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Post by ck100 on Oct 25, 2021 5:00:39 GMT
Before the "Get Back" film for The Beatles comes out a month from today on Disney+, we can take a look back at the film that first came out in 1970 for The Beatles "Let It Be" album with the same title as the album. Have any of you ever seen "Let It Be"? What do you think of it? The only way to see the film these days is through file sharing sites and/or by looking for it online thanks to bootlegged copies (there is still a demand for the film to be on DVD/Blu-ray). Contrary to popular belief, the film is not all depression, sadness, band members arguing, fighting, etc. If anything, there is really only one scene (from what I can remember with Paul and George having an argument) that features any arguing/fighting. Otherwise, it's really just random various clips of the band jamming, playing cover songs, talking, rehearsing Abbey Road songs (with a memorable scene of George and Ringo working on Octopus's Garden), rehearsing/recording of the actual Let It Be songs in studio, and closing out with the famous rooftop concert. There's really no "story" or narrative necessarily for the film which will likely be rectified for "Get Back". The film isn't as memorable as A Hard Day's Night or Help!, but it's still a cool glimpse to see the band at work even though it's probably not as in-depth as "Get Back" will be. Leonard Maltin Movie Guide Review: Let It Be (1970) - 3 out of 4 stars"Uneven, draggy documentary is rescued and abetted by brilliant, Oscar-winning score by The Beatles. When they perform it becomes magical; when others are thrown in it becomes a bore."
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Post by CrepedCrusader on Oct 25, 2021 5:14:43 GMT
I haven't seen it in a long time, but I remember really digging it.
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Post by Stammerhead on Oct 25, 2021 7:33:15 GMT
I've seen it once during the 1970s and liked it at the time because it was The Beatles but I prefer their early funny films.
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Post by 博:Dr.BLΔD€:锯 on Oct 25, 2021 7:55:07 GMT
I have a very good bootleg dvd and often get the headphones on to revisit The Apple roof-top gig. It still oddly surprises me how good they are 'live' I know that sounds dumb, i mean I am and always have been a huge fab's fan, but like for the studio records with George Martin, their movies and their personalities & humour in interviews and stuff. But my memory of them performing was always loads of footage of bonkers screaming so was made up that they were actually great musicians too. Loved the bits of voxpop snippets of folk in the street giving their opinions of a band causing traffic chaos and suchlike in London with the gig. Always wondered why it was never officially released. So looking forward to Peter Jackson's expansive reworking of it all, the lad has come long way since that horrid BrainDead flick. Hope there is more showing of Billy Preston in it....was quite minimal in the original......and it's all coming out on my birthday weekend with my girlfriend, who is also a huge fan. Happy days
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Post by jcush on Oct 25, 2021 9:21:06 GMT
As a massive Beatles fan I liked it overall, but as a documentary it's really not that great, because as you said there's no real narrative. It's basically just random clips of them in the studio for an hour and then the last 20 minutes are part of their rooftop concert.
I'm looking forward to Get Back and I've Got a Feeling (sorry I couldn't resist) that it will be better than Let It Be.
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Post by mortsahlfan on Oct 25, 2021 16:01:04 GMT
I'm a Beatles fan, but I agree with Lennon that it was basically made by Paul for Paul. Even when John's playing the guitar solo, it doesn't even really feature him, and the video pans away from him (and it's a very short solo anyway "Get Back").
I enjoyed it mostly because it's in the studio, which I love. If anyone else likes that kind of stuff, there's a few great channels on YouTube that has hours of studio chatter. Some very funny stuff.
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Post by mstreepsucks on Oct 25, 2021 19:55:45 GMT
Never heard of it.
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Post by phantomparticle on Oct 25, 2021 23:33:20 GMT
Big Beatles fan, and always will be.
I still have all my original Beatles LP's, including the one with Pete Best.
I saw Let It Be in 1970 and, to the best of my recollection, found it flat, unfocused and dispiriting. It only really comes alive during the Rooftop Concert. Not as bad as the infamous Magical Mystery Tour, but no foot stomping Classic, either.
There is a lot of concert footage on Youtube that shows them in their element and can be downloaded.
Simply, the greatest rock and roll band of them all.
