Let It Be: History, analysis, and comparison of the song's different mixes

Summary

In this video, the creator shares their deep dive into the Beatles' 'Get Back/Let It Be' sessions of 1969, a period marked by turmoil and creativity. Highlighting the album as their favorite, they focus on the song 'Let It Be,' discussing its complex recording history, various versions, and unique guitar solos. The video also explores the different mixes of the song, from the single to the album and 'Naked' versions, and the creator's own attempt to craft the 'ultimate mix.' A tribute to the Beatles' enduring legacy, the video is a must-watch for fans seeking insights into one of their most beloved albums.

Takeaways

• 🎶 The speaker is a long-time Beatles fan and particularly fascinated by the Get Back/Let It Be sessions of early 1969.
• 📀 'Let It Be' is the speaker's favorite Beatles album, notable for its complex recording history and the band's internal tensions during its production.
• 🎵 Classic Beatles songs like 'Get Back', 'Two of Us', 'I've Got a Feeling', and 'Don't Let Me Down' originated from the Get Back sessions.
• 🎥 The Let It Be sessions were filmed, providing hours of audio recordings and insights into the band's creative process.
• 🌟 'Let It Be' the song was inspired by a dream Paul McCartney had about his late mother, which he described as a comforting message during a period of struggle.
• 🔁 The Beatles recorded over 100 takes of 'Let It Be', showing their dedication to perfecting the track despite the challenges they faced.
• 🎸 Different versions of 'Let It Be' feature various guitar solos, with George Harrison improvising multiple takes, each with unique nuances.
• 🎼 Phil Spector's involvement in the album's production added orchestral elements and other overdubs, which have been a subject of debate among fans.
• 🎧 The speaker created a custom mix of 'Let It Be', combining elements from different versions to showcase the song's evolution and their personal touch.
• 📖 The video serves as an educational resource for Beatles enthusiasts, offering a detailed look into the creation of one of their most beloved songs.

Q & A

What is the speaker's favorite Beatles album and why?

The speaker's favorite Beatles album is 'Let It Be' because they find the history behind its recording fascinating and the music from this period to be some of the best in the band's discography.

What is significant about the Get Back/Let It Be sessions of early 1969?

The Get Back/Let It Be sessions are significant because they are regarded as one of the most tumultuous times in Beatles history, with high tensions and often seen as subpar and weak music, yet the speaker argues that the music from this period is exceptional.

What classic songs originated from the Get Back/Let It Be sessions?

Classic songs like 'Get Back', 'Two of Us', 'I've Got a Feeling', and 'Don't Let Me Down' originated from the Get Back/Let It Be sessions.

How did the Beatles' documentary film relate to the Let It Be album?

The entirety of the Let It Be sessions were filmed by a camera crew as the Beatles attempted to make a documentary film to accompany the album, resulting in hours of bootlegged audio recordings.

What is the origin of the song 'Let It Be' according to the speaker?

The song 'Let It Be' originated from a dream that Paul McCartney had in which his late mother Mary visited him, comforting him and saying 'It's going to be okay, just let it be'.

How many takes of 'Let It Be' did the Beatles record during the Let It Be sessions?

The Beatles recorded over 100 takes of 'Let It Be' between January 3rd and January 31st, 1969.

What are the differences between the single version and the album version of 'Let It Be'?

The single version and album version of 'Let It Be' differ in the guitar solos, background vocals, and the presence of orchestral backing. The album version features a more prominent orchestra and an echo effect that is not present in the single version.

What is the 'Let It Be Naked' version and how does it differ from the original album version?

The 'Let It Be Naked' version, released in 2003, is a stripped-down version of the song that lacks the orchestral overdubs and other embellishments added by Phil Spector in the original album version. It uses a different guitar solo from take 27b.

What additional overdubs were added to 'Let It Be' after the initial recording sessions?

Additional overdubs added to 'Let It Be' included guitar solos, background vocals by George, Paul, and Linda McCartney, an orchestral backing, and additional drums and guitar parts after the guitar solo.

How did the speaker create their ultimate mix of 'Let It Be'?

The speaker created their ultimate mix of 'Let It Be' by using multi-tracks of the three officially released versions and combining elements such as the choir background vocals, orchestra, and creating a custom hybrid mix of organ and guitar parts.

Outlines

00:00

🎶 Introduction to The Beatles' 'Let It Be' Sessions

The speaker introduces themselves as a long-time Beatles fan and shares their fascination with the Get Back/Let It Be sessions from early 1969. They highlight the album's complex history and the band's internal tensions during the recording process. The speaker emphasizes that despite the challenges, this period produced some of the Beatles' best music, including classics like 'Get Back' and 'Don't Let Me Down.' They also mention the extensive unreleased material and the documentary footage that captured the sessions, setting the stage for a deeper exploration of the album's title track, 'Let It Be.'

