Get Back

**Get Back** is the thirteenth studio album by English rock band The Beatles. It was co-produced by George Martin, Glyn Johns and Phil Spector and released in 8 May 1970 by Apple Records and distributed by EMI. Part-studio album, part-live album, and part-film soundtrack, the double album contains material recorded during the sessions of the documentary with the same name, *Get Back*, plus more songs that didn't make it to the film.

The album was recorded in a difficult time for The Beatles, as the band needed to resolve the management issues in Apple Records with manager Brian Epstein and Allan Klein. Paul McCartney gave the idea for a documentary showing how the albums were done, and also a *back-to-basics* routine for the band. Throughout the year of 1969, the tensions between the members of the group remained high, prompting to John Lennon's brief departure from the band in late September.

With the release, the album was met with universal acclaim by music critics and by fans, topping the charts in both sides of the Atlantic, Billboard 200 for almost 30 weeks and the UK Album Charts for 21 weeks. Get Back is considered another album that blew up expectations by the band, with journalists claiming that "*even after eight years, The Beatles never cease to impress us*". The album is considered one of the Beatles' best, alongside *Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band*, *A Doll's House*, and *Band on the Run*.

Beatles' Get Back is considered among musicologists a landmark on music's history, and on the band's history itself. The album cover mirrored the band's debut album, *Please Please Me*, and also became one of the most imitated in popular music. In 2020, it was ranked fifth in Rolling Stone's list of the greatest albums of all time. The album has also been ranked as one of the Beatles' best-selling, including a multi-platinum certification by the RIAA.

Still, Get Back was one of the most criticized albums by the Beatles themselves. Paul McCartney considered Phil Spector's embelishments unnecessary in most of the songs, while John Lennon felt that the album lacked authenticity. The record also is the last record of the partnership between John Lennon and Paul McCartney, which after that, both members would be credited individually for their songs.

## Track listing

All tracks are written by Lennon–McCartney, except when noted.

* a. "Sun King" (2:26)
* b. "Mean Mr. Mustard" (1:06)
* c. "Polythene Pam" (1:13)
* d. "She Came in Through the Bathroom Window" (1:58)

* e. "Golden Slumbers" (1:31)
* f. "Carry That Weight" (1:36)
* g. "The End" (2:05)

## Personnel

The Beatles
* Paul McCartney – lead, harmony and background vocals; bass, rhythm, lead, and acoustic guitars; acoustic and electric pianos, Hammond organ; Moog synthesizer; sound effects; whistling, wind chimes, maracas, handclaps and percussion
* John Lennon – lead, harmony and background vocals; rhythm, lead lap steel and acoustic guitars; acoustic and electric pianos, Moog synthesizer; white noise generator and sound effects; percussion
* George Harrison – lead, harmony and background vocals; lead, bass, rhythm and acoustic guitars; harmonium, tambura and Moog synthesizer; handclaps and percussion
* Ringo Starr – drums and percussion; background vocals; lead vocals on "Octopus's Garden"

Additional musicians
* Richard Anthony Hewson – string and brass arrangements on "I Me Mine" and "The Long and Winding Road"
* John Barham – choral arrangements on "Across the Universe", "I Me Mine" and "The Long and Winding Road"
* George Martin – Hammond organ on "Across the Universe", string and brass arrangements on "Let It Be", production
* Linda McCartney – backing vocals on "Let It Be"
* Billy Preston – electric piano on "Dig a Pony", "I've Got a Feeling", "One After 909", "The Long and Winding Road" and "Get Back", Hammond organ on "Let It Be"
* Bobby Whitlock – organ on "Isn't It a Pity?"
* Brian Rogers – string and brass arrangements on "Across the Universe"

Production
* Glyn Johns – audio engineering, mixing
* Alan Parsons – assistant engineer
* George Martin – producer, mixing
* Phil Spector – producer, mixing

## Notes

1. ↑ The Ballad of John and Yoko
2. ↑ Isn't It a Pity? (Version 2)