BEATLES - AND IN THE END . . .

I know we have had much of this before but it's worth it for the video clips . . . . 

On this day in music history: June 13, 1970 - “Let It Be”, the twelfth studio album by The Beatles hits #1 on the Billboard Top 200 for 4 weeks. Produced by George Martin and Phil Spector, it is recorded at Apple Studios, Abbey Road, and Twickenham Film Studios in London from February 1968, January – February 1969, January and March – April 1970. Following the often acrimonious sessions for “The White Album” in 1968, the album is originally conceived as a project that documents the band working in the studio, recording in as basic of a way as possible, without overdubbing, and outside musicians. With the ultimate goal of The Beatles performing live again in front of an audience. Unfortunately the bad feelings and arguing that started during the previous album intensifies, with George Harrison walking out eight days into the sessions. Eventually he does return, but things are still tense between the four. The album and accompanying film shot during the recording sessions are shelved for nearly a year before the decision is made to release them. Producer Phil Spector is given carte blanche to work with the hours and hours tapes to shape them into a releasable album. However, it strays far from its original concept. In the UK and Canada, the album is also issued as a lavish limited edition box set featuring a full color picture book with photos by photographer Ethan Russell. Originally released on CD in 1987, it is remastered and reissued in 2009, and as a 180 gram vinyl LP in 2012. “Let It Be” is certified 4x Platinum in the US by the RIAA.

On this day in music history: June 13, 1970 - “The Long And Winding Road” / “For You Blue” by The Beatles hits #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 2 weeks. Written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney/George Harrison, it is the twentieth and final US chart topper for the legendary rock band from Liverpool, UK. The final master version of “Road” is recorded on January 26 and 31, 1969 at Apple Studios in London, the ballad originally features just The Beatles and keyboardist Billy Preston playing on the track. When producer Phil Spector is hired to remix and compile the songs from the January 1969 sessions into a cohesive album, he takes numerous liberties with the raw tapes. Written by Paul (but credited to Lennon and McCartney), “The Long And Winding Road” is subjected to this treatment when Spector overdubs an orchestra and a choir on to the track. The extraneous post production angers McCartney, but is too late to prevent it from being released. In 2003, a remixed version of the song (without Spector’s post production) is released on the album “Let It Be… Naked”. The singles’ B-side “For You Blue”, written by George Harrison is recorded on January 25, 1969 at Apple Studios, with additional overdubs recorded on January 8, 1970 at Olympic Studios in London. The track features John Lennon playing a lap steel guitar. “Blue” receives significant airplay along side “Winding Road” and is given equal billing on the charts. The two songs are the second single to be issued from the album and film “Let It Be” on May 11, 1970, and quickly rise up the chart. Entering the Hot 100 at #35 on May 23, 1970, it will bolt to the top of the chart three weeks later. The last of The Beatles US chart toppers, like the previous single “Let It Be”, Capitol issues some copies of the single in a picture sleeve. Featuring a similar layout and design as the previous single “Let It Be”, “The Long And Winding Road” sleeve uses four different individual photos of the band and black text, against a stark white background. Many of the sleeves develop ring wear or an impression of the 45 even during shipping from the pressing plants. This makes pristine copies of the sleeve without imprint wear a prized and sought after item by Beatles collectors. East coast manufactured sleeves (printed by Queens Litho) featuring a straight cut across both sides, are more common than the rarer west coast made sleeves (printed by Bert-Co), with a thumb notch cut on the “For You Blue” side. Near mint copies of either sleeve often command on the average between $100-150 on the collector’s market. “The Long And Winding Road” / “For You Blue” is certified Platinum in the US by the RIAA.