I think Let It Be is looked at so badly by some Beatles fans even though it's a great classic rock album despite not being a masterpiece like Abbey Road is mainly because of the breakup.  The breakup of the Beatles which was caused by the recording of LIB back in January of 69 shouldn't be the cause for this great classic rock album being dismissed so easily as it has been in Beatles history.  I have listened to the original bootleg album called Get Back about 16 years ago which was just as great without the production from Phil Spector as you see in the movie while Let It Be from the same sessions is equally great.  LIB shouldn't be maligned as it is in Beatles history because it was the cause of the breakup since it does have some great tracks on it which showcase the band in all their glory but fans were expecting way too much.

Quoted from Wayne_L.

I think Let It Be is looked at so badly by some Beatles fans even though it's a great classic rock album despite not being a masterpiece like Abbey Road is mainly because of the breakup.  fans were expecting way too much.

I'm confused. First you say its a great classic album, but then that the fans were expecting way too much. What should they have been expecting?

I think LIB is maligned because it's not very good.

Wayne refers to the Get Back album without Spector's production. He refers to one of the Glyn Johns assemblies - Get Back 1st mix, or Get Back 2nd mix (I'm leaving out the "reference acetate" because it wasn't a "considered" album). The GET BACK 1st mix is WONDERFUL. It flows, it's interesting, the band feels "together". The only problem is the awful, ridiculous Teddy Boy - but John mocks it with his dosie-dos.

The point is, the Beatles had a fairly good album, but they spoilt it with Spector. LIBN did not redress the balance, as it kept some Spector, and added fiddling of its own. Another opportunity missed.

Another interesting angle is that I've noticed young fans and newbie fans often think LIB is REALLY good. Why, I don't know.

[quote=Wayne_L.]  The breakup of the Beatles which was caused by the recording of LIB

Let It Be wasn't the cause of the breakup. Where did you get that from? Good God there were so many cracks in the foundation by January 1969 you could drive a truck through them. I love 'Let It Be', cardboard epitaph or not, its a great album.

Quoted from Ydoll_Gwyn

Another interesting angle is that I've noticed young fans and newbie fans often think LIB is REALLY good. Why, I don't know.

because people have different tastes?

Quoted from juniorsfarm

[quote=Wayne_L.]  The breakup of the Beatles which was caused by the recording of LIB

Let It Be wasn't the cause of the breakup. Where did you get that from? Good God there were so many cracks in the foundation by January 1969 you could drive a truck through them. I love 'Let It Be', cardboard epitaph or not, its a great album.

Let It Be didn't cause it -- it's just where all the problems really took light.  Take the recording of Two Of Us during the movie; I think John was in a separate room recording during that scene.  

I never, ever liked LIB. It just bores me. There are 2 or 3 good tracks, and the rest of it is dull, dreary, ballady and drenched in shite Spector orchestration (although, when hearing the truly naked, raw mixes on bootlegs, it's clear as to why Spector fiddled around with the album).

Quoted from Lumiere

ballady

Nothin' wrong with that, mate.

Maybe maligned in this board but i love it. It's a sad album really but there's beauty in sadness..not just some COMBO EFFORT as someone mentioned it here somewhere

i think the Naked version is great.  There are a few weak spts (I Dig a Pony always bored me, and For You Blue is ratehr simple)  but overall i enjoyed it, and especially on the naked version the sound is great.  Its one of their better albums in my opinion.

Quoted from Frightwolf

Let It Be didn't cause it -- it's just where all the problems really took light.  Take the recording of Two Of Us during the movie; I think John was in a separate room recording during that scene.  

Yeah, but what about the other time they were singing it together on the same mike cracking each other up? There was still some cohesivness there. Of course Yoko was looking one with a miserable face. Anyone else would have laughed at how silly they were being. She was probably jealous of Paul. I don't think you can make a statement like younger and newbies seem to like Let It Be. That's condescending to those people. Like they're to inexperienced to have a clue or something.

Quoted from Herecomesyoursun

i think the Naked version is great.  There are a few weak spts (I Dig a Pony always bored me, and For You Blue is ratehr simple)  but overall i enjoyed it, and especially on the naked version the sound is great.  Its one of their better albums in my opinion.

