Let It Be

Submitted by mrgoyette t3_zsnqpp in Music

The documentary was a real eye opener. I grew up a Beatles fan, but had no idea they essentially did this album as live tracks. It's incredible.

I love John Lennon and his commitment to old time rock and roll. George has really come into his own as songwriter and producer. But, these guys are pretty average guitarists right?

It makes what Paul and Ringo do on this album all the more impressive. McCartney is like note perfect vocalist. Live take after live take? No problem. Play every instrument in the studio? Sure no bother. Write half of Abbey Road at the piano in an hour? Ok u got it.

And then Ringo just drops in RIGHT in the pocket in every jam they do. I have really underrated him as a player. He's an all time great.

So the album is great, fantastic vibe. Then, 'The Long and Winding Road'?? Wtf. Orchestral arrangement and a ballad. Kills the whole vibe. A blemish on the otherwise perfect album.

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coleman57 t1_j19dvtc wrote

Looking forward to seeing it. And I agree with everything you said except that I’ve been loving the overproduction on LAWR for 52 years and I don’t get what the fuss is. And I disliked the “Naked” version. While I’m at it, I much prefer the American release of Rubber Soul, and the Minnesota recordings of Blood on the Tracks. And Young Americans is probably Bowie’s best album while Diamond Dogs hasn’t aged well

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Jengalover t1_j18u6pl wrote

Some musicians are great because of their technical abilities. My favorites are the ones that write and play the best music.

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mrgoyette OP t1_j18utc6 wrote

Me too. Neil Young is probably my favorite artist.

I think the Beatles are a great balance of all the above. 3 excellent songwriters, McCartney's a virtuoso, Lennon is a rocker who just gets what music is all about, and Ringo is a machine.

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TheVinylBird t1_j1a8tyn wrote

and while George probably isn't as great as any at their respective roles...he's kind of a blend of all three

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mrgoyette OP t1_j1abqqn wrote

Yes, and he ultimately might have become the best songwriter of the group. John and Paul didn't want to listen to him. But he had the last laugh, his debut solo album was better than anyone else's.

George struck me as the most into learning about new music and methods. He's hanging out with Clapton etc and bringing his own recording equipment into the sessions.

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Bodymaster t1_j19hq8n wrote

Yeah, technically speaking Ringo was the most accomplished musician in that band. I'd only say Lennon was the average musician, and he himself acknowledged that.

Check out Let It Be... Naked if you haven't already. It's a version of the album with all the horrible Spector crap taken off. The Long And Winding Road is much better without the strings.

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subtle-sam t1_j18xftg wrote

On top of everything you said I really enjoyed seeing how they kept the recording process fun. John and George especially goofing around and keeping it light. There was an immense pressure on them to succeed and I can only imagine that without this vibe they would not have finished the album.

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FormalWare t1_j1908r5 wrote

I devoured it. Impossible to believe a group of musicians has ever had a more productive month than the Beatles in January 1968. Also, I challenge anyone to name a better B-side than "Don't Let Me Down". That song was funkadelic before "funkadelic" was coined.

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coleman57 t1_j19crze wrote

There’s a recording where I think they’d just got off the plane at JFK and a reporter asks if they’ve written anything new. John says yeah I’ve got this thing we’re working on, and proceeds to belt out the chorus. And because of the long pauses between the lines, everyone starts giggling. They can’t tell if he’s trolling them. It’s pretty cool

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FrivolousPositioning t1_j19kg1f wrote

Yeah good call on Don't Let Me Down I just can't help belting out that chorus with all my energy whenever it comes on

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mrgoyette OP t1_j191ysj wrote

Parliament/Funkadelic and the Beatles were really contemporaries! George Clinton was born in between Lennon and McCartney.

Clinton's first hit was I Wanna Testify by 'The Parliaments', which came out in 1967. And it's a fucking jam!

And McCartney once said it was the Isley Brothers that got the Beatles out of Liverpool and onto the big stage.

But, I will agree those dudes from Liverpool having that kind of soul in their bodies is really impressive. They just loved good rock music, and thats what they played...

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BrassOwlRing t1_j1bt4bq wrote

There's a reason Ringo is so highly revered in the drum community. He was an all-time great drummer, one of the very very best.

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