Let It Be (song)
"Let It Be" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by the Beatles | ||||
from the album Let It Be | ||||
B-side | "You Know My Name (Look Up the Number)" | |||
Released | 6 March 1970 | |||
Recorded | ||||
Genre | ||||
Length |
| |||
Label | Apple | |||
Songwriter(s) | Lennon–McCartney | |||
Producer(s) | George Martin (single version)
| |||
The Beatles UK singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
The Beatles US singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Music video | ||||
"Let It Be" on YouTube |
"Let It Be" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles, released on 6 March 1970 as a single, and (in an alternative mix) as the title track of their album Let It Be. It was written and sung by Paul McCartney, and credited to the Lennon–McCartney partnership. The single version of the song, produced by George Martin, features a softer guitar solo and the orchestral section mixed low, compared with the album version, produced by Phil Spector, featuring a more aggressive guitar solo and the orchestral sections mixed higher.
At the time, it had the highest debut on the Billboard Hot 100, beginning its chart run at number 6 and eventually reaching the top. It was the Beatles' final single before McCartney announced his departure from the band. Both the Let It Be album and the US single "The Long and Winding Road" were released after McCartney's announced departure from and the subsequent break-up of the group.
Composition and recording
[edit]Origins
[edit]McCartney said he had the idea of "Let It Be" after he had a dream about his mother during the tense period surrounding the sessions for The Beatles ("the White Album") in 1968.[4] Mary Patricia McCartney died of cancer in 1956, when he was fourteen.[4][5] In rehearsing the song with the Beatles in January 1969, in place of the "Mother Mary" lyric, McCartney occasionally sang "Brother Malcolm", a reference to the Beatles' assistant Mal Evans.[6] McCartney later said: "It was great to visit with her again. I felt very blessed to have that dream. So that got me writing 'Let It Be'."[7][8] In a later interview he said about the dream that his mother had told him, "It will be all right, just let it be."[9] When asked if the phrase "Mother Mary" in the song referred to the Virgin Mary, McCartney has typically replied that listeners can interpret the song however they like.[10]
Recordings
[edit]McCartney first began to play around with "Let It Be" in the recording studio in between takes of "Piggies" on 19 September 1968.[11] Some months later, the song would be rehearsed at Twickenham Film Studios on 3 January 1969, where the group had, the previous day, begun what would become the Let It Be film. During this stage of the film they were only recording on the mono decks used for syncing to the film cameras, and were not making multi-track recordings for release. A single take was recorded, with just McCartney on piano and vocals. The first attempt with the other Beatles was made on 8 January. Work continued on the song throughout the month. Multi-track recordings commenced on 23 January at Apple Studios.[12]
The master take was recorded on 31 January 1969, as part of the "Apple studio performance" for the project. McCartney played a Blüthner piano, Lennon played six-string electric bass (replaced by McCartney's own bass part on the final version at the behest of George Martin),[13] George Harrison and Ringo Starr assumed their conventional roles, on guitar and drums respectively, and Billy Preston contributed on Hammond organ.[14] This was one of two suitable performances of "Let It Be" recorded that day. The first version, designated take 27-A, would serve as the basis for all officially released versions of the song. The other version, take 27-B, was included in the film Let It Be as part of the Apple studio performance along with "Two of Us" and "The Long and Winding Road".
