56 Years Ago: The Beatles' 'Let It Be' Became Their Farewell No. 1 Hit After Their Breakup
Fifty-six years ago today, music changed forever when the most iconic rock band in history had its farewell reach No. 1 on the charts. 'Let It Be' by The Beatles topped the chart right after the band broke up forever.
The Beatles' 'Let It Be' Hit No. 1 on April 11, 1970
Photo by Jeff Hochberg/Getty Images
On March 6, 1970, The Beatles released the song 'Let It Be' as a single, roughly two months before the album of the same name came out. It didn't take long for it to become a success as it entered the chart on March 21, before going on to hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on April 11, 1970. Following that, it would stay on top for two weeks.
'Let It Be' was the second last The Beatles song to reach the top of Billboard's main chart. 'The Long and Winding Road/For You Blue' would later hit No. 1 on June 13, 1970. Still, 'Let It Be' arguably was the band's true farewell hit because of the news that broke one day before it dominated the chart.
The Beatles Split Forever on April 10, 1970
On April 10, 1970, The Beatles effectively came to an end, even though the public didn't know it at the time.
Paul McCartney's debut solo album, 'McCartney,' was released on April 17, 1970. While promoting it, the legendary singer, songwriter, and bassist announced he was taking a break from The Beatles one week earlier on April 10. He added that he didn't foresee the Lennon-McCartney songwriting partnership ever becoming active again, even though he left open the possibility that the band could continue.
Since McCartney explicitly stated he wasn't "done with The Beatles," devoted fans were left hoping the group would create more music. There is no way to know if the band ever would have reunited if John Lennon hadn't been killed a decade later, in 1980. However, there is no doubt that after McCartney made his announcement, The Beatles never recorded or performed as a full band again.
The timing of the two events is fascinating to look back on. On the day that McCartney shared his news, 'Let It Be' was only hours away from completing its climb to the top of the Billboard Hot 100. Some might argue that his timing was perfect since he stepped away at a moment of triumph, ensuring that the biggest band in rock music history ended on a high note. On the other hand, the fact that The Beatles ended when they were still at the top of their game is heartbreaking. Knowing they were still capable of producing iconic songs like 'Let It Be' makes fans wonder what could have come next.