The Beatles "The Long and Winding Road" (First Time Reaction)

[@Bigdong-kl2fh]

The earth is over a billion years old, and I was lucky enough to witness the Beatles from the very beginning, and I mean 100 live shows at the Cavern Club, several shows in Hamburg, Germany and was blessed to be on the roof top for their last live performance.

[@dougwill8850]

Played at my father's funeral. Miss you. RIP Dad.

[@Tarkus7]

The look on your face while watching this video is priceless. You get it.

[@L33Reacts]

it really does evoke a feeling of loss of something beautiful... they do such a great job that even fan made mixes still sound great! i'll have to do the actual track now... i hate getting got by these videos lol

[@Uetti]

@@L33Reacts 🙂

[@aBeatleFan4ever]

@@L33Reacts - Just want to clarify that this video uses the original track from the "Let It Be" album (which is the Phil Spector track).

[@chrisjenkins6120]

There will never again be a group of musicians like the Beatles. Creativity seeped from their souls and everyone had their favorite Beatle. Mine was Paul McCartney. It was his voice that bowled me over. I’ve been listening to the Beatles since they released their album “Meet the Beatles” in 1964 when I was 12 years old. Sixty solid years. Wow, is all I can say!🎼😊

[@dawnschneider187]

@chrisjenkins6120 I agree, Paul's voice had me when I first heard them, as a child. He is my favorite Beatle to this day.

[@Kieop]

I was born in the 70s, so yeah, Paul is my favourite Beatle because he was the first one I listened to. I discovered the Beatles through Paul and not the other way around.

[@Bigdong-kl2fh]

I saw them 100 times at the Cavern Club in Liverpool. And was on the roof top at the very end. The memories are in my DNA.

[@RavenFire4]

The Beatles stole my heart the night they appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964, i was 6 years old..

[@jmholzer26]

Always brings me to tears. The Beatles, one of a kind.

[@L33Reacts]

Me too. And I’m a new fan.

[@JohnLennon99791]

The Beatles 🙌 ❤

[@genegarrett3372]

Alistair Taylor, the General manager at Apple Records, witnessed Paul McCartney's recording of the original demo version of this at 3 in the morning. "He was picking out a melody and I said 'I like that, it's a fabulous melody,' and he said, 'It's just an idea.' The tape was switched on and he recorded 'The Long And Winding Road' then and there: it was full of la-las as he'd only written a few lines, but it was quite fantastic."

[@HareDeLune]

"It's just an idea." Wow....

[@toot0913]

The wild and windy night that the rain washed away, has left a pool of tears crying for the day….

[@realbser1956]

The choir, the strings, the brass, Phil Spector, George Martin, Glyn Johns, Alan Parsons, The Beatles. A fitting epitaph for the group that changed the world.

[@josephmango4628]

That's precisely what Macca didn't want. Yes, it sounds nice, but that's different from what he was looking for. The stripped-down version on Let It Be Naked was his preference.

[@MikeWalsh-f1g]

Until Now and Then, both this and Let it Be served admirably as Beatles farewell songs.

[@corawheeler9355]

I never saw this video before ... such a sad, beautiful song

[@thomastimlin1724]

WE NEVER saw "the video" when the song was released around June 1970. we listened with our ears and imagination, not our eyes..

[@visaman]

​@thomastimlin1724 it's from the Let It Be documentary.

[@tpatrick44]

Still get chills and Goosebumps!!! I was 17 in 1970…

[@stevejoshua9536]

So was I, for a brief time. Turned 18 in February.

[@gidion4004]

@@stevejoshua9536 I was 21!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@HaleksMTL]

@@stevejoshua9536 Then you were still 17, this was recorded like days after the rooftop gig, in January 1969.

[@Trunkfish]

This is my favorite channel on KZbin PERIOD because you’re a great person Lee, and I enjoy watching you listen to my favorite band of all time The Beatles makes my day.