05:02

🎸 The Evolution and Recording of 'Let It Be'

This section delves into the history and recording process of 'Let It Be,' starting with Paul McCartney's dream about his late mother, which inspired the song. The song's development from the White Album sessions to the Let It Be sessions is discussed, noting the over 100 takes recorded by the Beatles. The paragraph also covers the different guitar solos, the various mixes of the song, and the 'Let It Be Naked' version. The speaker provides insights into the different versions of the guitar solos, the ghost guitar solo, and the background vocals added later by George, Paul, and Linda McCartney. The controversial orchestral backing by Phil Spector and the additional overdubs on the album and single versions are also highlighted.

10:05

🎧 Comparing Versions and Creating the 'Ultimate Mix' of 'Let It Be'

The speaker compares the three officially released versions of 'Let It Be': the single version, the album version, and the naked version. They discuss the differences in guitar solos, background vocals, orchestral backing, additional drums, and mixing techniques used in each version. The paragraph also covers the variations in the organ and guitar parts before and after the guitar solo, and the different endings featured in each version. The speaker shares their personal project of creating an 'ultimate mix' of the song by combining elements from the different versions, aiming to showcase the best aspects of each. They invite viewers to listen to their custom mix and conclude by reflecting on the Beatles' ability to produce exceptional music despite the difficulties during the Let It Be sessions.

Keywords

💡Beatles

The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960, widely regarded as one of the most influential bands in the history of popular music. In the context of the video, the Beatles are the central subject, with the video focusing on their music and the history behind the creation of their album 'Let It Be'.

💡Get Back Sessions

The Get Back Sessions refer to the recording sessions that took place in January 1969, during which the Beatles worked on what would become the 'Let It Be' album. These sessions are highlighted in the video as a tumultuous period marked by high tensions within the band, yet also a time of creative output that resulted in some of their most beloved songs.

💡Let It Be Album

The 'Let It Be' album is the 12th and final studio album by the Beatles, released in 1970. It is the main focus of the video, with the narrator expressing their fascination with the album's history and the music that emerged from the Get Back Sessions. The album is described as having a complex recording and mixing process, which is explored in detail.

💡Paul McCartney

Paul McCartney was a member of the Beatles and is mentioned in the video as the composer of the song 'Let It Be'. The video discusses the inspiration behind the song, which came from a dream McCartney had about his late mother, Mary, who comforted him in the dream with the phrase that would become the song's title and chorus.

💡Solo Albums

Solo albums refer to the individual musical projects undertaken by members of the Beatles after the band's break-up. While not the main focus of the video, the mention of solo albums in the script indicates the band members' continued musical careers beyond their time together as the Beatles.

💡Unreleased Recordings

Unreleased recordings are songs or pieces of music that were not officially released to the public. The video mentions hours of unreleased recordings from the Get Back Sessions, including impromptu jams and covers, which are of interest to die-hard fans and provide a deeper look into the Beatles' creative process.

💡Documentary Film

A documentary film is a non-fictional motion picture that documents reality, often for the purpose of informing, educating, or maintaining a historical record. The video discusses how the Get Back Sessions were filmed with the intention of creating a documentary to accompany the 'Let It Be' album, resulting in a wealth of visual and audio material.

💡Bootlegged Audio Recordings

Bootlegged audio recordings are unauthorized and unofficial copies of music, often recorded live or during private sessions. The video mentions bootlegged audio recordings from the Get Back Sessions, which are a testament to the enduring interest in the Beatles and the desire among fans to access rare and unreleased material.

💡Guitar Solos

A guitar solo is a section of a song where the guitarist plays a melodic line or improvisation, often showcasing their technical skill and musical creativity. The video delves into the different guitar solos recorded for 'Let It Be', including the versions heard on the single, album, and 'Naked' releases, highlighting the variations and the creative process behind them.

💡Orchestral Backing

Orchestral backing refers to the use of a full orchestra to provide musical accompaniment to a song. The video discusses the controversial addition of orchestral backing to the 'Let It Be' album version by producer Phil Spector, which replaced the original background vocals and added a distinctive sound to the track.

💡Multi-Tracks

Multi-tracks are multiple recorded tracks of a song, each containing different elements such as vocals, instruments, or effects. The video concludes with the narrator's project of creating an 'ultimate mix' of 'Let It Be' using multi-tracks from the officially released versions, demonstrating the complexity and variability in the song's production.

