New Beatles ‘Let It Be’ coming
The Beatles’ Apple Records is releasing a new, stripped down version of the group’s last record, “Let It Be” this fall, Rolling Stone reports.
While the track listing will stay true to the original 1970 record, the newer album will lack the orchestration added by legendary producer Phil Spector. A more bare bones sound will recapture the “back to basics” concept Paul McCartney originally intended for it.
“It’s the de-Spectorized version,” Ringo Starr told Rolling Stone. “I was listening to it recently, and it was really great. I’ve been away from it a long time too. It fills my heart with joy to hear that band that I was a member of. They were just great. And also, the quietness of the tracks: It’s a beautiful CD,” he said.
Most of the material for the album was recorded in early 1969 for the film eventually titled “Let It Be,” but the sessions were turbulent and the album was temporarily abandoned. After the group had effectively disbanded, John Lennon brought Spector in to compile the album, a move that irritated McCartney.
“Paul was always totally opposed to Phil,” said Starr. “I told him on the phone, “You’re bloody right again: It sounds great without Phil.’ Which it does. Now we’ll have to put up with him telling us over and over, ‘I told you.'”
Glyn Johns, who engineered the original sessions will also take part in the project. “My version of ‘Get Back’ actually was released fairly quickly as a single, and my version of ‘Let it Be’ was also released, before Phil Spector puked all over it,” he said, and added: “And I hope you quote me on that. If you hear ‘The Long and Winding Road’ without all that schlock on it, it’s fabulous just like it is.”
The re-release project has been in the works for a least two years already — George Harrison approved the idea before his death in 2001, and it prompted the investigation that led to the January recovery of the original session tapes stolen more than 30 years ago.
“Let It Be” the film, will also be released on DVD at the same time as the new CD, although details are forthcoming.
Categories