#342 The Beatles, 'Let It Be' (1970)
Previously #392
The first Beatles album to make an appearance in the list and definitely not the last, if the previous list is anything to go by. This album is definitely one the most unique records by The Beatles. Conceived by Paul McCartney as a return to a more simple rock ‘n roll configuration. Having not performed live for two and a half years, McCartney wanted the band to make a return to live performances. His concept was simple; the band would perform the album live in studio and would be accompanied by a documentary showing the band’s return to live performance. In-fighting in the band would cause George Harrison to quit for a week. Two weeks later, after agreeing to Harrison’s terms, the band performed, for what would be the last time ever, on the rooftop of their offices in Savile Row. This project was abandoned and the band moved onto ‘Abbey Road.’ That album was the last album to be recorded by The Beatles, but ‘Let It Be’ would be the last to be released.
Lennon and McCartney gave engineer, Glyn Johns, free reign to compile an album from the sessions leading up to the performance, as well as the songs recorded during the performance. After a bit of back and forth, the mixes were given to Phil Spector to complete. Against McCartney’s wishes, Spector overproduced the record, completely contrary to the concept of a simple rock ‘n roll record. McCartney was especially upset with the addition of orchestral and choral accompaniment to ‘The Long and Winding Road,’ once a simple piano ballad. Spector also included studio banter and interludes. George Martin never received a production credit as Spector produced the final version. Understandably upset he commented "I produced the original, and what you should do is have a credit saying 'Produced by George Martin, over-produced by Phil Spector'."
The album includes some of their finest songs such as ‘Across The Universe,’ ‘Let It Be,’ ‘The Long and Winding Road,’ ‘Get Back’ and the Harrison-penned ‘I Me Mine.’ It also includes ‘Dig It,’ one of two studio-recorded songs credited to Lennon/McCartney/Harrison/Starkey. There were 7 in total, the other 5 being outtakes, B-sides and the post-humous single, ‘Free As A Bird.’ Arguably the sound of a band breaking up, although Peter Jackson’s upcoming documentary would have you believe otherwise. Even at their most fractured, The Beatles were still better than all the rest.
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