First released: 2003, November 17

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1. Get Back (3:07)
   Recorded: January 27, 1969 at Apple Studios, London, England
   John Lennon - lead guitar
   Paul McCartney - lead vocal, bass guitar
   George Harrison - rhythm guitar
   Ringo Starr - drums
   Billy Preston - electric piano
2. Dig a Pony (3:54)
   Recorded: January 30, 1969 on the rooftop of Apple Studios, London, England
   John Lennon - lead vocal, lead guitar
   Paul McCartney - bass guitar, harmony vocal
   George Harrison - rhythm guitar
   Ringo Starr - drums
   Billy Preston - organ
3. For You Blue (2:33)
   Recorded: January 25, 1969 at Apple Studios, London, England
   John Lennon - steel guitar
   Paul McCartney - bass guitar, piano
   George Harrison - lead vocal, acoustic guitar
   Ringo Starr - drums
4. The Long and Winding Road (3:34)
   Recorded: January 31, 1969 at Apple Studios, London, England.
   John Lennon - bass guitar
   Paul McCartney - lead vocal, piano
5. Two of Us (3:27)
   Recorded: January 31, 1969 at Apple Studios, London, England
   John Lennon - lead vocal, acoustic guitar
   Paul McCartney - lead vocal, acoustic guitar
   George Harrison - lead guitar
   Ringo Starr - drums
6. I've Got a Feeling (3:38)
   Recorded: January 30, 1969 on the rooftop of Apple Studios, London, England
   John Lennon - lead vocal, lead guitar
   Paul McCartney - lead vocal, bass guitar
   George Harrison - rhythm guitar
   Ringo Starr - drums
   Billy Preston - electric piano
7. One After 909 (2:55)
   Recorded: January 30, 1969 on the rooftop of Apple Studios, London, England
   John Lennon - lead vocal, lead guitar
   Paul McCartney - lead vocal, bass guitar
   George Harrison - rhythm guitar
   Ringo Starr - drums
   Billy Preston - electric piano
8. Don't Let Me Down (3:35)
   Recorded: January 28, 1969 at Apple Studios, London, England
   John Lennon - double-tracked lead vocal, lead guitar
   Paul McCartney - bass guitar, harmony vocal
   George Harrison - rhythm guitar
   Ringo Starr - drums
   Billy Preston - organ
9. I Me Mine (2:26)
   Recorded: January 3, 1970 at Abbey Road, London, England
   Re-produced and remixed by Phil Spector on April 1, 1970
   Paul McCartney - piano, harmony vocal
   George Harrison - lead vocal, acoustic guitar, lead electric guitar
   Ringo Starr - drums
   Billy Preston - organ
   Session musicians - strings (overdubbed by Phil Spector)
10. Across the Universe (3:49)
    Recorded: February 4, 1968 at Abbey Road, London, England with overdubbing on February 8, 1968
    Re-produced and remixed by Phil Spector in March, 1970
    John Lennon - lead vocal, acoustic guitar, lead guitar, organ
    Paul McCartney - piano
    George Harrison - sitar
    Ringo Starr - maracas
    George Martin - organ (with Lennon)
    Session musicians - strings, choir (overdubbed by Phil Spector)
11. Let It Be (4:03)
    Recorded: January 31, 1969 at Apple Studios, London, England with overdubs added April 30, 1969 and January 4, 1970
    Re-produced and remixed by Phil Spector in March, 1970
    John Lennon - bass guitar, harmony vocal
    Paul McCartney - lead vocal, piano
    George Harrison - lead guitar, harmony vocal
    Ringo Starr - drums
    Billy Preston - organ
    Session musicians - orchestra (overdubbed by Phil Spector)
    Linda McCartney - backing vocals (on single release only)

Let It Be... Naked is much closer to what The Beatles had in mind for the original release in 1970. The concept was no edits and no overdubs. The sessions were to be The Beatles getting back to basics and making pure music. As finally released Let It Be was filled with overdubs and tons of edits. Most disturbing to Paul McCartney was that Phil Spector decided to add his wall of sound to several of the songs. McCartney felt the wall of sound was overkill and out of place on a Beatles record. Let It Be... Naked allows us to hear what The Beatles played at those sessions. We also hear that Billy Preston was more than just a sideman. His playing enhanced as well as complimented what the Beatles were doing. Several songs deviate from the no edits rule. So what we are treated to are the best performances and takes edited together. This assures the listener that only the best of the best was used to compile this album. And we are treated to Let It Be as a cohesive whole and a very enjoyable listening experience.

This album sounds as good as it should. The remasters sound incredible but I do have some complaints. 1.) Why use the edit of Get Back that cuts off the last minutes of the song? They shouldv'e remastered the single version. 2.) In Dig A Pony, all they did was chop off the end of the song and edit it onto the front and got rid of the studio chatter. 3.) Why not use the version of The Long And Winding Road from Anthology 3 instead of a totally different take? It sounds incomplete without Spector's wall of sound but at least it sounds better than the version that they chose for the album. 4.) Why delete Dig It and Maggie Mae? Other versions were available 5.) Why include Don't Let Me Down? It wasn't on the original album. 6.) One After 909 fades too quickly. Other than that, all the tracks have the studio chatter removed and sound great. I believe that the bonus disc Fly On The Wall should've including complete songs instead of snippets and chatter. Buy it but, don't throw away your original because you'll find that you still will won't to switch between the two albums.

Review