Richard Hewson the arranger of “The Long and Winding Road” on the The Beatles Let It Be album has long been given bad press for his lush production of that number. However, in the United States the public disagreed as the song made it to #1 on the Billboard charts. Maybe let “Bygones be Bygones”?
WHICH VERSION OF ‘THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD” DO YOU PREFER? Read on!
Would such a large audience have bought the record if they were disgusted with the song’s production?
The one factor in the controversy that I see as valid criticism is that Paul McCartney should have had more direct involvement in the song’s final production as presented to the world because it was “his” song.
However, there is more to this story than I believe that we are all aware of…
For example, it is apparently not the strings that Paul was really upset with but with the female vocal chorale that was upsetting to him according to others. Perhaps we will never know the full story!
THE “LET IT BE” RECORDING WITH THE RICHARD HEWSON ARRANGEMENT:
The Long And Winding Road (Remastered 2009)
The Long and Winding Road – Wikipedia
The isolated string arrangement from YouTube:
The Beatles – The Long And Winding Road – Isolated Orchestra
“On 2 April, Spector sent each of the Beatles an acetate of the completed album with a note saying: “If there is anything you’d like done to the album, let me know and I’ll be glad to help … If you wish, please call me about anything regarding the album tonight,”, along with a lengthy letter justifying his changes. All four Beatles, including McCartney, sent Spector a telegram giving their approval.”
This is why we must be careful in judging some of the history shared with us as FACT concerning certain events that we take as being the gospel truth. Everyone emphasizes their own predispositions as to what actually happened especially when there are conflicting views as to the events that may have occurred. In my opinion, if the Beatles really did not want the album to come out as it did, it WOULD NOT have been released. They wiped their hands, tired of all of the business hassles, and it ultimately came out despite their personal disappointments at the time.
APPLES AND ORANGES:
“The Long and Winding Road” reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks in June 1970.
“The Long and Winding Road” was never officially released as a standalone 45 single in the UK.
THE LET IT BE “NAKED” VERSION OF THE SONG:
In order to satisfy Paul’s original vision for his number, this LP was released featuring the stripped-down version of the song:
The Long And Winding Road (Naked Version / Remastered 2013)
Much controversy surrounded Richard Hewson’s involvement with the Beatles story. When Phil Spector arrived on the scene to remedy the displeasure the band had with the original Get Back/ Let It Be session tapes, he had Richard Hewson, Brian Rogers, and John Barham handle the new string, orchestral, and choral backings on several of the songs. Many Beatles fans to this day say that that was not what the Beatles had wanted in their original concept of the LP which was slated to be a return to their rock ‘n’ roll basics. (The raw Beatles without overdubs).
Obviously there was a big conflict here as Paul in particular objected to the production values on “The Long and Winding Road” which irritated and angered him as it was done without his permission. He thought the string and the vocal background choir were unwarranted and went against his vision of the song. Ringo has claimed in interviews that all four of the Beatles did sign off on the album’s release, however. In the ultimate irony, years later Paul when performing the Long and Winding Road live it had a very lush arrangement of the song somewhat similar to the Beatles album version. My supposition was that it probably was a “control” based issue in the power politics of the group!
RICHARD HEWSON’S FIRST LOVE IS “JAZZ”
The RAH band is an acronym for Richard Anthony Hewson’s initials. Despite his numerous forays in the pop music field over the years, his first love was always JAZZ. I recently acquired a live album of the RAH band, but I must admit I had a very selfish motivation to do so. As many people on this blog are aware, as a collector I always make the attempt to acquire the signatures of people that have somehow contributed to the Beatles musical legacy. I wrote to someone who assists Richard Hewson with promotion and publicity, and he said that signed copies of the RAH band album were available to purchase and that signed postcards from Richard Hewson were available in the album. Sure, enough I received my copy of the album shown below and they were signed by Richard Hewson but indirectly by indicating Peace! The RAH (RICHARD ANTHONY HEWSON) Band!
I have to be honest I would have enjoyed it more if he had signed the postcard with his signature but the publicist that had told me about the album did say that the signing was indeed from Richard himself which made me feel so much better!
Richard Anthony Hewson – Wikipedia
A few musical samples of the RAH band:
Perfumed Garden (Original 12″ Mix)
THE RAH BAND: (THE RICHARD ANTHONY BAND):
The Crunch – The RAH Band’s debut ’77 hit and the story behind that Top of The Pops appearance!
Richard Anthony Hewson – Wikipedia
Richard’s signature though stealthily presented as THE RAH BAND!
The back cover of the LP:
Richard Anthony Hewson – Wikipedia
The contents of the LP as pictured on one side of the vinyl:
Richard Anthony Hewson – Wikipedia
TOO OFTEN THE PRESS CAN BE THE MAIN CULPRIT IN PERPETUATING THE “CONFLICTS” OR “AGITATIONS” OF CELEBRITIES:
Whatever your opinions of the production of “The Long and Winding Road” may be, it does a disservice to the song by making it a contest. We have the full production, and we have the bare version so we all should be happy! My personal preference is the Richard Hewson full production. From the first time I heard the song on an acetate of the then named Get Back album I personally saw the song as being a majestic number with lush overtones. I may be in the minority in that song vision but apparently, I am not alone as the Richard Hewson production became #1 in the United State Billboard charts in 1970. Oh, and by the way, when Paul first began to perform the song live when he decided to once again perform Beatles songs, his version onstage was closer to a full lush presentation than his Let It Be Naked version!
Nuff said!
Meaning and Usage
The phrase “let bygones be bygones” is commonly used to encourage individuals to forget about past conflicts or unpleasant events. It suggests that one should not dwell on past mistakes or grievances but instead focus on the present and future. This idiom promotes the idea of forgiveness and reconciliation, allowing relationships to heal and grow.
