Let It Be EMI/Toshiba Vinyl Versionby cblou2000

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February 25, 2009: This review is specific to the vinyl LP version of "Let It Be" released by EMI/Toshiba/Japan. I have an original 1970 American pressing as well as a DMM EMI/UK version of this LP. I reviewed the Japanese version from beginning to end without interruption. My jaw dropped. It's like going back in time and hearing it for the first time. Everything is clear and crisp. There's nothing I can write that hasn't been written about the songs themselves, but I can attest to the superior quality of the Japanese pressing. At the present time "Let It Be" is the only Beatles' title that B&N carries from EMI/Toshiba. I hope (and I write to the company about it) that they will soon carry ALL of the Japanese versions. They did start to carry the Toshiba versions of the CDs, which are also of superior quality. However, the vinyl versions sound best. If you can afford it, buy a CD and LP copy of each Beatles' title. Also, put some pressure on B&N to carry the other Beatles' titles on LP.

This review was written about the Vinyl LP edition.

I Also Recommend: The Beatles [Remastered], Rubber Soul [UK], Abbey Road, 1967-1970.

Finally CD Remastering of Beatles' Catalog - It's about timeby cblou2000

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February 19, 2009: The Beatles' catalog was first remastered for CD in 1987. These are the versions that EMI and Capitol still market. I read the reviews posted on B&N and nobody ever draws a distinction between the American versions, the UK versions, the Japanese versions and the vinyl versions.

It is well known that "Let It Be, although recorded before "Abbey Road," was released after "Abbey Road" and is seen by many as the Beatles' swan song. Considering its place in musical history "Let It Be" is a fantastic album. Every song on it is a keeper--there are no fillers, not even "Dig It" and "Maggie May." They contribute in giving the album a "live" feel as was intended by the Beatles. Also, Spector's contribution to the album was minimal. He had nothing to do with "One After 909," "I've Got A Feeling," "Get Back" (the portion that was taken from the studio tape), etc. Even with the Beatles' discord about the arrangements of "The Long and Winding Road," "Let It Be," and "Across the Universe," these tracks are still beautiful and very effective. The album also boasts three Number 1 hits for the Beatles. Not bad for an album that received such mixed reviews.

When record companies first began to switch to a digital format in the 1980s, the Beatles' record company held out until the very last and finally, in 1987, they released the UK versions of Beatles' albums on CD both in the United States and the UK. However, there are those of us who hear the the differences between the analog vinyl records and the digital CDs. The CDs were more of a novelty than audiophile quality reproductions.

Now B&N have added the EMI/Toshiba versions of the CDs to their list of available Beatles' recordings. It's about time! The Japanese have always been a few steps ahead in the electronic music markets. Finally, after years of complaints about the poor reproduction of the 1987 remasterings, B&N is bringing the latest CD versions made with the latest of digital technology to the United States. Surely, they cost more, but any die-hard Beatles' fan (and there are millions of us) will gladly pay the extra funds for true audiophile CDs that sound as close to the originals as possible.

I recommend that Beatles' fans buy one of each available title of the Beatles' catalog on EMI/Toshiba. The Japanese are known for making short "runs" of Beatles' titles so we don't know how long they will be available. I can only hope that Capitol and Parlophone will follow suit and remaster using the latest of digital technology. I hope the new versions replace the antiquated versions that have been around since 1987.

This review was written about the CD Import edition.

I Also Recommend: Revolver [UK], The Beatles [Remastered], The Beatles, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Abbey Road.