New Beatles book shines a light on band's 'Let it Be' sessions

If you thought the Beatles were miserable and ready to split up during the sessions for Let It Be, then think again.

A huge archive of previously unseen film and audio recordings, locked away for half-a century, were released by Apple to film-maker Peter Jackson and journalist John Harris.

Peter Jackson's three, two-hour long films will be released next month. In them the band are at the top of their game.

And while they talk about the future and just where they're all going, they are clearly having fun and making some fantastic music.

John Harris has compiled the material into a book, The Beatles - Get Back. Much of it is transcribed from 120 hours-worth of audio recordings that were made during the Let It Be Sessions in January 1969.

He says that when people read just how well the band were getting on (bar the odd walk-out from George!), they'll see that the camaraderie and friendship between them was still very strong.

But both the book and the films do show the band thinking hard and talking about their future.

They're no longer fresh-faced mop-tops. They've all grown up and live separate lives. John has Yoko, Paul has Linda, George is flexing his muscles as a songwriter in his own right and Ringo is looking at a career in acting. They are very much at a crossroads.

The book The Beatles - Get Back is in the shops now. Peter Jackson's films will be available to stream next month. More information here