Highlights

Introduction to the Beatles' Get Back/Let It Be sessions of early 1969, which are the favorite era of the speaker.

The Let It Be album is the speaker's favorite Beatles album, and the history behind its recording is fascinating.

The Get Back sessions are considered one of the most tumultuous times in Beatles history.

Classic songs like 'Get Back', 'Two of Us', 'I've Got a Feeling', and 'Don't Let Me Down' originate from the Get Back sessions.

There are hours of unreleased recordings from the sessions, including impromptu jams and covers.

The entirety of the Let It Be sessions were filmed by a camera crew, resulting in hours of bootlegged audio recordings.

The song 'Let It Be' was inspired by a dream Paul McCartney had about his late mother.

The Beatles recorded over 100 takes of 'Let It Be' between January 3rd and January 31st, 1969.

The basis of all officially released versions of 'Let It Be' is take 27a.

The single version of 'Let It Be' was released on March 6, 1970, with several overdubs added.

George Harrison improvised different guitar solos during the Let It Be sessions.

The 'Let It Be Naked' version of the song uses the guitar solo from take 27b, which is different from take 27a.

The original guitar solo from take 27a can be heard softly in the single version mixed with the distorted guitar solo.

The album version of 'Let It Be' prominently features an orchestral backing added by Phil Spector.

The single and naked versions of 'Let It Be' both feature background vocals not found in the album version.

The naked version lacks certain overdubs present in the album and single versions, such as additional drums and guitar parts.

Phil Spector added a distinct echo to the album version of 'Let It Be', which is not present in the single or naked versions.

The volume of the organ and piano varies across the three mixes of 'Let It Be'.

Each version of 'Let It Be' features a different guitar solo at the end, showcasing the variations in recording and mixing.

The speaker created a custom hybrid mix of 'Let It Be' combining elements from the different officially released versions.

Despite the high tensions during the Let It Be sessions, the Beatles created some of their best music.

Transcripts

hello and welcome to my very first

beatles video

i've been a beatles fan for many years

now and have become very familiar with

the history of the band

from their earliest work to their later

solo albums

as i listened through hours of beatles

music both

official and unofficial releases there

was one error that slowly began to

emerge as my favorite

that era would be the get back let it be

sessions of early 1969.

the let it be album is not only my

favorite beatles album but the history

behind its recording

fascinates me the get back sessions are

regarded as one of the most tumultuous

times in beatles history

the music is often seen as subpar and

weak

while tensions were high during the

sessions i would argue that the music

from this period is some of the best

in their entire discography classic

songs like get

back two of us i've got a feeling and

don't let me down originate from these

sessions

in addition there are hours upon hours

of unreleased recordings from the

sessions

including impromptu jams and covers of

some of their favorite songs

luckily for die hard fans the entirety

of the let it be sessions were filmed by

a camera crew as the beatles were

attempting to make a documentary film to

go along with the album

as a result there are hours of

bootlegged audio recordings from the

sessions

as i said before let it be is my

favorite beatles album

but even though i like the whole album

one song in particular has always stuck

out to me

the title track let it be the history

recording and mixing of this song are

very complex yet very interesting

to start there are many versions of the

song out there

most beatles fans are aware of the

different guitar solos that exist

the youtube channel you can't unhear

this did a great video explaining the

different solos

we too will be looking at some of the

differences in various mixes of the song

let it be

but before we get into that let's get a

little background on the song

the song originates from a dream that

paul mccartney had in which his late

mother mary visited him

i'd been overdoing it you know it was

the 60s and we were just getting

grazed and stuff a lot of the time and

so i went to bed

and wasn't feeling too great inside my

in

my self and in the dream my mother came

in to me in the dream and she

died um maybe 10 years

previously she seemed to realize that i

was going through

struggles and she said it's going to be

okay it's already going to be okay

she said just just let it be i went

ah i felt great and woke up i thought

was that what and i remember the dreams

of what did she say

later p and then i sat down the piano

and wrote the song

the dream inspired him to write let it

be during the white album sessions in

1968.

the beatles messed around with the song

but wouldn't formally record it for

several more months

a rehearsal from the white album

sessions was just recently released on

the 50th anniversary reissue

and provides a look at how the song

evolved and changed over the next year

[Music]

the song made its first appearance in

the let it be sessions a few months

later on january 3rd 1969

[Music]

people joke about maxwell's silver

hammer taking forever to record and

perfect but you could also make a case

for the song let it be

it would take many tries before the

beatles recorded a version that they

were actually happy with

they recorded over 100 takes of let it

be between january 3rd and january 31st

of 1969.

