...Naked, mainly for 2 reasons, 1) more discriminating track selections (put Maggie, Dig It on the anthologies, where they belong) including 'Don't Let Me Down', and 2) the track sequencing. ...Naked has a much better flow that the original especially opening with Get Back (the original project name) and leaving the title track to the end, where it rightfully belongs. Overall, however, ...Naked represents a more pure Beatles expression. Paul had effectively been the producer during the recording and lost control during the transition to the Abbey Road sessions and the disintegration of the band afterward. I don't fault Spector's effort to bring the original to market, but he had no Beatles legacy. Had it been Martin, I'd think differently. Paul's work to bring us ...Naked is of course a bit revisionism, but at least it says 'This is what we (or l) meant to do.' I'm good with that.
Let it Be Naked is superior in every way except maybe the Album Cover. The stark black cover with the 4 images is very cool. The production on Spector's Let it Be is great but and has stood the test of time but it gets choppy in places and the orchestration is too lush on Let it Be and Long and Winding Road. I Me Mine was improved by extending it and Naked smartly kept it that way.
Glyn Johns did an original 'Get Back' mix which is essentially the basis or the two albums and deserves a release. After all, time has shown that his work is what was essentially chosen 'warts and all' to represent the period.
There are many outtakes recorded on the 24th and 27th of January 1969 that are very good and deserve to be released. This period has a lot of conflicting information but when the Beatles actually recorded the album from January 22-31. Good work was done...even good and loose Rock and Roll covers songs.
BeatleJEB - 7 years ago
Let It Be. That's the way it was released and that's the way it should be. "Naked" was a rip-off album. The tracks aren't all that much different from the original. We already had a "clean" version of The Long And Winding Road on Anthology 3. Other tracks sound like the fade controls were slid down very quickly to avoid the studio chatter. Most people purchased "Naked" under the false pretense that it was the precursor to the soon-to-be-released Let It Be DVD & Blu-ray. Of course that never happened and probably never will while Paul and Ringo are still alive.
Mikko Kangasjarvi - 7 years ago
The original Let It Be is an incoherent mess. The best tracks are the three (or four if you will) Spectorized ballads and the title track. The original LWR is still better but overall the Naked version wins with its sharp punchy mixing.
Christopher Carrache - 7 years ago
Apples and Oranges. Spector waded through hundreds of hours of noodling and managed to put a listenable and marketable album together--otherwise all you would have is an extra volume of Anthology. Maybe it hasn't stood the test of time as well as Abbey Road, but what else has? Remember the nasal clearing stereo mixes up through Revolver?
Naked is revisionist history. If you like that sort of thing, then so be it. Yeah, it sounds more modern, but why mess with history? Paul couldn't, ultimately, Let It Be.
Bu Castro - 7 years ago
Let It Be, despite the Spector-ing, has its nice honest rough moments. It did its job of swinging away from Pepper.
Naked was supposed to be a bare bones version but to me, it sounded contrived and over-produced. It has its gems 'tho.
You should also listen to the complete Glyn Johns Get Back album. I like it a lot, too!
I like them all!
Hoping to listen to a Giles Martin remix in 2020.
Tony Machado - 7 years ago
The original always left me melancholy; knowing that the Beatles had officially broken up.
Dig It and Maggie May were throw aways. Across The Universe was over produced.
Naked was closer to what the boys wanted. That's why the original was shelved until after Abbey Road. It contained Don't Let Me Down.
The original did produce the better version of Get Back.
It's better to think of them as separate works, like listening to the Capitol albums as opposed to the Parlophone label.
Timothy Byrne - 7 years ago
"Naked" is mostly better except it omits George's great guitar solo from the title song.
Mark - 7 years ago
Definitely Naked. Much more of a true Beatles sound. The original was too over produced and a bit disjointed. I really like the straight forward sound of naked. It was as the Beatles originally planned.
John - 7 years ago
I like Naked, if only for The Long Winding Road. When I first heard Let it Be when it came out, that song annoyed me. I never liked it until the Naked album. Now I think it's good. I do like I've Got a Feeling on the original Let it Be album. To me, it sounds tight and represents the band as a solid unit. When the song reaches the guitar break, all the Beatles shine. Ringo's drumming is excellent. Overall, though, I like Naked, without all the heavy production.