[@L33Reacts]

Not gonna lie, I needed to read this tonight. Thank you for the kind words. They mean more than you know.

[@gaizkasalazarrodriguez5054]

Mcartney is a monster of Music! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@gerrydantone6834]

The truth is that both the Spector version and the naked version are beautiful.

[@eviekelpie1]

Having known about them since I was 3(1965), I tear up now watching them together...just like brothers

[@JimFlickinger]

You can just feel the pain of loss but the joy of memory.... beautiful!

[@mikek5958]

The fact that the four of them were all going through all the craziness together is what really kept them grounded and sane. They often talked about how the four of them would sit in the bathroom of the hotels to decompress and get away from all the insanity surrounding them.

[@patticrichton1135]

I was 16/17 in 1964 and a devoted fan since then and will always be until I am no longer on this earth. I know Paul dislikes this version, but I LOVE it like this. It's just me. However, this song just makes me break down in tears, as I am still trying to get over a very painful divorce that I went through 26 years ago. He was the love of my life, and this song describes how I feel. Plus it's SUCH a BEAUTIFUL melody and the lyrics are so heartfelt. I don't think I could have ever got through my life without The Beatles and their music. In 1964, I can honestly say they saved my life, and from the loneliness I felt from the age of 13 to 16. Another wonderful reaction from you LEE.

[@zendt66]

I was 14 in 1964 so I was listening to all their songs as they were released. During the summer of 1970, I had a summer internship at a data center several miles from my home. This song came on as I driving to start my midnight to 8:00 am shift and I knew in my heart this was the end of the road for The Beatles. Just knew somehow. Great channel, thanks for what you do.

[@spooley]

When a song is highly regarded by Stevie Wonder you know it's top tier

[@kweile4339]

Beautiful song, leaves me in a melancholic contemplative mood...

[@L33Reacts]

Me too. I was in my feelings last night, not gonna lie. Stayed up late outside looking at the stars. Thinking about life. I feel like I haven’t done that in so long. The world moves so fast we don’t slow down to appreciate the wonder all around us

[@kweile4339]

@@L33Reacts balance..

[@myfavoritedream2149]

"Bittersweet" doesn't come close to describing what I feel watching this band. Pain and Joy, Joy and Pain. #BeatlesForever

[@gronkmusic7973]

I'm also finding my way back from addiction, and find the Beatles' music so comforting and so full of gratitude for life. It's been amazing to watch your journey as you discovered them - I've been following it right from the start. Love and best wishes from the UK.

[@gaizkasalazarrodriguez5054]

No words!!!!!!!

[@HRConsultant_Jeff]

The whole album (released the same time we heard they were breaking up the band) has many prophetic and enduring songs.

[@oberaberg5283]

We often forget how young they all were too!

[@cherylalexander1948]

Thoughtful review of this beautiful, melancholy song.

[@stevedahlberg8680]

I love your connection with the Beatles, I think it's great. ❤What a phenomenon, and the more years that go by with me being a musician and composer and stuff like that, the more impressed than ever I am with their musicality and how Innovative they were on so many fronts.

[@L33Reacts]

I really appreciate that, Steve. Glad to have you here. I love these guys. As a new fan it’s incredible and kinda overwhelming how talented and creative these guys were. Pure trailblazers. All 4 of them.

[@briandonovan1584]

As a student of literature, I discovered the beauty of tragedy. In this song, Paul perfectly demonstrates this concept. This song still makes this 60 year old geezer cry and feel the genuine love these four lads from Liverpool felt for one another. Wonderful choice, young man.

[@pairofpints]

The greatest band ever. Not a single in England but with or without orchestra, the best song on the album, followed by Two of Us.

