[bird72]

Originally Posted by MikeNoun

Alvin, I always thought these two greatest hits albums had awesome covers!

The first photo (red album) was 1963, taken in the stairwell at EMI Records, when The Beatles were first signed. Ringo had just joined the group, and didn't yet have his haircut to match the others.

When recording the 1969 album "Get Back" (which would eventually be released as "Let It Be"), they had the idea of posing in the same stairwell, in the same positions. The original concept of the "Get Back" album was that The Beatles wanted to get back to their roots, playing live, and simplifying their recording process. Their long time producer and master craftsman of their sound, George Martin, was not invited to participate. The "Get Back" sessions showed how dysfunctional the band had become, and was a disaster. The album and film were shelved.

By the time "Let It Be" was released, the group was effectively broken up. United Artists, the film company that owned the rights to the movie and soundtrack, decided that "Get Back" was an inappropriate title considering the animosity shared among the group members. They used Paul's song "Let It Be" as a new title, which seemed more appropriate now. The new cover for "Let It Be" consisted of 4 pics of the members taken from the movie.

what about all the added strings contrary to the original intent? Didn't Martin get to juice it up anyway? Hence the "naked" digital release a few years back without strings. I like the strings original better, in spite of Long & Winding Road theatrics.