }}
* {{cite book|last=Miles|first=Barry|author-link=Barry Miles|title=Many Years from Now|title-link=Paul McCartney: Many Years from Now|year=1997|___location=New York, NY|publisher=[[Henry Holt and Company]]|isbn=0-8050-5249-6}}
* {{cite book|last=Miles|first=Barry|author-link=Barry Miles|title=The Beatles Diary Volume 1: The Beatles Years|year=2001|publisher=Omnibus Press|___location=London|isbn=0-7119-8308-9}}
* {{cite book|first=Martin|last=O'Gorman|year=2003|chapter=Film on Four|title=[[Mojo (magazine)#Special editions|Mojo Special Limited Edition]]: 1000 Days of Revolution (The Beatles' Final Years – 1 January 1968 to 27 September 1970)|publisher=Emap|___location=London|pages=68–75}}
* {{cite book|last=Schaffner|first=Nicholas|author-link=Nicholas Schaffner|title=The Beatles Forever|year=1978|publisher=McGraw-Hill|___location=New York, NY|isbn=0-07-055087-5}}
* {{cite book |last=Spitz |first=Bob |title=The Beatles |publisher=Back Bay Books |year=2005 }}
* {{cite book|last=Spizer|first=Bruce|author-link=Bruce Spizer|title=The Beatles on Apple Records|publisher=498 Productions|___location=New Orleans, LA|year=2003|isbn=0-9662649-4-0}}
* {{cite book|last1=Sulpy|first1=Doug|last2=Schweighardt|first2=Ray|title=Get Back: The Unauthorized Chronicle of the Beatles' ''Let It Be'' Disaster|publisher=St. Martin's Griffin|___location=New York, NY|year=1999|isbn=0-312-19981-3}}
* {{cite book|last=Winn|first=John C.|year=2009|title=That Magic Feeling: The Beatles' Recorded Legacy, Volume Two, 1966–1970|publisher=Three Rivers Press|___location=New York, NY|isbn=978-0-307-45239-9}}
* {{cite book|last=Woffinden|first=Bob|author-link=Bob Woffinden|title=The Beatles Apart|publisher=Proteus|___location=London|year=1981|isbn=0-906071-89-5}}
* {{cite book|last=Womack|first=Kenneth|author-link=Kenneth Womack|year=2014|title=The Beatles Encyclopedia: Everything Fab Four|publisher=ABC-CLIO|___location=Santa Barbara, CA|isbn=978-0-313-39171-2}}
* Friedhelm Rathjen: ''Get Back. Die Beatles in Twickenham, 2.–14. Januar 1969''. Südwesthörn: Edition ReJoyce 2018, {{ISBN|978-3-947261-08-6}}.
* Friedhelm Rathjen: ''Let It Be. Die Beatles im Apple-Studio, 21.–31. Januar 1969''. Südwesthörn: Edition ReJoyce 2019, {{ISBN|978-3-947261-09-3}}.
{{Refend}}
==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{Discogs master|type=album|24212|name=Let It Be}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20030408070142/http://www.npr.org/programs/asc/archives/live031403/ ''The Lost Beatle Tapes'' / ''The Making of Let It Be'']
{{Let It Be|state=expanded}}
{{The Beatles albums}}
{{Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media}}
{{Billy Preston}}
{{Phil Spector}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:1970 albums]]
[[Category:
[[Category:The Beatles albums]]
[[Category:The Beatles soundtracks]]
[[Category:Albums arranged by George Martin]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Phil Spector]]
[[Category:Albums recorded at Apple Studios]]
[[Category:Apple Records albums]]
[[Category:Apple Records soundtracks]]
[[Category:Blues albums by English artists]]
[[Category:Documentary film soundtracks]]
[[Category:Scores that won the Best Original Score Academy Award]]
[[Category:Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media]]
| |||