Cambridge University Press & Assessment
In a relatively short time after The Long and Winding Road production fiasco, Paul asked Richard Hewson to do the string arrangements for his Thrillington album which were his revisitations of songs from his RAM album! The project was completed rather smoothly yet there was a very long inexplicable delay between the album’s recording and its eventual release!
THRILLINGTON:
Richard is credited at the bottom of the sleeve in the smaller print:
‘Too Many People’ – PaulMcCartney.com Track of the Week
FROM GROKIPEDIA
Richard Hewson’s Apple Records Involvement
Richard Hewson’s career began in the late 1960s at Apple Records, where he quickly became a key arranger and conductor. His first major Apple assignment was arranging and conducting the orchestral accompaniment for Mary Hopkin’s 1968 number‑one hit “Those Were the Days” and her debut album Post Card grokipedia.com. This was a defining early project that showcased his ability to blend classical arrangements with pop sensibilities.
Hewson’s work at Apple Records also included arranging for James Taylor’s self‑titled debut album, one of the UK’s first 16‑track sessions mu:zines. This experience helped him adapt to new recording technologies and expanded his reputation in the industry.
His most notable Beatles connection came through Phil Spector’s production of Let It Be. Hewson was brought in to orchestrate tracks such as “The Long and Winding Road” and “I Me Mine”, adding lush string and choral arrangements grokipedia.com+1. While this work was part of the Let It Be sessions, it was under Spector’s direction rather than directly as an Apple Records employee, but it was a direct result of his early Apple Records work and his growing reputation.
Hewson’s Apple Records period laid the foundation for his later collaborations with major artists, including Paul McCartney, Supertramp, Diana Ross, and Carly Simon grokipedia.com+1. His early success at Apple Records not only launched his career but also positioned him as a go‑to arranger for bridging orchestral music with pop and rock production across decades.
Listen to the wonderful nostalgic feel that Hewson gave to the arrangement to this Gene Raskin number for Mary Hopkin:
Those Were The Days (Remastered)
And his lovely treatment to the McCartney penned track for Mary called Goodbye: While McCartney wrote the song and produced the recording, Richard Hewson was the arranger responsible for the full orchestral and backing track.
Goodbye (Remastered 2010 / Bonus Track)
Those Were The Days (Remastered) – YouTube
JAMES TAYLOR IN HIS APPLE LP HAD SEVERAL ARRANGEMENTS DONE BY RICHARD HEWSON:
Credit listing for the James Taylor Apple album provided at the DISCOGS website:
A1a Don’t Talk Now
Handclaps [Clapping], Percussion – James Taylor (2), Peter Asher
Organ – Don Schinn*
2:36
A1b Link Greensleeves
Arranged By, Performer [Played By] – James Taylor (2)
A2a Something’s Wrong
Arranged By [Bassoon, Oboe, And The Aeolian String Quartet], Conductor [Bassoon, Oboe, And The Aeolian String Quartet Conducted By] – Richard Hewson
Performer – Aeolian String Quartet
3:00
A2b Link
Arranged By – Richard Hewson
Performer [Played By] – Aeolian String Quartet
A3 Knocking ‘Round The Zoo
Arranged By [Screams And Brass], Conductor [Screams And Brass Conducted By] – Richard Hewson
3:26
A4a Sunshine Sunshine
Accompanied By, Harp – Skaila Kanga
Arranged By [Amici String Quartet], Conductor [Amici String Quartet] – Richard Hewson
Performer – Amici String Quartet
3:30
A4b Link
Arranged By – Richard Hewson
Performer [Played By], Harp – Skaila Kanga
A5a Taking It In 3:01
A5b Link
Arranged By, Performer [Played By] – Don Schinn*
A6 Something In The Way She Moves 2:26
B1 Carolina In My Mind
Arranged By [Strings], Conductor [Strings Conducted By] – Richard Hewson
Backing Vocals [Uncredited] – George Harrison
Bass – Paul McCartney
Guitar [2nd Guitar] – Mick Wayne
Organ – Freddie Redd
Tambourine – Peter Asher
3:36
B2a Brighten Your Night With My Day
Arranged By [Brass], Conductor [Brass Conducted By] – Richard Hewson
Electric Piano – Don Schinn*
3:05
B2b Link
Arranged By, Conductor [Conducted By] – Richard Hewson
B3a Night Owl
Arranged By [Brass], Conductor [Brass Conducted By] – Richard Hewson
Electric Guitar – James Taylor (2)
3:38
B3b Link
Arranged By [Percussion], Percussion [Percussion Played By] – Bishop O’Brien, James Taylor (2), Peter Asher
B4 Rainy Day Man 3:00
B5a Circle Round The Sun
Arranged By [Orchestra], Conductor [Orchestra Conducted By] – Richard Hewson
3:24
B5b Link
Arranged By, Conductor [Conducted By] – Richard Hewson
B6 The Blues Is Just A Bad Dream
Arranged By [Orchestra], Conductor [Orchestra Conducted By] – Richard Hewson
More info to add to the credit confusion:
1 April 1970: Phil Spector adds orchestra and choir to Let It Be songs | The Beatles Bible
CONCLUDING REMARKS:
In Beatles lore Richard will probably be most remembered for the controversy regarding the arrangement surrounding The Long and Winding Road. The reason behind that is the public loves the talking points around controversy. Ultimately, it is wonderful that we have both versions, the lush version and the bare bones version. I personally prefer Richard’s version, but we have the stripped-down track if you prefer that one.
Regardless. Richard has demonstrated over the years that he is a very talented and versatile arranger and composer which is evidenced across many stylistic mediums. His contributions to music have been great and will continue to be remembered well into the future!
RAH RAH RAH!!! LOL!!!
Be healthy and be happy!
Buzz
