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Let It Be... Naked
Generally favorable reviews
Based on 17 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 47 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album >
Album Info
Label: Capitol
Release Date: 18 November 2003
Discs: 1 disc
Genre(s): Rock
Summary
Originally intended as a loose, spontaneous recording called 'Get Back,' 'Let It Be' was eventually released (after the band's breakup) after being shelved and then reproduced/enhanced by Phil Spector, leaving many fans (and an angry Paul McCartney) wondering, "what if?" This new release answers that question to a certain extent, with an altered track listing (which adds "Don't Let Me Down") containing some de-Spectorized versions as well as some originals that have been remixed and remastered.
Also By This Artist: Love
Also On Metacritic
MUSIC: Paul McCartney: Chaos And Creation In The Backyard Paul McCartney: Driving Rain Paul McCartney: Memory Almost Full
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Mojo
The cleaning up, editing and resequencing has brought out a warmth and depth of colour we've not heard before and allows the album to stand up to scrutiny next to modern records that aim for this kind of down-homeness and simplicity. [Dec 2003, p.134]
E! Online
Hearing the bare-bones "Across the Universe" or a de-orchestrated "The Long and Winding Road" is revelatory.
Read Full Review >Entertainment Weekly
Both eye-opening and questionable. [21 Nov 2003, p.81]
Uncut
It's not exactly transformed into a classic... but the new Let It Be is punchy, full of presence and powerfully involving. [Dec 2003, p.136]
Blender
Let It Be... Naked offers an experience its predecessor never could. [Dec 2003, p.154]
The Onion (A.V. Club)
Let It Be includes some of The Beatles' best songs, but in any form, it will never sound like the band's best album.
Read Full Review >ShakingThrough.net
The casual fan could do just as well building his own sequence from the 1970 original, Naked and the third Anthology disc.
Read Full Review >Pitchfork
Ultimately, Naked is not essential. Unlike scattered moments in the Anthology series, this music (though immaculately presented) doesn't really expand on either the music of Let It Be, or The Beatles' legacy.
Read Full Review >Stylus Magazine
Fanfare aside, even though the naked version is an improvement, Let It Be remains the Beatles’ worst album.
Read Full Review >Flak Magazine
The problem, however, is that the new album is too clean. It lacks the mess of the original, and the mess is honest.
Read Full Review >All Music Guide
Though it is still faithful to much of the feel of Let It Be, the presentation of Naked, including the slight bits of modern-day editing, reveals that it is revisionist history, not the final word. Which doesn't hurt it as a record -- these are great songs, after all -- but it is a bit disappointing that this long-awaited project wasn't executed with a little more care and respect for the historical record.
Read Full Review >New York Magazine
Putting Naked together was likely satisfying for McCartney, but like a lot of inherently selfish artistic endeavors, it’s somewhat less rewarding for everyone else.
Read Full Review >Rolling Stone
Casual fans, however, will wonder what all the fuss was about; novices should still get the original.
Read Full Review >The Guardian
Technically, they've done a fine job, though there's no overcoming the fact that the material falls far short of the group's best.
Read Full Review >Dot Music
In a nutshell this is The Beatles most average album with some of the fluff removed.
Read Full Review >Q Magazine
Mercifully, the original Let It Be remains on sale. [Dec 2003, p.146]
Austin Chronicle
The end result isn't revolutionary enough to warrant a repurchase, and only the biggest Beatlemaniac will notice much difference.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this album is 7.8 (out of 10) based on 47 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Jonathan F gave it a10:
Admittedly, I am a "hardcore" Beatles fan. But when I heard "Naked" (a terrible and almost immediately dated title, by the way), I realized that the reason I had never cared much for "Let It Be" had to do with the production, not the performances. For me, it was revelatory. The clear, crisp production and mixing made all the difference in the world. Thanks to the team that put it together!
Byron J. gave it a2:
The new mix sounds terrible. It IS Let It Be ... Naked, naked of all atmosphere that is!
Edwin B gave it an8:
Yeah, not really necessary - as a hardcore Beatles fan I don't find myself going back to it very often - it's not the original! The sequencing of the original was superior I think, with "Two Of Us" as the opener. "Don't Let Me Down" is one of my top five Beatles' songs though; get on Youtube and watch the rooftop clip from the movie.
G gave it an8:
An excellent redefinition of Let it Be. Essential for musicians and hardcore Beatles fans, but adding almost nothing, in terms of historical contribution, to the original Let it Be. The musical and deep concept of the original album is still there, but the minor, but important, modifications on The Long, Across and in the overral mixing and mastering (the major problem in the orginal - poor Spector...), brings a new whole idea of Beatles tunes, instrumental & technical approaches, clean vocals, sunny harmonies and even a fresh sense of continuity. Still a 9! Come on lame critics, give it a chance... ps: The second disc? Pure waste of time.
Tim Timothy gave it a10:
Pure brilliance from start to finish.
John W. gave it a10:
Sheesh ! This would easily have been the best album if it was released in 2003 !!!! IMHO it truly does stand up to "Abbey Road" (also recorded in '69) but in a totally different way; just as The White Album stands up with Sgt. Pepper. I really like most of what has been done here (especially "Across The Universe"- though I like all the other versions as well, this may be the best one). I can't imagine encountering a band in this decade that could stack up such a collection of varied and exciting songs !!!
Preston J gave it a10:
People have missed the point of the album... which was to give us what the beatles intended for release to the masses, not what the studio and Label added to already perfect songs... This album is the epitome of everything beatles... Clean flawless LIVE recordings that pushed the bounds of what people thought was possible with music at the time...
