According to people who were in these recording sessions, Yoko decided that this killa version shouldn't be used because it made it seem that the guys from Cheap Trick were 'stealing John's thunder'....What a load of BS but that's from Yoko and she's full of that stuff.
It was on the John Lennon Anthology 4 disc box set, along (IIRC) 1 other track from the sessions. From what I have understood they tracked like 8 tracks, but only the couple that made it to this has ever made it out of the vault. Cheap Trick themselves rerecorded this version in 1997 (or 1996) during the rerecording sessions of In Color with Steve Albini, and it sounds awesome. Not sure why that album never got released too, because Cheap Trick sounds raw like this track did too. Also the only reason this video was even made, was as promotion for the 4 Cd Anthology box set, as it was the only standout that could hit rock radio to promote it. I guess Yoko finally saw a monetary value in letting Cheap Trick and Tony Levin "steal Johns thunder" as @flashflame4952 has also stated. Or maybe the label told Yoko without a single they weren't going to promote it and used this?? Anyways the Anthology is now out of print and not even available on streaming, so maybe a certain type of site if you want to get that download lol. But being honest, I got it when it came out, and about half of each disc is rubbish, but tells the story of John's whirlwind 70 segmented in about 2.5yr periods each quarter. There are original Real Love, and Free as a Bird tracks that were released on the Beatles Anthology import singles prior, but a lot of other different cuts of other tracks as well. If you would like to hear the badass Cheap Trick version of this recorded in 1997 with Steve Albini, it's absolutely awesome, and queued up for you below, would love to hear your thoughts on it! It's worth an entire spin, especially the last 3 tracks that were polished mixes, and that was all we got: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-6bsT3EWlsJM.html
Surprised they never even tried to release this version as a single. Also I really gotta commend the animators here for how they were able to bring John’s drawings to life in such buttery smooth and satisfying quality
Never knew this existed till late 2022, 42 years later. Sounds great, too bad he didn’t use these guys for the whole album. It was great to hear his voice in what was a new version for me.
They got the gig through the producer Jack Douglas...who recommended them to him. Jack Douglas has originally discovered them and at the time they were trying to get Lennon to produce their first album. (When he met them at the sessions for this he said he would have loved to)...When the first appeared John said to Rick something like "Oh...it's you!" because he thought that Jack Douglas had hired Rick NELSON!!!!!..:)...I thought they were great with him. They also covered Gimme Some Truth
From what I've read and heard, this is the version John had originally intended for the Double Fantasy album. But, Yoko, supposedly, at least, objected because she thought they, Cheap Trick, was trying to "ride John's coattails" to game, not realizing that they had already had a following, having previously opened for Queen, Santana, Kiss and the Kinks. Of course, being known for recording and appearing on record with John Lennon wouldn't have given them a boost.
This is AWESOME. Cheap Trick was the sh*t back then and Tony Levin is a session God. I caught one of his pics at a Peter Gabriel concert. This raw sound is how I wish the whole Double Fantasy sounded
It's Rick Nielson & Bun E. Tony Levin on Bass Playing On a John Lennon Song ( By request ) If, it was 79' & John and Ringo played on a CT Album, it (Wouldn't say)... "With the Beatles " .
I can't believe this is the only copy of this version on youtube, this should be uploaded with better quality to John's official channel, it's the best version of the song!. there are lots of copies of the slower version with excellent quality, this one deserves at least an audio only or lyrics video upload with full quality.
I recall seeing the articles in Rolling Stone in the first part of 1980,saying that Lennon was prepping for a new album,ostensibly,with Cheap Trick as his core back-up unit...this just goes to show how good an idea that would have been....pity that this is all that's seen the light of day,after all of this time.
I remember exactly where I was and exactly what I was doing when I heard Lennon was killed. I also remember weeping. So much was stolen from so many. RIH John. Say hello to George for me.