I LOVE John's voice in Dig a Pony. LOVE it! Especially the Beecausse...

cool voice, but strange song.  i think it drags

I hate Yoko. Let It Be was a decent album. Across The Universe and I, ME MINE were not even slated for the record. All Things Must Pass should have been completed. Dig It and Maggie Mae sucked.
There were some good jams that could have been edited and made into worthy listenable music..They should have given the tapes to Zappa. He would have made Let It Be into a great album... I could just imagine his splicing dialouge into the tunes..jump starting then abruptly ending, running 3 different songs ontop of each other. It would have been great...instead they give the tapes to Phil Spector. So much for cutting edge music. Zappa loved oldies and he would have cleaned up the oldies the boys were fooling with and organized them into something great. There's still miles of tapes from the sessions. Give them to me..I'll release something awesome.

that would be sweeeet.  Zappa doing the Beatles!  

Quoted from Bruno

because people have different tastes?

No, you're missing my point. I'm commenting on the fact that A LOT of young and newbie fans like LIB. A lot of first generation fans, on the other hand, think little of it.

If it's taste, why do different generations have a noticeably different appreciation of the album?

How would you know that? I mean, just on this tiny board, there has been so many different opinions on that album from ALL age groups. BTW, first generation? So you lived through the 60's? Just curious. Cuz there's not too many around here who did.

Quoted from Ydoll_Gwyn

No, you're missing my point. I'm commenting on the fact that A LOT of young and newbie fans like LIB. A lot of first generation fans, on the other hand, think little of it.

If it's taste, why do different generations have a noticeably different appreciation of the album?

I think Ydoll raises a very good point here. Are peoples perceptions of the music affected by their age? I think I've probably been effected by the critical lashing it took at the time and don't like it as much because of it.

Quoted from Maccalvr

I LOVE John's voice in Dig a Pony. LOVE it! Especially the Beecausse...

Yeah me too..especially when they played it on the rooftop. After all the bickering, you realize, "Hey, the magic is still there"...

After every song they looked into each other's eyes and go: "Yeah but we did do all that, didn't we?"

Quoted from kevin_b

I'm confused. First you say its a great classic album, but then that the fans were expecting way too much. What should they have been expecting?

I think most fans at the time were expecting another album like Abbey Road.

Quoted from Ydoll_Gwyn

I think LIB is maligned because it's not very good.

As much as Ydoll and myself dont see eye to eye, I think he summed it up perfectly with this quote. If the album was better, we wouldnt even be talking about it right now. It had its bright spots (allopiniated and i'm not getting into my personal tastes), but all in all,,,,I feel it was their weakest album. Besides Paul, did any of the other guys really want to do it?

Quoted Text

The only problem is the awful, ridiculous Teddy Boy - but John mocks it with his dosie-dos.

Wasnt 'Teddy Boy' one of those tunes like '909' where it was written when the boys were really young? I'm just to lazy to look it up and I was wondering. Its so simple, I would almost have to think so.

Quoted from Ydoll_Gwyn

No, you're missing my point. I'm commenting on the fact that A LOT of young and newbie fans like LIB.

I remember when I first listened to it, I thought that it was decent with some catchy stuff, but each repeated listen lost the appeal somewhere. I said to myself,,,'Well this definately isnt a Sgt. Peppers or White album, but its the Beatles nontheless.

Quoted Text

A lot of first generation fans, on the other hand, think little of it.

Rightfully so. It was listened to as for what it is, and afterwards, the history lessons probably kicked in and reenforced some of the lost love. Thats what happened to me.

Quoted from Maccalvr

How would you know that? I mean, just on this tiny board, there has been so many different opinions on that album from ALL age groups. BTW, first generation? So you lived through the 60's? Just curious. Cuz there's not too many around here who did.

It's a trend I've noticed for a long time. Notice that I say trend.

I don't feel the Beatles ever made a bad album, but LET IT BE is my least favorite (though I prefer LET IT BE NAKED). I don't see it being maligned these days, though.

