A$# 005 Beatles | Let It Be

I was going to write about a Jethro Tull album this week, but since this is the anniversary of the famous Rooftop Concert today (it happened on January 30, 1969), I thought I should cast the spotlight on Let It Be, the album recorded during the Get Back sessions that turbulent first month of 1969, but not released until more than a year later.

Much has been written about those turbulent times, how it really spelled the end for the Fabs. But the rooftop concert showed that the Beatles could still rock out, and the album - which didn't contain any performances from that "gig" (just a few spoken bits like "Thanks Mo" and John's "hope we passed the audition" line) - has some great moments on it.

Much has also been written about the impact of three of the Beatles agreeing to bringing in producer Phil Spector to oversee the final production on the album, a move that angered Paul McCartney.

The strings and choirs may have presented a song like The Long And Winding Road in a much different way than Paul intended, but the song is just too strong to ultimately suffer from the over-treatment. If you've ever heard the alt versions of the song on Anthology 3, Let It Be Naked or any bootlegs, you'll hear the differences of course. But the majesty of the song still comes through on the LIB album version.

Ditto the title song. Let It Be became just as much an anthem as Hey Jude. It's plaintive and introspective, yet ultimately it's a redemptive song, poignant perhaps as it grew out of such a negative atmosphere among the Fab Four.

The other real jewel of the album is Across The Universe. This recording is not actually from the Get Back sessions, but it fits in with the other songs, with its themes like "Words are flowing out like endless rain into a paper cup / They slither while they pass, they slip away across the universe".

Other strong songs include George's two tracks, I Me Mine and For You Blue, plus Get Back, Two Of Us and I've Got A Feeling. Maggie Mae and Dig It stick closely to the "back to their roots" idea.

For some interesting reading about the Rooftop Concert, check out this tribute site. I would also recommend listening to some of the outtakes that have been released unofficially, as well as the early Glyn Johns compilations of the album and the revisionist Let It Be Naked.You should see the LIB movie too, if you can find a copy on VHS. The DVD release has been delayed so many times, I figure it will come out for the 50th anniversary.

The tracklist of the LIB album is:
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. The Long And Winding Road
11. For You Blue
12. Get Back