[@DAVIDFARMER-d9e]

The footage of Paul at the piano singing this is taken from the 1970 'Let it Be' movie and yes it looks like the Let it Be song footage you saw a few weeks ago cause that was from the same session and movie! Peter Jackson when compiling his epic 'Get Back' documentary tried to avoid using the same footage where possible,but the songs were performed in full in the original 1970 movie...the rest of this is using clips from the much earlier 'Strawberry Fields Forever' and 'Paperback Writer' official music videos

[@aBeatleFan4ever]

Phil Spector added the strings and angelic sounding choir to this track... without Paul McCartney even knowing that he had done so. When Paul heard what Spector had done to the track - he was furious. Paul said - How can this guy come in and just add stuff to my song without my permission..? The original idea was to make the tracks for the January 1969 "Get Back" project straight forward live recordings - with none of that overdub stuff added. The fact that Apple (Klein and Spector) had made changes to McCartney' songs without his knowledge or permission - was one of the things for which Paul sued them at the end of 1970. Personally... I grew up listening to the "Spector" version of the song that is on the "Let It Be" album... so that is the version I like best. But Paul felt betrayed by everyone involved with putting the album out with changes that he did not know about - or approve. That's why 30 years later - he put out the "Let It Be - Naked" album (which stripped the songs back to the basic original versions before Spector got to them).

[@governorbreck2205]

It's funny... the 1970 release of this song is one of the few Beatles tunes that I was ambivalent about. It just never grew on me. But as soon as I heard the 2003 'Naked' remix it was like a light went on and I suddenly realized why fans of this tune loved it so much.

[@herbyragan8686]

This is the Phil Spectre produced version from the "Let's It Be" album. Paul hated all the extra strings and the chior backround vocals. Paul envisioned it completly stripped down. My favorite version of the song is from the "Let's It Be" film, where George Martin was still producing.

[@thecroft6070]

Paul had a point. Rather than overlay the orchestration as an embellishment, Spector put it very high in the mix, to the point there the strings, horns, and choir completely dominate the song in the final bars.

[@paulwalker9421]

Beautiful song . Thank you.

[@thereisnospoon52]

The wild and windy night That the rain washed away Has left a pool of tears Crying for the day.

[@mariomf1644]

My favorite McCartney song with The Beatles and one of my top 5 Beatles songs. Simply beautiful.

[@MsUrbangirl]

You've learned so much about the Beatles. Great reaction to this song, it's meaning and the follow-up. Bravo Lee!😊

[@L33Reacts]

Why thank you, I appreciate that. It’s all from y’all. I’ve learned everything from all the wonderful and insightful comments from y’all. And of course just listening to these guys will get you there if you just pay attention 🤩🙏

[@sarahfullerton6894]

Paul's voice sounds like he's ready to cry in this beautiful song. His voice even cracks! It's about the impending break-up of The Beatles, and how sad Paul was about it. I think Phil Spector's added orchestral and choral additions are beautiful!!! I believe that Paul felt VERY alone at this time!!

[@robertmoraga1501]

Great reaction, Lee. I personally like the dressed up version, though I dig Paul’s stripped version. Regardless, there’s always, “The wild and windy night that the rain washed away, has left a pool of tears crying for the day.”

[@kenford4798]

That was the Phil Spector version, the best one is the naked version with the Billy Preston organ solo in the middle.

[@lockedouttv8617]

I know he wrote the song, but I will never agree with Paul on this one. The strings make the song for me. Phil Spector did a lot of crap in his lifetime, but he did right by this song. The Naked version sounds…well, naked (and not in a good way). I’m happy we have both, though, so listen to whichever you prefer.

[@nancysmith38]

Such a beautiful song- makes me misty eyed.

[@MrDiddyDee]

Paul was right, Spector's schmaltzy orchestral arrangement totally smothers the song, it's like an early Disney fairy tale soundtrack. George Martin also agreed with Paul that it really didn't need any big production. Paul said it's a sad song about things that are unattainable, the end of the road you never reach, the door that never opens for you. The metaphoric imagery is based on an actual road near to his Scottish farm, sixteen miles of twisting lanes from Kintyre to Campeltown. It's deeply saddening to hear him express how lost he was at the breakup of the band and their friendships, the most positive and driven member of the band reduced to pleading for it's survival with a faint glimmer of hope. After this, despite everything, it's amazing that they all did pull it together so astonishingly one more time for the 'Abbey Road' album.

