Imo it’s barely better than All Things Must Pass and McCartney I, but John fell off harder than both Paul and George afterward. Imagine is the album is only about half good. They should have stayed together.
It's the story of one mans journey in his life. As usual, John is writing in the first person. The honesty is unbelievable. John doesn't sugarcoat anything. Production is right in your face! It's a masterpiece. I always felt the cover hurt its sales. I walked right by it the day it was released, way back when. The man was a genius. Nice review John 😉
i don't put this álbum number one because is Too depressing to me to consider it the best beatle solo álbum. but i definitely think is a masterpiece artistically
I know what you mean. But whenever I do I play it I am blown away! Check out the Classic Albums documentary on this album if you haven't seen it....it's great...interviews with the engineers and Klaus, Ringo, Yoko etc
As a youngster (16 years old) at the time of its release and still unaware of the existence of music papers such as Melody Maker and Musical Express etc, I stumbled upon this album whilst browsing through a Beatles albums' rack in a department store. Not recognising the cover I initially thought someone had misplaced it. Only when I looked at the reverse photo did I realise it was Lennon. For me it was uncomfortable listening to start with because I was used to the singalong songs. However the more I listened the more I understood the introspective nature of the lyrics, simple yet infectious melodies and starkness of the production. I rank it as the most meaningful and emotionally engaging post Beatles album. Glad I found out about it.
Excellent, concise review, with many good points made, all which I agree with.. I especially agree with what you said about John's overall vocal performance and underrated rhythm guitar playing.. You are probably right about it being the best solo album, as a cohesive collection of songs definitely. My only personal reservations of "Plastic Ono Band" are with John's tendency to be self referential at times, but this is a very unique album and one could argue that it is justified under it's circumstances...I recently picked up an older, (American) pressing on Apple to replace my early eighties Capitol one, and the lyric sheet includes the F words. Maybe they were allowed in the States but not in the UK.
+Thomas Calden Thanks Thomas. It's funny because there are times when I think this album is unsurpassed by virtually everything else and times when I need cheering up so I put on a Ringo album! Talking of Ringo however, his drumming here really rocks...so glad it was him on this rather than Alan White.
Hi John, Glad to catch up on all these Lennon album reviews. Yes, this one along with Imagine are at the apex of his output. I agree very deep and not the easiest to listen to but always poignant. very personal. Lennon always wore his heart in words and never minced with his feelings. True to his word and that is why I love Lennon so much. Just a work that will stand the test of time. God bless you John Stay classy Tino
Yes, agree that this is probably the best sole Beatles album, and agree also that you have to be in the right mood to play it. The production has aged really well, timeless in fact, like a good piece of Shaker furniture - nothing superfluous, and a great balance of form and function! All Things Must Pass has suffered from the Phil Spector over-production, which has aged badly, but is nonetheless a strong contender for best solo album, on song quality alone. Is Ram a contender for best solo album? It's probably one of those three albums I play the most, so maybe it is!
+Dave Costello Would make for a great school debate with each of us defending/proposing one album or another...with lively interaction from the audience and comical heckling such as 'WHAT ABOUT 'BAD BOY'?!' :- )
Best solo album comes down to this or "All Things Must Pass" for me with this just edging ahead. Became reacquainted with this the past year having not played it for some years.
+Matthew Smith Yes I think ATMP is the runner-up, objectively speaking! It's close but I think the latter's Apple Jam third disc decides the issue as it was unnecessary and inflated the price for us poor fans (not that I was around at the time)
Lennon´s "sincerity" and "spontaneity" were all too often easy ways out for sloppiness and lack of care. The stress on "simplicity", sold as "authenticity", very much verged on laziness, or simply not having much to add artistically. And Lennon´s "soul-opening" and "putting it all out" was, again all too often, an easy replacement for any truly significant output by a "poet" who really has nothing to say. Maybe I´m being too cynical, and maybe the over-exploitation of the "me, me, me and my angst" mother lode was yet to happen in 1970, but come on! How many people lost their mummies in their early youth? What was Lennon´s special right to slap his personal angst upon all of us (who consumed that angst eagerly, often forgetting our own), and cash in millions of pounds sterling in the process? This record is good (and vastly overrated), but it is also one of the pioneers of the ultra-privileged, ultra-entitled, ultra-immature, ultra-rich artists, who despite all their gigantic perks, easily obtained well before they were thirty, did nothing but moan and cry all the time, and demand (and get) our attention (and our money) only to inflate just that little bit more their bloated egos. This record is one of the very first in which sulky millionaires, never satisfied, kept reminding us how miserable they were, and how much we too were to blame for that, despite paying through our noses for the "privilege" of being showered with so much soul-vomit. Ten years later, this trend would reach its mawkish, sating climax with that excessive orgy of self-pity, The Wall, by another arch-millionaire, Roger Waters, who has never ceased to remind us, ever since 1980, how wretched the life of a mega-star is! Some times I prefer Macca´s obvious hipocrisy, or perhaps prudent distinction between the public and the private. He assumes himself as an entertainer, and doesn´t indulge too often in these "soul-baring" capers of emotional exploitation.