Before 2021, the film performance of "Let It Be" was never officially released as an audio recording. The lyrics in the two versions differ a little in the last verse. The studio version has mother Mary comes to me ... there will be an answer, whereas the film version has mother Mary comes to me ... there will be no sorrow. In addition, McCartney's vocal performance is noticeably different in both versions: in the film version, it sounds rough in certain moments since he is not using anti-pop on his mic; there are also a couple of falsetto vocals performed by him (extending the vocal 'e' on the word 'be'), for instance in the 'let it be' line that precedes the second chorus. Finally, the instrumental progression featured in the middle of the song after the second chorus (that descends from F to C), which is played twice on all released studio versions, is played (or at least is shown being played) only once in the film. A new mix of the take used in the film was included as "Take 28" on the 2021 Super Deluxe edition of the album Let It Be.[15]
On 30 April 1969, Harrison overdubbed a new guitar solo on the best take from 31 January.[16] He overdubbed another solo on 4 January 1970. The first overdub solo was used for the original single release, and the second overdub solo was used for the original album release. Some fans mistakenly believe that there were two versions of the basic track – based mostly on the different guitar solos, but also on other differences in overdubs and mixes.[17]
McCartney sent a demo of this song to Jerry Wexler in late 1969 and he passed along the recording to Aretha Franklin, whose version came out in January 1970, as the first release of "Let It Be".[18]
Single version
[edit]The single used the same cover photographs as the Let It Be album, and was originally released on 6 March 1970, backed by "You Know My Name (Look Up the Number)", with a production credit for George Martin. This version includes orchestration and backing vocals overdubbed on 4 January 1970, under the supervision of Martin and McCartney, with backing vocals that included the only known contribution by Linda McCartney to a Beatles song.[17][19] It was during this same session that Harrison recorded the second overdubbed guitar solo. The intention at one point was to have the two overdub solos playing together. This idea was dropped for the final mix of the single, and only the 30 April solo was used, although the 4 January overdub can be heard faintly during the final verse. Martin mixed the orchestration very low in this version.[17]
The single mix made its album debut on the Beatles' 1967–1970 compilation album. Original pressings erroneously show the running time of 4:01 (from the Let It Be album), and not the single version's running time of 3:52. This version was also included on 20 Greatest Hits, Past Masters Volume 2 and 1.
The Let It Be EP (1972 Melodiya) was the Beatles' first release in the Soviet Union.[20] The 3-track 7-inch vinyl EP, M62-36715/6, also included "Across the Universe" and "I Me Mine".
Album version
[edit]On 26 March 1970, Phil Spector remixed the song for the Let It Be album.[21] This version features Harrison's second guitar solo overdub, fewer backing vocals, a delay effect on Starr's hi-hat, and more prominent orchestration.[22] The final chorus has three "let it be ..." lines, as the "there will be an answer" line is repeated twice (instead of once as on the single) before the "whisper words of wisdom" line to close the song. On the album, as the preceding track "Dig It" ends, Lennon is heard saying in a falsetto voice, mimicking Gracie Fields: "That was 'Can You Dig It' by Georgie Wood, and now we'd like to do 'Hark, the Angels Come'."
Anthology version
[edit]A previously unreleased January 1969 take of the song (recorded before the master), without heavy production, appeared on Anthology 3 in 1996. This version, take 1, was recorded on 25 January 1969.[23] It is a much simpler version, as McCartney had not written the final verse yet ("And when the night is cloudy ... I wake up to the sound of music ..."). Instead, the first verse is repeated. The track, as released on Anthology 3 also features studio talk between Lennon and McCartney prior to a 31 January 1969 take:[24]
Lennon: Are we supposed to giggle in the solo?
McCartney: Yeah.
Lennon: OK.
McCartney: This'll – this is gonna knock you out, boy.
Also, at the end of the song on the Anthology 3 version, Lennon can be heard saying, following another 31 January take,[24] "I think that was rather grand. I'd take one home with me. OK let's track it. (Gasps) You bounder, you cheat!" (This is a reference to the no-overdub policy that the Beatles had adopted for the Get Back project – "tracking" refers to double tracking the vocals on a recording.) The running time of the Anthology version is 4:05.
