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Let It Be / You Know My Name (Look up the Number)
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Let It Be / You Know My Name (Look up the Number)

First released: 1970, March 6

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The Beatles, to all intents and purposes, had now split. Irrevocably. Paul had almost completed his debut album, John had an album and three singles by the Plastic Ono Band already on release, Ringo's debut album was one week away from completion and George was thinking seriously of his first solo LP, the recording of which began at EMI on 26 May. On 10 April 1970, one week before his own album release, Paul announced to the world that the Beatles were finished.

But this single kept the pretence going a little bit longer, the impression being that these were two new recordings. Not so. The basic track of Let It Be was 14 months old, and the B-side, the rejected Plastic Ono Band edit of You Know My Name (Look Up The Number) , had been begun 34 months previously, and was still monophonic!

Let It Be was issued in a picture sleeve in the UK, still a rare occurrence, the same sleeve that would be used for the Let It Be album. This told the real story: the four Beatles were pictured individually, with heavy black lines separating each face. Even the title seemed apt.

A number one in the USA, a number two in Britain.

- Mark Lewishon "The Beatles Recording Sessions"