#onthisday 2nd January, 1969: the “Get Back” sessions began.

The Beatles began work on this day at Twickenham Film Studios, with the intent of documenting themselves rehearsing new material for a televised concert.
The Beatles spent much of their time working on three songs: Don’t Let Me Down, I’ve Got A Feeling and Two Of Us.

The full list of songs recorded on this day, including fragments and off-the-cuff, unpublished songs with presumed titles:

Don’t Let Me Down (15 versions)
All Things Must Pass (two versions)
Dig A Pony
Let It Down (Harrison; two versions)
Brown-Eyed Handsome Man (Chuck Berry)
A Case Of The Blues (Lennon)
Child Of Nature (Lennon)
Revolution
I Shall Be Released (Bob Dylan)
Sun King (five versions)
Mailman, Bring Me No More Blues (Buddy Holly)
Speak To Me (Jackie Lomax)
I’ve Got A Feeling (20 versions)
The Mighty Quinn (Bob Dylan)
Well… Alright (Buddy Holly)
Two Of Us (nine versions)
Everybody Got Song (Lennon)
The Teacher Was A-Lookin'(jam)
We’re Goin’ Home (group jam)
It’s Good To See The Folks Back Home (McCartney)

This first day officially began at around 9.30am, however, with director Michael Lindsay-Hogg filming as Mal Evans and Kevin Harrington set up The Beatles’ equipment onto stage one before the group began playing. The shots would eventually be used for the opening sequence of the Let It Be film.

Motivation was low within the group. Paul McCartney aside, there was little enthusiasm for a mooted live appearance. The group were still exhausted after the lengthy sessions for the White Album, and the presence of film cameras during the rehearsals created a further strain.