Let It Be... Naked version
[edit]Still another version of the song appeared on the Let It Be... Naked album in 2003. The majority of this remix is take 27-A from 31 January 1969, with parts of take 27-B (as used in the film Let It Be), including the subdued guitar solo, spliced in.[25]
This version contains a different piano track than the one on the studio and single versions. This piano track was taken in part from take 28 which was subsequently released and can be heard on the Super Deluxe re-release of the Let It Be album in 2021. In the intro, McCartney plays an extra A bass note during the A minor chord (very similar to the way he plays the intro in the film version); he also plays a standard A minor chord in the piano at the first beat of measure two in the last verse (on the lyric "mother", also like in the film version), while the other versions have a different piano harmonisation which can be easily interpreted as an unfixed mistake. The backing vocals in the chorus of this version are similar to those in the single version, but are significantly reduced in volume while still retaining a reverb-heavy, choral effect. Ringo Starr disliked Phil Spector's version where Starr's drumming was augmented by Spector's "tape-delay-effect" to his hi-hats during the song's second verse and added shakers, so Let It Be... Naked features his original "stripped-down-approach" drumming. Also departed were the tom-tom overdub rolls, heard after the guitar solo during the third verse. Starr also commented that after the release of Naked, he would now have to listen to McCartney saying, "I told you so", when talking about Spector's production.[26] The song's running time on Let It Be... Naked is 3:52.[27]
Glyn Johns mixes
[edit]Glyn Johns mixed the song on 28 May 1969 as he finished the mixing for the Get Back album. This version was not released at the time.[28] He used the same mix on 5 January 1970, which was an attempt to compile an acceptable version of the LP; this version best exemplifies Glyn's drum recording techniques. Again, this version of the LP was never officially released.[29] The 1969 Glyn Johns version of the LP was included in the 2021 "Super Deluxe" release of Let It Be.[30]
Critical reception
[edit]In his review of the single, for the NME, Derek Johnson admired McCartney's performance and the lyrics' "pseudo-religious" qualities. Although he considered that the melody paled beside some of the band's previous singles, Johnson added: "As ever with The Beatles, this is a record to stop you dead in your tracks and compel you to listen attentively."[31] John Gabree of High Fidelity magazine found the lyrics "dangerous politically", but viewed the song as possibly "the best thing musically that McCartney has done".[32] In his album review for Melody Maker, Richard Williams said that McCartney's compositions "seem to be getting looser and less concise" and added that, although the album version of "Let It Be" featured a "much harder guitar solo" than the single, the song "still doesn't have enough substance to become a McCartney standard".[33][34]
AllMusic critic Richie Unterberger describes "Let It Be" as one of "the Beatles' most popular and finest ballads".[35] In Ian MacDonald's view, the song "achieved a popularity well out of proportion to its artistic weight" and it was "'Hey Jude', without the musical and emotional release".[36] Former Creem critic Richard Riegel included it on his 1996 list of the ten most overrated Beatles tracks, saying that, like Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge over Troubled Water", the song "cater[ed] to the lowest-common-denominator emotional stasis of its listeners. 'Let It Be' left the Beatles no artistic choice but dissolution."[37]
Lennon also commented disparagingly on "Let It Be". In his 1980 Playboy interview, he disavowed any involvement with composing the song, saying: "That's Paul. What can you say? Nothing to do with the Beatles. It could've been Wings. I don't know what he's thinking when he writes 'Let It Be'."[38]
"Let It Be" was ranked number 2 on CILQ-FM's 2000 list of the "Top 500 Pure Rock Songs Of The Century".[39] In 2004, the song was included on Grammy Hall of Fame. Mojo magazine ranked "Let It Be" at number 50 in its 2006 list of "The 101 Greatest Beatles Songs".[40] In a similar list compiled in 2010, Rolling Stone placed it at number 8.[41][42] The magazine also ranked the track at number 20 on its 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list.[43] "Let It Be" holds the top spot on "The Fans' Top 10" poll included in The 100 Best Beatles Songs: An Informed Fan's Guide by Stephen J. Spignesi and Michael Lewis.[citation needed] The song is ranked third on the 100 Best Beatles Songs list, behind "A Day in the Life" and "Strawberry Fields Forever",[citation needed] and continues to bring about numerous pop culture references.[44]
Music video
[edit]On 10 May 2024, a new official music video for the song was released on the band's YouTube channel, featuring clips from the 1970 film Let It Be.[45]
Personnel
[edit]According to John Winn's That Magic Feeling, Mark Lewisohn's The Complete Beatles Chronicle and Steve Sullivan's Encyclopedia of Great Popular Song Recordings, Volume 1:
The Beatles
- Paul McCartney – lead and backing vocals, piano, maracas, electric piano, bass guitar[25][46]
- John Lennon – backing vocals
- George Harrison – lead guitars, backing vocals
- Ringo Starr – drums
Additional musicians
- Linda McCartney – backing vocals[19][46]
- Billy Preston – Hammond organ
- George Martin – string and brass arrangements
- Unknown session musicians – orchestration
Singles charts
[edit]The Beatles:[47]
- Release: 6 March 1970
- Tracks: 7-inch single (Apple) "Let It Be" b/w "You Know My Name (Look Up the Number)"
- Producer: George Martin and Chris Thomas
- UK chart position: number 2
- US Hot 100 chart position: number 1 (2 weeks)
- US easy listening chart position: number 1 (4 weeks)[48]
Charts
[edit]
Weekly charts[edit]
|
Year-end charts[edit]
|
Certifications
[edit]Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[85] | Gold | 30,000‡ |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[86] | Gold | 45,000‡ |
France (SNEP)[87] 2020 release |
Gold | 100,000‡ |
Germany (BVMI)[88] | Gold | 250,000‡ |
Italy (FIMI)[89] | Platinum | 70,000‡ |
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[90] | Platinum | 60,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[91] | Platinum | 600,000‡ |
United States (RIAA)[92] | 2× Platinum | 2,000,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Live performances
[edit]Film of the Beatles performance was shown on The Ed Sullivan Show on 1 March 1970.
