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Post by Joe Karlosi on Jan 24, 2010 15:18:21 GMT -5
PLASTIC ONO BAND IMAGINE WALLS AND BRIDGES MIND GAMES DOUBLE FANTASY MILK AND HONEY SOMETIME IN NEW YORK CITY ROCK AND ROLL
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Post by OldFred on Jan 24, 2010 15:32:52 GMT -5
IMAGINE PLASTIC ONO BAND WALLS AND BRIDGES DOUBLE FANTASY MIND GAMES ROCK AND ROLL MILK AND HONEY SOMETIME IN NEW YORK CITY
Regarding Live albums, would add 'Live Peace In Toronto' (mostly for side one), and much lower on the list 'Live In New York City', both because of the poor backing by Elephants Memory and that most of the songs are from 'STINYC'.
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Post by ursamajor on Jan 24, 2010 16:57:37 GMT -5
Double Fantasy Plastic Ono Band Imagine SINYC Walls and Bridges Mind Games Milk and Honey
Just wanted to make a comments :
1. Double Fantasy is my favourite all - time solo album and that is due to both the John and Yoko songs.
2. SINYC is quite high on my list because it rocks and has alot of passion.
3. After POB John had really no place else to go, the statement had been made. Much like Michael Jackson after Thriller he couldn't really top himself.
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Post by John S. Damm on Jan 27, 2010 0:10:52 GMT -5
1. PLASTIC ONO BAND 2. IMAGINE 3. WALLS AND BRIDGES 4. MIND GAMES 5. ROCK AND ROLL 6. DOUBLE FANTASY 7. SOMETIME IN NEW YORK CITY 8. MILK AND HONEY
I really like John's songs from Double Fantasy with the possible exception of "Clean-Up Time" but it can't go higher on my list because it is only half a John Lennon album. I like several of Yoko's songs but that is not what I am rating here.
The reissued Mind Games and Rock -N- Roll absolutely saved those albums. To the extent remixed and remastered, they sound vital, really good. I too don't mind SINYC, at least the songs where John sings lead. I love the duet of John and Yoko on "Angela."
Milk And Honey kind of worries me because none of the songs grab me. I realize they weren't finished but none of them are great. Man, this would have been John's Pipes Of Peace album, a bunch of outtakes from the superior Double Fantasy just as POP was to Tug Of War.
I remember John boasting in 1980 that he and Yoko had enough material for two more new albums but man, I don't know. The best clearly made Double Fantasy and MAH is pretty thin from John's standpoint.
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Post by OldFred on Jan 27, 2010 6:06:38 GMT -5
Milk And Honey kind of worries me because none of the songs grab me. I realize they weren't finished but none of them are great. Man, this would have been John's Pipes Of Peace album, a bunch of outtakes from the superior Double Fantasy just as POP was to Tug Of War. I remember John boasting in 1980 that he and Yoko had enough material for two more new albums but man, I don't know. The best clearly made Double Fantasy and MAH is pretty thin from John's standpoint. As you said, Johnny, 'Milk & Honey' is mostly unfinished demos. If John was allowed to work on them a little longer he most likely would have whipped them into shape. 'Nobody Told Me' is the best of the 'M&H' songs and more fully realized than the rest. No wonder Yoko issued it as the first single off 'M&H'. What a shame to think of what could have been.
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nine
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Post by nine on Jan 27, 2010 6:24:12 GMT -5
John also had a few home demos that he hadn't taken into the studio that might have made it onto M and H. I think even the title was a throw away one that he made to a journalist.
Stepping Out or I Don't wanna Face It was intended for Ringo.
Nobody Told Me even in the version that we know it was pretty much a rehearsal - a great track though.
And I think Borrowed Time might have been pretty good too.
