Let It Be
Single by The Beatles • 6 March 1970 • Parlophone R 5833
Let It Be (1969–70) — Rooftop chill, gold-on-black valedictions.
About this release
Let It Be is a single on Parlophone (catalogue R 5833), released 6 March 1970. Last Beatles single released while the band was still officially together.
Recorded during the band's Let It Be (1969–70) period, produced by George Martin (sessions); Phil Spector (post-production overdubs March/April 1970) with Glyn Johns, Phil McDonald (sessions); Peter Bown, Phil Spector engineers (post) engineering. The track(s) were committed at Twickenham Film Stages (Jan 1969 on Studer J37 8-track at Apple via the Custom Apple/Helios console (heavily problematic), later EMI TG12345.
Contents Preface 4 The Paul McCartney Interview 6 1962 Recording sessions for: `Love Me Do', `Please Please Me' 19631967 16 Recording sessions for: `Penny Lane', 92 Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Yellow Submarine, `All You Need Is Love', Magical Mystery Tour, `Hello, Goodbye' Recording sessions for: Please…— Mark Lewisohn, The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions, p.3
What's distinctive
2 tracks; average length 4:03. McCartney dominates the lead vocals (2/2). Lead writing credit: McCartney (2 of 2). 2 marquee song(s) on this release have hand-crafted extended essays. Estimated total takes across the release: 60.Tracklist
Side A
Side B
Pattern analysis
McCartney 2
Era technical context
| Microphones | U47, U67, AKG C12, AKG D19, AKG D20 |
|---|---|
| Outboard | Apple's hand-built outboard (faulty), then EMI standard kit; Spector added strings/choir at EMI March 1970 |
| Guitars | Fender Rosewood Telecaster (Harrison), Gibson Les Paul 'Lucy' (Harrison), Hofner 500/1 (McCartney returned), Epiphone Casino (Lennon), Höfner Hofner Beatle bass + Fender VI bass (Lennon on rooftop) |
| Amplifiers | Fender Twin Reverb, Fender Bassman, Vox UL730, Hammond C3 / Fender Rhodes (Billy Preston) |