Who wrote The Long and Winding Road by the Beatles?
The Long and Winding Road was written by Paul McCartney and credited to the Lennon-McCartney partnership. McCartney composed it at his Scotland farm, High Park Farm near Campbeltown, in 1968.
Questions about The Long and Winding Road
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Why did Paul McCartney object to Phil Spector's production of The Long and Winding Road?
McCartney objected because Spector added harps, an orchestra, and a fourteen-woman choir to the recording without his consent. On the 14th of April 1970, McCartney sent manager Allen Klein a letter demanding the harp be removed and the added instrumentation reduced, ending with the words "Don't ever do it again."
Was The Long and Winding Road the Beatles' last number-one hit?
Yes. On the 13th of June 1970, The Long and Winding Road reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, where it held for two weeks. It was the Beatles' twentieth and final chart-topper on that chart, setting the all-time record for number-one singles on the Hot 100.
What did Phil Spector add to The Long and Winding Road?
Spector overdubbed the recording on the 1st of April 1970 at EMI Studios with eight violins, four violas, four cellos, three trumpets, three trombones, two guitars, and a choir of fourteen women. The score was arranged and conducted by Richard Hewson.
What is Let It Be Naked and how does it relate to The Long and Winding Road?
Let It Be... Naked is a 2003 album that McCartney persuaded Ringo Starr and Yoko Ono to release, partly driven by his long-standing dissatisfaction with Spector's production. It features a the 31st of January 1969 take of The Long and Winding Road with no added strings or instrumentation, closer to the Beatles' original intention.
Did The Long and Winding Road play a role in the Beatles' legal breakup?
Yes. When McCartney took the dissolution of the Beatles' partnership to the High Court in early 1971, he cited ABKCO's imposition of changes to The Long and Winding Road without his consent as one of six reasons justifying the split.