Let It Be... Naked [Original recording remastered]

Although the Beatles recorded many tracks during their Get Back sessions, the project was ultimately a dismal failure. What was supposed to bring the band closer together ultimately ended up pushing them further apart. The Get Back tapes were shoved aside so that the band could record a new album, which would become Abbey Road. After the band disbanded, the Get Back material was released under the name Let It Be, but producer Phil Spector had added orchestral backing arrangements to many of the songs that Paul McCartney was unsatisfied with, feeling that this was a sort of "overproduction." Finally, at long last, Paul has rereleased the album, supposedly done the way the band originally wanted it to sound. Is this a good thing? Read on for my review.

To put it simply, this release was just an excuse for Paul McCartney to release an unbutchered version of The Long And Winding Road, and to make a few more million dollars. There is NO WAY the other members of the band would have agreed to this project. John Lennon actually felt that Phil Spector was a GREAT producer! In fact, Lennon once said that the band gave Spector "(...)they had ever recorded, and he made something good out of it." George Harrison would also never have agreed to this rerelease - Phil Spector co-produced his first solo album, All Things Must Pass, and did a damn good job of it. Likewise, it is unlikely that Ringo was in favor of this. Two songs were removed from this release of the album - Maggie May and Dig It (they were replaced with Don't Let Me Down.) Dig It was co-written by EVERY Beatle (Ringo included), so it's doubtful he'd favor its removal from the album. And then comes the issue of the album itself. This, surely, is NOT what the band originally wanted. If it's what the band originally wanted, where's Paul's Teddy Boy? Likewise, Get Back has had its extended into and outro removed, which means it's now practically identical to the single release (this song just isn't the same without the "auditions" joke at the end!) Also, Across The Universe has been stripped of Phil Spector's overdubs, but this HURTS the song more than it helps it! Two Of Us has also had its intro removed (the odd speech.) For some strange reason, at the end of the George Harrison song For You Blue, you can now hear a voice that you couldn't hear at the end of the original Let It Be version. Not sure why. Every other song is pretty much exactly the same as it was before - obvious proof that Paul McCartney made a big deal out of practically nothing. Admittingly though, the version of The Long And Winding Road on here IS one of the best versions available. However, since "un-Spectorized" versions of a good deal of these songs are available on the Anthlology anyway, did we really even need this? To put it simply, this release is essential to the Beatles completist - but not really to anyone else.

The album also includes a bonus disc. When I heard it would include an extra disc, I wondered what would be on it. I was thinking, maybe the extra disc would have the Spectorized version of the album, for comparing the two. Or maybe it would have rare, previously unreleased outtakes from the era. But NO! The bonus disc is a huge disappointment. It's just twenty minutes of rehearsals. And why is this on a separate disc? It would have fit on the same disc at the album itself.

If you're a big Beatles fan, you may want to consider picking this up. However, if you've got the old version of the album, there's really not much of a reason to buy this version as well. Spector's version of the album was just fine, contrary to what some people (including Paul) say. This was, rather obviously, just an excuse for Paul McCartney to released his unbutchered version of The Long And Winding Road to the masses, and to make some quick cash. If you REALLY want to hear what this album was supposed to sound like, hunt down the Get Back bootleg. It's tough to find, but worth it.

Get Back - There is nothing different about this song; the mix sounds the same as the other versions of it, except that the song ends earlier, leaving out the ending part on the single version. 10/10

Dig A Pony - Sounds pretty much the same as on the original album, except that Billy Preston't organ is more audible. This is not an "as nature intended" track, since I saw the movie of the same name, and this song was recorded on the rooftop of the Apple office, and in the film, John makes a mistake on his guitar, so they edited a piece from another take over that spot, to fix it up and be polished, which is ok, i guess, because who would want to release an album with mistakes on it ? 10/10

For You Blue - Pretty much the same as on the original album. The mix is better on this one. The lead vocal is not live, since it is still the same one overdubbed almost a year later from when the music was recorded. It might have been ok to use the version from the film. 10/10

The Long And Winding Road - Ah, the song that has caused so much controversy over this album. Indeed, there are no overdubs and orchestra on this song, so this makes it sound like a totally different song, and it is in fact, because it is the version that is seen in the film, and the reason for this is because the actual "naked" version has already been released on Anthology 3, but it is better to use the songs as much as possible from the film, to make it an actual soundtrack 10/10

Two Of Us - Same as the original version. I also noticed that in the film, the ending of the song is different, so there is yet another edit on this album. 10/10

I've Got A Feeling - Way different from the original. There are some edits on here as well, but most of it is from the rooftop concert 10/10

One After 909 - Same as original, but better sound ;) 10/10

Don't Let Me Down - Mostly from the rooftop concert, with an edit at where John ad libs some random vocals, shown in the film 10/10

I Me Mine - Billy Preston and John Lennon did not play on this song, so there is cause for some overdubs on this song that was the last to be recorded by the three Beatles for 24 years. There is a different edit on here to make the song longer by extending it to have a verse repeat. 10/10

Across The Universe - The best version of this song. Simple and intimate 10/10

Let It Be - Again, some editing in this one, since it is not the same as the film all the way through, but it still sounds great. 10/10

Fly On The Wall Disc - The Beatles working in the studio. Nice to listen to every once in a while. Too bad they didn't decide to add the 8 minute version of Dig It and The Rooftop Concert, even though some tracks on the album are from that show, or maybe even the final Glyn Johns mix of the Get Back album, which was the original title. Oh well, that's what we have bootleggers for... 8/10

10 songs for every album, for a ten star band. This album is far from the main idea originally thought from the project, mainly in the track selection, but anything by The Beatles is great for me, at least. I just thought I would show people that this is not a live album, which it was intended to be, but rather, an even more cleaned up jam session, putting the best face possible on all the tracks, hence me pointing out all the edits. For people who haven't heard this album yet, go out and buy it, I really believe you will like it. For people that have, I hope you all feel the same way that I do. I suggest getting both the original and this release, then you can have both versions to enjoy.

Oh yeah, and many of us are anxiously wondering when the movie of the same name will be released on DVD. It would be great if we could hear some news about it soon, since it was supposed to come out a month after this album was released. It will not be a mistake to release this film again, believe me :)

The original album/CD had Phil Spector's adding an orchestra to the songs. The "naked" version is just the Beatles in their musical purity with no orchestral arrangement. It is pure, pristine and fresh and crisp. In fact, I prefer the de-Spectorized "Let it Be Naked" to the original.

Each time I listen to this, I feel as if I am getting a bonus treat. The clear, pure sound of the unaccompanied Beatles makes for a more pleasant listening experience for me. I love it!