Let It Be: Special Edition
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Let It Be: Special Edition
| type = compilation
| artist = the Beatles
| cover = LetItBe-SpecialEdition.png
| border = yes
| alt =
| released = {{Start date|2021|10|15|df=y}}
| recorded = February 1968 – April 1970
| venue =
| studio = Apple, EMI and Twickenham Film Studios, London
| genre =
| length = 164:27
| label = Apple
| producer = {{hlist|Phil Spector (original album)|Glyn Johns (1969 Get Back mix)|Giles Martin (remix)}}
| compiler =
| prev_title = The Singles Collection
| prev_year = 2019
| next_title = Get Back – The Rooftop Performance
| next_year = 2022
| chronology = The Beatles
}}
Let It Be: Special Edition is an expanded reissue of the original 1970 album by the English rock band the Beatles. It was released by Apple Records on 15 October 2021 and includes a new stereo remix of the album, as well as a Dolby Atmos mix, by Giles Martin, the son of Beatles producer George Martin.
Background and content
This was not the first time Let It Be was released as a box set. The original album came out in a limited edition box set in the UK on 8 May 1970, which went out of print by that December and was replaced in circulation with a standard issue LP. Aside from the LP, the original box set included a 164-page paperback book.{{cite web|title=The Beatles Let it Be, 1970 complete UK box set (No"replacement" items!) Stock Ref HHB582 : Pleasures of Past Times|url=https://pleasuresofpasttimes.com/popt-shop/the-beatles-let-it-be-1970-complete-uk-box-set-noreplacement-items-stock-ref-hhb582/|access-date=2021-10-24|website=pleasuresofpasttimes.com}}
Like the previous Beatles 50th anniversary box sets, Let It Be: Special Edition was originally going to be released the same month as the original album. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, its release was delayed until October 2021 while the release of the Get Back documentary series was delayed until November 2021. Additionally, the release dates of the super deluxe editions of John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band and All Things Must Pass were delayed until April 2021 and August 2021 respectively.{{cite web|date=2021-03-05|title=John Lennon's 'John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band' to be celebrated in new 'Ultimate Collection' reissue|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/john-lennons-john-lennon-plastic-ono-band-to-be-celebrated-in-new-ultimate-collection-reissue-2894756|access-date=2021-10-25|website=NME|language=en-GB}}{{cite web|date=2021-07-30|title='All Things Must Pass' 50th Anniversary Releases|url=https://www.georgeharrison.com/atmp50/|access-date=2021-10-25|website=George Harrison|language=en-US}}
A trailer for Let It Be: Special Edition was released in August 2021, two months before its release. It was also revealed that a book containing essays, photos, session notes and a message from Paul McCartney on his thoughts on both the box set and the upcoming Get Back documentary will be included in the box set.{{cite web|last=Irwin|first=Corey|title=Beatles Announce 'Let It Be' Special Edition Box Set|url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/beatles-let-it-be-reissue-2021/|access-date=2021-10-25|website=Ultimate Classic Rock|date=26 August 2021 |language=en}} Let It Be: Special Edition features a remix of the original Let It Be album by producer Giles Martin and engineer Sam Okell, along with session highlights, outtakes, an EP featuring four additional unreleased tracks and new mixes and a remaster of Glyn Johns' original 1969 Get Back mix.{{cite news|date=26 August 2021|title=Beatles' 'Let It Be' Deluxe Editions Set for October, Preceding Peter Jackson's Documentary Series|work=Variety|url=https://variety.com/2021/music/news/the-beatles-let-it-be-deluxe-edition-box-set-announced-1235049495/|url-status=live|access-date=27 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210827133534/https://variety.com/2021/music/news/the-beatles-let-it-be-deluxe-edition-box-set-announced-1235049495/|archive-date=27 August 2021}}{{cite web|last1=Monroe|first1=Jazz|date=26 August 2021|title=The Beatles Announce Let It Be Reissue|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/the-beatles-announce-let-it-be-reissue/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210903090212/https://pitchfork.com/news/the-beatles-announce-let-it-be-reissue/|archive-date=3 September 2021|access-date=15 October 2021|website=Pitchfork}} Let It Be: Special Edition is available in both CD and vinyl formats.