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Post by Beatle Bob on Jan 27, 2010 9:12:33 GMT -5
John also had a few home demos that he hadn't taken into the studio that might have made it onto M and H. I think even the title was a throw away one that he made to a journalist. Stepping Out or I Don't wanna Face It was intended for Ringo. Nobody Told Me even in the version that we know it was pretty much a rehearsal - a great track though. And I think Borrowed Time might have been pretty good too. A Actually on his home demos Lennon mentions clearly that NOBODY TOLD ME and LIFE BEGINS AT 40 were intended for Ringo. I still wish Ringo would tackle both tracks and rename the later track, LIFE BEGINS AT 70! Though I wonder if John got the demos to him before his death? Regards, Beatle Bob
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Post by stavros on Jan 27, 2010 15:23:51 GMT -5
Imagine Plastic Ono Band Mind Games (new version) Walls and Bridges (new version) Double Fantasy Milk and Honey Rock 'n Roll SINYC I actually think Double Fantasy and Milk Honey should be released as one album ("Fantasy Honey" or "Single Milk" anyone ) minus all Yoko's stuff. I really don't want to hear it. By 1979/80 John seemed to be in a place people had often criticised Paul for . Singing songs about home life and family. But it was quite nice. He seemed to have finally found some peace in his life. Miles away from his first solo album.
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Post by Beatle Bob on Jan 27, 2010 16:00:05 GMT -5
I actually think Double Fantasy and Milk Honey should be released as one album ("Fantasy Honey" or "Single Milk" anyone ) minus all Yoko's stuff. . The LENNON box set (oop now) from the 90's did just that. All DF and M&H plus "Every Man Has A Woman Who Love Him" Lennon vocal version. Regards, Beatle Bob
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Post by stavros on Jan 27, 2010 16:50:09 GMT -5
I actually think Double Fantasy and Milk Honey should be released as one album ("Fantasy Honey" or "Single Milk" anyone ) minus all Yoko's stuff. . The LENNON box set (oop now) from the 90's did just that. All DF and M&H plus "Every Man Has A Woman Who Love Him" Lennon vocal version. Regards, Beatle Bob Thanks BB I already have the Lennon Anthology Boxset and some of the mixes are actually slightly better. All I was trying to say was I want to buy a Lennon album not a half Lennon album. McCartney would never have let his wife record half the song on his albums would he? ;D
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Post by Joe Karlosi on Jan 27, 2010 17:04:01 GMT -5
All I was trying to say was I want to buy a Lennon album not a half Lennon album. McCartney would never have let his wife record half the song on his albums would he? ;D I guess you missed the entire point of the DOUBLE FANTASY album. At any rate, it was said at the time that Yoko's songs were actually stronger than John's. I recall being amazed that her songs were as good as they were, while for John it was kind of "Lennon Lite".
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Post by stavros on Jan 27, 2010 17:37:17 GMT -5
All I was trying to say was I want to buy a Lennon album not a half Lennon album. McCartney would never have let his wife record half the song on his albums would he? ;D I guess you missed the entire point of the DOUBLE FANTASY album. At any rate, it was said at the time that Yoko's songs were actually stronger than John's. I recall being amazed that her songs were as good as they were, while for John it was kind of "Lennon Lite". That was a bit of a joke. And the point of the "Double Fantasy" album is irrelevant to me. I don't think Yoko can sing pop/rock at all. It's nothing against her personally but I was a fairly young kid in 1980 and although John found something he had craved for in Yoko, and may have wanted that album out with her tracks on it, I personally thought she had no musical talent. Let's face it "Double Fantasy" was starting to bomb not long after release. Then MDC entered the fray and sales were suddenly massive. My opinion of Yoko's "muzak" has not changed in 3 decades. If John thought it a worthwhile project then that's up to him. I haven't access to download sales stats but I doubt a lot of people pay to download Ono's tracks on DF and M&H.
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Post by John S. Damm on Jan 27, 2010 17:43:16 GMT -5
I actually think Double Fantasy and Milk Honey should be released as one album ("Fantasy Honey" or "Single Milk" anyone ) minus all Yoko's stuff. . The LENNON box set (oop now) from the 90's did just that. All DF and M&H plus "Every Man Has A Woman Who Love Him" Lennon vocal version. Regards, Beatle Bob Bob wasn't that missing "Clean-Up Time" just so we would have to get DF or was it the "Lennon Collection" that did that to us as to DF? I'll have to look at my old Lennon Box.
