The Beatles - Let It Be

The Beatles - Let It Be



Generally regarded as the Beatles’ last album, LET IT BE was actually recorded in 1969, before the recording and release of ABBEY ROAD. LET IT BE was greeted with mixed reviews when it came out in 1970, and is still a controversial disc inthe band’s catalogue—many fans reject it, while others defend it fiercely. Notable for its difference from anything else the Beatles recorded, LET IT BE has a raw, ragged, muscular sound that recalls the band’s very earliest rock roots. The songs were mostly recorded live (save Phil Spector’s overdubs on “The Long and Winding Road”, “Across the Universe”, and “I Me Mine”), and the result is a world away from the meticulous, high-sheen sophistication of the group’s George Martin-produced releases.

No one is likely to argue that LET IT BE is the band’s best album, but it is a strong releasenonetheless. From the easy-rolling folk feel of “Two of Us“to the interlocking vocals and screaming guitar of “I’ve Got a Feeling” to the epoch-making title cut (one of Paul McCartney’s finest moments), the album bristles with good songwriting and gutsy energy. There are moments of filler—the rock & roll rehash “One After 909”, for example—but at its best, as on John Lennon’s meditative “Across the Universe” and the driving “Get Back” (which features Billy Preston on keysand is the record’s high point), it shows the Beatles for what they always were: a top-notch, hard-working rock band.
“Let It Be”, recorded before “Abbey Road” but released last, has been pilloried by the critics. While it lacks the finesse of George Martin’s magic, it is still a very good album. It has two of Paul McCartney’s best vocal efforts on it, in the title song, “Let It Be”, which is beautiful and moving”, as well as on the poignant “The Long And Winding Road”. Pauls vocals are also notable in the rocking “Get Back” track.
This album comes closest to making The Beatles sound as they did, when they first began recording. This is probably because they performed live for many of the tracks, which gave them the projected warmth of their earlier efforts. While Phil Spector was the producer who cobbled together this recording, he was heavily criticized for his handling of the material. Paul himself chastized him for the arrangement of “The Long And Winding Road”. With The Beatles at odds among themselves, however, it was a miracle that this recording was put to bed in the first place. Old time fans of The Beatles are thankful that Phil was able to put this last release together.

Tracklist
1. Two Of Us
2. Dig A Pony
3. Across The Universe
4. I Me Mine
5. Dig It
6. Let It Be
7. Maggie Mae
8. I’ve Got A Feeling
9. One After 909
10. Long And Winding Road
11. Get Back

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The Beatles - Let It Be