Everyone thinks they know the story. Four guys on a rooftop, the cold London wind biting through their coats, and a "swan song" that signaled the end of the greatest band in history. But if you actually look at the Beatles Let It Be tracklist, it’s a bit of a mess. Honestly, it’s a miracle it exists at all. It wasn’t even supposed to be called Let It Be. Originally, it was Get Back, a raw, no-frills project designed to strip away the studio wizardry of Sgt. Pepper and The White Album.
The reality? It was a nightmare.
John Lennon was largely checked out, bringing Yoko Ono into the inner sanctum which, regardless of your take on her, fundamentally shifted the group's dynamic. George Harrison actually quit the band for several days during the rehearsals. Paul McCartney was trying—perhaps too hard—to be the foreman of a factory that didn't want to produce anything anymore. Ringo, ever the professional, just sat behind the kit and watched the walls crumble. What we ended up with on the official 1970 release wasn't the "live" album they envisioned. Instead, Phil Spector, the man behind the "Wall of Sound," took the tapes and slathered them in choirs and harps.
The Official Let It Be Tracklist Breakdown
When you drop the needle on Side A, you aren't hearing the band in their purest form. You're hearing a posthumous assembly. Here is how that 1970 running order actually shook out:
- Two of Us – A rare moment of harmony between John and Paul, though ironically, it was recorded during a time of peak tension.
- Dig a Pony – Total nonsense lyrics from Lennon, but that bluesy riff is undeniable.
- Across the Universe – This track had been kicking around since 1968. Spector slowed it down and added the massive orchestral swell that some fans love and others (including McCartney) famously loathed.
- I Me Mine – George Harrison’s biting commentary on the egos within the band. Interestingly, this was the last song the Beatles ever recorded together as a group (minus John) in January 1970 to finish the album.
- Dig It – A snippet of a long jam. It’s barely a song. It’s a vibe.
- Let It Be – The centerpiece. The anthem.
- Maggie Mae – A traditional Liverpool folk song about a prostitute. It lasts 40 seconds. Why is it there? Because the sessions were loose, and the tracklist reflects that chaos.
Moving to Side B, things get even weirder.
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- I've Got a Feeling – A genuine collaboration. Paul’s "I’ve got a feeling" meets John’s "Everybody had a hard year." It’s the sound of two geniuses still being able to lock in, even when they couldn't stand being in the same room.
- One After 909 – One of their oldest songs. They dug it out of the archives to prove they could still play straight rock and roll.
- The Long and Winding Road – This is the one that broke the camel's back. Paul hated Spector's arrangement so much he cited it in the legal proceedings to dissolve the band.
- For You Blue – A sweet 12-bar blues from George.
- Get Back – The song that gave the project its original name.
Why the Running Order Matters
If you're a purist, the Beatles Let It Be tracklist feels like a compromise. Glyn Johns, the original engineer, had put together several versions of the album that were much more "honest." They included studio chatter, false starts, and a generally "crustier" sound. But the band rejected those versions. They were embarrassed by the quality of the playing.
Think about that. The Beatles, the biggest band on Earth, were scared of sounding like a garage band.
When Phil Spector took over, he tried to turn a documentary of a breakup into a cinematic experience. That’s why the tracklist feels disjointed. You go from the tiny, acoustic "Maggie Mae" into the massive, sweeping production of "Let It Be." It’s a jarring listening experience that perfectly mirrors the mental state of the band in 1969.
The Rooftop Factor
A huge chunk of the Beatles Let It Be tracklist comes from that legendary January 30th performance on the roof of Apple Corps. "Dig a Pony," "I've Got a Feeling," and "One After 909" are all live takes. There’s something magical about hearing the wind hit the microphones. It’s the only part of the album where the band seems truly happy.
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When they were playing, they forgot about the lawyers. They forgot about the business meetings. They were just four guys from Liverpool playing loud.
However, the "Let It Be... Naked" version released in 2003 stripped all that Spector polish away. It also changed the tracklist. It removed "Maggie Mae" and "Dig It" and added "Don't Let Me Down," which was originally the B-side to the "Get Back" single. If you want to hear what the band intended, Naked is the way to go. But if you want the historical artifact that actually ended the era, the 1970 original is the essential text.
Misconceptions About the Songs
A common myth is that Let It Be was the final thing they recorded. It wasn't. They actually recorded most of Abbey Road after these sessions. They knew Let It Be was a disaster, so they went back to the studio with George Martin to make one "proper" record before calling it quits.
Another weird detail: "I Me Mine." Because John Lennon had essentially quit the band by the time they needed to finalize the tracklist, he isn't even on that song. It’s just Paul, George, and Ringo. It’s a trio song on a Beatles album.
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Actionable Insights for Fans and Collectors
If you're looking to dive deeper into this specific era, don't just stop at the standard 1970 album. The 2021 Super Deluxe Edition is the gold standard. It features the original Glyn Johns 1969 mix, which is arguably more interesting than the Spector version.
How to experience the Let It Be era properly:
- Watch the Get Back documentary directed by Peter Jackson. It recontextualizes the entire tracklist. You see "Get Back" evolve from a simple bass riff into a hit single.
- Compare the versions. Listen to "The Long and Winding Road" on the original album and then listen to the version on Let It Be... Naked. The difference in emotional weight is staggering.
- Track the history. Realize that the Beatles Let It Be tracklist is essentially a "best-of" from hundreds of hours of aimless jamming.
- Check the B-sides. "Don't Let Me Down" is arguably the best song from these sessions, yet it was left off the original LP. Finding a copy of the original "Get Back" single gives you the full picture.
The album serves as a messy, beautiful, and tragic end to a decade of dominance. It isn't perfect, but that's exactly why it's so human. It shows that even gods can have a bad day at the office.
To truly understand the weight of this record, listen to it while reading the session notes from January 1969. The juxtaposition of the beautiful music and the bitter arguments in the studio provides a layer of depth you won't find on any other Beatles release. Start with the Glyn Johns 1969 mix to hear the album the band originally walked away from; it's the rawest look at their final days you'll ever find.