Although the song is performed regularly during McCartney's performances, there are a few notable performances.
- On 13 July 1985, McCartney performed "Let It Be" as one of the closing acts of the Live Aid charity concert in front of an estimated global television audience exceeding one billion people. It was beset by technical difficulties when his microphone failed for the first two minutes of his piano performance, making it difficult for television viewers and impossible for those in the stadium to hear him. As a result, previous performers David Bowie, Bob Geldof, Alison Moyet and Pete Townshend returned to the stage to back him up. He later joked about changing the lyrics to "There will be some feedback, let it be". He re-recorded his vocals afterwards for future home video releases.
- Along with a 700-person congregation, McCartney, Harrison and Starr sang "Let It Be" during a memorial service for Linda McCartney at St Martin-in-the-Fields church in Trafalgar Square, in 1998.[93]
- McCartney also led a crowd rousing rendition as part of the finale of the Concert for New York City, a benefit concert he organised, featuring many famous musicians, that took place on 20 October 2001 at Madison Square Garden in New York City in response to the 11 September attacks.
- In 2003, before playing his concert in Moscow's Red Square, McCartney performed a private rendition for Russian president Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin.[94]
- On 18 July 2008, McCartney performed "Let It Be" with Billy Joel and his band to close the final concert at Shea Stadium in Queens, New York before its demolition.
- On 4 June 2012, McCartney performed the song as part of his set during the Concert for the Queen, celebrating the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.
- On 25 June 2022, McCartney performed the song as he headlined the Pyramid stage at the Glastonbury festival. The crowd of over 100,000 sang along, likely the biggest crowd the Pyramid stage had ever seen.[95]
- On 11 April 2024, McCartney sang the song live at the Hollywood Bowl backed by The Eagles as a tribute to Jimmy Buffett.
Ferry Aid version
[edit]"Let It Be" | |
---|---|
Single by Ferry Aid | |
B-side |
|
Released | 23 March 1987 |
Recorded | 31 January 1969; 15–17 March 1987 |
Genre | Pop |
Length | 6:08 |
Label | CBS |
Songwriter(s) | Lennon–McCartney |
Producer(s) | Stock Aitken Waterman |
In 1987, the song was recorded by charity supergroup Ferry Aid (which included McCartney). It reached number one on the UK singles chart for three weeks and reached the top ten in many other European countries. McCartney's verse used the original take from the Beatles' "Let It Be" sessions. Ferry Aid covered "Let It Be" as a charity single to raise money for victims of the Zeebrugge Disaster. The featured artists included McCartney, Boy George, Mark Knopfler and Kate Bush, as well as an ensemble chorus made up of media personalities and other musicians.[96] Although McCartney's contribution was taken from the Beatles' recording, he filmed a segment of himself singing to the track for inclusion in the music video.[97] The single topped the UK singles chart for three weeks[98] and was certified gold for shipping over 500,000 copies.[99][100] It was also a number 1 hit in Norway[101] and Switzerland.[102]
Track listings
[edit]7-inch single
- "Let It Be" – 6:08
- "Let It Be" (The Gospel Jam mix) – 2:50
Charts
[edit]Weekly charts
[edit]Chart (1987) | Peak position |
---|---|
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[103] | 4 |
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[104] | 3 |
France (SNEP)[105] | 8 |
Italy (Musica e dischi)[106] | 1 |
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[107] | 3 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[108] | 4 |
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[109] | 4 |
Norway (VG-lista)[110] | 1 |
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[111] | 9 |
