Let It Be... Naked - Beatles (The) (CD 2003)

In the Autumn of 2003, when the powers that be at Apple decided to release a new and updated version of a classic Beatles album from 1970 it was greeted by mixed reviews before most of these same people had even listen to the new release, Let It Be... Naked. I remember hearing it for the first time on my car radio while vacationing in Florida, they played the entire album and I was amazed and impressed with the obvious changes and improvements that took place at the mixing console. It sounded cleaner and more pure. The music was in your face, especially when you compare to the 1970 release.

The thought-process behind the release of Naked was to present the album as it was intended, just the Beatles (and keyboardist Billy Preston) on the instruments, and strip away the orchestral and chorus overdubs that were added by original album producer Phil Spector had done in 1970. Also, to differentiate the two releases, there is a claim that one being the Soundtrack to the movie (1970) and one as an album of proper songs (2003).

There is a different track listing for Naked, the two very short numbers Dig It and Maggie Mae were left off of this release. They were unfinished snippets that were probably only included originally to give Lennon the inclusion he was used to receiving on the album. He only wrote two songs, Dig A Pony and Across the Universe (which was written a year earlier). These two short songs were replaced with a more apt Lennon composition Don t Let Me Down. This song was written, recorded and performed while making the film Let It Be, but was left off the original finished album because it was the flip side to the Get Back single. The version here is an edit of the two live rooftop performances. I prefer the live versions to the studio version from the single, the live versions have an intimate performance feeling, and the rough harmonies from Paul and John create the facade of camaraderie despite the eroding situation during the recording of Let it Be.

A song that virtually receives no play is George Harrison s I Me Mine, a high energy rocker that only consists of three Beatles (without Lennon) performing on this studio track. There is always a lot of talk about how McCartney and Lennon s harmonies are magical, but in my opinion McCartney and Harrison is just as good if not better. To understand my position listen to this song or Something from Abbey Road where Lennon is also absent. You can go as early as Paul s All My Loving to hear great harmonies from Harrison and McCartney or as late as Free As A Bird or Real Love. I Me Mine is almost a studio creation because as Harrison had written it, the song only lasted a minute and a half. Phil Spector originally came up with the idea to lengthen the master by repeating the verses. It was a great idea and it is seamless and now the song is an enjoyable two and a half minute song.

This album originally had also produced three number one hits. The first, Get Back never had any orchestral overdubs from Spector, but this version sounds fresher because of the omission of excess reverb and the sound is crisp and the drums and bass somehow sound punchier than the original. Paul s galloping rocker gets a slight facelift and it's enough to promote new excitement and energy from Beatle fans around the globe.

The Long and Winding Road, another #1 single is perhaps the reason Let It Be was even considered for a reissue. From the get go, way back in 1970 when Paul had heard the Spector version with the orchestra and chorus added, he hated it right away and talked about it openly in interviews. This version is not the same take, this was recorded almost a week later, this is the one from the film where The Beatles (plus Billy Preston on keyboards) performed the song live. This is a gentle piano ballad with forlorn lyrics. Preston's organ solo in the middle rivals the lush orchestra added by Phil Spector, an improvement if I may be so bold.

The title track, Let it Be from Paul is another soft piano ballad, yet when the band jumps in after the second verse and eventually a nice guitar solo from George Harrison. In early 1970, Paul and George added the back-up vocals. The song has a gospel feel due to the organ from Preston and the lyrics from Paul.
When I find myself in times of trouble
Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom
Let it be

A couple of real gems are songs that hardly get any attention. For You Blue, another Harrison composition, is a real bluesy number that features John Lennon on a very prominent slide guitar while George strums on an acoustic. Two of Us was written by Paul about Linda McCartney, yet with Paul & John singing the harmony of the verses together it often gets mistaken for a song about John & Paul. John and Paul are playing two acoustic guitars while George Harrison plays "bass." This is the same version from the original but the hiss was removed with more modern equipment. I've Got A Felling from McCartney is a real laid back rocker. This is obviously a different version than the original. It's still live, but with Billy Preston more prominent on piano, and the whole band sounding more energetic and possibly happy.

