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10.52pm
I was wondering what is the preference amongst Beatles fans regarding the Let It Be album, whether you prefer the original one produced by Phil Spector, or the one produced in the direction of Paul McCartney , Let It Be … Naked.
There isn't much difference for most of the songs, but The Long And Winding Road had a huge makeover. It seems to me that the Naked version made that song more light-hearted than the heavy, drooping (mood-wise) string ensemble in the original.
What about you? Naked or not? Or both are par excellence?
11.07am
31 March 2008
Offline
I used to prefer the fidelity of …Naked, as the sound quality was much better. But since the remasters came out I'm not so sure. I generally dislike the tinkering that was done – it seems unnecessary, like McCartney was trying to win a 30-year-old grudge match. It also reminds me a little of how George Lucas can't resist messing around with the original Star Wars trilogy, not realising that people simply like it for what it is.
Personally, I'd have issued the warts-and-all Glyn Johns recordings, but not called it Let It Be … Naked, which was a rubbish title. Call it Get Back , have the “with Let It Be and 11 other songs” message on the cover, and use the photo that eventually appeared on the Blue 67-70 compilation. That would have done nicely, thanks.
As for The Long And Boring Song, it was odd of Spector to select that recording, as it's full of mistakes. Lennon's bass guitar, in particular, is all over the place. The Beatles recorded it loads of times in January 1969, and he could surely have found a better version. Isn't the theory that he plastered it with strings to mask the shortcomings of the backing track?
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4.17am
21 August 2009
Offline I have to say I much prefer …Naked than Spector's version; it all seems so unnecessary. Plus, I love the rawness of naked. Its unselfconsciousness. It's like the boys when they first met and they were about the music, not nesessarily all the effects and ways to jazz up the music. It was just plain good.
Mind you, neither of the Let it Be's are my favourite albums. They were fading, and fast, at this point, but if anything, the dramatic take and extra instruments, all those strings (even though I play the cello myself) seemed like overkill to simple songs that were beautiful before adding a whole bunch of extra baggage onto it.
I disagree with you though, Joe, on the title. I think it has the ultimate suggestion entailed- that it's just them, purely them before inevitably leaving eachother for good. Though, I'm not a fan of the cover art, and it would be nice to have used the title Get Back somewhere in their career other than purely for the song, that's for sure!
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5.59am
4 September 2009
Offline Since the Get Back / Let It Be sessions were to be the group getting back to their roots as a band without the extensive overdubs and lavish strings, I prefer the Naked version. Whether or not it was McCartney finally getting his way, I feel that this was what the group had in mind to be released. Maybe the track listing may have been different, I dunno.
I do have the Spector version on my play list since is was the “official” release du jour. On occasion, I play the Naked version just to mix it up.
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10.50am
26 January 2010
Offline I have to agree with Joe. I think McCartney did the whole naked thing just so he could remix The Long And Winding Road . I don't get the impression anything else bothered him as much as that. When i was growing up and didn't know anything about what Phil Spector had done to this album, i really liked it and for all the faults that i have since learned about it, i still prefer to listen to the original version i grew up with than Naked. I listened to Naked a couple of times after i bought it but its not the version i have on my MP3 now. I think Let it Be naked was a pretty unnecessary release.
Onward my friends, and glory for the thirty ninth!!
12.23pm
31 March 2008
Offline Let's not forget how McCartney ruined TLAWR with a dismal easy-listening version with saxophone intro on Give My Regards To Broad Street . A choir and orchestra obviously wasn't out of the question for him and George Martin (who produced and arranged it) that time.
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2.18pm
26 January 2010
Offline Joe said:Let's not forget how McCartney ruined TLAWR with a dismal easy-listening version with saxophone intro on Give My Regards To Broad Street . A choir and orchestra obviously wasn't out of the question for him and George Martin (who produced and arranged it) that time.
I'd forgotten all about that. That saxophone was shocking! I think Sir Paul had forgotten about it too when he started Let It Be Naked ! I must have blocked that out but i think i'll have nightmares about that version now. So cheesy
Onward my friends, and glory for the thirty ninth!!
