On this day in 1970, The Beatles had their final original number one song in the US

After the Beatles announced their breakup in April, they prepared for the release of their final album Let It Be. Recorded over the prior two years, Let It Be was the final attempt to reinvigorate the band by returning to more simple rock’n’roll songwriting. The sessions were also recorded visually which would be released simultaneously as a feature film documentary. Just a week before the North American release of the album, on the 11th of May, the band issued The Long and Winding Road as a single in the US.

The Long and Winding Road was written by Paul McCartney after one of his first visits to his property, High Park Farm, where he saw a road stretching up into the hills. It was also inspired by the growing tensions among the Beatles, contrasting with the peaceful surroundings of his property. After recording a demo, he offered the song to Tom Jones on the condition he release it as his next single, though Jones  turned it down as his next release was already planned. McCartney brought it to the Beatles in January of 1969 and they recorded several takes with a guest keyboardist, Billy Preston. 

The song was then handed to infamous producer Phil Spector, who made some dramatic changes, adding orchestral overdubs to the song. Ringo Starr was the only member of the band present during Spector’s edits and all attendees remember it being a peculiar session that ended with the orchestra refusing to play any further after becoming annoyed with Spector’s behaviour. Engineer Peter Bown even left for home before being called by Spector to return after Starr had told him to calm down. Nonetheless, the edits were completed and all four band members sent telegrams of their approval, and the song was prepared for release.

The track was released on the 11th of May 1970, with For You Blue as a B-side and it continued the Beatles trend of shooting up the charts. On the 13th of June it became the band’s twentieth single to reach number one on the US Billboard charts. Though the band would have various reissues of classic songs, The Long and Winding Road would be their final original composition to achieve the top spot.