Apple Records is planning to release a revamped version of the Beatle’s Let It Be album. The line up of songs will be the same but each track will be stripped down of its orchestration (added back in 1970 by one Phil Spector) restoring the ‘back to basics’ concept that Paul McCartney was said to be originally aiming for with the album. The employment of Spector was John Lennon’s decision. By 1969 the band was collapsing and it is generally accepted McCartney wasn’t happy with Spector’s involvement or the album that came out of it. The reworked album has been in development for two years and was initiated with George Harrison’s blessing before his death.
"It's the de-Spectorized version," Ringo Starr told reporters talking about the rerelease. "Paul was always totally opposed to Phil. I told him on the phone recently, 'You're bloody right again: It sounds great without Phil.' Which it does. Now we'll have to put up with him telling us over and over again, 'I told you.'"
Veteran British producer Glyn Johns, who engineered the original sessions, welcomed the news that the stripped down ‘Let It Be’ will hit the record shops. "My version of the song 'Get Back' actually was released fairly quickly as a single. And my version of the song 'Let It Be' was also released, before Phil Spector puked all over it. And I hope you quote me on that. If you hear 'The Long and Winding Road' without all that schlock on it, it's fabulous just like it is."
The movie ‘Let It Be’ will also be released on DVD.