Fiftieth Anniversary Since the Fab Four's Final Album

Fifty years ago today, the Beatles released Let it Be. Their twelfth and final album, it was issued a little after their disbanding. 
A black cover with four square photos of the band members' faces

It was recorded before Abbey Road:

The album's recording started back in February of 1968, when Across the Universe was recorded. The bulk of the album was made in early 1969. In addition to the Fab Four, American keyboardist Billy Preston joined in on the side. 

The LP topped the charts on eithr side of the pond, but is regarded as one of the most controversial rock albums, folks. In particular, Alan Smith of British music magazine NME stated that the LP is an epitaph on a cardboard tombstone. Smith even went on to say that the Beatles "sold out all the principles they stood for." 

There Was a Movie:

In ddition to the album, a movie was produced and issued about the same time. The namesake movie is a documentary showing the Beatles recording the album as well as their unannounced, spectacular rooftop show at Abbey Road Studios on January 30, 1969 - their last public performance ever.

Songs and Production

The album's title track and The Long and Winding Road, the latter being the Fab Four's last issued original single (some reissues of mid-60s singles occured in the mid 70s). Both singles topped the charts in the US. 

The latter single, The Long and Winding Road, is most noteable for Phil Spector's "Wall of Sound," production (a la Creedence Green River or The Holies' Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress). Although John Lennon and George Harrison were satisfied with the production and even went as to far as to appoint Phil Spector for their post-Beatle albums, Macca was unsatisfied and produced his self-titled solo debut himself - with assistance from his wife Linda, who also sang backing vocals on this album.

Let it Be also features Maggie Mae, a Liverpool folk traditional about a prostitute who robs a sailor coming back from a round trip. The following year, Sir Rod Stewart would record Maggie MAY, and it would top the charts.

In addition, there is the Macca-penned I've Got a Feeling, a live staple in his shows, as well as teh closing track, Get Back, which topped the charts in Canada and made the top 20 in the US and is one of the singles recorded during the sessions with Billy Preston.

There is also a naked, (rather stripped back) version.

A series of black-and-white images of the Beatles with the colors inversed

At the advice of Paul McCartney, Phil Spector produced a stripped-down version of the album, calling it Let it Be...Naked. This version, released in late 2003, showcases more of the band's artistic sound - a major reason as to why McCartney did not approve the sound on the original record. 

Songs on this album are noticeably different. For example, The Long and Winding Road version presented on Naked does not featuring the booming orchestration heard on the album. In addition, several of the songs are a touch quieter than that of the original.

As we all know, the Beatles disbanded around the time of this album's release. Ringo Starr shortly formed the All Star Band and after two LPs, McCartney formed Wings with his wife, Linda, and Denny Laine of Moody Blues' fame. Wings are the most successful post-Beatles projects, but they too split in 1981.

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