The Beatles January 1969

Title: Filming "Let It Be" Day 21 (Let It Be/Get Back)
Type: Feature Film
Filming Location: Apple Studios, Twickenham, England
Filming Date: January 31st 1969
Broadcast Date: May 13th 1970 (New York); May 20th 1970 (London); November 2021 (Get Back)
Country Of Broadcast: UK/USA
Duration: 32:00 Minutes
Quality: B+
Source: "The Savile Row Sessions" (Adam Bound)
Other Sources: "The Beatles Get Back Chronicles Vol 3" (FAB Productions)

Notes: Following their rooftop performance on January 30, 1969, The Beatles joined by Billy Preston returned to the basement
studio of Apple the next day, for the last day of their "Get Back" sessions, to complete recordings of three songs that were not
suited for the outdoor setting: "Two of Us," "The Long and Winding Road," and "Let It Be."

Unlike their earlier, more informal rehearsals at Twickenham and Apple, this session had a clear focus: capturing performances
directly for the cameras and, ideally, producing releasable takes."Two of Us" was quickly completed, requiring only a
single breakdown and three full takes. A performance of the song later became the opening track of the "Let It Be" album. With
the session progressing efficiently, The Beatles took some time to have fun in the studio, running through old favorites and
impromptu renditions. Among these was a version of "Step Inside Love," a song Paul McCartney had written for Cilla Black in 1968.

Additionally, they played an improvised take on "Lady Madonna" featuring playful, altered lyrics, and Paul briefly sang lines
from "I Want You (She`s So Heavy)," a song they had been developing earlier that week.After a break, The Beatles turned their
attention to "The Long and Winding Road." This part of the session yielded multiple takes, including the one later featured on
the 2003 "Let It Be Naked" album.The final song of the session, "Let It Be," proved to be the most challenging. Over 22
takes were recorded, with John Lennon initially taking the lead vocal on a skiffle-style version featuring an alternate melody.

As the session wore on, tensions surfaced—Lennon, appearing bored, injected humorous, irreverent lines such as "squeaking turds
of whisky over me" into the lyrics. Paul also altered the words at times, referencing "Brother Malcolm," likely a nod to their longtime roadie Mal Evans.

Thanks to The Paul McCartney Project for the notes.