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[112] | 1 |
UK Singles (OCC)[113] | 1 |
West Germany (GfK)[114] | 3 |
Year-end charts
[edit]Chart (1987) | Position |
---|---|
Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[115] | 53 |
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[116] | 34 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[117] | 28 |
Norway Spring Period (VG-Lista)[118] | 1 |
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[119] | 6 |
UK Singles (Gallup)[120] | 13 |
West Germany (Official German Charts)[121] | 46 |
Dolly Parton version
[edit]"Let It Be" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Dolly Parton featuring Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr | ||||
from the album Rockstar | ||||
Released | 18 August 2023 | |||
Length | 4:28 | |||
Label | Butterfly | |||
Songwriter(s) | Lennon–McCartney | |||
Producer(s) |
| |||
Dolly Parton singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Paul McCartney singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Ringo Starr singles chronology | ||||
|
A Dolly Parton cover of "Let It Be" featuring Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr and contributions from Peter Frampton and Mick Fleetwood was released as a single on 18 August 2023 from Parton's album Rockstar (2023).[122][123] Parton's "Let It Be" marked the same time that two former Beatles were listed as separate artists on the same charting song.[124]
Personnel
[edit]Credits adapted from Tidal.[125]
Associated performers
- Dane Bryant – strings, Wurlitzer organ
- Gary Lunn – bass
- Jennifer O'Brien – background vocalist
- Jerry McPherson – electric guitar
- Jimmy Mattingly – cello, viola, violin
- Mike Rojas – Hammond B3
- Nir Z – percussion
- Paul McCartney – piano
- Peter Frampton – electric guitar
- Richard Dennison – background vocalist
- Ringo Starr – drums
- Rob Mcnelley – electric guitar
- Vicki Hampton – background vocalist
Production
- Dolly Parton – producer, executive producer
- Don Miggs – producer, additional producer
- Mick Fleetwood – producer, additional producer
Studio personnel
- Kent Wells – producer, editor, engineer
- Brian Judd – additional engineer
- Christine Winslow – assistant recording engineer
- Chris Latham – editor
- Joel Mckenny – editor, engineer
- Kyle Dickinson – editor, engineer
- Kevin Willis – engineer
- Mark Needham – engineer
- Chris Lord-Alge – mastering engineer
Charts
[edit]Chart (2023) | Peak position |
---|---|
UK Singles Sales (OCC)[126] | 66 |
UK Singles Downloads (OCC)[127] | 61 |
US Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[128] | 22 |
US Rock Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[129] | 2 |
References
[edit]- ^ Wyman, Bill (7 June 2017). "All 213 Beatles Songs, Ranked From Worst to Best". Vulture. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
- ^ Pitchfork Staff (22 August 2016). "The 200 Best Songs of the 1970s". Pitchfork. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
It is pop's OG "Keep Calm and Carry On", which is only fitting given that it soundtracked the end of pop's OG innovators.
- ^ Norman, Phillip (2016). Paul McCartney: The Biography. Hachette UK. ISBN 978-0297870777.
The soft-rock hymn reached number one in America
- ^ a b Miles 1997, p. 20.
- ^ Spitz 2005, pp. 73–76.
- ^ Sulpy & Schweighardt 1999, p. 310.
- ^ Spitz 2005, pp. 88–90.
- ^ The Beatles 2000, p. 19.
- ^ Sold on Song 2009.
- ^ A Lesson on Text Criticism and the Beatles’ Let it Be Jeff McLeod, Catholic Stand, 30 July 2013, Accessed 9 February 2014
- ^ Lewisohn 1988, p. 156.
- ^ Lewisohn, Mark (1988). The Beatles Recording Sessions. New York: Harmony Books. ISBN 0-517-57066-1.
- ^ "Song Facts: The Beatles – "Let It Be" (Both Versions)". Guitar World. 8 May 2014.
- ^ Lewisohn 1988, p. 170.
- ^ Bausch, Phil (15 October 2021). "Let It Be Remix Box Set…Review & Perspective". On The Records. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
- ^ Lewisohn 1988, p. 175.
- ^ a b c Lewisohn 1988, p. 195.
