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More than 50 years after its May 1970 release, The Beatles’ Let It Be – the Fab Four’s final original studio album – remains anything but the last word on the band. While the LP topped the charts in multiple countries including the U.S. and U.K., and included such beloved now-standards as “The Long and Winding Road,” “Across the Universe,” “Get Back,” and the title track, the road to its release was anything but a smooth one. It was previously announced that the story would be chronicled this fall in director Peter Jackson’s three-part, six-hour documentary miniseries (debuting November 25-27 on Disney+) as well as in a companion coffee table-style book due October 12. Now, Apple Corps has revealed the details to the long-awaited box set to complete the Let It Be 50th anniversary triptych. (Note that the releases were all delayed one year due to COVID-19.) It’s arriving on October 15 in various formats including a 5CD/1BD box set with the following:
- Giles Martin and Sam Okell’s new remix of the album;
- Two discs of rehearsals, jams, and outtakes;
- One disc of Glyn Johns’ first mix of the abortive Get Back album that became Let It Be;
- An EP of remixes; and
- A Blu-ray with Martin and Okell’s mixes in high resolution stereo and surround (DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and Dolby Atmos).
Other editions include a 5LP vinyl version of the deluxe box, a 2CD cut-down, and the standalone remix on CD, LP and picture disc.
Let It Be was first conceived as a back-to-basics rock-and-roll record and a platform for The Beatles to return to live performance. Rehearsals were filmed by director Michael Lindsay-Hogg and tensions flared in full view of the cameras. Soon, the concert plans were abandoned, and other than their final “rooftop concert” held on January 30, 1969 atop Apple’s 3 Savile Row, London studio, no live shows ever materialized. But the rehearsals and subsequent recording sessions for a new album were, in fact, productive and the material strong. In April 1969, the band released the single “Get Back” and engineer Glyn Johns began mixing an album for release. But when Johns’ mixes were rejected, The Beatles moved onto sessions for what became Abbey Road. In December, the band once again approached Johns to assemble Get Back – this time, as a de facto soundtrack to Lindsay-Hogg’s documentary film. But when the album was released on May 8, 1970 (just five days before the movie’s premiere), the title was Let It Be and the producer wasn’t George Martin (who had overseen the sessions) or Glyn Johns but rather, Phil Spector.
John Lennon and Ringo Starr were among those defending Spector’s typically grandiose overdubs and mix, while Paul McCartney and George Martin took umbrage at it. Let It Be was the rare Beatles album to have been greeted by some downright hostile reviews. But, in the wake of the band’s demise in April 1970, the LP still resonated with listeners hungry for the last Beatles record (even though it had been recorded before Abbey Road). The album won a Grammy Award for Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Special (which McCartney personally picked up despite his misgivings) and the movie earned The Beatles an Academy Award for Best Original Song Score.
In the years since the release of Let It Be, bootlegs of Glyn Johns’ original Get Back mixes proliferated. In 2003, McCartney finally got the chance to release Let It Be his way. Let It Be…Naked was a full remix of the album, stripping it as much as possible of Spector’s production and overdubs. Naked dropped two songs (“Dig It” and “Maggie Mae”) while adding one (“Don’t Let Me Down,” the B-side of the original, Martin-produced “Get Back” single – though that single version wasn’t the one utilized). It reached the Top 10 on both sides of the Atlantic.
Now, Apple Corps’ new exploration of the road to Let It Be is on the way. In addition to the Giles Martin and Sam Okell remix of the Let It Be album (which hews close to Spector’s treatment), the super deluxe box presents 27 session outtakes, alternates, rehearsals, and jams (most but not all in stereo). These include early versions of solo tracks (George Harrison’s “All Things Must Pass,” John Lennon’s “Gimme Some Truth”), a jam with Billy Preston on “Without a Song,” rehearsals of Abbey Road‘s “Something,” “Oh! Darling,” “Octopus’ Garden,” “Polythene Pam,” and “She Came in Through the Bathroom Window,” and versions of almost all of Let It Be‘s tracks. Glyn Johns’ first stab at compiling an album, his 1969 mix of Get Back, is featured on its own disc. The final CD, an EP, has Johns’ 1970 mixes of “Across the Universe” and “I Me Mine” as well as new mixes of the single versions of “Let It Be” and “Get Back” B-side “Don’t Let Me Down.”