Dan - 7 years ago
I voted for the original because it gives a more unpolished live in the studio vibe even though much production was done to put it together. The strings added irritate me and always have. I also just like most of the versions of songs better along with the studio chatter. On the other hand I do like the slick production of Naked. It's like the finished up version of the original Let It Be sessions so to speak.
Keith Vukan - 7 years ago
Let it Be. Spector only added to three songs. He picked the best takes. It's a fine soundtrack album.
Thomas Brune - 7 years ago
I like the studio chatter and Phil Spector over production just fine but I can why you might like the naked version too I like both slight edge and vote to original
Steve Cohan - 7 years ago
Spector ruined the spirit of the album the way it was recorded and supposed to have been released. He should have been thrown in jail on that point alone! Ask Sir Paul which version he prefers....
Ken - 7 years ago
The original "Let It Be" was too overproduced. The Phil Spector "Wall of Sound" overshadowed the real songs and the way they were intended to be listened to. I'm sure that this album was never intended to be presented like a musical with all of the strings. It was supposed to represent the hard edges that the Beatles had.
Craig - 7 years ago
i think the original is better but there are 3 songs that could have been better mixes. The Long and Winding Road I agree was butchered. Let it Be with the heavily distorted and loud guitar takes away from the serenity of the song I also believe that Get Back is better with the extended ending, as it was on the single and rooftop. Always loved the album.
Farrell McNulty - 7 years ago
Naked sounds more like a solid album. I much prefer this mix of "The Long and Winding Road" because the true melody can be heard in the instrumental passage, as opposed to the bombast of strings and choirs. I also appreciate the inclusion of "Don't Let Me Down" and have always wondered why it wasn't on the original album as it was featured a couple of times in the movie.
I still have a copy of the original Let It Be and I still listen to it. That mix of "The Long and Winding Road" is a hoot. When my sense of humor flares up, I listen to that one. If I just want to hear and appreciate a good piece of music, then I'll switch on the "Naked" version.
Cathy - 7 years ago
I much prefer Let it Be Naked as Paul wanted it. I'm not a fan of Spector's over- produced "Wall of Sound"-- not what The Beatles were about.
Still recall listening to "Let It Be" as a boy on Sunday mornings. If only life was that enjoyable and easygoing. Paul may have not liked the job Phil Spector did on "The Long & Winding Road" but he also went to the Grammy Awards in L.A. that year to pick up his Grammy award.
...Naked, mainly for 2 reasons, 1) more discriminating track selections (put Maggie, Dig It on the anthologies, where they belong) including 'Don't Let Me Down', and 2) the track sequencing. ...Naked has a much better flow that the original especially opening with Get Back (the original project name) and leaving the title track to the end, where it rightfully belongs. Overall, however, ...Naked represents a more pure Beatles expression. Paul had effectively been the producer during the recording and lost control during the transition to the Abbey Road sessions and the disintegration of the band afterward. I don't fault Spector's effort to bring the original to market, but he had no Beatles legacy. Had it been Martin, I'd think differently. Paul's work to bring us ...Naked is of course a bit revisionism, but at least it says 'This is what we (or l) meant to do.' I'm good with that.
Let it Be Naked is superior in every way except maybe the Album Cover. The stark black cover with the 4 images is very cool. The production on Spector's Let it Be is great but and has stood the test of time but it gets choppy in places and the orchestration is too lush on Let it Be and Long and Winding Road. I Me Mine was improved by extending it and Naked smartly kept it that way.
Glyn Johns did an original 'Get Back' mix which is essentially the basis or the two albums and deserves a release. After all, time has shown that his work is what was essentially chosen 'warts and all' to represent the period.
There are many outtakes recorded on the 24th and 27th of January 1969 that are very good and deserve to be released. This period has a lot of conflicting information but when the Beatles actually recorded the album from January 22-31. Good work was done...even good and loose Rock and Roll covers songs.
Let It Be. That's the way it was released and that's the way it should be. "Naked" was a rip-off album. The tracks aren't all that much different from the original. We already had a "clean" version of The Long And Winding Road on Anthology 3. Other tracks sound like the fade controls were slid down very quickly to avoid the studio chatter. Most people purchased "Naked" under the false pretense that it was the precursor to the soon-to-be-released Let It Be DVD & Blu-ray. Of course that never happened and probably never will while Paul and Ringo are still alive.
