Let It Be... Naked - The Beatles

When I was younger, so much younger than today (see what I did there!) I had my own theory as to why The Beatles split up. Nothing to do with musical or personal differences. Nope. Too obvious. No, the real reason was hair. Or to be precise too much of it, both facial and up top. The Fab Four would've been fab for longer if their hair had not been.

They were all to blame - they'd all become fond of fuzziness since the recording of Sgt Pepper in 1966- but I put most of the blame at Mr Lennon's feet, or should that be head? Sure the common accepted reason was the influence of Yoko, who had to be said was no stranger to excess in the hair department, but surely mine made more sense?

Maybe they couldn't communicate properly due to the sheer volume of material in the way? Or was it that they spent far too much time grooming when they should've been talking things through? Who knows but it's a theory.

'Let It Be' was always a disappointing final album - far too much tinkering from the master of the 'Wall Of Sound' Phil Spector. He was no George Martin. Instead of a stripped back and much more personal recording, as was allegedly intended prior to the recording sessions, the original incarnation is an overblown and bombastic affair. So I was quite pleased when I heard that the much rumoured stripped back release was in the offing.

'Let It Be... Naked' takes away all of the frills and it's much better for it. The songs are allowed to breathe - without the heavy orchestration of the original there's much more space for the band. This is The Beatles after all, a band who crafted their art by playing as a four piece in bars of Liverpool and Hamburg.

One of the biggest revelations is just how much of a blues record this is. Simple but stunning. The track that gains the most from thus approach is 'The Long and Winding Road'. On the early release it's a full blown orchestrated ballad. Yes it's nice but lacks the emotional punch of the naked version; just McCartney and a piano. It's the same for 'Across The Universe'; without Lennon's favoured reverbed vocals and the unnecessary orchestration the beauty of the song is allowed to shine.

And isn't it ironic that 'Let It Be... Naked' finally gave credence to my 'hair' theory; a good hair cut and trim to the songs was all that was needed. If only they'd taken the same approach.....