3.39pm
14 October 2009
Offline I know this should really be on the thread about over-rated songs, but The Long and Winding Raod is one of those to me. I don't dislike it, but I find the Spector version false and the Naked version more like a rehearsal. We need an in-betweeny 
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3.10pm
27 April 2010
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Joe said:
I used to prefer the fidelity of …Naked, as the sound quality was much better. But since the remasters came out I’m not so sure. I generally dislike the tinkering that was done – it seems unnecessary, like McCartney was trying to win a 30-year-old grudge match. It also reminds me a little of how George Lucas can’t resist messing around with the original Star Wars trilogy, not realising that people simply like it for what it is.
Personally, I’d have issued the warts-and-all Glyn Johns recordings, but not called it Let It Be … Naked, which was a rubbish title. Call it Get Back , have the “with Let It Be and 11 other songs” message on the cover, and use the photo that eventually appeared on the Blue 67-70 compilation. That would have done nicely, thanks.
As for The Long And Boring Song, it was odd of Spector to select that recording, as it’s full of mistakes. Lennon’s bass guitar, in particular, is all over the place. The Beatles recorded it loads of times in January 1969, and he could surely have found a better version. Isn’t the theory that he plastered it with strings to mask the shortcomings of the backing track?
Joe said:
I used to prefer the fidelity of …Naked, as the sound quality was much better. But since the remasters came out I’m not so sure. I generally dislike the tinkering that was done – it seems unnecessary, like McCartney was trying to win a 30-year-old grudge match. It also reminds me a little of how George Lucas can’t resist messing around with the original Star Wars trilogy, not realising that people simply like it for what it is.
Personally, I’d have issued the warts-and-all Glyn Johns recordings, but not called it Let It Be … Naked, which was a rubbish title. Call it Get Back , have the “with Let It Be and 11 other songs” message on the cover, and use the photo that eventually appeared on the Blue 67-70 compilation. That would have done nicely, thanks.
As for The Long And Boring Song, it was odd of Spector to select that recording, as it’s full of mistakes. Lennon’s bass guitar, in particular, is all over the place. The Beatles recorded it loads of times in January 1969, and he could surely have found a better version. Isn’t the theory that he plastered it with strings to mask the shortcomings of the backing track?
Agreed wholeheartedly Joe!
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3.53pm
1 May 2010
Offline Joe said:
Let’s not forget how McCartney ruined TLAWR with a dismal easy-listening version with saxophone intro on Give My Regards To Broad Street . A choir and orchestra obviously wasn’t out of the question for him and George Martin (who produced and arranged it) that time.
*watching video in youtube* Eeeeckkkkkkkkkk that’s awful!!! But Paul looks so cute in that one that I guess I’ll have to check that movie again..
I was saying in another thread (thanks Joe for showing me this one) that after going to the concert and getting the Good Evening New York DVD, I truly love this version. I might be still on the high of going to the concert. The piano sounds terrific, and the Spector arragement is there, but it’s not all over the song. Paul’s voice is not the same though.
PaulRamon said:
I have to agree with Joe. I think
McCartney did the whole naked thing just so he could remix The Long And Winding Road . I don’t get the impression anything else bothered him as much as that. When i was growing up and didn’t know anything about what Phil Spector had done to this album, i really liked it and for all the faults that i have since learned about it, i still prefer to listen to the original version i grew up with than Naked. I listened to Naked a couple of times after i bought it but its not the version i have on my MP3 now. I think Let it Be naked was a pretty unnecessary release.
Well for me, having Across The Universe without the damn Nature background and the “sleepy” John with the chorus from th original LiB is worth the price of Let It Be Naked
Don’t you think that in the original LiB John’s voice sounds as if he were too tired to sing that song?
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6.20pm
14 December 2009
Offline Me, I’m one of the few who thinks the Spector version of “Universe” has its merits. I really like the way the strings fade in during the first chorus, although I wish the whole thing built up a bit more gradually, like if the choir didn’t appear until the third chorus for example. Really, I love aspects of every version of that song (one of my top 5 Lennons for sure), even though the recording remains frustratingly imperfect. (I still can’t believe there’s drums in there somewhere)
Paul: Yeah well… first of all, we’re bringing out a ‘Stamp Out Detroit’ campaign.
6.29pm
1 May 2010
Offline I think the addition of Don’t Let Me Down and the complete improvement of Across The Universe makes Naked the easy choice for me, although I am a fan of the original Let It Be . If there was anything missing from the original album, it was a really good Lennon contribution and Naked helps this problem a little.