^Apparently it is bashed here

Maybe younger fans enjoy it because we have the Naked version, which is much better

Quoted from Herecomesyoursun

Maybe younger fans enjoy it because we have the Naked version, which is much better

There's a few things worse:

1) I think LIB is the best on the original album, because of the really neat orchestral accompaniment and rocking guitar solo
2) Get Back cuts abruptly


Other than that, the vocals sound much better on LIBN

Let It Be was a mess. If they would have stayed in the studio and given the songs love, care and attention to detail... the album would be considered a classic. As it was, in the 'naked' rough state the songs were in, they were still great songs. Remember....they were rehearsing for a live gig. Go and grab tapes from any bands rehearsals and tell me if the songs are stellar. That's why they call it rehearsals.

Two Of Us - Classic Everly Bros style. A song that other artists would kill to have written. Great opening track.

Dig A Pony - Amazing riff! Woohoo! John, Paul and George playing the same notes in unison. Really smoking, bada** riff. Pretty cool John vocals too.

Across The Universe - Another classic. No other artist could have written this song. I could imagine the Pink Floyd guys melting in admiration for his song. Drifting. Nonsensical. Thoroughly enjoyable.

I Me Mine - Killer bass lines from Paul. Some excellent riffs too. Gotta love this Spector version.

Dig It - KGB/BB King..brilliant fifteen seconds of disconnected thoughts. Sets the stage for

Let It Be - Classic. Always thought of it as a gospel song. No need to explain.

Maggie Mae - For me it is an essential track. I just love how the song segues into

I've Got A Feeling - This is probably the most overlooked track on the album due to the fact that it is the least popular. No other band could play this right and then someone said here somewhere that it is just some COMBO EFFORT. Sorry, I really couldn't forget that comment Nobody could even come close to Paul's vocal on this one. Well maybe Little Richard..

One After 909 - Strange. I could just imagine the Beatles playing "I'll Cry Instead" in '69.

The Long And Winding Road - Another classic. Another song that other artists would kill to have written.

For You Blue - Fantastic slide by John. Great honky tonk piano from Paul. Overall a catchy great George 12-bar blues song.

Get Back - Classic. Gotta love Billy Preston. Needs no explanation.

Quoted from MagicAlex

Two Of Us - Classic Everly Bros style. A song that other artists would kill to have written. Great opening track.

Dig A Pony - Amazing riff! Woohoo! John, Paul and George playing the same notes in unison. Really smoking, bada** riff. Pretty cool John vocals too.

Across The Universe - Another classic. No other artist could have written this song. I could imagine the Pink Floyd guys melting in admiration for his song. Drifting. Nonsensical. Thoroughly enjoyable.

I Me Mine - Killer bass lines from Paul. Some excellent riffs too. Gotta love this Spector version.

Dig It - KGB/BB King..brilliant fifteen seconds of disconnected thoughts. Sets the stage for

Let It Be - Classic. Always thought of it as a gospel song. No need to explain.

Maggie Mae - For me it is an essential track. I just love how the song segues into

I've Got A Feeling - This is probably the most overlooked track on the album due to the fact that it is the least popular. No other band could play this right and then someone said here somewhere that it is just some COMBO EFFORT. Sorry, I really couldn't forget that comment Nobody could even come close to Paul's vocal on this one. Well maybe Little Richard..

One After 909 - Strange. I could just imagine the Beatles playing "I'll Cry Instead" in '69.

The Long And Winding Road - Another classic. Another song that other artists would kill to have written.

For You Blue - Fantastic slide by John. Great honky tonk piano from Paul. Overall a catchy great George 12-bar blues song.

Get Back - Classic. Gotta love Billy Preston. Needs no explanation.

Amen muh bruthu'.  Most bands would have given their left nut to have a release as good as this. I guess the people that are bashing it are really giving the band a compliment in a roundabout way because they feel the Beatles were so good that this excellent album is an inferior product. Either way The Beatles get two thumbs up.

Had a look at the 1970's album charts to see what LIB was up against. Stones had Let it Bleed (great album, great songs), Simon and Garfunkels Bridge Over Troubled Waters was the biggest selling (more great songs I suppose). Then there's Zeps 111 and Pink Floyds Atom Heart Mother (I don't know enough about them to comment on quality).

