The Beatles’ “Get Back” and “Don’t Let Me Down” still belong on every playlist

Today, on January 28, 2026, attention turns once again to the final creative chapter of The Beatles, and to the music that emerged from it. Songs born during the January 1969 Apple Studio sessions—most notably “Get Back” and “Don’t Let Me Down”—are now 57 years old, yet they continue to sound immediate, relevant, and alive.

January 1969 at Apple Corps

The sessions took place in the basement studio of Apple Corps headquarters at 3 Savile Row. Conceived as part of the Get Back project, the goal was to abandon studio artifice and capture The Beatles playing live, as a band. After a strained start at Twickenham Film Studios, the move to Apple provided a more relaxed, familiar environment, allowing the group to reconnect musically despite growing personal tensions.

Songs Taking Shape in Real Time

Throughout January, cameras and tape machines rolled constantly as songs were written, rearranged, and refined on the spot. “Get Back” developed its driving groove and sharp lyrical edge, while “Don’t Let Me Down” emerged as one of John Lennon’s most emotionally exposed performances. The addition of Billy Preston on keyboards lifted both the sound and the spirit in the room, helping the band lock into a tighter, more joyful rhythm.

Fifty-Seven Years On

Today, 57 years later, these recordings stand as a vivid snapshot of The Beatles at a crossroads. The Apple Studio sessions captured not only the strain of an ending but also the enduring power of their collaboration—music that continues to earn its place on playlists, radio airplay, and turntables around the world.