First released: 1970, May 18

Original Vinyl Recording Remastered (2012)

Sheet music, guitar tabs, song books at Sheetmusicplus.com

1. Two of Us (3:27)
   Recorded: January 31, 1969 at Apple Studios, London, England
   John Lennon - lead vocal, acoustic guitar
   Paul McCartney - lead vocal, acoustic guitar
   George Harrison - lead guitar
   Ringo Starr - drums
2. Dig a Pony (3:54)
   Recorded: January 30, 1969 on the rooftop of Apple Studios, London, England
   John Lennon - lead vocal, lead guitar
   Paul McCartney - bass guitar, harmony vocal
   George Harrison - rhythm guitar
   Ringo Starr - drums
   Billy Preston - organ
3. Across the Universe (3:49)
   Recorded: February 4, 1968 at Abbey Road, London, England with overdubbing on February 8, 1968
   Re-produced and remixed by Phil Spector in March, 1970
   John Lennon - lead vocal, acoustic guitar, lead guitar, organ
   Paul McCartney - piano
   George Harrison - sitar
   Ringo Starr - maracas
   George Martin - organ (with Lennon)
   Session musicians - strings, choir (overdubbed by Phil Spector)
4. I Me Mine (2:26)
   Recorded: January 3, 1970 at Abbey Road, London, England
   Re-produced and remixed by Phil Spector on April 1, 1970
   Paul McCartney - piano, harmony vocal
   George Harrison - lead vocal, acoustic guitar, lead electric guitar
   Ringo Starr - drums
   Billy Preston - organ
   Session musicians - strings (overdubbed by Phil Spector)
5. Dig It (0:50)
   Recorded: January 26, 1969 at Apple Studios, London, England
   John Lennon - lead vocal
   Paul McCartney - piano
   George Harrison - lead guitar
   Ringo Starr - drums
   Billy Preston - organ
6. Let It Be (4:03)
   Recorded: January 31, 1969 at Apple Studios, London, England with overdubs added April 30, 1969 and January 4, 1970
   Re-produced and remixed by Phil Spector in March, 1970
   John Lennon - bass guitar, harmony vocal
   Paul McCartney - lead vocal, piano
   George Harrison - lead guitar, harmony vocal
   Ringo Starr - drums
   Billy Preston - organ
   Session musicians - orchestra (overdubbed by Phil Spector)
   Linda McCartney - backing vocals (on single release only)
7. Maggie Mae (0:41)
   Recorded: January 24, 1969 at Apple Studios, London, England
   John Lennon - lead vocal, acoustic guitar
   Paul McCartney - acoustic guitar, harmony vocal
   George Harrison - bass guitar, harmony vocal
   Ringo Starr - drums
8. I've Got a Feeling (3:38)
   Recorded: January 30, 1969 on the rooftop of Apple Studios, London, England
   John Lennon - lead vocal, lead guitar
   Paul McCartney - lead vocal, bass guitar
   George Harrison - rhythm guitar
   Ringo Starr - drums
   Billy Preston - electric piano
9. One After 909 (2:55)
   Recorded: January 30, 1969 on the rooftop of Apple Studios, London, England
   John Lennon - lead vocal, lead guitar
   Paul McCartney - lead vocal, bass guitar
   George Harrison - rhythm guitar
   Ringo Starr - drums
   Billy Preston - electric piano
10. The Long and Winding Road (3:38)
    Recorded: January 31, 1969 at Apple Studios, London, England.
    Re-produced and remixed by Phil Spector on April 1, 1970
    John Lennon - bass guitar
    Paul McCartney - lead vocal, piano
    Session musicians - choir, strings, harp, drums (overdubbed by Phil Spector)
11. For You Blue (2:33)
    Recorded: January 25, 1969 at Apple Studios, London, England
    John Lennon - steel guitar
    Paul McCartney - bass guitar, piano
    George Harrison - lead vocal, acoustic guitar
    Ringo Starr - drums
12. Get Back (3:07)
    Recorded: January 27, 1969 at Apple Studios, London, England
    John Lennon - lead guitar
    Paul McCartney - lead vocal, bass guitar
    George Harrison - rhythm guitar
    Ringo Starr - drums
    Billy Preston - electric piano

The only Beatles album to occasion negative, even hostile reviews, there are few other rock records as controversial as Let It Be. First off, several facts need to be explained: Although released in May 1970, this was not their final album, but largely recorded in early 1969, way before Abbey Road. Phil Spector was enlisted in early 1970 to do some post-production mixing and overdubs, but he did not work with the band as a unit. And, although his use of strings has generated much criticism, by and large he left the original performances to stand as is: only "The Long and Winding Road" and (to a lesser degree) "Across the Universe" and "I Me Mine" get the wall-of-sound treatment. The main problem was that the material wasn't uniformly strong, and that the Beatles themselves were in fairly lousy moods due to intergroup tension. All that said, the album is on the whole underrated, even discounting the fact that a substandard Beatles record is better than almost any other group's best work. McCartney in particular offers several gems: the gospelish "Let It Be," which has some of his best lyrics; "Get Back," one of his hardest rockers; and the melodic "The Long and Winding Road," ruined by Spector's heavy-handed overdubs. The folky "Two of Us," with John and Paul harmonizing together, was also a highlight. Most of the rest of the material, by contrast, was going through the motions to some degree, although there are some good moments of straight hard rock in "I've Got a Feeling" and "Dig a Pony." As flawed and bumpy as it is, it's an album well-worth having, as when the Beatles were in top form here, they were as good as ever. — Richie Unterberger

Review