The Beatles: Get Back (Live on Apple Studio)
While performing on top of Apple Studios, the Beatles perform together live for their very last time using one hot rock ‘n roll number
On January 30, 1969, spectators began to parade around the outside of London’s Apple Studios located on Savile Row to get a glimpse of that iconic rock ‘n roll band playing on top of the roof. No one really thought it would be the last time the world would get a chance to see Paul, John, George and Ringo playing together, but to the world’s surprise, things weren’t going so well behind the scenes. McCartney was dissatisfied with Phil Spector’s production on Let It Be, Lennon was already releasing solo material and – as a surprise – the Beatles shared billing on a 45 r.p.m. single with organ virtuoso Billy Preston. It’s on the funky blues-rock single, “Get Back,” where Preston receives that co-star credit. But it’s a song that takes the band back to their classic rock ‘n roll origins. The Beatles, now confident they had perfected a song that took dozens of takes and hours of lyrical changes to perfect in the studio, had performed the McCartney gem three times on the rooftops that day. On the third performance, the Beatles were interrupted by the police; ordering them to end their jam session early due to neighboring complaints. Shame on them.
J MATTHEW COBB
