May 8, 1970 - Let It Be

In April of 1970, the Beatles announced they would be breaking up. Not a big shock since the band had been having tensions since 1968, but still a devastating end to what was definitely one of the most influential bands of all time. On May 8, 1970 they released their twelfth and final studio album, "Let It Be". Keyboardist Billy Preston, who had worked with the Beatles previously, features on 7 of the songs on this album and a large portion of the recording took place back in January 1969, during the "Get Back" sessions.  Engineer Glyn Johns was tasked with making an album out of these sessions and submitted two mixes that were rejected by the Beatles before the third one that would become the album. American producer Phil Spector would end up doing the final mixes and is actually credited as producer, which infuriated longtime producer George Martin, who had done the original "Get Back" sessions. He also added parts that the Beatles did not authorize which appear on the album. This upset Paul McCartney immensely, but John Lennon said he didn't have much to work with and made a good album out of it. Very interesting indeed. Let's give it a listen!

Side 1 opens with McCartney's "Two Of Us", which has both McCartney and Lennon on acoustic guitar. McCartney plays a catchy lead riff and Lenmon joins him on vocals for the chorus. There's also a little whistling part at the end. Lennon takes over lead vocals for "Dig A Pony" and I really like them; he sounds very passionate. It's a slow rock song with a cool electric guitar riff by George Harrison, as well as a slow solo. The next song begins with just Lennon on vocals and acoustic, titled "Across The Universe". There's some choir vocals in the background that feels added, and it has Harrison on the tambura. It's a peaceful song but nothing fancy and a little repetitive. Harrison's first song is called "I Me Mine" and he opens with some high pitched, odd singing. It turns into a much more rock and roll part where Harrison sings way better and also has some great piano by Preston. It goes back to the slow opening, this time with horns added and then it rocks out again. The rockin' parts are definitely better for me. Track 5 is a short Lennon bit titled "Dig It". He mentions the F.B.I., C.I.A., BBC(?) and then a few people before it ends very oddly. Very weird song choice. The title track follows and it is led by McCartney on vocals as well as playing some beautiful piano. I think it sounds phenomenal and McCartney is all we need for the first couple verses. Ringo Starr joins on drums eventually as well as Preston on Hammond organ. Harrison plays a wicked guitar solo and between that and the beautiful piano this is easily the best song so far on the record. There's some more added orchestral arrangements before Paul plays the third verse and finishes it out. The side ends with a 40-second song called "Maggie Mae" that is sing by McCartney and Lennon. It's a short acoustic jam and a much better short track than "Dig It" I thought.

Side two starts with "I've Got A Feeling", which starts with slow piano from Preston and bass. When Harrison joins on lead guitar I really like McCartney's singing. He sings a couple verses before Lennon sings a couple verses with some cool bass backing. They end the song by singing both their parts at the same time. The next tune, "One After 909" sounds like an old rock song that you just want to dance to! Harrison and Preston play some great guitar and piano while Lennon sings. McCartney joins him in the chorus and Harrison does a pretty sweet solo. Track 10 is called "The Long And Winding Road" and is a piano ballad by McCartney. He sings how the road always leads to "you" and throughout this song there is an orchestra playing that sounds very nice. McCartney was particularly upset with this song because there wasn't any orchestra on his original version. It would certainly sound a lot different without it, but I think it's quite fitting. Harrison's final track is titled "For You Blue" which has a cool acoustic opening. It features very light guitar and some trippy bass, as well as an interesting solo. Certainly a unique track, but not Harrison's best stuff in my opinion. The album ends with "Get Back", a McCartney-sung song that the sessions were named after. We hear the Beatles talking at the beginning before a fun guitar riff by Lennon drives the song. He does a guitar solo and we also hear a short piano solo by Preston. Lennon delivers another great guitar solo and this song is a cool way to end out the album (and their career).

That is the end of "Let It Be" and the end of the Beatles! I really liked the title track and "Get Back", bit considering most of this album was old material, like Lennon said I thought they did a good job of making a decent album out of it. However, when you compare it to their other stuff that I have, I'm afraid that it just doesn't hold up. I don't even think it was better than "Magical Mystery Tour", which I had previously ranked lowest. So a bit of a disappointing end to what had been a great string of albums, but again, this was put together from old sessions. The Beatles changed music forever and it is sad to know that I won't hear anymore new music. Until next time, here are my final Beatles album ranks...

1. Abbey Road

2. Revolver

3. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band 

4. The Beatles

5. Rubber Soul 

6. Magical Mystery Tour

7. Let It Be