Hello John, I very much enjoy watching your reviews! Keep up the good work. This is my all-time favorite John Lennon solo album. In my opinion, the only two tracks that I wouldn't include - Though very powerful, "My Mummy's Dead", it's just too personal and depressing to listen to, and "Remember." Otherwise, the album is perfection! My favorite tracks are - Hold On, John, I Found Out, Working Class Hero, Isolation, Love, Look At Me and God.
Lennon´s "sincerity" and "spontaneity" were all too often easy ways out for sloppiness and lack of care. The stress on "simplicity", sold as "authenticity", very much verged on laziness, or simply not having much to add artistically. And Lennon´s "soul-opening" and "putting it all out" was, again all too often, an easy replacement for any truly significant output by a "poet" who really has nothing to say. Maybe I´m being too cynical, and maybe the over-exploitation of the "me, me, me and my angst" mother lode was yet to happen in 1970, but come on! How many people lost their mummies in their early youth? What was Lennon´s special right to slap his personal angst upon all of us (who consumed that angst eagerly, often forgetting our own), and cash in millions of pounds sterling in the process? This record is good (and vastly overrated), but it is also one of the pioneers of the ultra-privileged, ultra-entitled, ultra-immature, ultra-rich artists, who despite all their gigantic perks, easily obtained well before they were thirty, did nothing but moan and cry all the time, and demand (and get) our attention (and our money) only to inflate just that little bit more their bloated egos. This record is one of the very first in which sulky millionaires, never satisfied, kept reminding us how miserable they were, and how much we too were to blame for that, despite paying through our noses for the "privilege" of being showered with so much soul-vomit. Ten years later, this trend would reach its mawkish, sating climax with that excessive orgy of self-pity, The Wall, by another arch-millionaire, Roger Waters, who has never ceased to remind us, ever since 1980, how wretched the life of a mega-star is! Some times I prefer Macca´s obvious hipocrisy, or perhaps prudent distinction between the public and the private. He assumes himself as an entertainer, and doesn´t indulge too often in these "soul-baring" capers of emotional exploitation.
Javier Gil Vidal You know, I've also been thinking about commenting on John's constantly bringing up his mother in interviews and also constantly praising his no talent repugnant second wife Yoko Ono. I thought "Julia" was very beautiful and poignant. I believe "Mother" to be one of the most powerful statements about parental abandonment ever recorded! What I find confusing is that John would praise his mother who abandoned him by leaving him with his aunt to raise and then remarry and start another family not far from John Lennon's aunt's home! John's mother would rarely visit him! In my opinion, John should have been praising his Aunt Mimi who raised and nurtured him and written a song about her!!! On the other hand John disowned his father "Freddie Lennon" citing the fact that his father abandoned him!!! Go and figure that one out!!! John's songwriting partner Paul McCartney, as far as I know, never spoke about his mother Mary McCartney, who also died very young like Julia Lennon, nor wrote one song about her. Paul did mention his late mother on "Let It Be" which was very powerful. Where I found John to be obnoxious is his continual praising of that sociopathic cretin Yoko Ono. John praised that repugnant homewrecker to no end. He engaged in the silliest peace exploits ever. John recorded unlistenable garbage with her! Can you believe, "Two Virgins" was recorded the day poor Cynthia Lennon arrived home from a trip to find "All You Need Is Love" John Lennon at home with that sociopath Yoko Ono wearing her robe in her home!!! And John was indifferent to his wife's feelings and said something like - oh hi!!! Talk about anguish and pain! Can you imagine how Cynthia Lennon must have felt!!! I cringe and honestly almost want to cry missing the John Winston Lennon we enjoyed watching in "A Hard Day's Night" and who became the bitter Heroin addicted John Winston Ono Lennon of the late '60's! Yoko Ono really did a job on Lennon!!! Can you imagine John actually adopted this idiot's last name and made it his own!!! I honestly believe John Lennon went mad getting involved with Yoko!!! She put him under her spell!!! John was still at it in 1980 recording a whole album with her and included her crappy so called music on Double Fantasy!!! John was murdered returning from a Yoko Ono recording session, "Walking On Thin Ice", when he should have been safely at home in the Dakota building!!! I just don't know how The Beatles lasted as long as they did!!! Looking back, The Beatles should have broken up on August 31,1966 when they returned from America and retired from touring! That would have spared Paul, George, Ringo and us Beatles fans the hellish period that Yoko came into the picture!!! John Lennon met that cretin Yoko Ono on November 9,1966.
