News

Let It Be Gets Giles Martin Multi-Remix Box Set With Plenty of Extras

Michael Fremer  |  Aug 26, 2021

As expected, The Beatles' post-break up Let It Be album gets a Giles Martin re-mix and will be available worldwide October 15th 2021 in multiple editions. For the new release Martin and engineer Sam Okell produced stereo, 5.1 surround DTS and Dolby Atmos mixes. The new stereo mix sourced directly from the original session and rooftop performance 8 track tapes were "guided by the original "reproduced for disc" Phil Spector version.

The physical and digital "Super Deluxe" collections also feature 27 previously unreleased session recordings, a 4-track Let It Be EP and he never before released (but often bootlegged) 14 track Get Back stereo LP mix compiled May 1969 by engineer Glyn Johns. The original Let It Be release was delayed when "the boys" decided to shelve the project to record and release Abbey Road.

Let It Be was finally released in the U.K. May 8, 1970 and in The United States May 18th to accompany the release of the "Let It Be" film. From the new release's press blurb: "More than 60 hours of unreleased film footage, more than 150 hours of unreleased audio recordings, and hundreds of unpublished photographs have been newly explored and meticulously restored for three complementary and definitive Beatles releases this fall: a feast for the senses spanning the entire archival treasure. The new Let It Be Special Edition is joined by 'The Beatles: Get Back', the hotly-anticipated documentary series directed by three-time Oscar®-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson, and a beautiful new hardcover book also titled 'The Beatles: Get Back'. The raw sources explored for the new projects have revealed that a more joyous, benevolent spirit imbued the sessions than was conveyed in the 1970 'Let It B'e film’s 80 minutes".

Pre-order links:

Save on Special Edition

Stream Let It Be stereo mix

Stream Don't Let Me Down (First rooftop performance

Stream "For You Blue" (Get Back LP mix)

Multiple Editions:

Let It Be Special Edition (Super Deluxe): 57 tracks

* 5CD + 1Blu-ray (album’s new stereo mix in hi-res 96kHz/24-bit; new 5.1 surround DTS and Dolby Atmos album mixes) with 105-page hardbound book in a 10” by 12” die-cut slipcase

* 180-gram, half-speed mastered vinyl 4LP + 45rpm 12-inch vinyl EP with 105-page hardbound book in a 12.5” by 12.5” die-cut slipcase

* Digital Audio Collection (stereo + album mixes in hi res 96kHz/24-bit / Dolby Atmos)

Let It Be (new stereo mix of original album): 12 tracks
Previously unreleased outtakes, studio jams, rehearsals: 27 tracks
Previously unreleased 1969 Get Back LP mix by Glyn Johns, newly mastered: 14 tracks
Let It Be EP: 4 tracks
Glyn Johns’ unreleased 1970 mixes: “Across The Universe” and “I Me Mine”
Giles Martin & Sam Okell’s new stereo mixes: “Don’t Let Me Down” & “Let It Be” singles
The Super Deluxe CD and vinyl collections’ beautiful book features Paul McCartney’s foreword; an introduction by Giles Martin; a remembrance by Glyn Johns; insightful chapters and detailed track notes by Beatles historian, author, and radio producer Kevin Howlett; and an essay by journalist and author John Harris exploring the sessions’ myths vs. their reality. The book is illustrated, scrapbook style, with rare and previously unpublished photos by Ethan A. Russell and Linda McCartney, as well as never before published images of handwritten lyrics, session notes, sketches, Beatles correspondence, tape boxes, film frames, and more.

Let It Be Special Edition (Deluxe): 26 tracks

* 2CD in digipak with a 40-page booklet abridged from the Super Deluxe book
Let It Be (new stereo mix of original album): 12 tracks
Previously unreleased outtakes, studio jams, rehearsals: 13 tracks
Previously unreleased 1970 mix for “Across The Universe”

Let It Be Special Edition (Standard): 12 tracks
* 1CD in digipak (new stereo mix of original album)
* Digital (album’s new mixes in stereo + hi res 96kHz/24-bit / Dolby Atmos)
* 180-gram half-speed mastered 1LP vinyl (new stereo mix of original album)
* Limited Edition picture disc 1LP vinyl illustrated with the album art (new stereo mix of original album)

The press announcement included a great deal more information but for now and until the set is released this will have to suffice other than to report that tonight (August 26th, 2021) "The Beatles LOVE by makes a return opening at The Mirage Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Since opening to (well deserved) rave reviews the how has performed to more than 10 million audience members.

