In conclusion...well I've said a lot about this album before and I stand by it. Let It Be is the worst Beatles album by far. Worse than the youthful inexperience of Please Please Me, the road weariness of Beatles For Sale or the occasional bloated excess of The White Album. There is simply nothing that comes close.
13 songs.
Two which don't belong in this era - Across The Universe (pre White Album) and I Me Mine (post Abbey Road). One oldie that predates Please Please Me. One half finished cover. One jamming soundbite that doesn't even deserve the title of 'song'. And yet in the midst of the dross there are three stone cold McCartney classics – Let It Be, Get Back and The Long And Winding Road (yes I know you hate it – join the back of the queue).
Why did Let It Be turn out so bad? Sure, the Beatles were breaking up acrimoniously, emotionally, business wise, but if that was the whole story Abbey Road should have been even worse. That Abbey Road was a triumph is due to George Martin (may his name be forever praised).
In addition to all the reasons for it being a flop listed in Blessed Are The Mundane, I would say that deciding the album had to be a 'soundtrack' meant the band effectively delegated picking the songs to the film director. But tying in with the film is the only reason Across The Universe made it onto the album and it's the only reason I Me Mine was recorded at all. So what do I know?
I know this. Blogging through Let It Be has been like swimming through treacle at times. I'm so glad that in switching to reverse chronological order I didn't leave the album till last. Talk about finishing on a downer!
So I promise you, though there will be dark days ahead (I'm looking at you Revolution No 9 and Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da) we have walked through the valley of the shadow of dreck and from now on there are only rainbows and free kebabs for everyone!!!
Maybe that's why it's called 'Let It Be' instead of 'Get Back'. Paul's original plan (to get back to their roots) was nice, but it turned out bad, so he decided to just let it be.
ReplyDeletePS I always skip The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill and Good Night when listening to the white album. The background vocals in OLD OLD are fun, and nr. 9 become interesting after listening to it many times (you start expecting to hear the sounds, like you're waiting for a chorus in a catchy song).
Rob - that's funny. Maybe they should have gone the whole hog and called it "Argh what the hell! Just leave it!"
ReplyDeleteyeah Bungalow can get a bit annoying.
Took me a while to get what OLD OLD was! I feel disproportionately proud that I know the correct way to spell that song title down to the hyphens. Man, that should impress the chicks!
hmm.. let it be always in my heart.. nice song..
ReplyDeleteim one of fans the beatles