Great review, I have a few thoughts: - Never mind solo Beatles, this album is a very strong contender for the beast album ever by anyone, It's my # 1. - Imagine if he had walked away after this record forever, and this was his only real solo album, how does that change it? - If I had to rank the top 5 Beatles solo albums, I'd say its: 1. Plastic Ono Band 2. Ram 3. All Things Must Pass 4. Venus and Mars 5. Band On The Run
+jd mac Good point, strong contender though strangely under valued by all thos polls out there. I think John himself said it may take 20 or 30 years for the album to be fully appreciated. Maybe longer! I presume you have checked out the podcast of the 1970 Lennon Rolling Stone interview. It may be angry and sad and unfair in places but it's a captivating listen!
Great review as always John.. My favourite Lennon album hands down, although Double Fantasy IMO comes a close second but it's a Yoko Album too so if I were to choose probably Walls & Bridges is more an accurate runner up.. I disagree about the best solo album.. I think Ram is on par but the winner for me is All Things Must Pass.. Musically superior.. With Plastic Ono a very worthy runner up.
Lennon´s "sincerity" and "spontaneity" were all too often easy ways out for sloppiness and lack of care. The stress on "simplicity", sold as "authenticity", very much verged on laziness, or simply not having much to add artistically. And Lennon´s "soul-opening" and "putting it all out" was, again all too often, an easy replacement for any truly significant output by a "poet" who really has nothing to say. Maybe I´m being too cynical, and maybe the over-exploitation of the "me, me, me and my angst" mother lode was yet to happen in 1970, but come on! How many people lost their mummies in their early youth? What was Lennon´s special right to slap his personal angst upon all of us (who consumed that angst eagerly, often forgetting our own), and cash in millions of pounds sterling in the process? This record is good (and vastly overrated), but it is also one of the pioneers of the ultra-privileged, ultra-entitled, ultra-immature, ultra-rich artists, who despite all their gigantic perks, easily obtained well before they were thirty, did nothing but moan and cry all the time, and demand (and get) our attention (and our money) only to inflate just that little bit more their bloated egos. This record is one of the very first in which sulky millionaires, never satisfied, kept reminding us how miserable they were, and how much we too were to blame for that, despite paying through our noses for the "privilege" of being showered with so much soul-vomit. Ten years later, this trend would reach its mawkish, sating climax with that excessive orgy of self-pity, The Wall, by another arch-millionaire, Roger Waters, who has never ceased to remind us, ever since 1980, how wretched the life of a mega-star is! Some times I prefer Macca´s obvious hipocrisy, or perhaps prudent distinction between the public and the private. He assumes himself as an entertainer, and doesn´t indulge too often in these "soul-baring" capers of emotional exploitation.
You forgot my mummy's dead even tho the melody isn't original at all the fact the he uses it the way he did to let the audience know that he's still reeling from his mothers dead and the fact that he could never show that side to anyone is quite gut wrenching
Nice comments John , personally I can't listen to God without welling up, always find it very moving in retrospect. It is I agree a strong contender for best solo album.
Lennon´s "sincerity" and "spontaneity" were all too often easy ways out for sloppiness and lack of care. The stress on "simplicity", sold as "authenticity", very much verged on laziness, or simply not having much to add artistically. And Lennon´s "soul-opening" and "putting it all out" was, again all too often, an easy replacement for any truly significant output by a "poet" who really has nothing to say. Maybe I´m being too cynical, and maybe the over-exploitation of the "me, me, me and my angst" mother lode was yet to happen in 1970, but come on! How many people lost their mummies in their early youth? What was Lennon´s special right to slap his personal angst upon all of us (who consumed that angst eagerly, often forgetting our own), and cash in millions of pounds sterling in the process? This record is good (and vastly overrated), but it is also one of the pioneers of the ultra-privileged, ultra-entitled, ultra-immature, ultra-rich artists, who despite all their gigantic perks, easily obtained well before they were thirty, did nothing but moan and cry all the time, and demand (and get) our attention (and our money) only to inflate just that little bit more their bloated egos. This record is one of the very first in which sulky millionaires, never satisfied, kept reminding us how miserable they were, and how much we too were to blame for that, despite paying through our noses for the "privilege" of being showered with so much soul-vomit. Ten years later, this trend would reach its mawkish, sating climax with that excessive orgy of self-pity, The Wall, by another arch-millionaire, Roger Waters, who has never ceased to remind us, ever since 1980, how wretched the life of a mega-star is! Some times I prefer Macca´s obvious hipocrisy, or perhaps prudent distinction between the public and the private. He assumes himself as an entertainer, and doesn´t indulge too often in these "soul-baring" capers of emotional exploitation.
