Latest World News Latest News World
Let It Be 50th anniversary: The Beatles’ final album was almost SHELVED during breakup
Today marks the 50th anniversary of The Beatles’ final studio album Let It Be. But, of course, their last record also marks their break-up and the disputes between the Fab Four in the run-up to its release. In fact, had Let It Be been left up to John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, the album may well have never seen the light of day.
According to ABC.net, The Beatles managed to keep it together to release Abbey Road in 1969.
However, just before its release, John Lennon suggested to the band they release a Christmas album next with his new track Cold Turkey.
But the other three weren’t up for it and that’s when he knew The Beatles were done.
In the end, Let It Be came about thanks to the band’s zealous management.
READ MORE: The Beatles fans will ‘LOSE their minds’ over Let It Be documentary
Manager Allen Klein oversaw the Let It Be album and documentary film of the same name, squeezing out the last remaining drops of a band’s unity that had gone well past its sell-by-date.
Despite being loved by Beatles fans the world over, Lennon once described the record as “the sh****est load of badly recorded s***.”
While Harrison said of Let It Be’s recording sessions: “For me to come back into the winter of discontent with the Beatles … was very unhealthy and unhappy.”
To mark the 50th anniversary, Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson has been working on a new documentary about the Let It Be recording sessions.
On his upcoming Let It Be documentary, Jackson said: “Working on this project has been a joyous discovery. I’ve been privileged to be a fly on the wall while the greatest band of all time works, plays and creates masterpieces.
“I’m thrilled that Disney have stepped up as our distributor.
“There’s no one better to have our movie seen by the greatest number of people.”
Both Sir Paul and Sir Ringo have given their support to the upcoming film.
McCartney said: “I am really happy that Peter has delved into our archives to make a film that shows the truth about The Beatles recording together. The friendship and love between us comes over and reminds me of what a crazily beautiful time we had.”
While Starr added: “I’m really looking forward to this film. Peter is great and it was so cool looking at all this footage. There was hours and hours of us just laughing and playing music, not at all like the version that came out.
“There was a lot of joy and I think Peter will show that. I think this version will be a lot more peace and loving, like we really were.”
The Beatles: Get Back is released in US cinemas on September 4, 2020, with a UK release date to be announced.
Published at Fri, 08 May 2020 05:00:00 +0000
