BRIEF SUMMARY
I wonder what this guy would have made of Trump?
Oh the music? Review section before it gets late.
Lennon John - Imagine - John Lennon
TITLE: Imagine
ARTIST: John Lennon
LABEL: EMI Parlaphone
CAT NO: Q4PAS 10004
RELEASED: 1971
FORMAT: Quadraphonic Vinyl LP album
COUNTRY: New Zealand
GENRE: Rock
VINYL: VG+
LABEL: VG+
COVER: VG+
The vinyl has a bit of background crackle at the opening of Side A but overall very well presented. Some one has written TK in the top left hand corner but otherwise the cover is in pristine condition.Inner sleeve has credits in a spiral, with artist photos. Flipside has lyrics in a 'starburst' style. Unfortunately it has been split at the sides so it opens out but there is a plastic inner sleeve in which the record sits. An unusual Quadraphonic version from NZ and on the Parlophone label (via EMI) rather than Apple
VINYL: VG+
LABEL: VG+
COVER: VG+
Side 1
- Imagine
- Crippled inside
- Jealous guy
- It’s so hard
- I don’t want to be a soldier
Side 2
- Give me some truth
- Oh my love
- How do you sleep?
- How?
- Oh yoko
I find it’s a danger to allow memories and reputation to cloud one’s judgement. I saw George Best play and yes he was magical but the best footballer ever? I’ve absolutely no idea and it’s a pointless argument. But Lennon was more than a sum of his music. Yes you could argue that because he was in a privileged position he had the opportunity to be listened to. But that shouldn’t be a criticism. There are many for whom privilege has been almost their right and yet what do you hear? Silence or even worse in this media overloaded world…Me,me,me.
Probably one of the most famous songs of all time headlines Side A. With words that have become iconic probably from minute 1 and still resonate today, 50 years later. And Side A is a real mixture. Showcasing Lennon’s origins with ‘It’s so hard’ a driving, bluesy, ‘nightclubby’ type of song accompanied by the ‘echoey’ style vocal which adds so much, and which runs after a delicious version of Jealous Guy. You probably remember Bryan Ferry’s version but this is so superior.
There are also tracks which probably frustrate. ‘I don’t want to be a soldier’ for which I was expecting him to be at his fist pumping, flag waving, bed sitting campaigning best. But it’s a little confusing if I’m honest. And maybe that’s where he was at. Did we expect him to always make a statement because of his beliefs or simply a musician because he was part of the greatest pop band ever? But actually, it’s a deep, heavy tune that crawls, dirt like, under your finger nails. Almost grungy and difficult to shake off. You certainly want more of it even at a fraction over 6 minutes long.
And so it continues. Side B starts off where Side A finished. He could be both full of clarity but also experimenting with songs which dug a deep furrow with complex, and yet simple, lyrics. Way above his previous partner in crime on the song-writing front. Take ‘Give me some truth’ as an example of this confusing richness. Never more so precious than in this current confused world in which we live. It makes you hate Trump and all he stands for even more.
And then it’s back to home, love and simplicity of song which so sums up Lennon. One minute campaigning for a better world; the next taking a dig at previous song writing partners via ‘How do you sleep’ (although a brilliant composition); the next baking bread at home in Manhattan. So cruelly taken. So sadly missed. Why do the best always go early?