{{cite web|title=Let It Be Special Edition: Super Deluxe {{!}} The Beatles|url=https://www.thebeatles.com/let-it-be-special-edition-super-deluxe|access-date=2021-10-24|website=www.thebeatles.com}}{{cite web|last=Carty|first=Pat|title=Dig A Pony? The Beatles - Let It Be Super Deluxe Edition|url=https://www.hotpress.com/music/dig-a-pony-the-beatles-let-it-be-super-deluxe-edition-22876112|access-date=2021-10-24|website=Hotpress}}{{cite web|title=Let It Be – Special Edition (Super Deluxe)|url=https://www.thebeatlesonline.co.uk/thebeatles/Let-It-Be/Let-It-Be-Special-Edition-Super-Deluxe/73YV1897000|access-date=2021-10-25|website=Beatles UK/EU|language=en}}{{cite web|title=Let It Be – Special Edition (Super Deluxe Vinyl)|url=https://www.thebeatlesonline.co.uk/thebeatles/Let-It-Be/Let-It-Be-Special-Edition-Super-Deluxe-Vinyl/73YZ1897000|access-date=2021-10-25|website=Beatles UK/EU|language=en}}
The box set included the first official release of the 1969 Get Back mix, which was previously available in bootleg form.{{cite web|last=Gallucci|first=Michael|title=Top 10 Beatles Bootleg Albums|url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/beatles-bootleg-albums/|access-date=2021-10-25|website=Ultimate Classic Rock|date=16 February 2013 |language=en}} However, some sources state that due to a mixup, the true 1969 mix is available only on the Japan Super High Material (SHM) CD release, and that the mix on all other releases combines elements from both the 1969 mix and the 1970 mix of the Get Back album.{{cite web|last=admin|date=2021-10-22|title=Wrong Masters for the 'Glyn Johns 1969 Mix', and Japan to the rescue.|url=http://webgrafikk.com/blog/news/wrong-masters-for-the-glyn-johns-1969-mix-and-japan-to-the-rescue/|access-date=2021-10-27|website=The Daily Beatle|language=en-GB}}
On 28 January 2022, the full audio recording of the rooftop concert was released to streaming services as The Beatles: Get Back – The Rooftop Performance.{{Cite web|last=Willman|first=Chris|date=2022-01-27|title=Beatles' 'Rooftop Performance' to Be Released as a Streaming Audio Album|url=https://variety.com/2022/music/news/beatles-rooftop-concert-streaming-audio-album-release-1235164839/|access-date=2022-01-28|website=Variety|language=en-US}}
Reception
Let It Be: Special Edition received positive reviews.{{cite web|date=2021-10-20|title=Let It Be – Super Deluxe Version Repaints the Beatles' Final Album|url=https://www.spin.com/2021/10/the-beatles-let-it-be-reissue-review/|access-date=2021-10-25|website=SPIN|language=en-US}}{{cite web|title=The Beatles / Let It Be reissue – SuperDeluxeEdition|date=26 August 2021 |url=https://superdeluxeedition.com/news/the-beatles-let-it-be-reissue/|access-date=2021-10-25|language=en-US}}{{cite web|date=2021-10-25|title=Another take|url=https://www.odt.co.nz/lifestyle/magazine/another-take|access-date=2021-10-25|website=Otago Daily Times |language=en}} In an online review, music critic David Quantick stated the box set "does wonders for the record" and that it gives the listener "a bird’s-eye view of the sessions".{{cite web|last=Quantick|first=David|date=2021-10-15|title=50 years of The Beatles' Let It Be improved via panoramic expansion|url=https://www.loudersound.com/reviews/50-years-of-the-beatles-let-it-be-improved-via-panoramic-expansion|access-date=2021-10-25|website=loudersound|language=en}} Pitchfork gave it a 9.1 rating and said in their review that the box set shines a light on "the brilliant and tumultuous process" of the album, and called some of the outtakes "uncomfortable and fascinating".{{cite web|title=The Beatles: Let It Be (Super Deluxe)|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/the-beatles-let-it-be-super-deluxe/|access-date=2021-10-25|website=Pitchfork|language=en}}
