Let It Be...Naked [VINYL]

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The Across the Universe we get on LIBN did stand out for me for one reason: it made me realize just how beautiful John’s vocal is. I would never know some of it was recorded on a rooftop on what looks like a bleak and windy day by a group who hadn't played as a band in public in too long and out in the elements no less.

So for a few songs at least, I think the sound of the new mixes more than justifies the cost of the album. Instead of several discs of music from these tapes we should have got, we got 20 minutes of snatches of bits of songs and mumbled conversations that sound like they were assembled by someone with severe ADHD, who after a couple of seconds went “OK, on to something else now”. Sad to see it being sidelined somewhat by the 50th release and with the vinyl going OOP, it looks like becoming an increasingly expensive item on LP. But some genius at EMI knew they could charge a few bucks more with a second disc, and so it became a two disc release. The second pressing from 2010 has pronounced differences: polygraphy darker, less contrast, paper thinner, gatefold sleeve has a smaller size.

I’m not quite as negative on it as you are but we agree on it being one of my least liked Beatle releases or “reworks”. Language - Regardless of country of origin all tracks are sung in English, unless otherwise stated in our description. So after more than thirty years of it getting under his skin Paul finally decides it’s time to de-Spectorize Let It Be. Hell, the album was only 35 minutes total, there was a good 45 minutes of space left on the compact disc, the paltry 20 minutes of “Fly on the Wall” gibberish would have fit easily.

I have a hard time believing that all their talk of LiBN having a dead, lifeless mix is anything more than mere pretentious snobbery – maybe they have nicer sound systems and better ears than me, so I guess I could be wrong, but I actually think the album sounds pretty great, I don’t care what they say. it may be intriguing to hear a version of 'Across the Universe' featuring only Lennon and some echo effects, but the new mix merely emphasises the song's droning vapidity. He is also determined that they should break away from their insular recording career and appear before the public again. Same with “Don’t Let Me Down”, which wasn’t on the original album, and I am not sure how its inclusion helps make the album more Naked than it was to begin with, but what the hell, it sounds great here. Regardless of country of origin all tracks are sung in English, unless otherwise stated in our description.There is consistent chatter about this LP online and there is definite interest from fans and collectors in a reissue. I've never liked the sound of LIB - to me it 'sounded and felt' more amateurish' than it was 'raw' imo.

This makes for a much tighter tracklisting, especially with the opener being 'get Back' closing with 'Let it Be'.

I assume it’s because there’s nothing else to distract from it, but I find it really stands out here, and it’s simply gorgeous.