Perhaps most shockingly, the long-awaited official audio release of the complete rooftop concert isn’t included on this set (although the first rooftop performance of “Don’t Let Me Down” is among the two discs of previously unheard material). The first take of “I’ve Got a Feeling,” “One After 909,” and “Dig a Pony” were all used on the original Let It Be LP, too. (As the concert is being included in full in Peter Jackson’s documentary, it’s possible if not exactly likely that it’s being held for a companion/soundtrack release to the film.) The “Let It Be” B-side “You Know My Name (Look Up the Number)” is also conspicuous by its absence.
If this isn’t the comprehensive package many were expecting – after all, the Get Back/Let It Be sessions were so extensive that they were bootlegged on a 76-volume CD series! – one can reasonably expect what is there to conform to the same high standards as the past deluxe editions of Sgt. Pepper’s, The Beatles, and Abbey Road. The box, packed in a 10″ x 12″ die-cut slipcase (12.5″ x 12.5″ for the vinyl) comes with a 105-page hardbound book featuring rare and unpublished photos by Ethan A. Russell and Linda McCartney, plus a foreword from Paul McCartney, an introduction by Giles Martin, remembrances by Glyn Johns and liner notes by Kevin Howlett (offering “detailed track notes”) and John Harris (“exploring the session’s myths vs. their reality”).
Three tracks from the set – the new mix of “Let It Be,” the rooftop performance of “Don’t Let Me Down,” and Johns’ mix of “For You Blue” – are all available to stream as a preview for the set. All formats of Let It Be are due from Apple and UMe on October 15 and can be pre-ordered at the links below.
The Beatles, Let It Be (Super Deluxe Edition) (Apple/UMe, 2021) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
5CD/Blu-ray: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
5LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
1CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
1LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
* indicates mono track; + indicates track available on 2CD edition
Disc 1: New Mix of Original Album (originally released as Apple PXS 1 (U.K.)/AR-34001 (U.S.), 1970)
- Two of Us
- Dig a Pony
- Across the Universe
- I Me Mine
- Dig It
- Let It Be
- Maggie Mae
- I’ve Got a Feeling
- One After 909
- The Long and Winding Road
- For You Blue
- Get Back
Disc 2: Get Back – Apple Sessions
- Morning Camera (Speech) */Two of Us (Take 4) +
- Maggie Mae / Fancy My Chances with You * +
- Can You Dig It?
- I Don’t Know Why I’m Moaning (Speech) *
- For You Blue (Take 4) +
- Let It Be/Please Please Me/Let It Be (Take 10) +
- I’ve Got a Feeling (Take 10) +
- Dig a Pony (Take 14) +
- Get Back (Take 19)
- Like Making An Album? (Speech) +
- One After 909 (Take 3) +
- Don’t Let Me Down (First Rooftop Performance) +
- The Long and Winding Road (Take 19) +
- Wake Up Little Susie/I Me Mine (Take 11) +
Disc 3: Get Back – Rehearsals and Apple Jams
- On the Day Shift Now (Speech) */All Things Must Pass (Rehearsals) *
- Concentrate on the Sound *
- Gimme Some Truth (Rehearsal) *
- I Me Mine (Rehearsal) *
- She Came In Through the Bathroom Window (Rehearsal)
- Polythene Pam (Rehearsal) *
- Octopus’s Garden (Rehearsal) *
- Oh! Darling (Jam)
- Get Back (Take 8) +
- The Walk (Jam) +
- Without a Song (Jam) – Billy Preston with George and Ringo
- Something (Rehearsal) *
- Let It Be (Take 28)
Disc 4: Get Back (1969 Glyn Johns Mix)
- One After 909
- Medley: I’m Ready (aka Rocker)/Save the Last Dance for Me/Don’t Let Me Down
- Don’t Let Me Down
- Dig a Pony
- I’ve Got a Feeling
- Get Back
- For You Blue
- Teddy Boy
- Two of Us
- Maggie Mae
- Dig It
- Let It Be
- The Long and Winding Road
- Get Back (Reprise)
Disc 5: Let It Be EP
- Across the Universe (Unreleased Glyn Johns 1970 Mix) +
- I Me Mine (Unreleased Glyn Johns 1970 Mix)
- Don’t Let Me Down (New Mix of Single Version)
- Let It Be (New Mix of Single Version)
Blu-ray: original album remixes
- Dolby Atmos 48 kHz/24-bit
- DTS:HD Master Audio 5.1 96 kHz/24-bit
- PCM Stereo 96 kHz/24-bit
The Weekend Stream: September 18, 2021
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Release Round-Up: Week of August 6
Release Round-Up: Week of July 23
If there should be another Q&A with Giles Martin and/or Sam Okell, then I hope someone will ask how the new 2021 mixes of the Single Versions of “Don’t Let Me Down” & “Let It Be” will differ from the previous 2015 mixes of those songs as heard on The Beatles “1+” DVD/Blu-Ray.
