Let It Be

[The Big Guy]

Released May 8, 1970.

[2 of 3]

I really like the rawness of this album....even if it wasn't really.  I wish a remastered version of this came out....I personally like this better than ....Naked. If they had removed the wall of sound from the original recording,...or at least gave us both, I would like that.

[mervap]

I like the 'rawness', too, but wish the Beatles had just recorded a 'live' album in the studio, like it started out. I'm just glad that this album, although released last, was not the last recorded output from this great band. 

[chris]

i am comforted by the fact that i'm not the only one who despises spector's wall of sound. he ruined (okay, not ruined...but he handicapped) george's all things must pass album, a topic for another day. but i hate the way long and winding road is layered.

this does have, however...the one version of let it be you'll ever need to hear (forget about the 45 single version...burn it, nuke it, slip it in your neighbors handbag. you'll never listen to it again.) and the conversation between songs sort of make you feel like you are there in the studio with them.

it sports the finest harmonizing the band ever did (great new topic idea, huh?) in dig a pony. and the one after 909, along with i've got a feeling are late stage staples (fascinating, i think...that a band so known for change...that the 1963 version of 909 is so like the 69 version)

and george's offer for you blue sounds like the band is having a lot of fun...in a time there wasn't much fun to be had by the group. 

[Kylenz]

I have a confession to make.. I don't like the 'Naked' album much. I think Spector did the right thing at the time. He only tampered with a few of the tracks, and all the tracks concerned deserved the orchestral treatment. Long and Winding Road, Let It Be, Across the Universe, I Me Mine, the strings sound awesome. It's not like Spector threw strings all over the entire album - if anything he did well to preserve the rawness of say I've Got A Feeling and Dig A Pony and stayed true to the intent and spirit of the songs. His vision matched my vision. It may not have matched Paul's vision but as a fan and listener I'm more than happy with it.

I've just been getting into The Ramones a lot lately after watching the 'End of the Century' documentary on the History Channel. I think Spector did a lot to smarten up the Ramones sound. Like Let It Be, the End of the Century album received a mixed reception from Ramones fans and also from the band members themselves (just like Let It Be). But again, I think Spector did the right thing.

If only he could restrain himself from pulliing guns on people - that's just so wrong. He did it to the Ramones (in the End of the Century documentary, they speak of ducking behind the couch), and it seems he did it again in recent years and could be found guilty of murder this time.

But yeah, Let It Be, I agree Chris, the definitive version is the album version. The lead guitar is so searing, the entire track feels more electric... more alive. The single version seems sludgy and bogged down by organs and double-tracked guitars. The Naked version features a solo where it seems George lost his way, it didn't sound like a particularly convincing guitar solo. Also, the Naked recording suffers from having John on bass due to Paul being on piano duties - John wasn't exactly the most inspiring bass player to have there. The Long And Winding Road needed all that string instrumentation there to cover up the plodding bass work (complete with bum notes) by John. For me, the original Let It Be album rocks. Maggie Mae, Dig It, all good memories for me. 

[EddieV]

I don´t own this album (I think on tape somewhere).  :

I haved the Naked version though. Some people I know who don´t like the Beatles very much like this album.