on january 31st the final day of

recording for the album

the beatles recorded takes 20 through 27

of let it be

the basis of all the officially released

versions is take

27a when i find myself

in times of trouble however the let it

be album in its title track wouldn't see

the light of day for over a year

the single version of the song was

released on march 6 1970.

in that time several overdubs were

recorded and added to let it be

including the guitar solos heard on the

single and album versions of the song

the single version solo was recorded on

april 30th 1969

at the time of the abbey road sessions

the distorted album version solo was

recorded on january 4th

1970 in the last true beatles session

these two solos are just two of many

though as i said the beatles recorded

over 100 takes of the song

george harrison improvised the song solo

during the let it be sessions

resulting in slightly different solos

each time one of these additional solos

made its way onto the let it be naked

version of the song

released in 2003

however even though the naked version is

also based on take

27a it uses the guitar solo from take

27b

takes 27a and 27b are two different

takes

take 27b was recorded immediately after

take

27a and is very similar only differing

slightly in the vocals and guitar parts

take 27b is also featured in the let it

be film

the original guitar solo from 27a sounds

like this

[Music]

if you've watched the you can unhear

this video you'll remember him

discussing the ghost guitar solo that

can be heard

in the album and single versions of the

song all the ghost guitar solo

is is remnants from the original solo

from take 27a

the one that we just heard if i isolate

one of the channels of the album version

you can hear a couple of the ghost

guitar notes more clearly

like i said george harrison recorded a

lot of solos for the song

here's one from january 27th

and here's one from take 23 recorded on

january 31st

[Music]

for the most part we'll be discussing

the three officially released versions

of let it be

the single version the album version and

the naked version

the most obvious difference between them

is the guitar solos but there are also

several other subtler differences for

example the single version

and naked version both feature

background vocals not found in the album

version

[Music]

these background vocals were overdubbed

later by george paul and linda mccartney

to replace the original ones

let's just say they're quite an

improvement over the original backing

[Music]

vocals

[Music]

perhaps one of the most controversial

additions to the song was the orchestral

backing added by phil spector

the album version prominently features

the orchestra in place of background

vocals

the orchestra can be heard on the single

version too but it's much quieter

here's how it sounds on the album

version

[Music]

another overdub that occurred were some

additional drums that were added

right after the guitar solo the album

and single versions feature this overdub

along with an extra guitar part on the

single version both the drums and the

guitar part are much quieter than the

album version but the naked version

lacks these overdubs completely

[Music]

there are also several more differences

in mixing for example

phil spector added a distinct echo on

the album version that can be heard

especially in the drums

the single version was mixed by george

martin and does not have an echo

nor does the naked version

living in the world

[Music]

there are also slight differences across

the three mixes in the volume of the

organ in the piano

the differences are most noticeable in

the part leading up to the guitar solo

[Music]

another thing that varies across mixes

is whether a guitar part or an organ

part is included just before the guitar

solo

and at the conclusion of the song the

album version exclusively uses the organ

parts

the naked version exclusively uses the

guitar parts and the single version uses

a hybrid

[Music]

now here's the part at the end of the

[Music]

song

[Music]

phil spector also extended his mix

slightly by repeating part of the final

chorus

presumably to make room for that awesome

guitar solo

and lastly like how each version of the

song features a different guitar solo in

the middle

each one also features a different

guitar solo at the end

the album version which we just heard

uses the distorted overdub recorded on

january 4th 1970.

the single version features a hybrid of

the distorted overdub solo

and the original solo from take27a the

naked version uses the one from take 27b

here's the single and naked versions

and just for reference here's what the

original guitar solo at the end of take

27a

sounds like you can hear it very softly

in the single version mixed in with the

distorted guitar solo

[Music]

while it's interesting to observe the

differences across mixes it can also be

a little frustrating

if you're anything like me you're

probably wondering what it would sound

like if the different mixes of let it be

were combined into one

this idea is a challenge that i recently

undertook using multi-tracks of the

three officially released versions of

let it be

i set out to create the ultimate mix of

the song for example

my version includes both the choir

background vocals and the orchestra

[Music]

i also created a custom hybrid mix of

organ and guitar parts

there are a few other things that i did

in my mix that differ from any

officially released version

if you'd like to listen to the whole mix

i'm going to be putting a link to stream

it in the description

as a beatles fan i've been wanting to

make a video discussing this song for a

while

even though tensions were high during

the let it be sessions the beatles still

managed to create some of the best music

of their entire career

i hope that you enjoyed watching and

maybe learn something new

that's all i have for this video so

until the next one

just let it be