So, has anyone else heard the new de-Spectored “Let it Be” by the Beatles?
I think it’s a fantastic re-issue. This is the album they should have released way back when. I especially like the new versions of “The Long and Winding Road” and “Across the Universe”. After hearing the new versions, I have to say that Phil Spector pretty much destroyed those songs. TLAWR was one of my least-favorite Beatles songs, and now I really like it.
I have never liked The Long and Winding Road. I thought it was too gussied up – too much orchestration or something. Is that all gone now? (I’m listening to Sgt. Pepper as I type.)
It’s still the stupidest title ever. Once I have some cashmonies, I shall be buying the album, though.
Well, “Let It Be” was never one of my favorite Beatle albums. There’s more weak material on “Let It Be” than on any other Beatle album. It had enough good songs to rate a B in my book… but it was closer to B- than to B+.
But frankly, I’ve never agreed with those who argued that Phil Spector ruined the album. Having heard the “naked” tracks and the Spector tracks, I still think Spector’s versions are better- ESPECIALLY with John Lennon’s tracks, because Lennon wasn’t trying very hard to make good music during the “Let It Be” sessions. He already had one foot out the door, and was doing little more than going through the motions. “Across the Universe” was the one decent song he contriubuted to the project, and even that required some real cleaning up.
So, while I find the “naked” tracks interesting, I don’t like any of them any better than the Spectorized tracks. In my opinion, the problem with “Let It Be” was never Phil Spector. The problem was that, by the time “Let It Be” was recorded, Paul was the only Beatle who still wanted to keep the Beatles afloat, and who still cared about making a decent Beatle album.
As a result, Phil Spector was left with a lot of bad songs by uninspired musicians. I think he did the best he could with the material he was given. Paul McCartney had a right to a few gripes (though, again, I prefer Spector’s versions of “The Long and Winding Road” and “Let It Be” to the naked tracks), but none of the other guys did. If anything, I think Spector gave the Lennon and Harrison tracks a prettiness they didn’t really deserve.
So … do we get to see John, Paul, George, and Ringo in the buff, or not? It’s false advertising if we don’t!
Just a little bit of reference there astorian - it’s not quite right to say that The Beatles were on the verge of breaking up during the Let it Be sessions - certainly they were sick of each other, no denying it… and the Let it Be sessions over a 5 week period in the cold dreary draftiness of the BBC studios in January of 1969 was no great thrill for the members. But it has to be said that the song “Get Back” came out of the sessions and went to Number One in February - about 5 months after Hey Jude and Revolution and Lady Madonna and the Ballad of John and Yoko etc.
The boys were still pumping out the hits full time and their egos were still into it. It’s just that the Let it Be sessions were so grumpy and unpleasant that basically they put all the tapes into the hands of the film crew and decided to sweep it all under the carpet. In May of 1969, recognising that it had been a bit of a waste, and that most importantly, they had truly missed the guiding and wise hand of George Martin, they contacted the great man and said “We wanna go out in style George. We wanna do it properly…” and over the next 3 months they put in a thoroughly professional and committed effort making “Abbey Road” and the results show.
But you need to remember that the Let it Be sessions were actually never expected by The Beatles to be an album at all. And “Across the Universe” was actually laid down during the Sgt Peppers sessions - which is why you didn’t see it getting practiced at all in the film.
So by August of 1969 “Abbey Road” was released and as far as The Beatles were concerned, that was it - they’d done their bit. And during this time, a fair swag of the session tapes of Let it Be were stolen never to see the light of day until 12 months ago.
But there were SOME good songs in the sessions, and ironic as it was, The Beatles themselves were actually afraid to announce the truth - namely that they’d gone their separate ways. So they decided to hedge their bets - and recognising that the song “Let it Be” in particular was worthy of being that one last great swansong - they agreed to let Phil Spector do what he could and the results are what they are.
So we had a time line of hits coming off “Abbey Road” through late 1969 and early 1970 and then they made a decision to dribble feed the strongest songs off “Let it Be” as well. A bit cynical in hindsight, but The Beatles were as cynical as anyone by that stage.
