Dig It

[JakeK]

Can YOU dig it?



Here's a question: Why was "Dig It" only 50 seconds long on the "Let It Be" album (produced by Phil Spector)? I have a version of "Dig It" on a bootleg (Glyn Johns' mix of the "Get Back" album) and it's more or less the cut in this video (probably a little longer). This version should have been released on "Let It Be...Naked".

By the way, what chords are John playing on the Bass VI? I know the song revolves around the chords F, C and Bb, but John's playing some weird chords there...

[8mileshigher]

This version should have been released on "Let It Be...Naked".

LIB Naked is a disappointment.... There was quite a bit of material that should have been remixed and included on this: like Glyn Johns stuff, Nagra camera audio portions, Beatle dialogue, etc.

Once a decision was made to revise the original... and all the resources and source material Apple had at is disposal, one has to wonder why they didn't do it right ? Hundreds of hours of stuff out there that could have been sifted down, to giving the Beatles fans a little bit more.

"Dig It" is a perfect example....
Even that Fly on the Wall disc was barely scratching the surface of what was available...
I always feel like we got short-changed on LIB Naked

Extend the argument further -- why hasn't the LIB film been released in a digital format ? They digitalized the Roof top concert for the Anthology ... why not the other 30 minutes of the film ??

[tennis_nick]

This version should have been released on "Let It Be...Naked".

LIB Naked is a disappointment.... There was quite a bit of material that should have been remixed and included on this: like Glyn Johns stuff, Nagra camera audio portions, Beatle dialogue, etc.

Once a decision was made to revise the original... and all the resources and source material Apple had at is disposal, one has to wonder why they didn't do it right ? Hundreds of hours of stuff out there that could have been sifted down, to giving the Beatles fans a little bit more.

"Dig It" is a perfect example....
Even that Fly on the Wall disc was barely scratching the surface of what was available...
I always feel like we got short-changed on LIB Naked

I think let It Be Naked delivered exactly what was promised. For a 14$ CD, I can't imagine getting hours of talk time, in fact, I have here at home the "day By Day" of the Let It Be sessions, literally every waking minute of those sessions. If there wasn't a lot available, it's because it's mostly all boring as hell.

Extend the argument further -- why hasn't the LIB film been released in a digital format ? They digitalized the Roof top concert for the Anthology ... why not the other 30 minutes of the film ??

I think it was Neil Apsinall who said that it only takes one person on the Apple board to veto the decision of a release like that, and that he wasn't gonna give the name of who it was. "Oh No I won't!"

[FretlessOnly]

If Let it Be...Naked delivered what it promised, it sure could not have promised very much. To me, a very, very disappointing release. All it did was strip the Spector stuff, offer new (old?) mixes, and leave out some of the best material on the original album, of which there really wasn't that much.

Dig It and Maggie Mae were two of my favorite tracks from the original. Nowhere to be found on the supposed definitive re-release. They took a train-wreck and wrecked it again. Now THAT takes talent.

I will say that Across the Universe sounds fantastic here. So it's not a total loss. But then again, that track has nothing to do with the Get Back/Let it Be sessions.

[longhouse]

They took a train-wreck and wrecked it again. Now THAT takes talent

Indeed. And the used the lame LIB solo too... ugh.

What I like about this long version of Dig It is how it morphs from some would-be reggae into a Dylan type groove.
My but Ringo looks bored to the point of narcosis.
Say, what's in the bottles by George?

Billy's wearing a cool shirt.

[jimk]

My but Ringo looks bored to the point of narcosis.

I don't blame him. I sat there and watched the video, and was thinking, "Come on guys, quit messin' about and get on with it."

JimK

[Clint]

I think the point of Let it Be...Naked was to release the album as originally conceived, not to tack on a bunch of bonus material. Dumping Maggie Mae and Dig It for Don't Let Me Down makes perfect sense. If The Beatles would have followed through with their original intent for the project, those two songs would have found their way to the cutting room floor. Besides, I have an old bootleg from Smilin' Ears Records called Twickenham Jams and from listening to that, I don't think we're missing much in the way of unreleased gems.

Honestly, I love both versions of Let It Be. Two of Us, Dig a Pony and I've Got a Feeling are three of my all time favorite songs. I think this album ranks #3 on my list behind the White Album and Abbey Road.