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Post by OldFred on Jan 27, 2010 17:49:55 GMT -5
The LENNON box set (oop now) from the 90's did just that. All DF and M&H plus "Every Man Has A Woman Who Love Him" Lennon vocal version. Regards, Beatle Bob Bob wasn't that missing "Clean-Up Time" just so we would have to get DF or was it the "Lennon Collection" that did that to us as to DF? I'll have to look at my old Lennon Box. All of the 1980 John recordings were grouped onto one CD on the Lennon box set, including the remix of 'Every Man Has A Woman' with John's vocals upfront.
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nine
Very Clean
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Post by nine on Jan 27, 2010 19:54:42 GMT -5
John also had a few home demos that he hadn't taken into the studio that might have made it onto M and H. I think even the title was a throw away one that he made to a journalist. Stepping Out or I Don't wanna Face It was intended for Ringo. Nobody Told Me even in the version that we know it was pretty much a rehearsal - a great track though. And I think Borrowed Time might have been pretty good too. A Actually on his home demos Lennon mentions clearly that NOBODY TOLD ME and LIFE BEGINS AT 40 were intended for Ringo. I still wish Ringo would tackle both tracks and rename the later track, LIFE BEGINS AT 70! Though I wonder if John got the demos to him before his death? Regards, Beatle Bob It would be nice to hear Ringo's take on these songs. I believe that John was due to enter the studio with Ringo in January 1981. It wouldn't surprise me John and Ringo would have used the backing already recorded for Nobody Told me (that we obviously know so well now). Stepping Out, it has been reported quite widely, was also intended for Ringo. That wouldn't leave many tracks for Milk and Honey - it's best song given to Ringo... I think the title and John's exaggeration was just something to tell the press. I could be wrong here but from memory M&H wasn't released until it was because Yoko still had to record her songs. In short M&H was nowhere near finished.
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nine
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Post by nine on Jan 27, 2010 19:59:22 GMT -5
I guess you missed the entire point of the DOUBLE FANTASY album. At any rate, it was said at the time that Yoko's songs were actually stronger than John's. I recall being amazed that her songs were as good as they were, while for John it was kind of "Lennon Lite". That was a bit of a joke. And the point of the "Double Fantasy" album is irrelevant to me. I don't think Yoko can sing pop/rock at all. It's nothing against her personally but I was a fairly young kid in 1980 and although John found something he had craved for in Yoko, and may have wanted that album out with her tracks on it, I personally thought she had no musical talent. Let's face it "Double Fantasy" was starting to bomb not long after release. Then MDC entered the fray and sales were suddenly massive. My opinion of Yoko's "muzak" has not changed in 3 decades. If John thought it a worthwhile project then that's up to him. I haven't access to download sales stats but I doubt a lot of people pay to download Ono's tracks on DF and M&H. The problem with Double Fantasy is that there are two different artists and two different styles of music. I'm into one of them but not the other. Nothing against the other, it's just not my cup of tea.
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Post by Joe Karlosi on Jan 28, 2010 6:23:32 GMT -5
And the point of the "Double Fantasy" album is irrelevant to me. I don't think Yoko can sing pop/rock at all. It's nothing against her personally but I was a fairly young kid in 1980 and although John found something he had craved for in Yoko, and may have wanted that album out with her tracks on it, I personally thought she had no musical talent. First off, of course you're entitled to not like something. That's not what I'm talking about though. You admit you were a young kid in 1980. Well, I wasn't a young kid in the early '80s, so I can tell you that the buzz back then was that Yoko's tracks on DOUBLE FANTASY were drawing more attention than John's were. I was out clubbing in 1981 when Yoko's WALKING ON THIN ICE was released, and it was played in the clubs as a very popular dance hit. Doesn't mean you personally have to like it, but that doesn't change objectively that others did, and that people and critics were giving Yoko more of her due (just ask the B-52's). Interesting words. You say that DOUBLE FANTASY was "starting to bomb"? No, it was not. Sure, John's death made sales soar, but no way was the record failing before that point. And I doubt that means anything.
