Let It Be 50th Anniversary Edition Announced
Coming on the heels of the Peter Jackson film Get Back, Apple and The Beatles have announced a 50th anniversary edition of their final studio album Let It Be.
The Let It Be album has been newly mixed by producer Giles Martin and engineer Sam Okell in stereo, 5.1 surround DTS, and Dolby Atmos. The album’s sweeping new Special Edition follows the universally acclaimed remixed and expanded anniversary editions of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (2017), The BEATLES (‘White Album’) (2018), and Abbey Road (2019).
All the new Let It Be releases feature the new stereo mix of the album as guided by the original “reproduced for disc” version by Phil Spector and sourced directly from the original session and rooftop performance eight-track tapes. The physical and digital Super Deluxe collections also feature 27 previously unreleased session recordings, a four-track Let It Be EP, and the never before released 14-track Get Back stereo LP mix compiled by engineer Glyn Johns in May 1969. (via thebeatles.com)
- 5CD + 1Blu-ray (album’s new stereo mix in hi-res 96kHz/24-bit; new 5.1 surround DTS and Dolby Atmos album mixes) with 105-page hardbound book in a 10” by 12” die-cut slipcase
- 180-gram, half-speed mastered vinyl 4LP + 45rpm 12-inch vinyl EP with 105-page hardbound book in a 12.5” by 12.5” die-cut slipcase
- Digital Audio Collection (stereo + album mixes in hi res 96kHz/24-bit / Dolby Atmos)
• Let It Be (new stereo mix of original album): 12 tracks
• Previously unreleased outtakes, studio jams, rehearsals: 27 tracks
• Previously unreleased 1969 Get Back LP mix by Glyn Johns, newly mastered: 14 tracks
• Let It Be EP: 4 tracks
o Glyn Johns’ unreleased 1970 mixes: “Across The Universe” and “I Me Mine”
o Giles Martin & Sam Okell’s new stereo mixes: “Don’t Let Me Down” & “Let It Be” singles
The Super Deluxe CD and vinyl collections’ beautiful book features Paul McCartney’s foreword; an introduction by Giles Martin; a remembrance by Glyn Johns; insightful chapters and detailed track notes by Beatles historian, author, and radio producer Kevin Howlett; and an essay by journalist and author John Harris exploring the sessions’ myths vs. their reality. The book is illustrated, scrapbook style, with rare and previously unpublished photos by Ethan A. Russell and Linda McCartney, as well as never before published images of handwritten lyrics, session notes, sketches, Beatles correspondence, tape boxes, film frames, and more.
- 2CD in digipak with a 40-page booklet abridged from the Super Deluxe book
• Let It Be (new stereo mix of original album): 12 tracks
• Previously unreleased outtakes, studio jams, rehearsals: 13 tracks
• Previously unreleased 1970 mix for “Across The Universe”
- 1CD in digipak (new stereo mix of original album)
- Digital (album’s new mixes in stereo + hi res 96kHz/24-bit / Dolby Atmos)
- 180-gram half-speed mastered 1LP vinyl (new stereo mix of original album)
- Limited Edition picture disc 1LP vinyl illustrated with the album art (new stereo mix of original album)
You can also preorder the upcoming Beatles book Get Back.