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Get Back / Don't Let Me Down

Single by The Beatles • 11 April 1969 • Parlophone R 5777

Get Back / Rooftop (Jan 1969) — London winter sky over Savile Row. Live, raw.

About this release

Get Back / Don't Let Me Down is a UK single on Parlophone (catalogue R 5777), released 11 April 1969. 'The Beatles with Billy Preston' — the only artist ever co-credited on a Beatles A-side.

The recording context is the band's Get Back / Rooftop (Jan 1969) period, produced by George Martin with Glyn Johns, Alan Parsons (2nd) engineering. The track(s) were committed at Apple Studios rooftop, 3 Savile Row, London on Apple's mobile 8-track to studio downstairs via the Hand-built Apple desk.

What's distinctive

2 tracks; average length 3:21. Lennon dominates the lead vocals (1/2). Lead writing credit: Lennon–McCartney (1 of 2).

Tracklist

Side A

Side B

Pattern analysis

Lead vocalists across Get Back / Don't Let Me Down
2
Lennon 1
McCartney 1
Songwriters credited on Get Back / Don't Let Me Down
Lennon–McCartney1Lennon1
Track lengths (seconds)
Don't Let Me Down214Get Back189

Era technical context

MicrophonesAKG D19 (Ringo kick), STC 4038, U47 (vocals)
OutboardLive to tape — minimal
GuitarsFender Rosewood Telecaster (Harrison), Epiphone Casino (Lennon), Hofner 500/1 (McCartney), Fender Rhodes electric piano (Billy Preston)
AmplifiersFender Twin Reverb

References & external databases

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