LET IT BE

On this day in music history: April 11, 1970 - “Let It Be” by The Beatles hits #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 2 weeks. Written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, it is the nineteenth US chart topper for “The Fab Four”. McCartney is inspired to the write it after having a dream about his mother giving him reassuring words (telling him “it’ll be alright, just let it be.”) during a very tumultuous period. The master take is recorded on January 31, 1969, with additional overdubs recorded on April 30, 1969 and January 4, 1970. The single mix of “Let It Be” differs from the LP version. During recording and overdubbing sessions, George Harrison re-records his guitar solo with the single mix featuring the take recorded on April 30, 1969, and the LP version including the solo recorded on January 4, 1970. George Martin mixes the track with more subtle orchestration and background vocals for the single version, than Phil Spector’s mix which puts more emphasis on those parts. It makes chart history debuting on the Hot 100 at #6 on March 21, 1970, the highest opening week chart entry ever, climbing to the top of the chart three weeks later. This record stands until 1995, when Michael & Janet Jackson’s duet “Scream” enters the Billboard Hot 100 at #5 on June 17, 1995. “Let It Be” is backed with the non-LP B-side “You Know My Name (Look Up The Number)”. “Number” has a long recording history, which begins nearly three years earlier. The basic track is begun on May 17, 1967, with overdubs on June 7 - 8, 1967. On June 8th, Rolling Stone Brian Jones records a saxophone solo on the track. The track lies dormant until April 30, 1969, when John and Paul add vocals along with band roadie Mal Evans adding sound effects. Initially, it was to be an A-side under the Plastic Ono Band moniker backed with “The White Album” outtake “What’s The New Mary Jane?” in December of 1969, but its release is canceled at the last minute. Mixed into mono only, “You Know My Name” is not issued on a Beatles album until it is included on the compilation “Rarities” in 1980. An extended stereo remix is released on “Anthology 2” in 1996. Over the years, “Let It Be” is covered by Aretha Franklin, Joan Baez, The Hollies, John Denver, Tori Amos, and Nick Cave. In 1987, the song is re-recorded under the name Ferry Aid to raise money to benefit the victims of the Zeebrugge Ferry Disaster. The single features Paul McCartney along various UK star musicians including Boy George, Kate Bush and Mark Knopfler. It tops the UK singles chart for three weeks in April of 1987. The Beatles original recording is inducted into the Grammy Hall Of Fame in 2004. In 2011, the US 45 release of “Let It Be” is reissued in a limited edition through big box retailer Target, to promote the remastered CD of “The Beatles 1” compilation. The reissue replicates the original US Apple 45 and picture sleeve, coming packaged with a T-shirt. “Let It Be” is certified 2x Platinum in the US by the RIAA.

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Bought the album and got the single later in the jukebox bargain bins because I wanted the single with You Know My Name(Look Uo The Number) on it which stands as a favourite and frequently makes me corpse completely. That 'Let it Be' was about Paul's Mum coming to him in a dream we knew but we also took great store in the message and the peace vibe wasn't just a one shot deal but would go on . . . . . . 

Mary McCartney (senior) with her boys Paul and Mike