John, while I agree it's up there with the top Lennon albums, although I think imagine and double fantasy top it. The best solo album never, better than Back to the egg, better than george harrison and 33 1/3, better than ringo, better than even tug of war. No way, a rethink is needed here John. I do agree you need to be in certain frame of mind to hear it though. IMHO.
I accessed this website for potential insight into “My Mummy’s Dead”, the last track on the Plastic Ono Band Album that was reviewed. I was sorely disappointed. You, John Heaton, did worse than “forgot to mention that one at the end” (reply to Lee Klotz, 5 years ago), you missed the whole point of the LP. A record that starts with “Mother” and ends with “My Mummy’s Dead” is self-evidently making a statement: you “forgot to mention” the conclusion. From the slowly tolling, funeral bell introduction of the opening song “Mother”, to the Janovian, Primal Therapy screaming that ends the track, it is clear that this LP is not going to be an easy listen, as a post-Beatles John Lennon sets out to confront his demons and unanswered questions; “God”, “Love”, Alienation (“Isolation”), Commitment (“Hold On”), Belonging (“Look At Me”) and specifically, the demon that had haunted him all his life, the abandonment by his mother (clinical precursor for Borderline Personality Disorder). John Lennon’s mother had ‘left’ John twice, first as a child when he was orphaned off to his Aunt Mimi, and second time as a teenager when his mother, Julia, was tragically killed in a road accident after he had got to know her again. There is even a picture on the back of the LP, of John as a child, to remind us what the core of the record is about: John as a child. Apart from the obvious “Mother” and “My Mummy’s Dead”, there are parental references to Ma and Pa in “I Found Out” and “Remember”. In “My Mummy’s Dead”, the concluding track that you “forgot” to comment on, John Lennon regresses to his childhood self. To the accompaniment of child-like guitar strumming, and noticeably free from any Janovian, Primal Therapy screaming, Lennon sings to the tune of a child’s nursery rhyme, and confronts his biggest demon, the Borderline Personality Disorder inducing abandonment by his mother. In a harrowing, barely listenable 50 seconds, John Lennon comes to terms with what has haunted him all his life, lays to rest the final demon, and acknowledges that it is time to move on. On this contender for ‘most confessional self-portrait’, John Lennon pours out his soul for the world to hear. It would appear that you, John Heaton, “forgot” to listen.
Lennon´s "sincerity" and "spontaneity" were all too often easy ways out for sloppiness and lack of care. The stress on "simplicity", sold as "authenticity", very much verged on laziness, or simply not having much to add artistically. And Lennon´s "soul-opening" and "putting it all out" was, again all too often, an easy replacement for any truly significant output by a "poet" who really has nothing to say. Maybe I´m being too cynical, and maybe the over-exploitation of the "me, me, me and my angst" mother lode was yet to happen in 1970, but come on! How many people lost their mummies in their early youth? What was Lennon´s special right to slap his personal angst upon all of us (who consumed that angst eagerly, often forgetting our own), and cash in millions of pounds sterling in the process? This record is good (and vastly overrated), but it is also one of the pioneers of the ultra-privileged, ultra-entitled, ultra-immature, ultra-rich artists, who despite all their gigantic perks, easily obtained well before they were thirty, did nothing but moan and cry all the time, and demand (and get) our attention (and our money) only to inflate just that little bit more their bloated egos. This record is one of the very first in which sulky millionaires, never satisfied, kept reminding us how miserable they were, and how much we too were to blame for that, despite paying through our noses for the "privilege" of being showered with so much soul-vomit. Ten years later, this trend would reach its mawkish, sating climax with that excessive orgy of self-pity, The Wall, by another arch-millionaire, Roger Waters, who has never ceased to remind us, ever since 1980, how wretched the life of a mega-star is! Some times I prefer Macca´s obvious hipocrisy, or perhaps prudent distinction between the public and the private. He assumes himself as an entertainer, and doesn´t indulge too often in these "soul-baring" capers of emotional exploitation.
