By 1969, the fissures in the Beatle brand were widening. All four had individual projects under way. The death of their manager, Brian Epstein, brought them closer than perhaps they wanted to be to the business side of the music. And the group’s artistic visions were diverging. The creation of their final album and the palpable tension that was simmering behind the facade was documented in the film “Let It Be“.

33 years ago today, the Beatles played what can be defined as their final public performance. The un-announced event happened on the rooftop of Apple Records and probably irritated as many neighbors as it attracted.

The album’s penultimate single, “The Long And Winding Road” peaked at number one on the WKNR Music Guide the week of March 17, 1970.