Let It Be - Front Cover | Let It Be - Back Cover |
Let It Be - Detail of the Free Book Cover (Note how the pictures are w-i-d-e-r) |
Label | Apple | ||||||||
Catalogue No.'s | PXS 1 (Box set) PCS 7096 (Normal album release) CDP 7 46447 2 (C.D.) |
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Matrix No.'s |
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Release dates | 8th May 1970 (Box set only !) 6th November 1970 (Normal album release) 19th October 1987 (C.D.) |
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Total time | 34:44 | ||||||||
U.K. Album Chart Detail : |
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Detail : | The Beatles thirteenth and FINAL official album release, which was the "soundtrack" to their fourth film.
In the U.K. the Let It Be album was first issued as a Box Set ONLY - six months BEFORE being released as a single album with
a catalogue number of PXS 1, although this number does NOT appear on the package anywhere.
The box set contained the L.P. plus a paperback book called "The Beatles Get Back", which contained stills and dialogue from
the film (some of it unused in the final print). The paperback is large and glossy at 11 inches by 8 and a half with 164
pages, but is quite delicate and is prone to fall apart if one is not careful.
The story behind the conception and recording of "Let It Be" is long and complex, and I will not enter into it here. There
are many articles and books on the subject ... buy one !
The original L.P. was "finished" at the end of May 1969 and entitled "Get Back - with Let It Be and 11 other songs", this
version was rejected by the Beatles, even though they even prepared the cover. This included recreating the "Please Please
Me" pose on the E.M.I. balcony, which wasn't a wasted shoot, as this was eventually used on the 1973 compilation "Red" and
"Blue" albums.
The rear of the cover has the following note : The package was designed by John Kosh, and with hindsight is a fitting epitaph with it's black and sombre feel for the last Beatles album. The album was also part of "The Beatles Collection" 13 album box set (see Beatles Collection).
On 19th October 1987 this album had it's first release on C.D. which was published in stereo, with a catalogue number of
CDP 7 46447 2
The C.D. was also part of "The Beatles Box" 15 C.D. box set (see Beatles C.D. Box).
09/09/09 (Number Nine, Number Nine, Number Nine) - the album was re-released as part of the Beatles In Stereo Remasters collection.
Tape Media
The album was also available on 4" reel-to-reel tape in, very surprisingly, two different formats, The album was also released on 8-track stereo continuous play cartridge (3¾ ips) - catalogue no. 8X-PCS 7096 The album was re-released on cassette tape in November 1987 - Catalogue number - TC-PCS 7096
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Track | Composer | Recording Information | Time |
"I dig a pygmy by Charles Hawtrey on the deaf aids. Phase
one in which Doris gets her oats" |
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Two Of Us | Lennon-McCartney | Recorded 31st January 1969 (DDSI no. 31.13) Final mix - take 11. |
3:33 |
Dig A Pony | Lennon-McCartney | Rooftop recording - 30th January 1969 (DDSI no. 30.11) |
3:52 |
Across The Universe | Lennon-McCartney | Recorded 4th February 1968 - 8 takes Overdubs 8th February 1968 onto take 8 Overdubs 1st April 1970 onto take 8 creating take 9 Final mix - take 9. |
3:45 |
I Me Mine | Harrison | Recorded 3rd January 1970 Overdubs 1st April 1970 onto take 16 creating takes 17 & 18 Final mix - take 18. |
2:24 |
Dig It | Lennon-McCartney-Harrison-Starr | Recorded 26th January 1969 (DDSI no. 26.55) |
0:50 |
"That was 'Can You Dig It' by Georgie Wood. Now we'd like
to do 'Ark The Angels Come'" |
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Let It Be | Lennon-McCartney | Recorded 31st January 1969 (DDSI no. 31.64 - Take 27A) Overdubs 30th April 1969 onto take 27 Overdubs 4th January 1970 onto take 27 creating takes 28-30 Final mix - take 30. |
4:02 |
Maggie Mae | Trad. | Recorded 24th January 1969 (DDSI no. 24.49) |
0:39 |
Track | Composer | Recording Information | Time |
I've Got A Feeling | Lennon-McCartney | Rooftop recording - 30th January 1969 (DDSI no. 30.6) |
3:35 |
One After 909 | Lennon-McCartney | Rooftop recording - 30th January 1969 (DDSI no. 30.8) |
2:51 |
"Oh Danny boy, the Isles of Ken are calling" |
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The Long And Winding Road | Lennon-McCartney | Recorded 26th January 1969 (DDSI no. 26.91) Overdubs 1st April 1970 using takes 17-19 onto take 18 Final mix - take 18. |
3:37 |
"The Queen says 'No' to pot smoking F.B.I. members" |
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For You Blue | Harrison | Recorded 25th January 1969 (DDSI no. 25.47 - Final take) With a new lead vocal overdubbed in January 1970. |
2:30 |
Get Back | Lennon-McCartney | Recorded 27th January 1969 (DDSI no. 27.63) |
3:06 |
"Thanks Mo" "I'd like to say thankyou on behalf of the group and ourselves and I hope we pass the audition" |
First pressings (1970)
A Box set, with a "Get Back" book housed in a black inner cardboard tray.Second pressings (1970)
The standard dark green Apple label (but a red apple logo on the sleeve !).
A standard album release, no box, no book.With this release, there were no 1973 and 1982 re-pressings.
The standard dark green Apple label (and a green apple logo on the sleeve !).
Third Pressings (1995)
Standard Apple label.
The sleeve has a printed statement which reads:
"This album has been Direct Metal Mastered From a Digitally Re-mastered Original Tape to give the best possible sound quality"
This release is (surprisingly) on a lightweight vinyl.