“Get Back”

• Published in 1969
• Author: Lennon/McCartney
• Track 12 on “Let It Be“
• Track 18 on “The Beatles 1967-1970” (Blue Album)
• Track 9 on “Past Masters Volume 2“

Beatles quotes about “Get Back”

PAUL 1969: “We were sitting in the studio and we made it up out of thin air. We started to write words there and then… When we finished it, we recorded it at Apple Studios and made it into a song to rollercoast by.”

JOHN 1980: “‘Get Back’ is Paul. That’s a better version of ‘Lady Madonna.’ You know, a potboiler rewrite.”

About “Get Back”

“Get Back” recorded by the Beatles and Billy Preston, was written by Paul McCartney though credited to the Lennon–McCartney partnership. As a single, it was released on 11 April 1969 and credited to “The Beatles with Billy Preston”.

There is a different mix of this song on the album, which features a 20-second studio chat between Paul McCartney and John Lennon before the song begins, without the single version’s coda. A version of this track was released just after the group split up, as the closing track to Let It Be (1970). The single version was included on the compilation albums 1967–1970, 20 Greatest Hits, Past Masters, and 1.

“Get Back” reached number one in the United Kingdom, the United States, Ireland, Canada, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Australia, France, West Germany, Mexico, Norway, Switzerland, Austria, and Belgium. It was the only Beatles single to include a credit for another artist.

“Get Back” became the Beatles’ first single released in true stereo in the US. The Beatles’ singles remained mono until “The Ballad of John and Yoko” was released in the UK. In addition, it was the only Beatles single to debut at number one on the UK singles charts.

Personnel

• Paul McCartney – lead vocal, bass guitar
• John Lennon – lead guitar, harmony vocal
• George Harrison – rhythm guitar
• Ringo Starr – drums
• Billy Preston – Rhodes piano