Let It Be Naked [Import]

The Beatles | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 19, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Import
• Label: EMI Europe Generic
• Copy Protected
• ASIN: B0000T6JH4
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #271,761 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

At last we can hear Let It Be the way it was meant to be, the original masters in their originally intended form, PLUS a bonus, "fly on the wall" disc that presents 25 minutes of music and conversation from the Beatles at work in rehearsal and in the studio.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars interesting but not for the casual fan, November 28, 2003

By 

Benjamin Lukoff (Seattle) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Let It Be Naked (Audio CD)

Let me start by echoing others in saying that the title of this album is ridiculous and that the album cover is probably the Beatles' worst ever (not counting 70's compilations like 'Rock & Roll Music'). And I, too, would have liked to see the release of the original Glyn Johns-produced 'Get Back' album, complete with the EMI House cover photo that was later used on the Red and Blue Albums.
It's pretty difficult to evaluate this album on its own merits since I'm so familiar with the 1970 version. The track listing is pretty close to the original, with the removal of "Dig It" and "Maggie Mae" and the addition of "Don't Let Me Down." That's fine. But as I understand it this was always supposed to be a sort of "live" album and, as such, the studio banter is greatly missed. As others have pointed out, "Get Back" seems to stop short. This is because it lacks the extended outro of the single version and John's rooftop quips from the LP.

"Dig a Pony" appears to be identical to the original version, as do "Two of Us," "For You Blue," "One After 909," and "I Me Mine." Any differences are minor--slightly different balances in the mixing, etc.

"I've Got a Feeling," "Across the Universe," "Let it Be," "Don't Let Me Down," and "The Long and Winding Road" are the most changed. Of these four, "I've Got a Feeling" is closest to the version we're familiar with, but it falls short, in my opinion. In addition to apparently being a different take, the guitars are mixed too softly and the electric piano is too loud. "Don't Let Me Down" pales in comparison to the original single version. Again, the guitars are mixed too softly, and the part at the end where John's lead vocal is only audible through what I assume are instrument mics is missing completely.

"Across the Universe" has had all overdubs stripped from it, and is perhaps the most improved. Phil Spector really did do a number on this one.

The version of "Let it Be" that appears here is inferior both to the original album and original single versions. Here was a case where Phil Spector vastly improved the basic track, by adding echo and especially a new guitar solo to replace George's rather lame Leslie noodlings.

Spector's treatment of "The Long and Winding Road" always seems to be held up as the canonical example of what was wrong with the album. Hearing this version is no revelation, since something similar was available on 'Anthology 3,' but I can understand Paul's desire to finally restore his untouched performance to the album. Yet we are left with something that almost sounds like a demo. In fact, the rest of the band almost seems superfluous on this one. Perhaps it would have been better with just Paul and a piano. I think Spector sensed it was missing something and simply went overboard. There is no question that without him this never would have been a hit single, however.

The 'Fly on the Wall' disc is interesting. The highlight for me is the 10-second snippet of John, Paul, and George singing "All Things Must Pass." That would have made a stellar Beatles track--what a shame.

To conclude, if you're a new or a casual Beatles fan, skip this and get the original album. If you're a more serious fan or a collector, it's probably worth having, if only for the second disc, which contains pieces of what appear to be two previously unheard Lennon-McCartney tracks.

However, this release falls short of what I think it could have been. Perhaps in some time we will see the release of Glyn Johns' 'Get Back,' or even a box set on the model of the Beach Boys' 'Pet Sounds Sessions.' I am sure I would give those much higher recommendations.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Let it bomb, December 21, 2011

By 

Annie Van Auken (Planet Earth) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Let It Be Naked (Audio CD)

LET IT BE - NAKED is a totally unnecessary album. The additional disc of studio chatter is a massive bore-- please don't waste a portion of your life listening to it.

The original album, in spite of a few Spector overdubbed tracks, is just fine and about all one needs to hear from this ill-fated movie and concert project.

Speaking of which, if Apple really cares about Beatles fans young and old (which I doubt), they should re-release the film of LET IT BE-- give it a short theatrical run, then follow that up with a home video product. LET IT BE is certainly not the greatest rock movie of all time, but it has a few fine moments. This movie is the REAL Let It Be Naked.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars This CD CAN'T BE RIPPED, May 27, 2004

By 

John Sheehan - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Let It Be Naked (Audio CD)

The only way I listen to music is to convert the cd to an mp3 file and use it on my player.

However, EMI has placed some kind of technology to prevent this conversion, so I guess I won't be listeniung to it.

Thanks EMI, I'm sure that you will have lots more loyal customers after you screw them.