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Post by OldFred on Jan 28, 2010 7:00:41 GMT -5
Let's face it "Double Fantasy" was starting to bomb not long after release. With respect, you've got to check your facts. In the U.S. 'Double Fantasy' was climbing the charts and was at #14 before John was killed. John and Yoko were so pleased by it's success that they were planning to tour in 1981 and were hoping to have the completed 'Milk & Honey' album out as well. You must remember that John had been out of the spotlight for so long that the release of 'Double Fantasy' was HUGE and there was lots of interest in it. Even the Yoko tracks were getting serious attention due to their appeal in Dance Clubs and their New Wave feel. Some folks at the time even preferred Yoko's tracks over John's. This was a period when the B-52's were very popular and they cited Yoko as a major influence.
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Post by Joe Karlosi on Jan 28, 2010 7:08:37 GMT -5
Even the Yoko tracks were getting serious attention due to their appeal in Dance Clubs and their New Wave feel. Some folks at the time even preferred Yoko's tracks over John's. This was a period when the B-52's were very popular and they cited Yoko as a major influence. I have a great memory of the first time I heard anything off the new album. I turned on my radio, and I heard John Lennon's voice and a new song I did not recognize. Turns out the DJ was playing I'M LOSING YOU... and I got shivers of joy down my spine just hearing Lennon on the radio again. I stumbled upon the song near the end, where John was singing the line: "I know I hurt you then but hell, that was way back when, well, do you still have to carry that cross?" It just sounded so "new and modern" to me as I listened... ... but the topper came as I heard that mechanical segue with odd noises, and then up came Yoko's "response" with I'M MOVING ON... and I was floored! Yoko just sounded so New Wave, so "Today"... I couldn't believe she was trying to be more current, and not just with a load of screaming and whining. I think I'M MOVING ON is one of the best moments from the whole album, and it really compliments John's I'M LOSING YOU... to this day, I feel I'M LOSING YOU is incomplete without Yoko's response.
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Post by ursamajor on Jan 28, 2010 7:51:24 GMT -5
Yoko's songs are great on Double Fantasy, she has moments where she even outdoes John but the irony for me is that I'm sure there are many people who did not buy Double Fantasy prior to Dec.8 because Yoko was on it.
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Post by John S. Damm on Jan 28, 2010 9:45:25 GMT -5
Let's face it "Double Fantasy" was starting to bomb not long after release. With respect, you've got to check your facts. In the U.S. 'Double Fantasy' was climbing the charts and was at #14 before John was killed. John and Yoko were so pleased by it's success that they were planning to tour in 1981 and were hoping to have the completed 'Milk & Honey' album out as well. You must remember that John had been out of the spotlight for so long that the release of 'Double Fantasy' was HUGE and there was lots of interest in it. Even the Yoko tracks were getting serious attention due to their appeal in Dance Clubs and their New Wave feel. Some folks at the time even preferred Yoko's tracks over John's. This was a period when the B-52's were very popular and they cited Yoko as a major influence. You both are right. DF was rising in the U.S. prior to John's death but was dropping out of sight in Britain at least according to Wikipedia: Signed by David Geffen, alongside Elton John and Donna Summer, for his new label, Geffen, Double Fantasy was preceded by Lennon's "(Just Like) Starting Over", which became a US and UK #1 hit in the aftermath of John's murder. The album itself was received with much interest, coming after such an extended break. The album debuted at #27 in the UK and the following week reached #14, but then it fell down very quickly to #25 and then #46, making the #14 its peak position. In the US, the situation was different. There, the album debuted at #25 and then rose to #12 and then #11.Wikipedia says that it was #11(and had risen each week previously) in the U.S. when John was murdered but fell to #46(and falling) in the UK at that time. It obviously rebounded to #1 after that in both countries. DF was a huge hit in the Chicago area but only for the John songs. I remember reading a pre-murder review of DF which panned John's songs but praised Yoko's so I was aware of that sentiment but in the Mid-West, in the not insignificant Chicago market, Yoko's songs were scorned by the radio stations I listened to like WLS-AM, WLUP-FM and WMET-FM. On WLS, Fred Winston said, Listen carefully folks," and he played a bit of "Kiss Kiss Kiss" and he abruptly stopped it and said that was the first and only Yoko song to be played on WLS! I am just pointing out the perception in places outside of New York like Chicago. Remember, Chicago