Dispute over the release of “Let It Be”

In March 1970, tensions arose between Paul McCartney and the other Beatles over the release date of Paul’s first solo album, “McCartney“. The dispute was settled on April 2, when Ringo Starr phoned Paul to confirm that Apple had agreed to release the album on April 17, while postponing the release of the “Let It Be” soundtrack from late April to May 8, 1970.

Soon after, another conflict emerged. On April 10, the very day the Daily Mirror ran the front-page headline “Paul is quitting The Beatles,” Paul didn’t appear at an Apple Films board meeting. He had cancelled his participation the previous day and, according to his diary, went horseriding instead.

The purpose of the meeting was to sign the distribution deal Allen Klein had negotiated with United Artists. William Bernstein, representing United Artists, attended. As part of the arrangement, United Artists agreed to consider “Let It Be” as the third official Beatles film, following “A Hard Day’s Night” and “Help!“, in accordance with an agreement originally made by Brian Epstein.

Paul’s lawyer and brother-in-law, John Eastman, sent a cable explaining their absence:

Regret unable attend meeting upon such short notice as McCartney representative. Examination of contracts indicates no grant by McCartney or members of family to Apple films or others. Apple films seemingly without right or authority. Appreciate documentation of grant as well as copies of all proposed agreements. Delighted discuss this with you at convenience.

From court papers during the hearing of the Paul McCartney vs John Lennon / George Harrison / Richard Starkey / Apple case in March 1971 – Quoted in “The McCartney Legacy: Volume 1: 1969 – 73” by Allan Kozinn and Adrian Sinclair, 2022

Part of Paul’s concern was that the “Let It Be” film included footage of his wife Linda and her daughter Heather. Nevertheless, John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo signed the deal, confident that Paul would not ultimately block the release of the film.

As director of Apple Films, Ringo also signed a letter instructing United Artists to pay 20 percent of the Beatles’ earnings from “Let It Be” directly to Klein’s company, ABKCO.

Within days, Paul shifted the dispute to the soundtrack album, in particular objecting to Phil Spector’s alterations on his song “The Long and Winding Road.”

Originally, the boys—mostly Paul, really, because it was his film—had intended it to be a TV film. But I had some of my people look at a rough cut and we decided it would work as a general-release motion picture. Then I showed the print to the boys and John, George and Ringo agreed. Paul didn’t like the idea, but he said, “You have a majority, so go ahead.” Then the Eastmans sent another of their famous letters, this one to United Artists, saying I didn’t have the authority to deal for Paul. They thought that would kill the deal, but U.A. loved the film and we finally signed it with a provision in the contract to cover the possibility of the Eastmans’ suing. Then Ringo went to ask Paul to hold the release of his solo album until after the Let It Be album came out, so there wouldn’t be confusion. Paul told Ringo that since there was no definite release date for the film, he was going ahead. Ringo told him that the release date was set and then Paul really let him have it. He said he was going to ruin Ringo, that he was going to talk to Rolling Stone and really get him. Incredible shit. […]

Allen Klein – Interview in Playboy, November 1971

Going further

The McCartney Legacy: Volume 1: 1969 – 73

In this first of a groundbreaking multivolume set, THE MCCARTNEY LEGACY, VOL 1: 1969-73 captures the life of Paul McCartney in the years immediately following the dissolution of the Beatles, a period in which McCartney recreated himself as both a man and a musician. Informed by hundreds of interviews, extensive ground up research, and thousands of never-before-seen documents THE MCCARTNEY LEGACY, VOL 1 is an in depth, revealing exploration of McCartney’s creative and personal lives beyond the Beatles.

Buy on Amazon

The Beatles Diary Volume 1: The Beatles Years

With greatly expanded text, this is the most revealing and frank personal 30-year chronicle of the group ever written. Insider Barry Miles covers the Beatles story from childhood to the break-up of the group.

Buy on Amazon

The Beatles Diary Volume 2: After The Break-Up 1970-2001

An updated edition of the best-seller. The story of what happened to the band members, their families and friends after the 1970 break-up is brought right up to date. A fascinating and meticulous piece of Beatles scholarship.

Buy on Amazon

Maccazine - Volume 40, Issue 3 - RAM Part 1 - Timeline

This very special RAM special is the first in a series. This is a Timeline for 1970 – 1971 when McCartney started writing and planning RAM in the summer of 1970 and ending with the release of the first Wings album WILD LIFE in December 1971. [...] One thing I noted when exploring the material inside the deluxe RAM remaster is that the book contains many mistakes. A couple of dates are completely inaccurate and the story is far from complete. For this reason, I started to compile a Timeline for the 1970/1971 period filling the gaps and correcting the mistakes. The result is this Maccazine special. As the Timeline was way too long for one special, we decided to do a double issue (issue 3, 2012 and issue 1, 2013).