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Post by acebackwords on Nov 24, 2010 16:46:04 GMT -5
So, as ever, Lennon was looking for a new challenge. You can see how he went out of his way to sabatogue his career from a commercial point of view. Hell, his first 3 or 4 solo albums were so aggressively weird and uncommercial its a miracle he didn't completely alienate the pop audience. Complete alienation didn't happen, but relatively speaking, Lennon did just that. POB was the first one under his solo banner, and it only peaked at 6 in the USA/11 in the UK. I was referring to the first two or three avant-garde solo albums Lennon made with Yoko ("Two Virgins" etc) and the Live in Toronto album with Yoko screaming through one whole side. With a start like that to his solo career, its surprising he sold any records after that. |
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Post by joeyself on Nov 24, 2010 17:01:01 GMT -5
Complete alienation didn't happen, but relatively speaking, Lennon did just that. POB was the first one under his solo banner, and it only peaked at 6 in the USA/11 in the UK. I was referring to the first two or three avant-garde solo albums Lennon made with Yoko ("Two Virgins" etc) and the Live in Toronto album with Yoko screaming through one whole side. With a start like that to his solo career, its surprising he sold any records after that. We're saying the same thing; "POB was the first one under his solo banner" was referring to TWO VIRGINS, LIFE WITH THE LIONS, THE WEDDING ALBUM and LIVE PEACE IN TORONTO, none of which were credited solely to Lennon. With "Mother" as the lead single, at least in the US (there was no single from the LP in England until "Love" was released in 1982), I don't find it too surprising that fans didn't flock to the stores to pick up a copy. JcS |
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Post by acebackwords on Nov 24, 2010 18:00:42 GMT -5
Point well taken, joeyself. But for old geezers like me who actually followed those albums when they were first released, they were very much considered by the public as John Lennon solo albums. And my point was that many, many pop music consumers bought them at the time assuming they were Beatles-type albums only to feel ripped off. Which was my point: that from a strictly commercial point of view (we were talking about "hits" by the solo Beatles) Lennon really shot himself in the foot when he started his solo career. Probably 90% of the people that bought those early solo albums were so disappointed that it took them years before they would plunk down money for another Lennon solo album.
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Post by vectisfabber on Nov 25, 2010 6:52:57 GMT -5
acebackwords is right. John effectively blurred some lines with thTwo Virgins, Life With The Lions, Wedding Album, Revolution 9, and Live Peace (with Yoko's side 2), all of them prior to JLPOB. I was prime John Lennon market material, and I was reluctant to buy JLPOB by the time it arrived.
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Joseph McCabe
Very Clean
A rebel to his last breath ...
Posts: 912
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Post by Joseph McCabe on Nov 25, 2010 18:04:39 GMT -5
-------------------------------- But for old geezers like me who actually followed those albums when they were first released, they were very much considered by the public as John Lennon solo albums. No they weren't! They were seen very clearly and obviously as John AND Yoko albums. And everyone knew (or thought they knew) the sort of stuff on these records. I don't know where you were, but they hardly sold at all where I was: your "many, many pop music consumers bought them .... feel ripped off" is just not true. They CERTAINLY did not think they were getting Beatles-level material if they bought the albums. The reason people shied away from JL/POB is that the word got out: no commercial little pop ditties a-la Macca on this one folks, no hits at all. Further, the word said, you have to be a grown-up to appreciate this album. That scotched sales from people who wanted to hum and tap their feet to "nice" songs. Hell, there were a couple of fucks and a cock in the lyrics. Some countries even censored it. That sent the message out that this was not a "nice record". McCabe |
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Post by Joe Karlosi on Nov 26, 2010 6:05:54 GMT -5
The reason people shied away from JL/POB is that the word got out: no commercial little pop ditties a-la Macca on this one folks, no hits at all. Further, the word said, you have to be a grown-up to appreciate this album. I can definitely tell you that was not true in my case. I first heard POB when I was only 15, and it literally blew me away as a teenager struggling with similar feelings at that time. I still recall that very first listen, as I was mesmerized and John knew and felt my pain. I have never had another experience as strongly with any album -- not before, and not since. |
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Joseph McCabe
Very Clean
A rebel to his last breath ...
Posts: 912
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Post by Joseph McCabe on Nov 26, 2010 14:36:14 GMT -5
The reason people shied away from JL/POB is that the word got out: no commercial little pop ditties a-la Macca on this one folks, no hits at all. Further, the word said, you have to be a grown-up to appreciate this album. I can definitely tell you that was not true in my case. I first heard POB when I was only 15, and it literally blew me away as a teenager struggling with similar feelings at that time. I still recall that very first listen, as I was mesmerized and John knew and felt my pain. I have never had another experience as strongly with any album -- not before, and not since. I can only say that at 15 you must have been grown-up, in the sense of having a mature appreciation of rock music. You certainly have such an appreciation now ... Good heavens, I've said something nice to you. Oh yes, and I have to tell you that Maria says "hi".  McCabe |
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