I cannot stress how sceptical and reticent I was when this was released. I thought "Why bother?" In my opinion, "Let it Be" was always something of a B-grade Beatles album, a mish-mash of doodles with some faulted gems within the Phil Spectorised structure and production. Having heard "Cum Back" and various other bootlegs too, I could only think that this was Paul McCartney tinkering with something that to all intents and purposes should be left alone, let go of.
How wrong can a person be?
I have to admit that this is an amazing piece of work, not only in terms of the albums track order and restoration, but it is the quality of the writing, the stripped-down,unadorned beauty that this release has in spades. I am quite amazed at how for the first time in thirty odd years I can listen to these songs and hear how great they really are. make no mistake, we've all heard "Winding Road" and "Let it Be " to death but not like this. mcCartney's vocals are so surprising in that they are quite perfect and magnificent, something I'd never quite heard before. The fact that these are as recorded in the studio, untampered with and without overdubbing simply confirms that this is nothing short of a near masterpiece. If you are a fan, I urge you to buy it and you will not be disappointed. It's like hearing a whole new thing, like a veil of mush and clutter has been lifted away from something so beautiful that it is shocking to realise what a butcher job Phil Spector did on this in 1969/70.If you are not a fan I am sure you will be after this. Oh, and by the way, "Across the Universe" is breathtaking and moving. Buy it today!