I love them both, but you know how it is when you hear it for the first time and it just stays in your head. It sure is nice to hear a different take...especially with John's different vocal and arrangement. Awesome!!!!...Super thanks for sharing!!!!
Wish John used this compressed mix for his vocals more often, he so many times used echo or double tracking. This sounds much better and raw, you're still the greatest John
I was reading about him and apparently he didn't like his voice so he had George Martin fix tracks. The Beatles' producer, George Martin, tells how Lennon "had an inborn dislike of his own voice which I could never understand. He was always saying to me: 'DO something with my voice! ... put something on it ... Make it different.'" Martin obliged, often using double-tracking and other techniques.
It's because his voice lacks width, he has a great voice but it doesn't fill space very well without adding vocal layers, or reverb. My guess is this hasn't even been compressed very much. It sounds closer to a live recording with a tiny bit of reverb
I'm Losing You John Lennon Here in some stranger's room Late in the afternoon What am I doing here at all? Ain't no doubt about it I'm losing you Somehow the wires have crossed Communication's lost Can't even get you on the telephone Just got to shout about it I'm losing you Here in the valley of indecision I don't know what to do I feel you slipping away I feel you slipping away I'm losing you I'm losing you You say you're not getting enough But I remind you of all that bad stuff So what the hell am I supposed to do? Just put…
They could have alternated John Lennon / Cheap Trick tracks too instead of Yoko. Could you imagine John Lennon as the front man for Cheap Trick? He was missing a band that could push his songs that extra mile into masterpiece territory, and they were missing strong song writing.
Yes, John was cutting the Double Fantasy album with producer Jack Douglas-Jack felt this song and another needed a more aggressive feel, so he brought Rick and Bun E in (Jack had produced CT before). The end result is great-live in the studio, with a guide vocal-you can hear John count the changes in for the band in parts. He apparently asked them to stay and do another song the next day, but they had to leave for a Japanese tour.
That is not true. They just came in one day and this version didn’t sound good to them in the end (and they rejected it). Why put crap rehearsals on albums? There is nothing wrong with the album version.
Esta versión es fantástica! Por culpa de Yoko esta versión estuvo perdida durante mucho tiempo y ,sin embargo, fue la otra versión la que se hizo famosa.
Wow I just found this today 😅 I remember where I was on December 7th (shot), send out my table at Rockford Illinois-+ home of cheap trick! *"""RESPECT ❤ 2:44
From Wikipedia: "Lennon was impressed enough with their performance that Lennon told Carlos that he wished Nielsen had been his 2nd guitarist for "Cold Turkey'."
Jack Douglas produced an album or two for Cheap Trick and brought them in when he produced Lennon's Double Fantasy. This version was released on a Lennon box set from a few years back. Nice to hear he could still ROCK.
Thanks for the reply...it got me to come back and listen again...see all the other comments...wish they had released it back then...B side maybe...oh well, at least it's finally out there now!
I read somewhere that there were rumours that John was planning to divorce Yoko around the time the Double Fantasy album was made and move back to the UK. Yoko also had her own song on the album superceding it called "I'm Moving On" which sounds a bit like The Rolling Stones "Miss You". This version is far superior to the one on the album, not least because of the lead guitar riff being reminiscent of "Cold Turkey" but it's more raw and punchy in its overall delivery.
Don't dare say anything negative about the screeching cat, oops I mean yoko or berlin will get triggered. The only person in this string that is in love with the witch.
No, the vocal track was cut as a 'guide' vocal while the band played-this is something a singer will do, sing along with the band while they track the instruments-then the singer usually goes back solo and over-dubs a more refined, polished performance. These vocal tracks are the guide vocals. Fortunately, even JL's guide vocals were great.
@@colinjames2469 Paul Rodgers, Steve Marriott, Freddie Mercury, Steve Tyler, Robert Plant, Jerry Lee Lewis, Chris Robinson, Peter Wolf, John Fogerty, Beth Hart, Frankie Miller, Bon Scott, Roger Daltrey....would you care for more?