"Let it Be"

Song: "Let it Be"
Album: Let It Be (1970)

"Let It Be" was written by McCartney during a tumultuous period while recording The Beatles (The White Album), following a dream Paul had about his mother (who died of cancer when he was fourteen). The Mother Mary line in the song refers to her (Mary McCartney), and he’s said that she told him, in the dream, “It will be all right, just let it be.”

The song was not recorded, though, until January of 1969, during the even more tumultuous Get Back sessions.  “Let it Be” was the final single released by the Beatles (in March 1970) before McCartney announced his split from the group.  An alternative mix also appeared as the title track on the Let it Be album (renamed from Get Back), which was released later in 1970, after the Beatles had parted ways.

George overdubbed two guitar solos--recorded April 1969 and January 1970--for the song, which were added to the original January 1969 take. The intention was that they’d both be used in the final track, but instead, the first was used for the single release, and the second was used in the original album release. Backing vocals were added in January 1970, including those sung by Linda McCarney, which is her only known contribution to a Beatles song. 

Phil Spector remixed the song in March 1970 for what would become the Let It Be album, augmenting some of Ringo’s drumming (including adding a delay to the high hat), stripping out the backing vocals (except on the first chorus), and adding a more prominent orchestral arrangement. In short, he overdid it. It was remixed again for the 2003 release of Let It Be…Naked, in which much of Spector’s excess is removed, especially (to Ringo’s satisfaction) the delayed drumming effects, leaving Starr’s more natural, stripped-down drumming.  

“Let it Be” was well-received critically, and is frequently cited as a fan favorite. Additionally, it won both an Academy Award (for Best Original Song Score) and a Grammy (for Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or a Television Special) for the Let It Be film in 1971.