Nonetheless, I’m still looking forward to this release.
Hi Gunnar,
I’m glad I’m not alone in wondering what could possibly be different about the 2015 and 2021 remixes. I know they did another remix of “Penny Lane” on the Deluxe Version of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. If I remember correctly, it had something to do with either enhancing the pianos or discovering a hidden piano/keyboard part. Also, why didn’t they include remixes of the “Get Back” and “Ballad Of John & Yoko” singles on the “White Album” box set?
But I like you am puzzled and intrigued with these new remixes.
“Don’t Let Me Down” on 1+ was the “Naked” version, a different take from the single. For “Let It Be,” it’s possible they found new elements, which is why they remixed “Penny Lane” in 2017.
Hi Stephen
Ah-ha! Didn’t know/realise that “Don’t Let Me Down” on 1+ was the “Naked” version. But new elements for “Let It Be” does sound probable much like with the second remix of “Penny Lane” on “Sgt. Pepper”.
Cheers!
Some very good news. I’ve been waiting to hear the original Get Back mix since reading about the project in Rolling Stone, April of ’70. That’s one of the reasons I was so disappointed in the Spectorized album, for I knew what could have been. I think it’ll be worth the wait.
That’s it?
Just (mostly) alternate mixes and jams?
I’m really underwhelmed. From the interviews that Paul, Dhani Harrison and Peter Jackson have given with the tone of “can’t believe how much good footage was found and how revealing it is,” I expected the audio tapes to be the same.
And if they’re saving “the good stuff”for a separate soundtrack, this is even less appealing.
The four songs on disc 5 could have easily been added to disc 4, leaving disc 5 open for, say, the complete rooftop concert. Maybe that will be part of any deluxe package involving the film(s).
Exactly.
This waste of a CD for a measly 4 song EP?? Just outrageous. These songs could easily have been added to one of the other bonus discs. The entire contents of the 5 CDs would fit on just TWO CDs, yet this is currently retailing for $140!!
Highway robbery. Pure and simple.
So we get a bogus 4 song CD with loads of unused space (While still getting charged over $20 a disc), but not the full Rooftop Concert? No Twickenham tracks? No “Suzy Parlour,” etc??
I’ve mostly enjoyed the Beatles boxes so far (Although the
“Penny Lane” debacle on the Pepper box is still upsetting), but this is horrendous.
Adding insult, I’ve read on the Hoffman forums that the
“Original Glyn Johns mix” from the box is showing differences from the actual Johns mix. So they, apparently, aren’t even getting that right? Unbelievable.
I’m still hoping for a “Get Back” soundtrack for the Peter Jackson film that will include the full Rooftop, but it still doesn’t absolve Apple of the blunders here.
While everybody will go on and on about the deluxe set missing the rooftop concert, I’m shocked that the single LP version being reissued with this set doesn’t replicate the original 1st run album with the original book.
Ehh… Maybe we’ll get a separate Johns Mix vinyl for a future RSD.
About time.
Have pre-ordered .. but just wonder why the cds are so short .. they could have included all the songs on fewer .. nothing to do with vinyl time limitations is it ????
And i have the Beatles “!” bluray set but that only has “Let it be” on it and not “Don’t let me down” ..
And where is the rare version of “Across the Universe” which i used to have on a charity (WWE?) album way back when ..
The “Beatles 1+” set does include “Don’t Let Me Down”.
The “rare” version of “Across The Universe” you used to have on “No One’s Gonna Change Our World” for the World Wildlife Fund has been available on Past Masters for years, and both UK and US versions of the “Rarities” LP before that.
Cheers. I didn’t know that about the 1+ set .. interesting. Will check it out. And yep i do have Past Masters .. i just thought that that version would be better placed on this set ..
As I mentioned earlier, the 57 tracks here (which includes several “speeches”) would, I believe fit on just two CDs.
Yet they have the nerve to charge $140 for it all.
Given how many hours of tape exist between Twickenham and Apple studios (Not to mention the Rooftop), and how much great material we were told they found, this is nothing short of outrageous.
It’s very much a “first world problem,” I know, but a ripoff nonetheless.
Count on an official soundtrack to the Peter Jackson film that includes the Complete Rooftop Concert at some point.
It makes too much sense not to do it, and would be of a piece with the way the Hollywood Bowl film from Ron Howard was handled.