was a hotbed of anti-disco sentiment with the white kids in 1978 to 1981. There where disco clubs in Chicago where those who loved disco could dance the night away but Chicago was mostly into rock and roll. This was fueled by DJ Steve Dahl of WLUP-FM who had the infamous disco-demolition night at a White Sox game that led to the second game of a double header being forfeited by the Sox and a riot ensued when thousands of disco records were blown up. Yoko was getting into that new wave/post-disco dance music and that was not going to be real popular in Chicago in 1980. John Lennon with "I'm Losing You", "Watching The Wheels" and "Woman" was getting a ton of FM play and really all of his tracks were. Those three were the FM anchors though in November and early December. "(Just Like)Starting Over" was all over WLS-AM that Fall from late October on. As I wrote above, I like almost all of the Yoko songs on DF but I still liked the John songs better. Yoko's song were probably well received in L.A. I was simply thrilled in 1980 to have half of a John Lennon album of new material! I had waited for that every single day since I had become a Beatles fan in early September 1975. One of the happiest moments in my life was driving on a LaPorte County road heading into tiny Hanna, Indiana and WLS announced and played, "the new John Lennon single" (JL)SO. I almost crashed I was so thrilled. That opening with tiny bells and then just John's vocal at first. I wondered why it was kind of retro(that was not the word I had in mind at 17, maybe "old fashioned") but I loved it just the same!
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Post by stavros on Jan 28, 2010 15:33:02 GMT -5
OK guys - you've convinced me to take a listen to Yoko' songs for a re-evaluation. I appreciate a lot of your collective knowledge on here and so I gave Yoko's DF tracks a listen
Just to point out I am from the UK and live across the the River Mersey from "Woolly". Double Fantasy was starting to drop out of sight on the charts here in late 1980. The UK was just emerging from the punk era and anything linked to rock's past was seen as old fashioned and out of place. The initial excitement of John Lennon's first release in years faded soon after.
But obviously things were a bit more positive for John Stateside.
So yes - I gave Yoko's tracks a listen again. I still think she has a very poor voice. However I will actually back down a little and say that "Kiss,Kiss,Kiss" and "Give Me Something" sort of suit her vocal delivery. Reminds me a bit of "Lene Lovich" from the same era. She had a big hit here with "Lucky Number" and a few lesser ones.
"I'm Moving On" would sound a lot better if someone else sung it in all honesty. I was starting to get fed up by "Yes I'm Your Angel" and "Beautiful Boys" uuurgghhh that voice was really grating on me. "Every Man" is not too unlike the Ska/Reggae songs that were about on these shores back then but Yoko's voice fails to carry a coherent melody. And "Hard Times Are Over" has the same problem.
Just my opinion and perhaps I did miss the point or concept of the album but at least I gave it another try. I would still prefer an album of only John Lennon songs any day.
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Post by OldFred on Jan 28, 2010 17:27:33 GMT -5
OK guys - you've convinced me to take a listen to Yoko' songs for a re-evaluation. I appreciate a lot of your collective knowledge on here and so I gave Yoko's DF tracks a listen Just to point out I am from the UK and live across the the River Mersey from "Woolly". Double Fantasy was starting to drop out of sight on the charts here in late 1980. The UK was just emerging from the punk era and anything linked to rock's past was seen as old fashioned and out of place. The initial excitement of John Lennon's first release in years faded soon after. But obviously things were a bit more positive for John Stateside.So yes - I gave Yoko's tracks a listen again. I still think she has a very poor voice. However I will actually back down a little and say that "Kiss,Kiss,Kiss" and "Give Me Something" sort of suit her vocal delivery. Reminds me a bit of "Lene Lovich" from the same era. She had a big hit here with "Lucky Number" and a few lesser ones. "I'm Moving On" would sound a lot better if someone else sung it in all honesty. I was starting to get fed up by "Yes I'm Your Angel" and "Beautiful Boys" uuurgghhh that voice was really grating on me. "Every Man" is not too unlike the Ska/Reggae songs that were about on these shores back then but Yoko's voice fails to carry a coherent melody. And "Hard Times Are Over" has the same problem. Just my opinion and perhaps I did miss the point or concept of the album but at least I gave it another try. I would still prefer an album of only John Lennon songs any day. I'm glad you mentioned Lene Lovich. I was thinking of her in my first post but the name didn't come to mind right away. She also cited Yoko as an influence in her music. For better or worse, Yoko did influence some artists.