Ed Note

While the press release describes the Let It Be album as "chart topping" and it may have eventually done that, when it was first released Beatles fans, bitter, or defeated or deflated that "the dream was over", wholly rejected it. The record store where I worked at the time Minute Man Records in Harvard Square, ordered boxes of the now rare and collectible Let It Be limited edition box set that came with a full color glossy 164 page book documenting the roof top event and studio recordings, thinking it would quickly sell out especially since it was flown in and arrived well before the standard American LP set's release. The box did not sell at all and after a few weeks taking up valuable upper bin space, the hundreds of copies were stacked below to gather dust. Eventually the store sold them off (and not quickly) for $5.00 a piece. Today on Discogs the set's median price is $208.00.

Over time as bitter Beatles fans recovered from their break-up bitterness and ennui (after all most fans had grown up between 1963 and 1969 and though it was only 6 years it felt like a lifetime) the album's music and the album itself became far better appreciated.

COMMENTS
Anton D's picture
Submitted by Anton D on Thu, 2021-08-26 14:20

I do remember the break up and thinking, "Why would they do that?"

Now that I am older, I readily understand the utter exhaustion that being a Beatle may have produced for them.

Imagine a band that great keeping that recording pace now!

_

Side note: I know this may be anathema, but I actually prefer the "Naked" version.

_

Further side note: I know this is an impossibility (no need to inform me of that,) but after watching McCartney 3,2,1 it would be way cool to eventually allow the master tapes to be stored on a virtual mixing board and let anybody have a shot at making their own 'mix.'

Hearing those individual tracks on the 3,2,1 episodes was a revelation. Wouldn't you love to play with that?

_

Final side note: Does anybody know how to define the quality of the 'definition' of that Apple USB Beatles stick? 24/44.1 is it hi rez, not hi rez?

firedog's picture
Submitted by firedog on Fri, 2021-08-27 00:32

Depends on who you ask. Some say yes, others no.
But why does it matter what label you give it?

brucej4's picture
Submitted by brucej4 on Fri, 2021-08-27 19:02

The most common interpretation is that anything with 24 bits is high res. I personally think that 24/48 is the minimum for high res, but that's just me.

BillK's picture
Submitted by BillK on Tue, 2021-09-07 05:40

Your feelings about Naked depend a lot on what you do/don't like about The Beatles.

I have never been a Beatles fan, so for me Naked is unlistenable - what makes Let it Be for me are Spector's additions, particularly on The Long and Winding Road - that chorus, the strings, and the harps are what makes it my favorite Beatles track.

RG's picture
Submitted by RG on Thu, 2021-08-26 16:00

And what, exactly, does “ The new stereo mix sourced directly from the original session and rooftop performance 8 track tapes were "guided by the original "reproduced for disc" Phil Spector version actually mean?

Once again, I must ask, what problem is Giles Martin attempting to fix with his remix? (I hope he does a better job than Dhani Harrison and Paul Hicks turned in on All Things Must Pass, vinyl edition.) Remixing the stereo version of Pepper at least plausibly made sense given that the band wasn’t even involved and that their intent was mono for a final destination.

And gosh, thanks for a full disc of the Glyn Johns mix that was immediately rejected by all four band members.

The complete rooftop concert? Not included.
A substantial number of the dozens of oldies performed during these session? Not included. No Besame mucho. But plenty of Abbey Road outtakes. Say what?

firedog's picture
Submitted by firedog on Fri, 2021-08-27 00:30

I'm excited to hear about the release - especially the Glyn Johns mix.
AFAIR, it wasn't rejected "musically", but because the band decided to partially abandon the "Get Back" nature of the project and go more with a concept of a film score album. Hence the reworking of some of the songs, the entry of Spector, and the "Let it Be" album as we know it.
The original release wasn't approved by McCartney, and his songs were sort of butchered with overdubs by Spector.

We have "Let it Be...Naked" - approved by Paul and Ringo - to give us an idea of what the original would have sounded like without the Spector involvement. So no reason to do another "naked" version without the overdubs.

StonedBeatles1's picture
Submitted by StonedBeatles1 on Fri, 2021-08-27 00:59

Sadly not impressed for a multitude of reasons. This might end up being one sorry joke? A missed opportunity but what does a Stoned Beatle know?

RG's picture
Submitted by RG on Fri, 2021-08-27 08:32

Only a fraction of the dozens of songs the band played during these sessions are included in this set. Why?
Here’s the complete list: https://www.beatlesbible.com/features/get-back-let-it-be-sessions-comple...

ermeyboy's picture
Submitted by ermeyboy on Fri, 2021-08-27 12:23

The book is in the vinyl set!

ivansbacon's picture
Submitted by ivansbacon on Fri, 2021-08-27 12:59

Multiple editions, no mention of an analog only edition on this analogplanet?

