The Fascinating Story Behind Why The Beatles' 'Let It Be' Was Never Officially Released
Many Beatles fans remember the live BBC broadcast of the film Let It Be in 1973 or 1974. Desperate to complete his Beatles collection, one fan managed to record it on an audio cassette. However, he dreams of obtaining a video or DVD of the concert at Shea Stadium, which was produced by NEMS Ed Sullivan Productions and Subafilms and was released in 1966. But how did it come to this? What happened to the original film and where does it leave us today?
Production Challenges and Disagreements
Production took time, especially when the principal creative parties involved were not in agreement. The album Let It Be did not come together until Phil Spector reworked the entire project. The full story can be briefly summarized as follows:
Interestingly, the single Let It Be did come out before the public breakup of the band, and it included a different and greatly altered mix with a completely different guitar solo. This version bore no resemblance to the album version, which remains one of the most controversial decisions in rock history.
The Original Get Back Project
It all began in January 1969 when the Beatles gathered to begin the very challenging task of writing and rehearsing an album's worth of new material that was to culminate in a live performance, which was to be filmed for a television broadcast. They had only a month before Ringo was due to start shooting for his role in the film The Magic Christian.
For decades, it was believed that these sessions were a complete disaster, showing the seamy underbelly of the Beatles' forthcoming breakup. However, a 2021 documentary by Peter Jackson put an end to all that. What the band faced at that time was simply a task that was too much for them to complete, and most of the songs that were worked on stayed on the shelf, except for the chart-topping single Get Back.
The Development of Abbey Road
After the 'Get Back' sessions wrapped up, the Beatles gathered again in earnest that summer to complete their final recorded album, Abbey Road, which was released in September of that year. The 'Get Back' tapes sat dormant until January 1970, which is when the remaining Beatles completed their final material for the album.
John Lennon's departure from the band in January 1970 is crucial in understanding the context of the album's creation and release. The album Let It Be was released in May 1970, with singles such as 'Let It Be' and 'The Long and Winding Road' following soon after the single 'Get Back', which was released separately about a year earlier.
Conclusion
The story of the Beatles' Let It Be album is a perfect example of the challenges faced by one of the most famous bands in history. Production challenges, disagreements, and the personal transformations of the band members all played a role in the final product. Fans today can still enjoy the album, but the question of what might have been remains a tantalizing mystery.
So, why was the original film Let It Be never officially released? The answer lies in the complexities of the recording and production process, the personal stories of the band members, and the changing dynamics of the group. Moreover, the release of the album Let It Be in 1970 marked the end of the Beatles' golden era, and it serves as a bittersweet reminder of their incredible legacy.