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Post by TheGoodMan19 on Oct 26, 2021 2:03:45 GMT
Bits and pieces. Mostly the rooftop concert, the beginning with Paul playing a piano and Ringo watching and a couple tunes, like Besame Mucho. i bet i can find it somewhere on this here interweb thingy
Oh yeah, and Yoko, hovering over everything like a black spider
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Post by TheGoodMan19 on Oct 26, 2021 2:40:55 GMT
I've a question for you Beatles fans Was it more beneficial for their legacy to break up when they did? There are classic rock band who have gone on Wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy past their "sell by dates". I love the Stones to death, but they haven't put out a truly great album since Tattoo You and a great song since Love is Strong. The Who are another example, their stuff is crap since Moon died. From Who are You to You Better You Bet. Ish. Springsteen, Aerosmith, Floyd, many other lingered on, putting out mediocre stuff. The Beatles went out on top. I could definitely see them putting out a couple more good album, then a clunker. One person quits, they string a couple piss poor albums. Then the 1978 Disco Beatles album kills their career. And plenty of Beatles solo stuff was great. Plastic Ono, All Things Must Pass, Band on the Run. To use a baseball analogy, would you rather be a Ted Williams, going out on a great year or a Willie Mays, playin a couple years just to chase numbers and looking weak.
EDIT and i know other bands/acts went out on top. Zeppelin, the Doors, Janis. But that was death.
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Post by TheGoodMan19 on Oct 26, 2021 4:24:42 GMT
Just watched it, God awful print.
I do remember seeing it. And do remember thinking Let it Be, by Paul McCartney and Company. It really shows Paul trying to take over the band. Surprisingly, John looks like he's having fun and not as tense as Harrison and Starr. And, like jcush said, it's just choppy. Here's the boys playing "Two of Us", now here's the boys playing "Get Back". Oh, and here's Yoko, looking like a harbinger of death! It would have been much better to show how the band wrote ,rehearsed and laid down a track instead of making it like a Mexican Jumping Bean.
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Post by phantomparticle on Oct 26, 2021 11:39:51 GMT
You make a good point. As much as I (and Beatles fans) would have wanted to see years more of their music, the fact that they went their separate ways at that time was the best thing.
Paul and Ringo are still cranking out music today, but are savvy enough to know they are no longer "kids."
There is a video on Youtube of The Rolling Stones in concert just a few years ago, and for fans like me who remember them in their early years and their prime, it was the geriatric concert from Hell. Watching an 80-year old Jagger jumping around the stage like a 20-year old is like watching a mummy hooked up to an electric current. Keith Richards, who someone once described as scary even in the light, looks absolutely vampiric, and may actually be dead but is still activated by the massive amount of drugs put into his system over the years. The always reticent Charlie Watts is the only one truly cognizant his advanced age.
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Post by TheGoodMan19 on Oct 26, 2021 14:15:16 GMT
You make a good point. As much as I (and Beatles fans) would have wanted to see years more of their music, the fact that they went their separate ways at that time was the best thing. Paul and Ringo are still cranking out music today, but are savvy enough to know they are no longer "kids." There is a video on Youtube of The Rolling Stones in concert just a few years ago, and for fans like me who remember them in their early years and their prime, it was the geriatric concert from Hell. Watching an 80-year old Jagger jumping around the stage like a 20-year old is like watching a mummy hooked up to an electric current. Keith Richards, who someone once described as scary even in the light, looks absolutely vampiric, and may actually be dead but is still activated by the massive amount of drugs put into his system over the years. The always reticent Charlie Watts is the only one truly cognizant his advanced age. I've seen the Stones eight times. From 1978 to 2015. Yeah, all but the first two was in the geriatric era. And probably past their prime musically. Then again, I'm a geriatric. I ask myself, "why". It sure as hell ain't cheap, tickets, hotel rooms (had to go to Pittsburgh and Toronto). I guess, to quote Tevya in Fiddler on the Roof, Tradition, tradition. It's was fun and we never regretted going. We were going to see the last tour but no. They were supposed to be in Buffalo in 2020, but COVID took care of that. We thought about Pittsburgh in October. But we had gone to a Bills game the week before, my wife was busy at work and, with Charlie Watts dead, it just doesn't seem worth it. Seen well over 100 concerts and I think I'm done. Unless Pink Floyd reunite, the one band I could have seen but never did.