There better be a CD of the complete rooftop concert!!!
so, this time the Vinyl is everything that’s on the CD, save the 5.1 mix?
As the idiot that wants both, boy it’d be nice to have the Blu included in the vinyl box…
Very underwhelming considering what is circulating! An EP? Give me a break. Make the EP vinyl and I might be a little excited. And if this is a definitive release, where is the original mix? Just like the other definitive Beatles boxes. Disappointing. And what does Giles Martin know anyway. Meh is about all I can muster about this.
I believe their assuming fans have the original mix. If they did include it and charged more most folks would complain.
I’m glad they are sticking to the original Spector version of the album. I didn’t expect much from this. The sets from The Purple Chick have been around for years and are much more interesting than any of the music on these super deluxe Beatles sets. I buy these for the packaging and books for the most part. VERY happy to see that the abomination that is Let It Be…Naked is not included. Can anyone answer a question for me about Let It Be…Naked: the version of The Long and Winding road sounds like a re-recording. I’m wondering if Paul actually re-recorded it specifically for that release. I used to think it was the mono film version from the Purple Chick set, but it’s clearly not, after a careful listen. It just sounds too polished to be an outtake. The liners on that release offer no session notes. Anyone?
The session information can be found on different sites around the Internet.
The version in the film is the best one from 26th January; Spector used that as the basis, removing the spoken parts over the middle eight, tweaking the vocals and adding strings and chorus.
Naked’s version is the best one from 31st January, which is why it sounds different.
Thanks for the information. That sounds different too (Jan 31) but closer. Was the original vocal track digitally altered or auto tuned in some way? I’ve always found it vert strange.
I was under the impression that the film version is the same as the “Naked” version, filmed January 31 – they have the same Billy Preston keyboard solo, and Paul sings “…you’ve always known” instead of “…you’ll never know.” The January 26 recording was overdubbed for the original album, and the same take was released without Spector’s overdubs on “Anthology 3.”
Already have it preordered. I do wish the rooftop audio was included all on one disc but possibly Disney had some say and wanted that prize. I am very interested to hear the glyn John’s mix. It is a little odd that we aren’t getting the original release version with the set. But I’m fine with it. It seems like with all that supposed footage we are missing some stuff but still a good set.
There’s a picture disc coming out as well – limited edition for $35.98
Paraphrasing Greil Marcus… “What’s this shit?”
The 1967 “stereo” mix of pepper was an afterthought. The band wasn’t even involved in its creation, hence the need for a reasonable remix. Tell me, what was the problem with LIB that Giles Martin has attempted to “fix”?
Are you comfortable with the idea that this new mix is replacing the original? I’m not.
I agree with you 100%, the same with All Things Must Pass. I’m interested to hear this remix, mainly because they said this in the prerelease notes: “ All the new Let It Be releases feature the new stereo mix of the album as guided by the original “reproduced for disc” version by Phil Spector and sourced directly from the original session and rooftop performance eight-track tapes.” Regardless of what many may think (including Paul McCartney) the Spector version IS Let It Be. I always liked the single version of the song Let It Be from Past Masters 2 rather than the album version though. I’m looking forward to this release for the outtakes (I already have the Purple Chick LIB set so these outtakes aren’t lighting me on fire either) and the book and packaging so I don’t really care about these remixes, I have the black entire album box set and the white mono set as well. They will continue to be my go to’s, as well as the 2014 remaster of All Things Must Pass.
If there’s no actual problem to fix, then Mr. Martin is guilty of reckless tampering with a WORK.OF.ART. Restoration is one thing. Irrevocably altering things just because you can for no apparent purpose is another.
Tell me, should we remix the Mona Lisa or The Starry Night?
The band wasn’t involved in Spector’s assembly of “Let It Be,” either (except that Ringo recorded some new drum overdubs). The album may not suffer from the lopsided stereo of earlier Beatles albums, and because it was recorded live there weren’t a ton of reduction mixes to reduce sound quality, but some artists commission new mixes just to clean up the sound. Steven Wilson has remixed every Jethro Tull album from 1968 to 1980, and is reported to be working on their 1982 album now. Many of those albums weren’t exactly sonic nightmares to begin with, but the new mixes have been very well received. For those who consider the new mix unnecessary, purchase remains optional so it’s win-win.
if you polish a turd its still a turd, bad songs. awfull playing. let it be yes let it be……
“bad songs. Awful playing” (???)
Does anyone know what track 2 on disc 3 is? (Concentrate on the sound). It does not say it is speech, as others do, but I am guessing that is what it must be.