[@dalemcmillan7231]

The Beatles last single. Went to #1 of course. Written by Paul McCartney. Beautiful song ❤❤

[@lyna4873]

Now you should check out the Let It Be Naked version and a live version from Wings Over America album--great song in concert back in the 70's.

[@arizrich]

While I can say it about most any Beatles song, this is so good!

[@kimberelyanngunter6341]

Tearing up😢❤

[@ferpiopiogm]

In the naked version you can actually listen what they're playing, the beauty of the raw piano that is totally opaced by the choir and all that stuff Spector played at a very high volume

[@bobmessier5215]

Definitely the Phil Specter version. I've heard Paul sing this with a piano, without the strings, and it felt more organic.

[@mileswalcott7241]

This is my third best Beatles song it brings a flood of tears and memories to me thanks Paul McCartney ❤

[@jameskelly8586]

As you see in the Get Back doc, they were planning all these songs for a live performance--and not with all the technology we have now. So they orchestrated and wrote the songs for that. That's why many compositions were rejected because they couldn't be done live in one take--they would need extra overdubs and such. So Paul planned his "Let It Be" and "The Long and Winding Road" for one live performance--which they did on film with the other four there with him playing at the same time. If Macca knew that wasn't how it was going to be produced, then he would've orchestrated and performed it in a different way.

[@mikek5958]

Linda was such a natural beauty it's easy to see what Paul saw in her.

[@cuebj]

Her character is what got him. She was a strong, confident person

[@mikek5958]

@@cuebj To me "natural beauty" involves personality as well and yes, I agree wholeheartedly.

[@oberaberg5283]

I have never seen this video before! Excellent!

[@robertsaul234]

Two of Us is another "Video" they recorded the day after the rooftop concert.

[@hopeklemann1]

🌸 this is one of my favorite Beatles songs

[@KayHerbert-z2v]

This song just hits home. Thank you for the reaction. Paul was such an amazing writer and musician . From 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@johnbarthram8789]

Is still

[@chitownlee]

This wasn't the last album recoded but was the last one released and this song just seemed like saying goodbye...

[@david_aloni]

Yup. The Phil Specter version. He was famous as a producer for his "Wall of Sound" arrangements. Their film crew shot them recording both "Let It Be" and "The Long and Winding Road" at roughly the same, over a week or two, and since they both featured Paul at the piano singing lead, the coverage of both songs ended up looking a lot alike. The main intention of Paul's lawsuit against the group was to wrest control of their music away from the band's new manager, Allen Klein, who the other three had wanted, but who Paul disliked and distrusted. “The only way for me to save The Beatles and Apple - and to release ‘Get Back’ by Peter Jackson, which allowed us to release ‘Anthology’ and all these great remasters of all the great Beatles records- was to sue the band,” said McCartney. “If I hadn’t done that, it would have all belonged to Allen Klein. The only way I was given to get us out of that was to do what I did.”

[@jacksundquist7119]

Klein was a snek.

[@debjorgo]

"And anyway, you'll never know the many ways I tried."

[@ChrisTian-sl2sw]

Naked version says "anyway, you´ve always known the many ways I tried", completly changing the meaning of the song.

[@dawnschneider187]

One of the saddest songs ever! Great reaction Lee.

[@antonybrennan]

It’s the Beatles, you can’t explain it.

[@daseguin]

Best version

[@JB-Deadskins]

George Martin famously said that he produced the song, and then Phil Spector overproduced it.

[@bobbissell2910]

This song makes me sad. We must unite and love each other

[@elisabethaxelsson4736]

Beautiful song so much emotions it makes me sad .But I love this song

[@robrob7400]

King of melodies Paul - will we ever see a talent like him again.