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Post by jcush on Oct 26, 2021 20:01:25 GMT
I've a question for you Beatles fans Was it more beneficial for their legacy to break up when they did? There are classic rock band who have gone on Wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy past their "sell by dates". I love the Stones to death, but they haven't put out a truly great album since Tattoo You and a great song since Love is Strong. The Who are another example, their stuff is crap since Moon died. From Who are You to You Better You Bet. Ish. Springsteen, Aerosmith, Floyd, many other lingered on, putting out mediocre stuff. The Beatles went out on top. I could definitely see them putting out a couple more good album, then a clunker. One person quits, they string a couple piss poor albums. Then the 1978 Disco Beatles album kills their career. And plenty of Beatles solo stuff was great. Plastic Ono, All Things Must Pass, Band on the Run. To use a baseball analogy, would you rather be a Ted Williams, going out on a great year or a Willie Mays, playin a couple years just to chase numbers and looking weak.
EDIT and i know other bands/acts went out on top. Zeppelin, the Doors, Janis. But that was death.
Ultimately I think yes. John and George clearly wanted to do their own thing and as you said with them breaking up when they did, they went out on top. They never had any significant decline in their music, so their discography is untouchable. Also, just look as Plastic Ono Band. Great album, but many of the songs probably wouldn't work as Beatles songs. As for The Stones, I'm a big fan of Voodoo Lounge, but other than that I'd agree that after Tattoo You their work hasn't been as strong as it was in the 60's and 70's.
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Post by TheGoodMan19 on Oct 26, 2021 20:12:06 GMT
I've a question for you Beatles fans Was it more beneficial for their legacy to break up when they did? There are classic rock band who have gone on Wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy past their "sell by dates". I love the Stones to death, but they haven't put out a truly great album since Tattoo You and a great song since Love is Strong. The Who are another example, their stuff is crap since Moon died. From Who are You to You Better You Bet. Ish. Springsteen, Aerosmith, Floyd, many other lingered on, putting out mediocre stuff. The Beatles went out on top. I could definitely see them putting out a couple more good album, then a clunker. One person quits, they string a couple piss poor albums. Then the 1978 Disco Beatles album kills their career. And plenty of Beatles solo stuff was great. Plastic Ono, All Things Must Pass, Band on the Run. To use a baseball analogy, would you rather be a Ted Williams, going out on a great year or a Willie Mays, playin a couple years just to chase numbers and looking weak.
EDIT and i know other bands/acts went out on top. Zeppelin, the Doors, Janis. But that was death.
Ultimately I think yes. John and George clearly wanted to do their own thing and as you said with them breaking up when they did, they went out on top. They never had any significant decline in their music, so their discography is untouchable. Also, just look as Plastic Ono Band. Great album, but many of the songs probably wouldn't work as Beatles songs.As for The Stones, I'm a big fan of Voodoo Lounge, but other than that I'd agree that after Tattoo You their work hasn't been as strong as it was in the 60's and 70's. Just can't see Paul and Ringo performing on Working Class Hero. Nope
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Post by jcush on Oct 26, 2021 20:14:14 GMT
Ultimately I think yes. John and George clearly wanted to do their own thing and as you said with them breaking up when they did, they went out on top. They never had any significant decline in their music, so their discography is untouchable. Also, just look as Plastic Ono Band. Great album, but many of the songs probably wouldn't work as Beatles songs.As for The Stones, I'm a big fan of Voodoo Lounge, but other than that I'd agree that after Tattoo You their work hasn't been as strong as it was in the 60's and 70's. Just can't see Paul and Ringo performing on Working Class Hero. Nope
Love that song, but yeah it doesn't feel like a song that would work under The Beatles name.
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Post by ck100 on Oct 26, 2021 21:51:06 GMT
Have any of you heard the new "Let It Be" box/CD set or read that "Get Back" book?
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Post by ck100 on Oct 26, 2021 21:54:25 GMT
I think the 1970 film was supposed to finally get a DVD/Blu-ray release this year to coincide with the new box/CD set, book and "Get Back" film, but there has been no news of it.
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Post by ck100 on Apr 16, 2024 14:59:01 GMT
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Post by mortsahlfan on Apr 18, 2024 16:05:19 GMT
I liked it, because I love the band, interviews, and behind the scenes stuff.
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