I am not interested in digital delivery vehicles bundled with vinyl.

Will the Re-Mix be reviewed ?

rich d's picture
Submitted by rich d on Fri, 2021-08-27 16:24

firedog is correct - it wasn't the mix per se which was rejected, it was the entire album. Glyn Johns' mix is actually pretty good and a bit easier on the ear than the Spector mix with its too-hot cymbals and silly edits (cf 'I Me Mine'). Very good quality bootlegs of "Get Back" with the "Please Please Me" homage cover used to be plentiful. You'd probably pay less and get more enjoyment out of it than you would from this new cash-in.

Incidentally, Johns was sent back to the drawing board and he did submit a re-sequenced version which was also rejected. His versions are true to the group's apparent intent - a mise-en-scene of a band at work with new material, favorite oldies and snippets of dialog. Again, I recommend tracking one down and giving it a spin. At the very least you'll gain a more positive perspective on what is, let's face it, one of their weakest albums.

RG's picture
Submitted by RG on Fri, 2021-08-27 17:55

So far, no one has identified the problem Mr. Martin was instructed to fix, I mean, “remix”.

What’s next? Maybe we should “remix” Mona Lisa’s smile too just because we can.

Is that where we’re headed?

Beatlejuiced's picture
Submitted by Beatlejuiced on Fri, 2021-08-27 18:40

Mikey, do you expect to receive any of these editions for review? I would be interested to read your opinions of the sound quality.

For myself, I would have liked to get just an LP with the "Let It Be...Naked" mixes and another with the original Glyn Johns "Get Back" version. I have always enjoyed his work, especially with the Who.

brucej4's picture
Submitted by brucej4 on Fri, 2021-08-27 19:17

Has anyone figured out the real 24/96 content in each of the Super Deluxe Editions?

My interpretation is that the Blu-Ray only contains the remixed original album, in various formats. That's all that is listed.

The "Digital Audio Collection," which I assume to be the high-res download version, appears to have more 24/96 content - "stereo + album mixes in hi res 96kHz/24-bit / Dolby Atmos," but that isn't made clear.

If we can't get this information from thebeatles.com, I doubt that we'll know until the releases show up.

brucej4's picture
Submitted by brucej4 on Tue, 2021-08-31 18:34

Answering my own question - I now realize that the high-res download versions of the three prior Super Deluxe reissues have had everything in (supposedly) 24/96, so this would follow that pattern.

dial's picture
Submitted by dial on Sat, 2021-08-28 03:27

Too many things are missing, the film, the outtakes but we have a BR audio. Alleluia !

John Macca's picture
Submitted by John Macca on Wed, 2021-09-01 14:47

History flows, on and on, but stories? Who needs more Let it Be?
Ok...let it be.

Joffa's picture
Submitted by Joffa on Fri, 2021-09-03 03:57

I would love a LP of Naked but the last time I looked they were $200.

swimming1's picture
Submitted by swimming1 on Fri, 2021-09-03 08:24

So, MF sir are the outtakes basically the "nekid" lp? cherrio,Chet

RG's picture
Submitted by RG on Tue, 2021-09-07 10:28

This album was remastered along with all the others in 2009 and issued as new vinyl editions in 2012. For the most part, only a couple were remixed. Let It Be was moved to CD and vinyl with its original mix. If those mixes were acceptable then, could somebody, anybody, justify Giles fiddling and diddling now?

stretch35's picture
Submitted by stretch35 on Sat, 2021-09-11 06:35

The answer to all your questions is money $$$.

stretch35's picture
Submitted by stretch35 on Sat, 2021-09-11 06:34

Ah, the joy of reading AnalogPlanet.com , a new word to look up. Thank you.

ScubaG's picture
Submitted by ScubaG on Thu, 2021-09-16 09:50

Considering you can buy the CD super deluxe set for $140 or less and the vinyl is $200, is the vinyl set worth buying? You could always purchase for remixed LP for an additional $25 and still be $35 less. Yes, I get that you wouldn't have the outtakes on vinyl. But really how often will you listen to them and do you really need discs 2 and 3 to be on vinyl? The only real question is Glyn Johns mix on vinyl worth the difference. Considering going a vinyl super deluxe means you lose the ability to also have a digital copy to do the reverse would mean an extra $20 to get the CD and it still wouldn't be a Hi-Res version. Any thoughts on whether the Glyn Johns mix is worth basically $55 (that's difference in cost). I will say I mostly preferred LIB naked to LIB especially TLAWR...though the organ solo is a low point to that song. Any thoughts/advice would be appreciated.

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