Need help putting together a better Let It Be/Get Back set

[MK]

The press release on Let It Be...Naked has been a bit disappointing so far. Unless there's some crucial information being withheld, there seems to be only 50-60 minutes worth of material spread out over two discs, and unless some radical new mixes or different performances are being used, all but 20 minutes worth will have been already available on current releases.

So, I was thinking of making my own Get Back 'reissue,' but I need a little help with the album part. I've gathered some info (and there may be a few errors, so if you see any, please feel free to correct them), and it seems like there's at least three different Lp's circulating among collectors.

First, there's an acetate Johns threw together in early March (using none of the rooftop performances) that was distributed to the Beatles and eventually broadcast on WBCN, then bootlegged. It doesn't seem to be a serious attempt at an Lp, though. Most accounts say this was a pretty crappy disc.

After a few more tries, with one or two actually being cut into acetates, the first, real Lp made by Johns came up with this tracklist:

1. The One After 909 3:04 (Jan. 30, 1969)
2. I'm Ready 0:35 (Jan. 22, 1969)
3. Save The Last Dance For Me 1:00 (Jan. 22, 1969)
4. Don't Let Me Down 4:28 (Jan. 22, 1969)
5. I Dig A Pony 4:04 (Jan. 23, 1969)
6. I've Got A Feeling 2:46 (Jan. 23, 1969)
7. Get Back 3:14 (single version, Jan. 27. 1969)
8. For You Blue 2:46 (Jan. 25, 1969)
9. Teddy Boy 3:43 (Jan. 24, 1969)
10. Two Of Us 3:27 (Jan. 24, 1969)
11. Maggie Mae 0:37 (Jan. 24, 1969)
12. Dig It 4:06 (Jan. 24, 1969)
13. Let It Be 4:03 (single version without most overdubs, Jan. 31, 1969)
14. The Long and Winding Road 3:40 (Jan. 31, 1969)
15. Get Back - reprise 0:44 (Jan. 28, 1969)

Months later, after the film was pretty much finalized and some new recording/overdubbing was done, the Lp was changed to 'match' things more:

1. The One After 909 3:04 (Jan. 30, 1969)
2. I'm Ready 0:35 (Jan. 22, 1969)
3. Save The Last Dance For Me 1:00 (Jan. 22, 1969)
4. Don't Let Me Down 4:28 (Jan. 22, 1969)
5. I Dig A Pony 4:04 (Jan. 23, 1969)
6. I've Got A Feeling 2:46 (Jan. 23, 1969)
7. Get Back 3:14 (single version, Jan. 27. 1969)
8. Let It Be 4:03 (single w/o most overdubs version, Jan. 31, 1969)
9. For You Blue 2:46 (Jan. 25, 1969)
10. Two Of Us 3:27 (Jan. 24, 1969)
11. Maggie Mae 0:37 (Jan. 24, 1969)
12. Dig It 4:06 (Jan. 24, 1969)
13. The Long and Winding Road 3:40 (Jan. 31, 1969)
14. I Me Mine 1:45 (Jan. 3, 1970)
15. Across The Universe 3:28 (Feb. 8, 1968)
16. Get Back - reprise 0:44 (Jan. 28, 1969)

Then later, there's Spector's Let It Be which supposedly used better performances overall. I don't know which ones are different from those on the Get Back Lp's, though. I am interested in Spector's mix of "Teddy Boy," which was left off the final album. Spector's mixes, from an audiophile standpoint, were supposedly better, so I was thinking of finding and using his mix of that song.

Basically, the Lp I want to make is a bit loose with the rules. Stripped down sound, sure, but a few things in post are perfectly fine. I want to keep things as natural as their early recordings, which still had a good number of things done in post.

I want to use every song that wound up on both Get Back and Let It Be, except for the really half-assed stuff like Maggie Mae, Dig It, and I'm Ready (aka Rocker).

[Xenu]

You're looking for suggestions?

I really dunno. I do tend to like the Phil version better, but definitely see the charm of many of the Glyn Johns takes (and Thirty Days has some *really* excellent Apple Studios stuff).

Anybody?

[mikenycLI]

I would accept ANYTHING, as long as McCartney hasn't had ANYTHING to do with manufacturing it, in his studio, some thirty four years AFTER the fact !

The original is Ok with me, as are the original, UNDOCTORED BY SIR PAUL MCCARTNEY, session tapes.

[lukpac]

I look at the new release this way: as something different. Is it a replacement for the original album? No. Is it better or worse than the original album? That remains to be seen. But I've got no problems with the idea. More versions and variations should be a good thing, shouldn't it?

As for Paul "doctoring" the tapes, well, umm. I'm not sure how not including the overdubs is "doctoring".

[balthazar]

As for Paul "doctoring" the tapes, well, umm. I'm not sure how not including the overdubs is "doctoring".

I'm with Luke on this one. I'd like to hear what the tracks sound like without Spector's overdubs and wall of sound treatment.

I would accept ANYTHING, as long as McCartney hasn't had ANYTHING to do with manufacturing it, in his studio, some thirty four years AFTER the fact !

The original is Ok with me, as are the original, UNDOCTORED BY SIR PAUL MCCARTNEY, session tapes.

What's wrong with Paul having a little input in the sound of the album?

The last article I read about this project indicated that both Paul and Ringo were pleased with the sound of the new mix thus far.

I'm sure many of you can, and will, correct me if I'm wrong, but my understanding is that the material on _Let It Be_ was never intended for album release. Spector got a hold of it, mixed it the way he wanted it, and released it in what could be called a posthumous release.

I see nothing wrong with Paul and/or Ringo now deciding that as long as there's an album of this material, let's at least get a version out that sounds the way they would have wanted it to sound.

[lukpac]

I'm sure many of you can, and will, correct me if I'm wrong, but my understanding is that the material on _Let It Be_ was never intended for album release. Spector got a hold of it, mixed it the way he wanted it, and released it in what could be called a posthumous release.

Not exactly

The idea was to shoot a TV special of the Beatles in the studio recording their next album. The TV special idea turned into a film, but nevertheless, the LP idea was still there. Glyn Johns (who engineered the sessions) prepared album masters at two different times, and cover art was even made ("Get Back featuring Let It Be and 11 other songs" IIRC), but the idea sat on the shelf. Abbey Road was recorded and released, and eventually Phil Spector was brought in to "produce" a workable album. In addition to the overdubs, some different takes were selected compared to the Johns versions (which have surfaced on bootleg).

What it boils down to is hundreds of hours of material was recorded, and the tapes were thrown at Johns and later Spector under the guise of "make an album from this".

[balthazar]

Still, if Johns was brought in to prepare the album masters, even 30-some years later, he still might have a better idea of what things were "supposed" to sound like. And I still don't see any problem with Paul and Ringo sharing some ideas, either.

That being said, if the concept was supposed to be Get Back, why not call it something like Get Back to Let It Be or Let It Get Back instead of the somewhat bizarre Let It Be... Naked?