On Metacritic, Let It Be: Special Edition holds an aggregate score of 91 out of 100, based on seven reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".{{Citation|title=Let It Be [2021 Mix] [Super Deluxe Edition] [Box Set] by The Beatles|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/let-it-be-2021-mix-super-deluxe-edition-box-set/the-beatles|language=en|access-date=2021-10-25}}
Track listings
= New stereo mix of original album =
{{Track listing
| extra_column = Lead vocal(s)
| length4 = 2:26
| length7 = 0:40
| extra7 = Lennon with McCartney
| writer7 = Traditional; arranged by Lennon, McCartney, Harrison, Starkey
| title7 = Maggie Mae
| length6 = 4:03
| extra6 = McCartney
| title6 = Let It Be
| length5 = 0:50
| extra5 = Lennon
| writer5 = Lennon, McCartney, Harrison, Richard Starkey
| title5 = Dig It
| extra4 = Harrison
| all_writing = Lennon–McCartney, except where noted
| writer4 = George Harrison
| title4 = I Me Mine
| length3 = 3:48
| extra3 = Lennon
| title3 = Across the Universe
| length2 = 3:54
| extra2 = Lennon
| title2 = Dig a Pony
| length1 = 3:36
| extra1 = McCartney with Lennon
| title1 = Two of Us
| length12 = 3:09
| extra12 = McCartney
| title12 = Get Back
| length11 = 2:32
| extra11 = Harrison
| writer11 = Harrison
| title11 = For You Blue
| extra10 = McCartney
| title10 = The Long and Winding Road
| length10 = 3:38
| length9 = 2:54
| extra9 = Lennon with McCartney
| title9 = One After 909
| length8 = 3:37
| extra8 = McCartney and Lennon
| title8 = I've Got a Feeling
| total_length = 34:37
}}
= Super Deluxe edition tracks =
{{Tracklist
| headline = Disc 2: Get Back – Apple Sessions
| length7 = 3:37
| length1 = 3:42
| title2 = Maggie Mae" / "Fancy My Chances with You
| note2 =
| writer2 = Traditional / Lennon, McCartney
| length2 = 0:58
| title3 = Can You Dig It?
| note3 =
| length3 = 2:02
| note4 = Speech
| length4 = 1:22
| title4 = I Don't Know Why I'm Moaning
| title5 = For You Blue
| note5 = Take 4
| writer5 = Harrison
| length5 = 2:52
| title6 = Let It Be" / "Please Please Me" / "Let It Be
| note6 = Take 10
| length6 = 4:32
| title7 = I've Got a Feeling
| note7 = Take 10
| note1 = Speech / Take 4
| title1 = Morning Camera" / "Two of Us
| title12 = Don't Let Me Down
| note12 = First Rooftop Performance
| title9 = Get Back
| note9 = Take 19
| length9 = 3:57
| title10 = Like Making an Album?
| note10 = Speech
| length10 = 0:42
| title11 = One After 909
| note11 = Take 3
| length11 = 3:27
| note8 = Take 14
| title8 = Dig a Pony
| length12 = 3:28
| title13 = The Long and Winding Road
| note13 = Take 19
| length13 = 3:47
| title14 = Wake Up Little Susie" / "I Me Mine
| note14 = Take 11
| writer14 = Felice Bryant, Boudleaux Bryant / Harrison
| length14 = 2:15
| total_length = 40:42
| length8 = 4:01
}}
{{Tracklist
| headline = Disc 3: Get Back – Rehearsals and Apple Jams
| note7 = Rehearsals
| writer1 = Harrison
| length1 = 4:22
| title2 = Concentrate on the Sound
| note2 =
| length2 = 1:07
| title3 = Gimme Some Truth
| note3 = Rehearsals
| writer3 = Lennon
| title4 = I Me Mine
| note4 = Rehearsals
| length3 = 1:19
| writer4 = Harrison
| length4 = 1:35
| title5 = She Came in Through the Bathroom Window
| note5 = Rehearsals
| length5 = 2:50
| title6 = Polythene Pam
| note6 = Rehearsals
| length6 = 1:19
| title7 = Octopus's Garden
| note1 = Speech / Rehearsals
| title1 = On the Day Shift Now" / "All Things Must Pass
| title11 = Without a Song
| note11 = Jam – Billy Preston with John and Ringo
| note8 = Jam
| length8 = 5:19
| title9 = Get Back
| note9 = Take 8
| length9 = 3:52
| title10 = The Walk
| note10 = Jam
| writer10 = Jimmy McCracklin, Bob Garlic
| length10 = 0:55
| length7 = 1:50
| writer7 = Starkey
| writer11 = Vincent Youmans, Billy Rose, Edward Eliscu
| length11 = 2:00
| title12 = Something
| note12 = Rehearsals
| writer12 = Harrison
| length12 = 1:24
| title13 = Let It Be
| note13 = Take 28
| length13 = 4:42
| title8 = Oh! Darling
| total_length = 32:34
}}{{Tracklist
| headline = Disc 4: Get Back LP – Glyn Johns 1969 Mix
| note4 =
| note1 =
