Let it be Naked: The Beatles final studio album, remixed and remastered

By Tom Carroll, Jr. - For the Cal Times

As I continue this little journey into re-issues, it is overcast and raining. A rainy overcast chilly day wears my patience to the max. In fact I am now listening to disc one of the soundtrack from “Apocalypse Now. “

I am waiting for The Beatles. I ordered the set online from Best Buy. Backordered due to the rush these four guys still generate, I wait. If I were younger, I would be standing by my mailbox daily. So after the initial essay, then Marvin Gaye, followed by Janis Joplin, and the thoughts I sifted on this one, bingo, or a light bulb glowed that might be better. The Beatles jumped off my shelves, out of The Beatles section of course, arriving in my hand, and slowly pulling me to the CD player. The Beatles-“Let it Be…Naked”

This version of what many at the time of its release considered their last album, had been the center of controversy, from fans and The Beatles themselves. The trick behind the album being released last was the fact that during the process of recording they were working in some new songs that later became there final, “Abbey Road.” The “Let it Be” project had begun originally as a documentary in January of 1969.

At the beginning, Paul McCartney spoke of them performing live once again. The songs they were going to work into the filming were from “The White Album.”

So the filming started, the songs changed and the project that had some high hopes fell flat. George Harrison even walked out, quit the band but then returned. So when the interest left and their original producer George Martin, whom I rightfully call the Fifth Beatle, returned, they shifted their focus to a set of songs for “Abbey Road,” leaving the tapes boxed and shelved, put away and forgotten.

Finally John Lennon delivered the tapes to legendary producer Phil Spector, describing them as Sh@#, and telling Spector to do what he wanted with them. And he did, the album being released in 1970. It was a piece of work, somewhere between a well recorded band that had the ability to deliver, or a fragmented band that, with fighting and tension amongst themselves, threw their hands up and walked away.

When the album hit the racks, charting at number one and placing three singles at the top of the charts, the finished product was so full of incoherency, hop-scotching from some great rock n’ roll to some over-produced string added pieces that broke the flow. It sat on my shelves, very seldom played. The album lacked a clear body and direction.

Then along came 2003 with a surprise, a great one I might add. Re-mastered and re-mixed, the key ingredient being all the fluff and sugar coating removed, the new version titled, “Let it Be…Naked” stood as it should have in 1970. A two disc set, I listened to disc one twice, sitting, listening and realizing how great these four guys from England truly were.

Opening with “Get Back,” a shorter version from the original album and single release, it begins by delivering The Beatles at their best. Stage tested years before and raw. Track two brings in “Dig a Pony,” with some great lyrics followed by George Harrison’s “For You Blue.”

Then, the first breath of fresh air, the first signs of the life this band projected, crashed in with the subtle and brilliant, “The Long and Winding Road.” Stripped of the baggage that Spector added, loved and threw at all of his production efforts throughout his career. The versatility of the band shines through in John playing the bass lines, Paul at the piano, George on guitar and Ringo perched on his throne laying down the backbeat. The rest, without a track listing needed, are fresh and vibrant.

Continuing along the musical trail this release freshly blazed, exposed the true camaraderie of John, Paul, George and Ringo, establishing the fact that this work in progress in January of 1969, fizzled in flow with a dynamite set of songs. It sounded brand new and live; like a reunion that never happened; a gathering of four gifted and talented musicians that had entered the studio one more time.

Disc two is titled, “Fly on the Wall,” holding some snippets of songs and dialogue that was included on the original and removed from this gem. I still give it a listen, in fact more than the original in the first wave of CD’s. The rest I am waiting for, the original “Let it Be,” which will be included and I think it will sound better.

So I continue the wait, awful and painful it is. My ears have a low level hum going constantly on what I want to hear. When it finally arrives and I bring the package in the house, carrying it so delicate and gentle like a priceless piece of art. Heading into my living room I open it, shut the TV off or remove whatever disc I am listening to and then think of which order I should choose. Skip the order; my ears are aching for some true stereo recordings. Be patient I whisper to myself.

The cover on this new one is great. A set of negatives of all four; replacing the original photos that were always glossed over and airbrushed, bringing in the add- on to the title, ”Let it Be…Naked.” Buy it and listen.

So next week another artist is squeezing in, in a different direction. Not a u-turn or an alternate route dodging musical construction, no; an introduction to a guitar player still alive in his legacy, brief, limited and brilliant. A young man who burned the frets and smoked every chord and blistering hot solo he delivered; leaving an influence still felt today. So take care and as you continue your musical journey in discovery and listening, with no time or age limits applied, remember. All music has roots, planted deep and continually producing a great harvest.

forts throughout his career. The versatility of the band shown through in John playing the bass lines, Paul at the piano, George on guitar and Ringo perched on his throne laying down the backbeat. The rest without a track listing needed are fresh and vibrant.

Continuing along the musical trail this release freshly blazed and exposed, the true camaraderie of John, Paul, George and Ringo, establishing the fact that this work in progress in January of 1969, that fizzled in flow had dynamite set of songs. It sounded brand new. It sounded live. It sounded like a reunion that never happened; a gathering of four gifted and talented musicians that had entered the studio one more time. A mission to get back in the groove they had left, the tension and anger squelched they began playing and singing.

Disc two is titled, “Fly on the Wall,” holding some snippets of songs and dialogue that some was included on the original and removed from this gem. I still, give it a listen, in fact more than the original in the first wave of CD’s. The rest I am waiting for and the original “Let it Be,” will be included and I think it will sound better.

So I continue the wait, awful and painful it is. My ears have a low level hum going constantly on what I want to hear. When it finally arrives and I bring the package in the house, carrying it so delicate and gentle like a priceless piece of art. Heading into my living room I open it, shut the TV off or remove whatever disc I am listening to, and then think of which order I should choose. Skip the order; my ears are aching for some true stereo recordings. Be patient I whisper to myself.

The cover on this new one is great. A set of negatives of all four; replacing the original photos that were always glossed over and airbrushed, bringing in the add on to the title, ”Let it Be…Naked.” Buy it and listen.

So next week another artist is squeezing in, in a different direction. Not a u-turn or an alternate route dodging musical construction, no; an introduction to a guitar player still alive in his legacy, brief, limited and brilliant, a young man who burned the frets, smoked every chord and blistering hot solo he delivered. Leaving an influence still felt today. So take care and as you continue your musical journey in discovery and listening, with no time or age limits applied, remember. All music has roots, planted deep and continually producing a great harvest.