Although fans were hoping for a spring release for the Beatles' upcoming Let It Be 50th anniversary project — an inside source says the new releases won't be dropping until the fall. The original Let It Be album was released on May 8th, 1970 — with the accompanying film premiering in New York City five days later. Most die-hards were under the impression the remixed album with bonus tracks — along with Peter Jackson's new film culled from unreleased footage — would be issued on one of the two anniversaries.
The usually reliable Roger Friedman posted on his Showbiz411.com site, several reasons for the delay, writing, “One reason is that no work has been done yet on the mixing, remixing and so on of the original album, the original movie’s soundtrack, or the Peter Jackson documentary. The mixing sessions are set for this July. It shouldn’t take too long. At this point (producer) Giles Martin and his crew know exactly what they’re doing.”
Friedman went on to explain, “The other reason is that all these expensive packages will be aimed at a holiday release. They’re a waste of time in May for Apple Records and for retailers. If they come in October, they’ll be part of the Christmas shopping madness. It makes more sense all around.”