[8mileshigher]

I think it was Neil Apsinall who said that it only takes one person on the Apple board to veto the decision of a release like that, and that he wasn't gonna give the name of who it was. "Oh No I won't!"

Interesting. Are we to assume that the Apple Board member who was the proponent of LIB - Naked audio disc, wanting to get a deSpectorized Long and Winding Road out there, might have been the same Board member who vetoed digitalizing and re-releasing the LIB film ?? Would have to speculate that the Apple Board member perhaps had second thoughts some 30 years later, about how that Board member's personality or portrayal came through, in certain segments of the film ?

I recall John Lennon said in the famous 1970 Rolling Stone interview that the LIB film was seeing the Beatles as they really were "...warts and all"

[wj350]

It was interesting to see George Martin in the clip. I recall in Anthology where GM is talking about what was going on during this era, and he mentions the Beatles often just devolving into a rambling jam session that "frankly, didn't always sound too good"--(not sure if that's the exact words, but it's close).

I'm a huge Beatles (and Lennon in particular) fan, but this track always reminds me of GM's comment.

Bb, F, Bb and C is pretty much the song.

[deaconblues]

I think 'Naked' is my favorite Beatles album. They got rid of the strings and other nonsense, and focused on the raw music, which was the album concept from the beginning. I personally don't miss 'Dig It' or 'Maggie May' at all - no offense, but if those two aren't throwaways, I don't know what is. 'Naked' also includes 'Don't Let Me Down,' which I love.

The solo on Let it Be in the 'Naked' version isn't as good...but I can see why they kept it, I guess, as the faster solo is an overdub.

[apollo11]

If The Beatles would have followed through with their original intent for the project, those two songs would have found their way to the cutting room floor.

Who knows---remember, they did Wild Honey Pie, Can You Take Me Back, Strawberry Fields ending bit, Hello Goodbye ending bit, Her Majesty----these all ended up on albums/singles they were in complete control of. I've always loved Dig It & Maggie Mae, along with the others mentioned above.

[FretlessOnly]

I personally don't miss 'Dig It' or 'Maggie May' at all - no offense, but if those two aren't throwaways, I don't know what is. 'Naked' also includes 'Don't Let Me Down,' which I love.

They could easily be considered "throwaways," but my remembrances of the mid 70s and listening to Let it Be lead me to Dig It and Maggie Mae as the most ingrained memories. They, more than the more polished cuts, reflect the attitude in the Twickenham studio time in January, 1969 to me. They stood out as much more human than their earlier work, and today, now that I have a much better conception of what they were going through, a more revealing slice of time.

Are they great? No. But neither is much of Let it Be (yeah, to me; I get it). But the ...Naked version at least finally delivers a pristine version of one of Lennon's best songs: Across the Universe. Damn, if this stripped-down version isn't more pure than pure. My $14 was well worth this single track alone, and I'd bet it's the only one I'll listen to on a regular basis as I tip-toe toward the final unknown.

But, I'm going to give the whole thing another listen right now to be fair.

[longhouse]

I love almost every version of 'Across the Universe' which trickled out (save some of the rehearsal clips -ack!).

Here's the LIBN cut (it's definitely nice):

[beatlefreak]

Who knows---remember, they did Wild Honey Pie, Can You Take Me Back, Strawberry Fields ending bit, Hello Goodbye ending bit, Her Majesty----these all ended up on albums/singles they were in complete control of.

Actually, Her Majesty was left on Abbey Road by mistake. Originally part of the first medley on side 2 (Mean Mr. Mustard/Her Majesty/Polythene Pam/She Came In Through The Bathroom Window), Paul decided he didn't like it there. He told EMI Engineer John Kurlander to remove it and throw it away. Not wanting to trash it, Kurlander tacked the song onto the end of side 2 preceded by a long piece of leader tape. The album was cut that way.

This explains the loud chord at the beginning of Her Majesty - It's the final chord of Mean Mr. Mustard. The final chord of Her Majesty is buried in the opening chord of Polythene Pam.

Source: The Beatles Recording Sessions by Mark Lewisohn, page 183.)

[servant]

By the way, what chords are John playing on the Bass VI? I know the song revolves around the chords F, C and Bb, but John's playing some weird chords there...

He's just playing barred-E chords in the style I do quite often - with my thumb on the big E string, and my index finger plays the B and little E
strings. When he's on the F chord, his hand is behind the music stand. All we see him play are the Bb and C chords at the 6th and 8th frets.