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Post by Joe Karlosi on Jan 28, 2010 17:51:31 GMT -5
So yes - I gave Yoko's tracks a listen again. I still think she has a very poor voice. However I will actually back down a little and say that "Kiss,Kiss,Kiss" and "Give Me Something" sort of suit her vocal delivery. That's interesting that you went back and gave the songs another shot. Yoko may have a very poor voice, but it may be argued that so does Bob Dylan, Joan Jett, and Neil Young; or in other words, for me sometimes the offbeat sound of a vocalist can benefit the song. So if we're comparing Ono's singing to, say, Julie Andrews or Barbara Streisand, yes I guess she can be rather appalling.
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Post by Joe Karlosi on Jan 28, 2010 17:58:25 GMT -5
You both are right. DF was rising in the U.S. prior to John's death but was dropping out of sight in Britain at least according to Wikipedia: Oh. Well, Britain doesn't count. ;D That's still hard to believe for me. I would have thought that a brand new album of John Lennon's after so long an absence would have debuted much higher that 25 or 27 ... with or without Yoko. My experience was sort of the same. I was 18 and driving a car with my younger sister along, and the radio said it was soon going to be playing the New John Lennon Song. I hadn't heard it yet. I pulled over and waited, and drank it all in. I recall thinking the production just sounded so fresh and robust, and it was a thrill hearing John's voice again with a brand new song. I recall loving the moment near the end where John says "Look Out!". It was sort of sappy for John, I thought, but still a real high that first listen.
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Post by acebackwords on Feb 12, 2010 15:50:18 GMT -5
Let's face it "Double Fantasy" was starting to bomb not long after release. With respect, you've got to check your facts. In the U.S. 'Double Fantasy' was climbing the charts and was at #14 before John was killed. John and Yoko were so pleased by it's success Not so. Read Fred Seaman's great book, "The Last Days of John Lennon." He was there in the recording studio when they recorded all those tracks. And he was there in the aftermath, working in the office as John and Yoko nervously hyped their product. They were very concerned about the relatively poor sales. There's one scene where David Geffin is trying to assure them that it was selling "briskly" -- which is sort of trade talk for an album thats bombing. Its hard to say whether the album would've continued to "climb up the charts" without John's death. As you rightly point out, John had been off the scene for quite some time and was starting over from scratch. So it could well have been that it would've just been a matter of time before the publicly warmed to him. But considering how many "turkeys" (I mean that in a commercial sense, and only in comparison to Beatles sales) John had put out, its quite possible the public would have remained luke-warm to "Double Fantasy" -- if only because half of it was Yoko. Certainly, the public never really warmed to the "New York" album, or the "Toronto" album (with Yoko screeching on half of it) or Rocknroll" or "Mind Games" (think it never climbed higher than number 9, number 9), or even the great "Primal" album. Its certainly true that sales exploded AFTER his death, and kept on that way for years after. And yeah, I would opine that being #14 on the charts a month after it was released would've been considered mediocre and disappointing for John and Yoko. Especially considering how many Paul, George and even Ringo solo albums seemed to debut at #1. I'd be curious to see comparitive sales of solo albums before John's death. I wouldn't be surprised to find out he was in fourth place back then.