- ^ Kois, Dan (16 August 2018). "No One Covered the Beatles Like Aretha Franklin". Culture. Slate. ISSN 1091-2339. OCLC 728292344. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
- ^ a b Lewisohn 1996, p. 342.
- ^ Nicholas Schaffner -The Beatles Forever – Page 113 1978 Let It Be. E.P., Russia, 1972 (Melodia). The first official Beatles release back in the USSR."
- ^ Lewisohn 1988, p. 198.
- ^ Lewisohn 1988, pp. 195–198.
- ^ Winn 2009, p. 254.
- ^ a b Winn 2009, pp. 262–63.
- ^ a b Winn 2009, p. 361.
- ^ The Observer Music Monthly 2003.
- ^ Apple Records 2003.
- ^ Lewisohn 1988, p. 176.
- ^ Lewisohn 1988, p. 196.
- ^ "Let It Be Special Edition: Super Deluxe Editions". The Beatles. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
- ^ Sutherland, Steve, ed. (2003). NME Originals: Lennon. London: IPC Ignite!. p. 74.
- ^ Gabree, John (August 1970). "Review: The Beatles Let It Be; Paul McCartney McCartney; Ringo Starr Sentimental Journey". High Fidelity. p. 110.
- ^ Williams, Richard (9 May 1970). "Beatles R.I.P.". Melody Maker. p. 5.
- ^ Sutherland, Steve, ed. (2003). NME Originals: Lennon. London: IPC Ignite!. p. 75.
- ^ Unterberger 2009.
- ^ MacDonald 1994, p. 270.
- ^ Riegel, Richard (December 1996). "We Can Work It Out: The Ten Most Over- & Underrated Beatles Songs". Real Groove. Available at Rock's Backpages (subscription required).
- ^ Sheff 2000, p. 202.
- ^ "Q107's Top 500 Pure Rock Songs of the Century". Archived from the original on 4 March 2000. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
- ^ Alexander, Phil; et al. (July 2006). "The 101 Greatest Beatles Songs". Mojo. p. 80.
- ^ "8. Let It Be". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
- ^ Rolling Stone 2010.
- ^ "500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. 7 April 2011. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
- ^ See, for example, Karen Head and Collin Kelley, eds. Mother Mary Comes to Me. A Popculture Poetry Anthology (Lake Dallas, TX: Madville, 2020).
- ^ Blackwelder, Carson (10 May 2024). "The Beatles' classic song 'Let It Be' gets new music video: Watch here". United States: ABC News. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
- ^ a b Sullivan, Steve (4 October 2013). Encyclopedia of Great Popular Song Recordings. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 9780810882966.
- ^ Calkin 2000.
- ^ Whitburn 1996, p. 53.
- ^ "Australia No. 1 hits -- 1970's". World Charts. Archived from the original on 24 April 2014. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
- ^ "The Beatles – Let It Be" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
- ^ "The Beatles – Let It Be" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 26 August 2013.
- ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 3797." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
- ^ Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
- ^ Chartsventes (2 January 2016). "Charts singles Top 50 en France: 12 Apr 1970". Charts singles Top 50 en France. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
- ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
- ^ Aktuil (1970). "Aktuil Magazine 53".
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Let It Be". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
- ^ "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 31 May 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Titolo" field, search "Let it be".
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 12, 1970" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
- ^ "The Beatles – Let It Be" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
- ^ "Flavour of New Zealand, 4 May 1970". Archived from the original on 30 March 2019. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
- ^ "The Beatles – Let It Be". VG-lista. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
- ^ Hallberg, Eric (1993). Eric Hallberg presenterar Kvällstoppen i P 3: Sveriges radios topplista över veckans 20 mest sålda skivor 10. 7. 1962 – 19. 8. 1975. Drift Musik. p. 130. ISBN 9163021404.
- ^ Hallberg, Eric; Henningsson, Ulf (1998). Eric Hallberg, Ulf Henningsson presenterar Tio i topp med de utslagna på försök: 1961 – 74. Premium Publishing. p. 53. ISBN 919727125X.
- ^ "The Beatles – Let It Be". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 August 2013.