The original Let It Be is an incoherent mess. The best tracks are the three (or four if you will) Spectorized ballads and the title track. The original LWR is still better but overall the Naked version wins with its sharp punchy mixing.
Apples and Oranges. Spector waded through hundreds of hours of noodling and managed to put a listenable and marketable album together--otherwise all you would have is an extra volume of Anthology. Maybe it hasn't stood the test of time as well as Abbey Road, but what else has? Remember the nasal clearing stereo mixes up through Revolver?
Naked is revisionist history. If you like that sort of thing, then so be it. Yeah, it sounds more modern, but why mess with history? Paul couldn't, ultimately, Let It Be.
Let It Be, despite the Spector-ing, has its nice honest rough moments. It did its job of swinging away from Pepper.
Naked was supposed to be a bare bones version but to me, it sounded contrived and over-produced. It has its gems 'tho.
You should also listen to the complete Glyn Johns Get Back album. I like it a lot, too!
I like them all!
Hoping to listen to a Giles Martin remix in 2020.
The original always left me melancholy; knowing that the Beatles had officially broken up.
Dig It and Maggie May were throw aways. Across The Universe was over produced.
Naked was closer to what the boys wanted. That's why the original was shelved until after Abbey Road. It contained Don't Let Me Down.
The original did produce the better version of Get Back.
It's better to think of them as separate works, like listening to the Capitol albums as opposed to the Parlophone label.
"Naked" is mostly better except it omits George's great guitar solo from the title song.
Definitely Naked. Much more of a true Beatles sound. The original was too over produced and a bit disjointed. I really like the straight forward sound of naked. It was as the Beatles originally planned.
I like Naked, if only for The Long Winding Road. When I first heard Let it Be when it came out, that song annoyed me. I never liked it until the Naked album. Now I think it's good. I do like I've Got a Feeling on the original Let it Be album. To me, it sounds tight and represents the band as a solid unit. When the song reaches the guitar break, all the Beatles shine. Ringo's drumming is excellent. Overall, though, I like Naked, without all the heavy production.
I voted for the original because it gives a more unpolished live in the studio vibe even though much production was done to put it together. The strings added irritate me and always have. I also just like most of the versions of songs better along with the studio chatter. On the other hand I do like the slick production of Naked. It's like the finished up version of the original Let It Be sessions so to speak.
Let it Be. Spector only added to three songs. He picked the best takes. It's a fine soundtrack album.
I like the studio chatter and Phil Spector over production just fine but I can why you might like the naked version too I like both slight edge and vote to original
Spector ruined the spirit of the album the way it was recorded and supposed to have been released. He should have been thrown in jail on that point alone! Ask Sir Paul which version he prefers....
The original "Let It Be" was too overproduced. The Phil Spector "Wall of Sound" overshadowed the real songs and the way they were intended to be listened to. I'm sure that this album was never intended to be presented like a musical with all of the strings. It was supposed to represent the hard edges that the Beatles had.
i think the original is better but there are 3 songs that could have been better mixes. The Long and Winding Road I agree was butchered. Let it Be with the heavily distorted and loud guitar takes away from the serenity of the song I also believe that Get Back is better with the extended ending, as it was on the single and rooftop. Always loved the album.
Naked sounds more like a solid album. I much prefer this mix of "The Long and Winding Road" because the true melody can be heard in the instrumental passage, as opposed to the bombast of strings and choirs. I also appreciate the inclusion of "Don't Let Me Down" and have always wondered why it wasn't on the original album as it was featured a couple of times in the movie.
I still have a copy of the original Let It Be and I still listen to it. That mix of "The Long and Winding Road" is a hoot. When my sense of humor flares up, I listen to that one. If I just want to hear and appreciate a good piece of music, then I'll switch on the "Naked" version.
I much prefer Let it Be Naked as Paul wanted it. I'm not a fan of Spector's over- produced "Wall of Sound"-- not what The Beatles were about.
Still recall listening to "Let It Be" as a boy on Sunday mornings. If only life was that enjoyable and easygoing. Paul may have not liked the job Phil Spector did on "The Long & Winding Road" but he also went to the Grammy Awards in L.A. that year to pick up his Grammy award.