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Post by OldFred on Feb 12, 2010 17:46:36 GMT -5
With respect, you've got to check your facts. In the U.S. 'Double Fantasy' was climbing the charts and was at #14 before John was killed. John and Yoko were so pleased by it's success Not so. Read Fred Seaman's great book, "The Last Days of John Lennon." He was there in the recording studio when they recorded all those tracks. And he was there in the aftermath, working in the office as John and Yoko nervously hyped their product. They were very concerned about the relatively poor sales. There's one scene where David Geffin is trying to assure them that it was selling "briskly" -- which is sort of trade talk for an album thats bombing. Its hard to say whether the album would've continued to "climb up the charts" without John's death. As you rightly point out, John had been off the scene for quite some time and was starting over from scratch. So it could well have been that it would've just been a matter of time before the publicly warmed to him. But considering how many "turkeys" (I mean that in a commercial sense, and only in comparison to Beatles sales) John had put out, its quite possible the public would have remained luke-warm to "Double Fantasy" -- if only because half of it was Yoko. Certainly, the public never really warmed to the "New York" album, or the "Toronto" album (with Yoko screeching on half of it) or Rocknroll" or "Mind Games" (think it never climbed higher than number 9, number 9), or even the great "Primal" album. Its certainly true that sales exploded AFTER his death, and kept on that way for years after. And yeah, I would opine that being #14 on the charts a month after it was released would've been considered mediocre and disappointing for John and Yoko. Especially considering how many Paul, George and even Ringo solo albums seemed to debut at #1. I'd be curious to see comparitive sales of solo albums before John's death. I wouldn't be surprised to find out he was in fourth place back then. Actually, as John D. corrected me in his post, 'Double Fantasy' was rising and was at number 11 in the U.S. Billboard charts and was on the verge of cracking the Top Ten the week before John was murdered. Whether it would have risen higher if John wasn't killed is up to speculation. It was briefly in the British Top Ten charts, reaching number 9 in England before it started sliding down. My guess is since John&Yoko had plans to tour in 1981, the publicity around the tour would have kept 'Double Fantasy' high up in the charts. Again, all up to a sad speculation.
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Post by vectisfabber on Feb 12, 2010 20:14:58 GMT -5
There's a danger that our feelings towards the beatles and the Beatles legacy blinds us towards facts sometimes. I should have been one of the people who instantly went out and bought Double Fantasy the day it hit the shops - I didn't. And I didn't because I thought Mind Games and Walls and Bridges were indifferent albums, SINYC was just plain awful, and I didn't want half a John Lennon album. He had lost me by then, and I was far from alone. As it happens, his stuff on Double Fantasy was his strongest solo material ever (in my view) and Yoko's was pretty strong, too, but I had a bloody great mortgage, no spare income, and had been bitten once too often (well, at least 3 times, actually).
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Post by acebackwords on Feb 13, 2010 13:36:05 GMT -5
I thought Mind Games and Walls and Bridges were indifferent albums, SINYC was just plain awful, and I didn't want half a John Lennon album. He had lost me by then, and I was far from alone. ). I suspect this would have been the general reaction to "Double Fantasy" if not for John's death. But who knows for sure. I guess thats why its such a fascinating question. I do know John and Yoko were just beginning to hype it before he was shot. And nobody could hype an album like John (with the possible exception of Paul). And if not mistaken, the big PLAYBOY interview and ROLLING STONE cover didn't come out until after his death. And the tour that they were planning would have surely boosted sales even more. I do know, according to Seaman's book, that the reviews before John's death were fairly dissapointing to John and Yoko. A good many panned the album as mediocre, and quite a few of them sited Yoko's stuff as being hip and cutting-edge whereas John's stuff seemed dated. I do suspect, though, that John was just getting warmed up ("Walking on Thin Ice" being an example of them getting hotter after "Double Fantasy"). And tracks like "Grow Old Together" and "Nobody Told Me There'd Be Days Like This" probably would have been even stronger if John had been able to polish them up.
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Post by acebackwords on Feb 13, 2010 13:40:32 GMT -5
Favorite Lennon solo albums:
PLASTIC ONO BAND SHAVED FISH WALLS & BRIDGES
The other stuff, like SOMETIME IN NEW YORK and the LIVE PEACE IN TORONTO and ROCKNROLL, that are kind of mediocre musically, I still find them fascinating time capsules that sort of document where Lennon's soul was at the time.
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