Flashback: The Beatles' "The Long And Winding Road" hits No1

It was 37 years ago (June 13th, 1970) that the Beatles' "The Long And Winding Road" became the group's 20th and final Number One hit. The song was written by Paul McCartney in late 1968, and was recorded in January 1969 during the sessions for the group's album and film Let It Be. It was inspired by the long drive up to his Scottish farm. McCartney talked about the song in his 1997 authorized biography Many Years From Now, saying, "It's a rather sad song. I like writing sad songs because you can actually acknowledge some deeper feelings of your own and put them in."

The song was recorded on January 31st, 1969, the day after the group's legendary final performance on the roof of their Apple headquarters, and featured McCartney on piano and vocals, John Lennon on bass, George Harrison on guitar, Ringo Starr on drums, and guest musician Billy Preston on organ.

"The Long And Winding Road," became the Beatles' last official U.S. single, topping the charts for two weeks just two months after McCartney announced the group's split on April 10th, 1970.

McCartney was reportedly horrified when legendary "Wall Of Sound" producer Phil Spector was brought in by Lennon and Harrison to polish up the Let It Be tapes, and added a 30-piece orchestra and female choir to the original sparse-sounding track. The group's original stripped-down recording can be found on the Beatles' 1996 Anthology 3 and 2003's Let It Be... Naked.

The song has been a mainstay of McCartney's live shows since 1975.
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