I sat on a rug, biding my time, drinking her wine
8.50pm
8 June 2010
Offline I like both, really. Or rather, aspects of both. Some of the songs on the Spector version are great and perfect the way they are and I woulnd’t change them. A few songs though such as Let It Be , Get Back , The Long And Winding Road I like way better on the Let It Be …. Naked album. It’s nice to hear them just singing…. no other sounds or instruments or effects or whatever thrown in. While Let It Be isn’t my top Beatles album, it ranks pretty high up there for me. There is something about that album that I just really love.
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Richard3.48am
19 September 2010
Offline Spector got alot of crap for adding orchestra to 3 songs and picking a different solo
Let it Be is the one I would take to the desert island
Worst decision of Spector’s: adding the orchestra to ATU and dropping Don’t Let me Down
Best Decisions: keepingthe Danny Boy Ending to One After 909 and editing I Me Mine For lenght
Just for me
As if it matters how a man falls down.'
'When the fall's all that's left, it matters a great deal.
7.49pm
26 November 2009
Offline Jackson Tan said:
I was wondering what is the preference amongst Beatles fans regarding the Let It Be album, whether you prefer the original one produced by Phil Spector, or the one produced in the direction of Paul McCartney , Let It Be … Naked.
There isn't much difference for most of the songs, but The Long And Winding Road had a huge makeover. It seems to me that the Naked version made that song more light-hearted than the heavy, drooping (mood-wise) string ensemble in the original.
What about you? Naked or not? Or both are par excellence?
I hugely prefer the 24 bit version of the 2009 remastered LIB . Sonically, it sounds way better. LIB Naked always sounded wrong to me. It's impossible dry, and the overall sound is too cold for my taste.
LIB remastered in 24 bit sounds nothing short of spectacular. The rawness and the energy of the best band in history is absolutely palpable.
Show me that I'm everywhere, and get me home for tea
12.21am
19 September 2010
Offline Joe said:
Let's not forget how McCartney ruined TLAWR with a dismal easy-listening version with saxophone intro on Give My Regards To Broad Street . A choir and orchestra obviously wasn't out of the question for him and George Martin (who produced and arranged it) that time.
Don`t Forget that was a soundtrack-specific recording, whereas the LIB take was for an Album
As if it matters how a man falls down.'
'When the fall's all that's left, it matters a great deal.
6.17pm
14 December 2009
Offline mr. Sun king coming together said:
Spector got alot of crap for adding orchestra to 3 songs and picking a different solo
Let it Be is the one I would take to the desert island
Worst decision of Spector's: adding the orchestra to ATU and dropping Don't Let me Down
Best Decisions: keepingthe Danny Boy Ending to One After 909 and editing I Me Mine For lenght
Just for me
Yeah, I agree with most of this. Ultimately, neither version is particularly satisfying for me personally. But I can never be fully satisfied, and probably don't even deserve to be, as long as my favourite track here (“Across The Universe “) is one that just doesn't belong, to my way of thinking. (Ultimately, I'm not sure WHERE it belongs.) And “Old Brown Shoe ” (and maybe “The Ballad of John & Yoko”) would've been nice to include as well.
Paul: Yeah well… first of all, we’re bringing out a ‘Stamp Out Detroit’ campaign.
7.38pm
4 December 2010
Offline I've asked for Let It Be … Naked! for Christmas (though I always say it “Let It Be Naked”, which has made people think I'm a naturist). I prefer the Naked mixes of The Long And Winding Road and Let It Be , so I opted for that version. However, if I'm honest, they probably could have done with releasing only a double A-side single with the Naked versions of those tracks instead. AFAIK, McCartney only had an issue with those two tracks, so remixing the whole lot seems like a waste of time.
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10.22pm
11 November 2010
Offline The title of this thread got me excited.
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7.25pm
19 September 2010
Offline Sir Paul did something with Naked that was a first for Apple. Which is take an idea and make it happen swiftly. I still prefer Spector’s version, although The Long And Winding Road ‘s best version is on Anthology 3 . Really, Let It Be should have included Don’t Let Me Down , but really, Naked is an incorrect remedy to a trivial issue.
As if it matters how a man falls down.'
'When the fall's all that's left, it matters a great deal.
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