Let It Be vs. Let It Be...Naked

[Georgy Zhukov]

Let It Be was the final LP released by The Beatles. Was criticized because some of the songs were overproduced, in particular The Long and Winding Road. The album was produced by Phil Spector so it comes to no surprised. Decades later Paul McCartney authorized a release of the version that he and George Martin wanted. Doesn't have that "Wall of Sound" Spector was known for. The track listing has been rearranged, the spoken words have been removed (you can listen to them on the second disc, "Fly on the Wall" and even includes a different take of Let It Be. I have lost count how many versions of that song there are.

Anyway, discuss. Vote.

[dalsh327]

I think they should have done something closer to the "30 Days" bootleg instead of "Let It Be Naked". The whole thing about Phil Spector creating a couple of arrangements to Paul's songs has been blown out of proportion, but it deviated from the spirit of what they had originally planned, more of a "raw, live" feeling album.

To me there's no wall of sound on there. The Ramones "End of the Century" and the one he did with Leonard Cohen did.

Paul never had a say in the original album (maybe it was payback for dominating the sessions) and it was a mess that Phil was left to tidy up as a soundtrack to the movie. I still like the original better, but making a 2-3 CD set from the actual sessions and all the other songs they did at the time, including some of the bickering as well as laughing, makes for a better listening experience of what was going on at the time, as well as hearing the songs that wound up on solo albums.

[Rovim]

Let It Be Naked is sexier.

[Georgy Zhukov]

I think I prefer the song Let It Be on the 1970 release. The biggest differences are on the songs The Long and Winding Road and Across the Universe. The strings were not necessary.

[Zint]

I grew up with Let It Be, the songs as they were are ingrained in me. I can't change that.

Let It Be Naked is interesting, but for me, it is nothing more than a novelty alternative.

[Crazyman]

I think I prefer the song Let It Be on the 1970 release.

I agree. Overall I like the Naked version better, however. More natural and probably what the Beatles would've wanted it to sound like if they could've in 1970.

[Georgy Zhukov]

A lot of people don't seem to believe Harrison performed on that song.

[Crazyman]

I think it was the album version that he, Paul and Ringo went into the studio after John had left and finished it off. Linda recorded her background vocals then too.

[bacardimayne]

I'll never understand why people think the Naked version makes the album any better. All it does is strip away the fat and leave you with a thin, uninspired album of bland songs that show how empty the tank was at that stage. Only 3 or 4 songs from Let it Be should ever have seen the light of day.

[DR DOOM]

I actually prefer the Naked version.

[Dazey]

I'll never understand why people think the Naked version makes the album any better. All it does is strip away the fat and leave you with a thin, uninspired album of bland songs that show how empty the tank was at that stage. Only 3 or 4 songs from Let it Be should ever have seen the light of day.

To say that the tank was empty at the end is to discount Abbey Road which was the last album they recorded if not the last to be released.

[bacardimayne]

They refilled after Let It Be.

[Crazyman]

To be fair they spent like 6 months straight recording all day and night on the White Album. They probably should've taken a little more time off to regroup after that.

Edited July 21, 2014 by Crazyman

[luciusfunk]

Naked