LET IT BE

It was started before "Abbey Road" and finished after it. So, it is well the last Fab Four album even if most of it was written a year prior its release. The early sessions took place in Twickenham (London's suburb) and the atmosphere was extremely bad.

George announced that he was leaving the band in January 1969. Mostly due to John's totally passive attitude, letting Yoko to talk on his behalf which could not please any of the other Fab Three. He was convinced to come back shortly after.

Paul desired to play live on stage again and several alternatives were considered. Even playing on a cruise ship or in the open air in Northern Africa! But nobody except Paul was really interested in the project. John even saying that they could maybe play in an asylum! The concert project was even more considered after the unexpected rooftop concert on the 30th of January, 1970.

This album was almost released in July 1969 with a different track list than the final one, then pushed on till September, then December because of the release of "Abbey Road" then just abandoned for several days.

The band insisted to get the original tracks released on this second attempt but they failed to agree again. It is finally during the third attempt that the project saw the light under the direction of Phil Spector. Paul was not pleased at all with this situation. It will take over thirty years to discover how "Let It Be" would have sounded with the release of "Let It Be, Naked".

On the contrary, John defended Spector's job and said : "He was given the shittiest load of badly-recorded shit with a lousy feeling to it ever, and he made something of it."

This album is not very good, unfortunately. Just a few songs will pass to posterity : "Across The Universe", "Let It Be", "Get Back" and the wonderful "The Long And Winding Road" which is my fave from this album and a jewel of a melody. One of the best ever McCartney song IMHHO.

I will upgrade this album to three stars thanks to three great songs featured here, but I admit that this rating is somewhat artificial and exagerated. But two stars seem a bit too harsh.

I have spent almost my entire week-end reviewing all of your studio work and it was just an exceptional travel through time. You have brought so many emotions during the last forty years of my life that I was so happy to do this.

I would like to address you my deepest respect for your fantastic work. I can't do a standing ovation since I am alone in front of my computer but I would like to thank you very, very, very much for your enormous influence on rock music.

Thank you Paul, John, George and Ringo. I will never forget you.

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