[@timr5490]

Such a beautiful song.

[@philipcone357]

That was the Spector female choir, horns, violins Paul had relaxed John’s bass. The original was a piano ballad with Ringo on high hat and then drums.

[@stevejoshua9536]

It was April 10th, 1970, and I can still vividly remember sitting in my car in a grocery store parking lot, listening to the radio, and hearing about the press release, in which Paul McCartney announced the official end of The Beatles. I had just turned 18, and my high school years, which I dearly loved, were ending. I was saying goodbye to many friends, as the following September I would be off to college. All I can tell you is, in that particular moment, lt felt as if all of the world, which I had known, was coming to an end. Of course, little did I know that a new world was out there waiting for me, with experinces & adventures & relationships, which I could not have fathomed as a fresh-faced 18 year old. If there's one thing the 1970s taught me is, you never give up on life.

[@TheReaperMan275]

This sad, wonderful, beautiful song, is a fitting end for The Beatles and a great capper on the 1960s as a whole. But then came a lot of great Prog Music in the 70s with Yes, Genesis and ELP. Cool reaction, dude.

[@stevedahlberg8680]

The Long and Winding Road has been played at SO many funerals. Also, musicology is a thing. I myself am a musicologist, and by the way, it was also the name of Prince's last album before he died.

[@bradjenkins1475]

I'll tell you one thing that I believe is an absolute fact and that is that the video that accompanied this song this morning fits the song perfectly, and what a joy it was to watch it because everything we just saw is the things that I saw back then. When they were still together and all of us in our group Who used to? to watch everything that Beatles put out, and 90% of the clips in the video clips that we absolutely remembered from those glorious days.

[@carolynschmidt5467]

Time wrenches you.

[@L33Reacts]

It really does. I’m learning that more and more… day by day. It’s lonely sometimes being a parent who moved somewhere far from home.

[@sharondavid-melly1498]

Glad you're taking it easy 🌼

[@hoppers13]

It was superb when it came out but the Anthology “correction” really hits the spot. Great comments, by the way. You shoulda been there, young Bro❤️. You deserve it.

[@reinacarbetta388]

Such a beautiful and poignant song, and so heartbreaking. (This is Spector’s version.) Paul saw the writing on the wall at this point. He was sad and expressing it through music, though under the radar of the others. These takes will make sense when you watch ‘Get Back.’

[@p-dru2205]

Well done, and greatly appreciated. And yes, this is definitely the Wall of Sound version. The 14 female vocalists are a great tipoff as well as the amount of orchestra that somewhat drowns out the other instruments. However, the dramatic effect was immense. When you listen to the "Naked" version of the song, without the orchestra and choir, it's not nearly as dramatic. But it is, quite simply, a beautiful song. The Let It Be (or Get Back) project was Paul's idea to sort of re-energize The Beatles by returning to their rock & roll roots. Rather ironic in my opinion given the effect of Phil Spector - especially on "Let It Be" and "The Long And Winding Road" songs and all that happened within the group during that time. Thanks again for shining another spotlight on The Beatles.

[@xtiants]

I like to think that Paul's dislike for what Phil Spector did to this song came mostly from how it was done; behind his back without consulting him. Yet, still the arrangement with the lush strings and background vocals suit the song so naturally. Phil was no slouch, and the finished product is a highly successful masterpiece of recording. Perhaps it grew on Paul, or he at least accepted the fate of this version being the one for the ages, because I've heard live versions where his band emulates Phil's arrangements pretty closely on synths. Paul eventually released his "Naked" version, which must have given him some satisfaction, but I kinda prefer this one. I like John's bass work too.

[@dannynewman2]

I was watching your reactions from a year ago, and you seem to have come a "long" way since then. I'm glad Yes, Beatles, etc., have helped -:)

[@neilwinchester9187]

It's always been a sad song. The end of the Beatles in music.

