With George Harrison's untimely passing, Paul McCartney can finally satisfy his huge ego with this, his version of what he thinks should have been the original Let It Be album. If you donít know about the folklore of the Let It Be legend, hereís the short version: Let It Be was supposed to be a back to basics record for the Beatles after the one two punch of Sgt. Peppers and the White Album (Let It Be was actually recorded before Abbey Road, even though that album came out first). The band wanted something that was stripped down and had a live feel to it, since they hadnít had anything with that feel since Revolver. But during those tumultuous sessions, there was a lot of in fighting between Lennon and McCartney about the sessions, and Harrison temporarily quit the band for about a week. For about a year, the sessions were shelved, until legendary producer (and current murder suspect) Phil Spector tried to make something out of them. What Spector did to those sessions was that he added layers of string arrangements that he was known for, and to this day, it has pissed off Mccartney to no extent. Lennon and Harrison liked what Spector brought to those songs, but McCartney has always been extremely bitter. So whatís so different? Well for starters, original odd ditty tracks Dig It and Maggie Mae have been deleted, and all of the joking by the band before and after the songs have been erased. Just for that, I want to kick McCartney square in the nuts. What was he thinking? Thatís what made the album fun and loosey goosey. Now it just feels processed. Also, legendary Billy Preston's keyboards have been turned way down in parts, which is a shame. I always thought that his keyboards brought something special to these songs. Also, the string arrangements have been taken off of I Me Mine which is stupid, because they fit Harrison's vocals so perfectly.

As much of a crime as some of this new version is, it also has a few good merits as well. For one, theyíve added Donít Let Me Down, which was previously never on any of the albums, it was only issued as a single, and on greatest hits compilations. Second, the string arrangements and psychedelic feel on Across the Universe have been replaced by this stripped down version of just Lennon on guitar and Harrison on Sitar. Lennon's vocals are downright precious on this version. Also, the schlocky string arrangements on the Long and Winding Road have been taken off, which Mccartney had always said sounded like Spector had "puked all over it" and frankly I have to agree with Macca on that one. This stripped down version is much much better than the original. Mostly everything else though is just about the same, except for the running order of the songs. Get Back starts the album now, instead of finishing. And Let It Be ends the album now, instead being in the middle , which seems fitting. Should the world think that this is the essential release of this legendary album? Well, yes and no, but probably leaning towards no. Some of the new versions are wonderful to behold, but overall, and in all actuality, people are messing with history here. For 33 years now, Let It Be has been the swansong of the Beatles, and I think that people would rather just remember them just the way they are. Let It Be Naked? I say just let it be.