This is the album The Beatles originally intended to release. They have remastered it and removed all the Phil Spector orchestration, etc... It's a 2 disc set with the second disc being sounds and bits of songs that were taken directly from the studio masters. This is a must for any Beatles fans.
Well, I don't know if it's the album they planned to release--apparently the banter (John calling Let It Be "Hark the Herald Angels Sing", the line about hoping "we passed the audition", etc) has been taken out. Bascially, they've taken out all the fun (and there wasn't much during those sessions) that can be found on Anthology 3. It's not quite the Get Back album that was envisioned, but Let It Be has a different solo, so I'll have to pick it up.
Well from what I understand, The Beatles themselves didn't bring in Phil Spector, the record company did. It's basically a stripped down version, minus a couple of songs and they added Don't Let Me Down (which was originally just a single)
I was just listening to Let It Be. But not The Beatles' version. Does anyone else have the remake by Laibach?
I saw a promo on some tv show for this, i'm really excited to hear the whole thing as it was intended by the band. I'll never understand why so many groups allow producers to ruin their albums by adding some extra nonsense they think will sell more copies. This approach may sell extra records in the short term, but it always fails in the long run.
This is NOT the version the band intended to be released. this is simply a gimmick to sucker people into re-purchasing an album they already own.
The original version wasn't what the band intended to be released either. At least not the whole band. Some of Phil Spector's work on that album was cited in court by Paul MacCartney as a reason to dissolve Apple Records, given that John apparently asked for the work to be done.
John and George gave an enthusiastic thumbs-up to Phil Spector. Paul was out of the loop because he did refused to sign on with Allen Klein, manager of John George and Ringo. Good move on his part, but it cost him his vision of his songs on Let It Be. I have listened to this album for a few days now... it is cool. It should not be billed as the definitive version, the way it was meant to be. i am not sure that is fair; when you release a piece of art, there are no give-backs. It is what it is, it is what it was. That being said, Paul could have said, "you know, there was a lot of BS at that time, business stuff interfering with artistic stuff, so we thought we would give it another shot now. Its a current interpretation, and George was into it before he moved on to better things. And in my mind, this is closer to what we wanted before, so let us know what you think. I like it better." The whole "is it or is it not the REAL Let It Be" arguement is not winnable by anyone. For those who really want the "real" Let It Be, get the "Get Back" bootleg; now that crap is raw. Paul wants it both ways; a slick album that is still back to basics. Point is, the basics were a little rough. They wanted to look in the mirror, and did not like what they saw. It broke 'em up. Be careful what you ask for. Musically, though, it is fairly cool. Different version of "I've Got A Feeling," not as sprawling as the first one, though. Cool, but not better. "Long and Winding Road"... can someone explain to me what I am missing in this song? I can listen to McCartney Schmaltz forever, but this song has never done it for me. That being said, this version is FAR superior to the first one. I do not have to forward the CD, which is something I suppose. Don't Let Me Down has been added; great song, though the previous version is better, I think. What a beautiful song, though -- I could write a paper on it. Gorgeous song. Its like a dialogue between the vocal and the countermelody behind it. Really deep, i think. One after 909 might suck, actually. I never noticed that until Let It Be 2003. Same with Dig A Pony. Beatle filler is still better than anything by anyone else, but all-in-all, the songs dont workup to Beatles standards. Good harmonies, cool guitars, but what the hell are they talking about? Actually the words to 909 are cooler than the playing. Billy Preston is not so hot on it. Just kinda lame. The song "Let It Be?" Fine version. No different to me. Great song, but no real revelations. The real revelation is Across The Universe. That's the song that really benefits on Let It Be 2003. Just John and a guitar and some sitar thing. Hopeful, humble, observant, smart, comforting... I love it. So much better than the other 246 versions out there. Let It Be 2003 is cool just because it makes you go back and think about the songs again. Listen to them fresh, which is totally worth it. The title is so dumb I can not even type it. As for the take that it is just a money-making fan-exploiting thing, that is ridiculous; McCartney has wanted to set this album straight since BEFORE it came out. Beatles Greatest Hits or whatever have little artistic merit, but this is worth buying and listening to, even if it does not lift "Let It Be" into the upper echelons of Beatle Records -- which seems sorta like the intention. It aint Revolver. But it is good. And the bonus disc is worth listening to just for the 5 seconds of John Paul and George harmonizing on what would later become Harrisons most profound solo song -- All Things Must Pass.
Thanks CB That was excellent! I've been going back and forth about buying it. You've convinced me to go out tomorrow and get it.
They took off 'Dig It'! That is the stupidest move they could have made. I'm glad they added 'Don't Let Me Down', but in my opinion 'Dig It' is a much better song, and certainly more under rated.
Nice review, CBFC. I bought it to give to my sister for her birthday and decided, "What the hell, I can get her another", and popped it open. Strange listening to it this way, without Phil's orchestrations. Ringo's work stands out, imo. Overall, I really liked this version.