When the film was finally released, not one member bothered to show up for the premiere.
Damn, am I disappointed. I thought Sam Stone was doing a thread about nudity. Shoulda known better.
I don’t see the big deal. I have had a bootleg called “Get Back - The Martin Mix” for many years now. Same thing.
Well Adamcomic - at least in the context of being a Beatles history buff it’s rather interesting. Regarding the Let it Be sessions, in reality George Martin wasn’t involved at all.
Glyn Johns was though. He was George Martin’s right hand man at EMI Studios and he was the guy who oversaw all of the recording equipment being sent from Abbey Road to the Ealing Film Studios. Anyway, one thing’s for sure… apart from the odd visit just to say hello, George Martin wasn’t present at all. The entire studio recordings were done under the tutelage of Glyn Johns. The rooftop recordings were live, but the version of Get Back which was released as a single was a true studio take. And that tune was mixed and sealed off by Glyn Johns and only Glyn Johns.
But here’s the rub - during that 5 - 6 week period, The Beatles did absolutely shitloads upon shitloads of jamming and cover versions just to get their tightness together. The tapes were running the entire time. Maybe not the film, but the recording desk and reels were. And amongst that were heaps of variations of early workouts of Get Back. Including a a version which was much more acidic in it’s lyrical content. It kinda sounded a bit like Proud Mary in style and temp too.
Originally the song was quite political. It was very bitter about the inherent racism amongst the English middle class who didn’t like all the Pakistani immigration. Those people used to say to the Pakis “Why don’t you get back to where you belong?” and THAT is what The Beatles were originally singing about.
But you see, a huge truckload of those sessions were stolen not long after filming but before the Phil Spector period. And those sessions are what have been leaking out all these years as lost bootlegs and stuff.
Nonetheless, there NEVER, categorically was NEVER a George Martin mix of Get Back. The single was mixed by Glyn Johns and he’s very proud of it. The live rooftop versions were engineered and mixed by Glyn Johns, and the other studio takes were mixed and tinkered with by Phil Spector.
Apparently The Beatles persevered with Let it Be (the song) for over a month before they got the take that mattered. And even then, two months later George went back and did a nastier but less tasteful lead break than the original. Other than that, the song stayed the same and Phil Spector didn’t touch it. The album version has the mellow lead break, and the 45 had the gnarly lead break.
It was all a bit of a muddle really as to who worked on what. But George Martin is quite adamant - he’s not responsible in any shape or manner. And indeed he was quite surprised when the boys approached him in May '69 to record Abbey Road. He was sure he was never going to hear from them again.
Across the Universe was recorded in February 1968*, a year after the Sgt. Pepper sessions, and a year before the Get Back sessions that became the Let It Be album. It was first released in late 1969 as the Beatles’ contribution to an all-star charity album, No One’s Gonna Change Our World, to benefit the World Wildlife Fund. This first version of Across the Universe is a simple arrangement, unlike the Spectorized version on Let It Be. I actually prefer the latter version as better fitting to the expansive themes and imagery of the lyrics. The original is nice, but it’s not cosmic, man.
I haven’t had a chance to listen to it yet, but don’t like that they’ve opted to remove “Maggie Mae” and “Dig It.” I know most people regard these as stupid filler, but I’ve grown up listening to Let It Be with those included, and I think they add something to the album…just like the “brother can you take me back” “Wild Honey Pie” and “I’ve got blisters on my fingers!” bits added in on The White Album. I like stuff like that. I’m assuming all the talking bits, (“I’d like to say thank you on behalf of myself and the group, and I hope we pass the audition”) have been taken out as well?
I’m the kind of person that’ll usually listen to an album straight through, and it’ll be sort of weird without those in place, so I’m also a little leary about how I’ll like the changed track order, but I’ll have to listen to it before I pass judgment.
Of course, without listening to it, I have no problem saying that it has the worst title ever. I get why they called it that and all, but still–ugh.