The Let it Be album (1970) always had a dark cloud attached to it from my perspective. Naked gives off a happier mood and a lighter atmosphere. I admit that I listen to the Naked version much more than I listen to the 1970 album mostly because it just sounds so much better.


Bonus Disc

The album comes with a second disc that lasts about 21 minutes, with snippets of conversation and music called Fly On The Wall. Some of the music included here, no matter how short may seem insignificant to some, but it's actually pretty exciting. An early version of Don't Let Me Down can be heard with just John on guitar and singing, you can actually hear Paul shaping the song for Lennon.
There's also a different version of Maggie Mae which was included on the 1970 album. Also, at the end of the disc we hear an acoustic version of Get Back, no doubt in one of its early stages.
There is a Ringo song called Taking a Trip to Carolina which we only hear twenty seconds and when it fades out into laughter from the other three Beatles it perhaps shows where the level of seriousness was when it came to a non-Lennon/McCartney composition.

John Lennon can be heard presenting his song Child of Nature to The Beatles, obviously nothing came to fruition until Lennon's Imagine album where he changed it to Jealous Guy. George's song All Things Must Pass seemed to get some consideration as we hear John and Paul harmonizing during the chorus with George.
Fly On The Wall is good for a few listens, it was edited down to a length where it is quite listenable and it keeps your interest, but perhaps only for the real fans.

The album cover looks somewhat similar to the 1970 release but with the negatives of the four photos used. Instead of all black on the cover artwork, the color is silver. The CD booklet is filled with black and white pictures and art work with conversation snippets with The Beatles and Michael Lindsay-Hogg (director of the film Let it Be) from the original Let It Be book. It's a thirty page booklet that also features a brief history from BBC producer Kevin Howlett.


the songs

1. Get Back
2. Dig a Pony
3. For You Blue
4. The Long and Winding Road
5. Two of Us
6. I've Got a Feeling
7. One After 909
8. Don't Let Me Down
9. I Me Mine
10. Across the Universe
11. Let It Be


fly on the wall

Conversation
"Sun King"
"Don't Let Me Down"
Conversation
"One After 909"
Conversation
"Because I Know You Love Me So"
Conversation
"Don't Pass Me By"
"Taking A Trip to Carolina"
"John's Piano Piece"
Conversation
"Child of Nature"
"Back in the U.S.S.R."
Conversation
"Every Little Thing"
"Don't Let Me Down"
Conversation
"All Things Must Pass"
Conversation
"She Came In Through the Bathroom Window"
Conversation
"Paul's Piano Piece"
Conversation
"Get Back"
Conversation
"Two Of Us"
"Maggie Mae"
"Fancy My Chances With You"
Conversation
"Can You Dig It?"
Conversation
"Get Back"
Conversation


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~~~~~~~~~~~~~The Beatles~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please Please Me
A Hard Day's Night
Help!
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Magical Mystery Tour
The White Album
Abbey Road
Real Love (CD Single)
Free As A Bird (CD Single)
Tropical Tribute to the Beatles
Bach On Abbey Road
My 20 Favorite Beatles Songs
Love

Here, There & Everywhere - My Life Recording the Music of The Beatles

~~~~~~~~~~~Paul McCartney~~~~~~~~~~

McCartney
RAM
Red Rose Speedway
Band on the Run
Band on the Run - 25 Year Anniversary Edition
Venus and Mars
Wings at the Speed of Sound
Should Paul McCartney Go Back On Drugs?
The Walrus Was Paul
Top 20 Favorite SOLO Beatles Songs W/O


~~~~~~~~~~~~Ringo Starr~~~~~~~~~~~

Ringo
Goodnight Vienna
Blast From The Past
Rotogravure
VH1 Storytellers


~~~~~~~~~~~~John Lennon~~~~~~~~~~~

Plastic Ono Band
Imagine





~~~~~~~~~~~George Harrison~~~~~~~~~~

All Things Must Pass