| length1 = 3:06
| title2 = I'm Ready (Rocker)" / "Save the Last Dance for Me" / "Don't Let Me Down
| note2 = Medley
| writer2 = Fats Domino, Al Lewis, Sylvester Bradford / Doc Pomus, Mort Shuman / Lennon, McCartney
| length2 = 1:56
| title3 = Don't Let Me Down
| note3 =
| length3 = 4:05
| length7 = 2:53
| title1 = One After 909
| length4 = 4:13
| title5 = I've Got a Feeling
| note5 =
| length5 = 2:53
| title6 = Get Back
| note6 =
| length6 = 3:13
| title7 = For You Blue
| note7 = 1969 mix with 1970 lead vocal overdub
| writer7 = Harrison
| title4 = Dig a Pony
| title8 = Teddy Boy
| note11 =
| writer11 = Lennon, McCartney, Harrison, Starkey
| length8 = 3:41
| title9 = Two of Us
| note9 =
| length9 = 3:29
| title10 = Maggie Mae
| note10 =
| writer10 = Traditional
| length10 = 0:38
| title11 = Dig It
| note8 =
| writer8 = McCartney
| length11 = 4:09
| title12 = Let It Be
| note12 =
| length12 = 4:09
| title13 = The Long And Winding Road
| note13 =
| length13 = 3:39
| title14 = Get Back
| note14 = Reprise
| length14 = 0:40
| total_length = 42:45
}}{{Tracklist
| headline = Disc 5: Let It Be EP
| title1 = Across The Universe
| note1 = Unreleased Glyn Johns 1970 Mix
| length1 = 3:31
| title2 = I Me Mine
| note2 = Unreleased Glyn Johns 1970 Mix
| writer2 = Harrison
| length2 = 1:45
| title3 = Don't Let Me Down
| note3 = New Mix of Original Single Version
| length3 = 4:08
| title4 = Let It Be
| note4 = New Mix of Original Single Version
| length4 = 3:52
| total_length = 13:16
}}
Personnel
- Giles Martin – mixing supervisor
- Sam Okell – mixing co-engineer
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center
|+Chart performance for Let It Be: Special Edition ! scope="col"| Chart (2021) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| scope="row"|Australian Albums (ARIA){{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/albums-chart/2021-10-25|publisher=ARIA Charts|access-date=24 October 2021|title=ARIA Top 50 Albums for week of 25 October 2021|language=en|date=24 October 2021}}
|2 |
|---|
| {{album chart|Flanders|6|artist=The Beatles|album=Let It Be|rowheader=true|access-date=24 October 2021}} |
| {{album chart|Wallonia|2|artist=The Beatles|album=Let It Be|rowheader=true|access-date=24 October 2021}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardCanada|8|M|url=https://www.fyimusicnews.ca/fyi-charts/billboard-canadian-albums|title=Billboard Canadian Albums|work=FYIMusicNews|artist=The Beatles|rowheader=true|access-date=26 October 2021}} |
| {{album chart|Czech|14|date=202142|rowheader=true|access-date=25 October 2021}} |
| {{album chart|Finland|5|artist=The Beatles|album=Let It Be|rowheader=true|access-date=24 October 2021}} |
| {{album chart|Germany4|3|id=6313|artist=The Beatles|album=Let It Be|rowheader=true|access-date=25 October 2021}} |
| {{album chart|Hungary|34|year=2021|week=42|rowheader=true|access-date=28 October 2021}} |
| {{album chart|Ireland3|3|date=20211022|rowheader=true|access-date=22 October 2021}} |
| scope="row"| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ){{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/albums/2021-10-22|title=NZ Top 40 Albums Chart|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|date=25 October 2021|access-date=23 October 2021}}
| 5 |
| {{album chart|Poland|22|id=1399|rowheader=true|access-date=28 October 2021}} |
| {{album chart|Spain|5|artist=The Beatles|album=Let It Be|rowheader=true|access-date=24 October 2021}} |
| {{album chart|Switzerland|3|artist=The Beatles|album=Let It Be|rowheader=true|access-date=24 October 2021}} |
| {{album chart|UK2|2|date=20211022|rowheader=true|access-date=October 25, 2021}} |
| scope="row"|US Billboard 200{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/9650236/young-thugs-punk-number-one-billboard-200-chart/|publisher=Billboard|access-date=25 October 2021|title=Young Thug's "Punk" Debuts at No.1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart|language=en|date=25 October 2021}}
| 5 |
See also
References
{{Let It Be}}{{The Beatles compilations}}{{Billy Preston}}
Category:2021 compilation albums
Category:The Beatles compilation albums