- ^ "The Beatles Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
- ^ "The Beatles Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
- ^ "The Beatles Single-Chartverfolgung (in German)". musicline.de. Archived from the original on 13 December 2013. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
- ^ "The Beatles: Let It Be" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
- ^ "The Beatles – Let It Be" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
- ^ "The Beatles Chart History (Hot 100 Recurrents)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
- ^ "The Beatles – Let It Be" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
- ^ "The Beatles – Let It Be". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
- ^ "The Beatles Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
- ^ "Jahreshitparade Singles 1970". austriancharts.at. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1970". Ultratop. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
- ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 3740." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
- ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1970". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1970" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
- ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1970". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
- ^ "Top Records of 1970" (PDF). worldradiohistory.com. 26 December 1970. p. 58. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 1970". Billboard. 2 January 2013. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
- ^ "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
- ^ "Brazilian single certifications – The Beatles – Let It Be" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
- ^ "Danish single certifications – The Beatles – Let It Be". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
- ^ "French single certifications – The Beatles – Let It Be" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
- ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (The Beatles; 'Let It Be')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
- ^ "Italian single certifications – The Beatles – Let It Be" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
- ^ "Spanish single certifications – The Beatles – Let It Be". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
- ^ "British single certifications – Beatles – Let It Be". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
- ^ "American single certifications – The Beatles – Let It Be". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
- ^ CNN 1998.
- ^ BBC News 2003.
- ^ "Paul McCartney's Glastonbury show hailed as 'phenomenal'". The Guardian. 26 June 2022.
- ^ "Collectors' Items: flexi discs, vinyl and cassettes". The Lyn Paul Website. Retrieved 9 November 2011.
- ^ Madinger, Chip; Easter, Mark (2000). Eight Arms to Hold You: The Solo Beatles Compendium. Chesterfield, Missouri: 44.1 Productions. p. 292. ISBN 0-615-11724-4.
- ^ "The Official Charts Company – Ferry Aid – Let It Be". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 July 2009.
- ^ "Certified Awards Search". British Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original on 1 September 2009. Retrieved 26 November 2011. Search by Title, click on more info>>
- ^ "Certified Awards – A Timeline" (PDF). Certified Awards Timeline.pdf. London, UK: BPI (British Recorded Music Industry) Limited. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 August 2011. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
- ^ "norwegiancharts.com – Ferry Aid – Let It Be". Archived from the original on 15 May 2011. Retrieved 5 July 2009.
- ^ "Ferry Aid – Let It Be – hitparade.ch" (in German). Archived from the original on 16 May 2011. Retrieved 5 July 2009.
- ^ "Ferry Aid – Let It Be" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
- ^ "Ferry Aid – Let It Be" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
- ^ "Ferry Aid – Let It Be" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
- ^ "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Ferry Aid".
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 17, 1987" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
- ^ "Ferry Aid – Let It Be" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
- ^ "Ferry Aid – Let It Be". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
- ^ "Ferry Aid – Let It Be". VG-lista. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
- ^ "Ferry Aid – Let It Be". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
- ^ "Ferry Aid – Let It Be". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
- ^ "Ferry Aid: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Ferry Aid – Let It Be" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1987". Ultratop. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
- ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1987". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1987". Dutch Charts. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
- ^ "Topp 20 Single Vår 1987". VG-Lista (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 12 October 2012. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
- ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1987". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
- ^ "Gallup Year End Charts 1987: Singles" (PDF). Record Mirror. London. 23 January 1988. p. 36. ISSN 0144-5804. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
- ^ "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
- ^ Aniftos, Rania (21 November 2023). "Dolly Parton Says She Sent 'Love Note' to Paul McCartney & Ringo Starr to Ask Them for 'Rockstar' Collaboration". Billboard. Archived from the original on 11 January 2024. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
- ^ Nicholson, Jessica (9 May 2023). "Dolly Parton's Star-Studded Album 'Rockstar' Finally Has a Release Date". Billboard. Archived from the original on 13 December 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
- ^ Vito, Jo (29 August 2023). "Dolly Parton's "Let It Be" Cover Marks First Time Two Ex-Beatles Are on a Charting Song as Separate Artists". Consequence. Retrieved 25 December 2024.
- ^ "Let It Be / Dolly Parton / Credits / Let It Be / Dolly Parton". Butterfly Records. 18 August 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2024 – via Tidal.
