All Things Must Pass

**All Things Must Pass** is the fourteenth studio album by the English rock band The Beatles. The album marks the return of the band in the production, with co-writing credits to George Martin and Phil Spector in some tracks, being released in 17 May 1971 by Apple Records, and being distributed by EMI. It is considered the first album from the Seventies era, after the *Get Back* sessions, of more mature songwriting in a *back-to-the-roots* style. It is also the first Beatles album after the split of the Lennon-McCartney songwriting partnership.

The recording sessions of All Things Must Pass started as solo sessions from each member, reserving a contribution that would feel suitable to a Beatles' album. The group reunited in two occasions in 1970, and the last two months in 1971. In contrast with the sessions of *Get Back* and *Abbey Road*, the sessions of All Things Must Pass were considered 'laid-back' and 'inspiring' by the members, who were also working on their solo records.

The themes of the album are considered a response to the hard times that the group had during the previous years, particularly the title track being related to George Harrison and ultimately, the band's point of view. Besides that, love, existential and social themes are also common throughout the record, avoiding politics and religion as a main theme of the album, which the band was widely associated at the time. *Wild Life* is the third-longest Beatles song by length, after *I Want You (She's So Heavy)* and *Hey Jude*.

Initially, the album received negative reviews by the critics, who've characterized the mixing and production as 'lo-fi' and 'unfinished'. Nevertheless, All Things Must Pass was a big success as always, topping and alternating the top spot of Billboard 200 with Carole King's *Tapestry*, and later, the Beach Boys' *Landlocked*. In the United Kingdom, the same case happened with the Rolling Stones' *Sticky Fingers*. Four singles were released, and the most successful of them was *Maybe I'm Amazed*, which became a classic Beatles tune.

## Personnel

The Beatles
* Paul McCartney – lead, harmony and background vocals; bass, rhythm, lead, and acoustic guitars; acoustic and electric pianos, Hammond organ; sound effects; handclaps and percussion
* John Lennon – lead, harmony and background vocals; lead, harmony and background vocals; rhythm, lead lap steel and acoustic guitars; acoustic and electric pianos, and sound effects; percussion
* George Harrison – lead, harmony and background vocals; lead, bass, rhythm and acoustic guitars; dobro, harmonica, harmonium and Moog synthesizer
* Ringo Starr – drums and percussion; background vocals; Tibetan cymbals; co-lead vocals on "It Don't Come Easy"

Additional musicians
* Billy Preston – Hammond organ on "Instant Karma! (We All Shine On), backing vocals
* Yoko Ono – backing vocals
* Linda McCartney – backing vocals
* Gary Wright – piano
* Klaus Voormann – bass
* Mal Evans – chimes, handclaps, tambourine, backing vocals
* Pete Drake – pedal steel
* Bobby Whitlock – organ, harmonium, piano, tubular bells
* Eric Clapton – rhythm guitar
* Nicky Hopkins – piano, electric piano
* Jim Price – horn arrangement

Production
* George Martin – producer, mixing, arranger
* Phil Spector – producer, mixing
* The Beatles – producer
* Jack Douglas – engineer
* Phil McDonald – engineer
* Ken Scott – engineer
* Alan Parsons – assistant engineer
* John Leckie – assistant engineer

## Notes and references

1. ↑ Originally credited as Harrison–Starkey, as a pun on the Lennon–McCartney partnership's recent split.