Imagine 1970. One year after the biggest band in the world had released what everyone thought would be their final album, you’re listening to their back-catalog, reading the newspaper, hearing of Paul McCartney leaving the band, and pondering what your life will be like without The Beatles’ music to pick you up. Then, not even a week after the news broke, the world began to cheer up again with the release of Let It Be, finally finished by producer Phil Spector.

Amidst legal tension and one of the most famous breakups in music history, The Beatles released their final album, Let It Be, just 56 years ago today. The album was recorded a couple of months after their self-titled double album, otherwise known as The White Album, and before their critically acclaimed magnum opus, Abbey Road.

After the mess that was the recording of The White Album, it seemed like The Beatles were going to call it quits, until Paul McCartney brought on the idea of returning to their roots. The two songwriters, Paul McCartney and John Lennon, as well as the growing composition skills of George Harrison, began to write more conventional, blues-inspired songs to complement the more raw production. The band even returned to some songs from their Cavern Club days, such as “One After 909,” and even though the extravagance of the songwriting was toned down, it is still clear that they are masters in their craft and able to write catchy melodies through limitations.

What makes this album unique is that it was all recorded to camera to become a TV special of the same name. Almost every part of the album’s recording has been caught on film and can be viewed on sites like Internet Archive, as well as an edited cut available on Disney+.

When watching the special, it is clear that there was tension among all the band members at the time; they are arguing, exchanging nasty looks, and avoiding contact with one another. George Harrison even left the band for a short period during the recording due to McCartney’s constant nagging.

Let It Be holds a special place in music history as the most famous band’s faux final album. The musicianship and production are unprecedented for other albums of the time and reaches its peak on their next album, Abbey Road, the final album they recorded. In our times of social media and fast-paced news cycles, it is important sometimes to look back on classics as a capsule of the times they come from.