- ^ "Official Albums Sales Chart top 100". Official Charts Company. 31 August 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2024.
- ^ "Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 December 2024.
- ^ "Dolly Parton Chart History (Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 25 December 2024.
- ^ "Dolly Parton Chart History (Rock Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
Sources
[edit]- The Beatles Anthology, Episode 8 (DVD). EMI. 2003. Event occurs at 0:53:40.
- "The Beatles, Let it Be... Naked". The Observer Music Monthly. London. 19 October 2003. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
- The Beatles (2000). Anthology. Chronicle Books. ISBN 0-8118-2684-8.
- Calkin, Graham (2000). "Let It Be". Retrieved 9 December 2009.
- "Let It Be". Sold on Song. 2009. Retrieved 10 April 2009.
- Let It Be... Naked (Media notes). The Beatles. Apple Records. 2003.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - Levine, Robert (14 December 2003). "Letting 'Let It Be' Be: McCartney Wins". The New York Times.
- Lewisohn, Mark (1988). The Beatles Recording Sessions. New York: Harmony Books. ISBN 0-517-57066-1.
- Lewisohn, Mark (1996). The Complete Beatles Chronicle. Chancellor Press. ISBN 0-7607-0327-2.
- "Linda McCartney farewell celebrates her passions". CNN. 8 June 1998.
- MacDonald, Ian (1994). Revolution in the Head: the Beatles' Records and the Sixties. New York: Henry Holt and Company. ISBN 0-8050-2780-7.
- MacDonald, Ian (2005). Revolution in the Head: The Beatles' Records and the Sixties (Second Revised ed.). London: Pimlico (Rand). ISBN 1-84413-828-3.
- "McCartney plays Red Square". BBC News. 24 May 2003.
- Miles, Barry (1997). Many Years From Now. Vintage-Random House. ISBN 0-7493-8658-4.
- "Overview of The Singer". AllMusic. 2009. Retrieved 9 December 2009.
- Pollack, Alan W. (1995). "Let It Be". Notes on Series. Retrieved 10 July 2008.
- "The RS 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. 9 December 2004. Archived from the original on 26 June 2008.
- "The RS 100 Greatest Beatles Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. 30 August 2010. Archived from the original on 28 August 2010.
- Sheff, David (2000). All We Are Saying: The Last Major Interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono (Paperback). St. Martin's Griffin. ISBN 0-312-25464-4.
- Spitz, Bob (2005). The Beatles. Little Brown. ISBN 0-316-80352-9.
- Sulpy, Doug; Schweighardt, Ray (1999). Get Back: The Unauthorized Chronicle of The Beatles' Let It Be Disaster. New York, NY: St. Martin's Griffin. ISBN 0-312-19981-3.
- Unterberger, Richie (2009). "Review of "Let It Be"". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 April 2009.
- Wexler, Jerry (2007). Rare and Unreleased Recordings from the Golden Reign of the Queen of Soul (booklet). Aretha Franklin.
- Whitburn, Joel (1996). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits (6th ed.). Billboard Books. ISBN 9780823076321.
- Winn, John C. (2009). That Magic Feeling: The Beatles' Recorded Legacy, Volume Two, 1966–1970. New York, NY: Three Rivers Press. ISBN 978-0-307-45239-9.
External links
[edit]- 1969 songs
- 1970 singles
- 1970s ballads
- 1987 singles
- The Beatles songs
- Grammy Hall of Fame Award recipients
- Song recordings produced by George Martin
- Songs written by Lennon–McCartney
- Apple Records singles
- CBS Records singles
- Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles
- Cashbox number-one singles
- UK singles chart number-one singles
- Number-one singles in Germany
- Number-one singles in Australia
- European Hot 100 Singles number-one singles
- Number-one singles in New Zealand
- Number-one singles in Norway
- RPM Top Singles number-one singles
- Number-one singles in Switzerland
- Rock ballads
- Pop ballads
- Joan Baez songs
- Aretha Franklin songs
- Ike & Tina Turner songs
- Bill Withers songs
- John Denver songs
- Meat Loaf songs
- Nick Cave songs
- Song recordings produced by Phil Spector
- Songs published by Northern Songs
- Gospel songs
- Charity singles
- All-star recordings
- Song recordings produced by Stock Aitken Waterman