Quoted from kevin_b

Had a look at the 1970's album charts to see what LIB was up against. Stones had Let it Bleed (great album, great songs), Simon and Garfunkels Bridge Over Troubled Waters was the biggest selling (more great songs I suppose). Then there's Zeps 111 and Pink Floyds Atom Heart Mother (I don't know enough about them to comment on quality).

Pretty heady stuff indeed. Simon & Garfunkel won out over the Beatles and got the Grammy for 'Best Song' for 'Mrs. Robinson'. "Let It Bleed" is my favorite album of all time. Notice it didn't take but about 5 minutes after the dissolution of the Beatles that the Stones began calling themselves "The Greatest Rock & Roll Band In The World".

Was the title Let It Bleed a piss take on LIB or just a bizarre coincidence?

Quoted from kevin_b

Was the title Let It Bleed a piss take on LIB or just a bizarre coincidence?

It was released before "Let It Be" so I think its a coincidence. They followed so many of the Beatles leads though, maybe they heard about the song/title beforehand and just went for it, the timing is definitely odd.

Stones needed the Beatles to break up to begin to develop their own style. Before that they copied The Beatles. Let It Bleed was a direct dig. Remember the sessions were completed almost a year before any of the music was released.

True, but the album had yet to be called 'Let It Be', for all the Stones knew it was going to be called 'Get Back'.

also keep in mind that The Beatles and Stones attended parties where they would bring acetates of unreleased material and play them for each other. This occured quite frequently between the two bands. Let It Be ( title ) I'm not certain when it was decided to go with it. My understanding is that John hated the song and he was the one responsible for getting the album together.

Quoted from flux

also keep in mind that The Beatles and Stones attended parties where they would bring acetates of unreleased material and play them for each other. This occured quite frequently between the two bands. Let It Be ( title ) I'm not certain when it was decided to go with it. My understanding is that John hated the song and he was the one responsible for getting the album together.

They threw the 30+ hours of material in Spector's lap, and I'm pretty sure that naming the album 'Let It Be' was an Allen Klein decision.

How on earth can it be a coincidence?? I mean that would be weird!

Here's a site that says it was a take off of the song.

http://www.reasontorock.com/artists/rolling_stones.html

The info: Although I don't know the validity of it.
Album Title: Let It Bleed
Original Release Date: 1969

Rating: 5 Stars (Essential)

An essential companion piece to Beggar's Banquet. The title was a take-off from the Beatles song title, “Let It Be.” Whereas Beggar's Banquet was about the Stones looking out at the world, Let It Bleed was more about the world's perception of the Stones. Again produced by Jimmy Miller and again featuring Nicky Hopkins, as well as other guest instrumentalists and vocalists. Includes “You Can't Always Get What You Want,” “Midnight Rambler,” “Gimme Shelter” and “Let It Bleed.”

Quoted from Maccalvr

Here's a site that says it was a take off of the song.

http://www.reasontorock.com/artists/rolling_stones.html

The info: Although I don't know the validity of it.
Album Title: Let It Bleed
Original Release Date: 1969

Rating: 5 Stars (Essential)

An essential companion piece to Beggar's Banquet. The title was a take-off from the Beatles song title, “Let It Be.” Whereas Beggar's Banquet was about the Stones looking out at the world, Let It Bleed was more about the world's perception of the Stones. Again produced by Jimmy Miller and again featuring Nicky Hopkins, as well as other guest instrumentalists and vocalists. Includes “You Can't Always Get What You Want,” “Midnight Rambler,” “Gimme Shelter” and “Let It Bleed.”

I don't think it was a take-off at all. The songs have nothing in common and again, at that stage of the game it was still the 'Get Back' sessions, as nature intended them to be, etc, etc.

This is an alledged Keith Richards quote from http://www.timeisonourside>com/lpBleed.html
"(It didn't have) a thing (to do with LI.B) Just a coincidence because you're working along the same lines at the same time at the same age as a lot of other cats (Cats!!!) All trying to do the same thing basically, turn themselves and other people on. Let It Bleed was just one line in that song Mick wrote. It became the title...we just kicked a line out...We dug that song so...maybe there was some influence because Let It Be had been kicked around for years for their movie, for that album. Let it be something.Let it out. Let it loose."

Exhibit A.