[@pestbsn]

As one of the laypeople experts on the band, it was my understanding that the reason Paul had to seek the dissolution of the band was to dissolve their business contracts. Klein even had a monopoly on the business over their solo careers in the contract.

[@dobythedog]

I'm impressed with your knowledge about the Phil Spector and Glyn Johns stuff. Good to hear a young person who knows his stuff!

[@denicedews8854]

I found the stripped down version here on youtube. I think I liked it better. Paul's vocals were amazing.

[@hopeklemann1]

🌸 you vocalize that perfectly, my friend.... that's exactly what I felt, too ...

[@alrivers2297]

People seem to either love or hate this song. I'm in the love camp

[@cassmcmlix]

They were our big brothers.

[@RonaldCanfield-m2r]

Personally, I love the orchestral aspect that Phil Spector brought to this song. One of my favorites.

[@thomasjacques5286]

It was a wild ride. Gone too soon. But just glad we have all the recorded music.

[@reneestewart9425]

Paul had a huge family. He went back to Liverpool frequently to do things with his aunts and cousins. After his dad died it may have been harder but that was when he was in wings. So he had support Jon used to go to Paul's dad's house For years.

[@aBeatleFan4ever]

This video footage of Paul singing this song is from the same day as the "Let It Be" footage you watched recently. Filmed the after the rooftop concert (January 31, 1969).

[@carolynschmidt5467]

Without John's fame, he might still be alive. And as you know they quit touring pretty early on because people weren't listening. They were only screaming.

[@bellodrade]

They were all equally famous. You can't predict or control random crazy

[@carolynschmidt5467]

@@bellodrade that is not what I was saying.

[@michaelbeckwith6177]

I love the hd videos it's good to see The Beatles so much younger than you know the song!!

[@aBeatleFan4ever]

This is a fan made video with some footage of them performing "The Long and Winding Road" but also other footage from 1966 and 1967 mixed in. The best video footage of this song is from the original "Let It Be" movie. That film shows the entire song being performed from start to finish, filmed on January 31, 1969. It's a real shame that Peter Jackson failed to put the full performances of "The Long & Winding Road", "Let It Be", "Two Of Us" and "For You Blue" in his 8 hour documentary.

[@Coquinagirl]

The long and winding road, living with such an open heart, isn’t always easy… Paul, John, George, and Ringo were pretty good at it… It’s good when you feel like sharing your thoughts and feelings.

[@johncollier9280]

This is indeed the Phil Spector version with added strings, choral vocals 'n all. A lush sound reminiscent o' the closin' track from The White Album...Good Night. I can understand why Paul was upset that Phil would do this sort o' "tamperin'" without consultin' Paul first. But I gotta give Phil credit for creatin' such a beautiful 'n memorable arrangement. This 'n Across The Universe are the standout tracks to me from Let It Be.

[@johnfields9416]

Of course when this was recorded there were no videos.....just your imagination.....that's how we interpreted all music which could make it very personal and great! back in my day

[@HareDeLune]

Back in 'our' day. 😉

[@HaleksMTL]

They filmed and recorded Let it Be and The Long and Winding Road on the same day, same piano, along with Two of Us, that's why he looks exactly the same as he does on the Let it Be clip. The songs of that session are live, but later Phil Spector added all those instruments on top ("his wall of sound" technique) The montage is more recent, the original clip just showed them playing the song, no cuts to other stuff.

[@HaleksMTL]

Yeah from the sound of it, I would guess that it's a remaster of the Phil Spector arrangements, the instruments sound more crisp, but otherwise pretty much the same as from the original album version.

[@RadCenter]

One of my top 10 Beatles songs, and there are hundreds to choose from!

[@karen_ski2019]

Hermosisimo ❤🇦🇷

[@PanarchyInTheUK]

This was always a song that I passed over when I was younger, favouring more poppy or rocky songs. But now I'm older, this is beautiful. Agree with @herbyragan8686 about the production on it though. It's such a great song, it can stand on its own with Paul's vocals, the piano and a bit of percussion.