Let It Be released...PLEASE!

So much for my "blog at least once a month" pledge to myself; I realize that there are about twenty-five minutes left in this month, and what a month it's been!

The Beatles, in case I haven't mentioned it here before, are my favorite band ever. Ever. Well, I'm going to cut to the chase and talk about what's currently the hot topic amongst Beatles fans right now: the movie Let It Be unavailable since at least the early 1980s.

Neil Aspinall is saying that it never will see a DVD release because of the hard feelings The Beatles had for each other back during those days. What I find interesting is that a few years ago when someone allegedly mentioned to Macca how it'd be nice to have Let It Be out as a video release, he seemed surprised that it wasn't -- he apparently didn't even know it wasn't out!

What I really want to address is how many fans -- and Apple insiders -- say that the film is kind of a downer and it shows The Beatles breaking up. I disagree completely.

I will forever maintain my view that the only reason that those fans find the movie depressing because it shows The Beatles breaking up is that we all know that they were breaking up at the time. Show Let It Be to anybody who doesn't know the behind-the-scenes stories, and that person will see footage of a band rehearsing material, recording it, and performing it on a roof. That viewer would have no idea that the band was about to break up.

Here's what I -- and my wife -- see when we watch Let It Be:

• Four -- sometimes five -- guys making music


• John Lennon and Paul McCartney sharing a microphone while rehearsing "Two Of Us," both cutting up


• McCartney cracking up Lennon with his exaggerated "Besame Mucho" vocal


• Ringo Starr having fun with McCartney's future stepdaughter


• "Suzy's Parlour." 'Nuff said.


• Five guys making great music together on a London roof


• Starr demoing his new song, "Octopus's Garden," while George Harrison helps him with some chord changes

Oh, did I mention that these four guys were playing together? Their self-titled album from 1968 was recorded in large part individually; it's almost a compilation of solo recordings!

Of course, I expect someone to point out the "Two Of Us" argument between Harrison and McCartney. I dunno, it just seems to me that 1) it's a typical argument that happens with any band at any given time, and 2) it's not too dissimilar from arguments one can hear on bootleg Beatles recordings from years prior to the Let It Be / Get Back sessions. And yes, we all know that during those sessions George Harrison announced that he was leaving the group, suggested they put an ad in New Musical Express, and literally walked out and quit the group -- there are bootleg recordings of this exchange happening. Yes, we know that happened, but 1) George came back, and 2) the movie doesn't include his walkout. And has anybody noticed how during the Apple portion of the movie, after The Beatles leave Twickenham for a more appropriate environment, that the mood is definitely more positive?

So no, the movie does not show a band breaking up. Does it show The Beatles during the time they were breaking up? Yes, but it wasn't part of the movie.

For the longest time, the only way you could legally see this movie (assuming you didn't own it already) was to go to Beatlefest and watch it, but now the only Beatles movie you can see at Beatlefe--uhmm, 'scuse me, I forgot that the Apple suits no longer allow that name--The Fest For Beatles Fans--is A Hard Day's Night, which is the only of the four feature-length Beatles movies that Apple does not own...coincidence? (And for the record...yes, you used to be able to see Magical Mystery Tour at the Fest, but not any more...but it's not a feature-length movie, so nyaa!)

So...are Apple and their bosses (Ringo, Paul, Yoko, and Olivia) out of touch with the fans? Well, let's see...if you want to get the Beatles' original albums these days you have to buy poor-quality CDs with 20-year-old master jobs. NONE of their Apple-owned movies (Help! through Let It Be) are available for purchase. You can't (legally) download The Beatles' music, despite the anti-piracy warnings on their latest CDs saying that if you want legally-downloadable music, go to EMI's web site. (And yes, I know there's been talk of new remasters coming out and deals with iTunes, but as far as I'm concerned, it's not happening until somebody officially confirms it.)

Really, Apple, give your customers what they want. Let them be able to buy a video release of Let It Be and put money in your pockets; don't make them resort to pirated copies from eBay or the various illicit peer-to-peer servers. (For God's sake, we know the movie has been cleaned up, so why not do something with it?) You don't want the movie to be out because it was made during a bad time? Well, then yank its accompanying albums from the market, too, because they're just as culpable for bringing back any bad vibes. The fact is, bands break up, and The Beatles are no different, and all four have gone on to have good careers. Get over it.

Oh...and stay tuned for my comments on Let It Be...Naked, whose 2003 release would have been the perfect time to release Let It Be on DVD.