On this episode of Compleatly Beatles, Ian and Dave take a look at Get Back/Let It Be, the Beatles most turbulent album, recorded at a particularly unhappy time for the band – George Harrison himself called the recording sessions “hell”. There is so much history and drama to this album that the historical context almost overwhelms the song by song analysis, but it’s all very interesting and we’re sure you will enjoy it. So sit back and let’s Get Back
(PS. We know that Let It Be officially came out after Abbey Road, but since it was recorded first old Mr. Stickler, David, insisted on doing this album first.)
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This show was so well done. Every show gets better. Great context this time. I wish there were more albums so you could keep going. Hey, how about taking on CSN&Y, the “American Beatles” after the films?
Graham Nash is British.
Neil Young is Canadian.
Entertaining and well researced podcast! Just a correction about Lennon’s “clam” addled bass playing on the song Let it Be. ALL the bass parts were replaced by McCartney during the early 1970 sessions that featured just the Threetles. Harrison also had another go at the guitar solo in that song (the one that ended up on the album-the first version showing up on the single). They also finished off For You Blue at the same sessions, the middle eight (McCartney suggested) rocking part added apparently. These of course were the last official Beatle sessions until Spector brought Ringo back in to add some drum overdubs along with the orchestral parts he had arranged. Keep up the good work!
i’m surprised no one made mention that john suspected “get back” was an allusion to john & yoko.
also i need to point out that dave incorrectly states more than once that john wrote songs exclusively about yoko. first, when a pop songwriter falls in love, writing about that person is par the course, cf. jane asher. second, it’s just patently untrue – consider abbey road: come together, sun king, because, mustard, pam – all NOT about yoko.
Good show! Though I would have liked a bit more on Maggie Mae – how John’s mum, Julia showed him it and how it follows Let It Be (from Paul’s mum) on the album.
Cheers for the content though x
Thanks for the series, enjoyed listening to them all. Have you spoken about the footage from Get Back from Peter Jackson anywhere? Would love to know how it changed your view on Let it Be and what you thought about it.