John Lennon - Anthology
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Free Music Notes for Anthology
Free Music Review: Revelatory, even for a lifelong fan.
Hit: 5 Stars
A friend and fellow musician gave this set to me out of the blue about three weeks ago, and I've listened to all four disks six or seven times each since then. I've always considered myself to be an enthusiastic and knowledgeable fan of the Beatles and of John as a solo artist, but the material on this was even more powerful than I had remembered.Part of the additional impact is the sheer breadth of musical territory that John and his assorted sidemen covered during the relatively short timespan documented here (approximately ten years). But much of the power is from the immediacy of both the studio outtakes and the low-fi home tapes - you simply feel as though John is in the room with you, writing and revising the songs as you listen.
The other dramatically satisfying aspect of this collection is the selection and editing of the songs and conversations; again, the cumulative effect is that you feel as though you've experienced a wonderfully complete telling of a story, not just heard a bunch of old songs.
So - a moving and lovely work that you should acquire and then invest some time getting to know, especially if you were ever a Beatles or John fan, but even if you just consider yourself a lover of good music and those who create it.
Free Music Review: If you love John, you'll love this set
Hit: 5 Stars
This beautiful four CD set is for diehard Lennon fans, not the casual dabbler. The songs included are not the standard versions, but alternate takes, almost all of which are slightly (or sometimes) markedly "inferior" to the actual released version. But for those of us who revere John, we embrace every tid-bit and every variance of the songs we know and love. Some of the alternate takes are much different approaches and it's fascinating to see how John developed, edited and expanded on some of his masterpieces. Case in point: listen to "Jealous Guy" with electric guitar and heavy bass and compare it to the gentle, haunting Phil Spector version!Perhaps the greatest surprise is an awesome live version of Come Together which will knock your socks off. John's vocal is raw, sort of reminiscent of him doing "Twist and Shout" live with the Beatles. If you were alive on the day John was shot, you will never forget and you will have tears in your eyes as you listen to some of his last recorded music. Oh, what might have been, John. To sum up, if you love Lennon, get the set, you'll cherish it, laugh, cry and remember what an integral part he's been to all who believe in his magic.
Free Music Review: Why did I wait so long?
Hit: 5 Stars
I've looked at this set for many years, but never could bring myself to pay the premium price for it. I finally gave in and bought it and I'm really glad I did.
It's a fantastic set, both in content and packaging. It's refreshing to hear different versions of the songs we're all used to hearing. And there's plenty of music that I had not heard previously.
Overall, the sound quality is very good, but some songs do suffer the limitation of being home recordings but are still very listenable. I actually prefer John's solo "Real Love" over the doctored up Beatles version.
I could have done without Sean's contributions, but as he was an important part of John's life, I can accept them.
Like Johnny Cash's "Personal File" this is an intimate look at the performer; kind of like having him sitting in your living room and playing a private concert just for you.
Yoko often gets criticized for her handling of John's material, but this is a quality offering in every respect and shows us John the Man vs. John the Beatle.
Highly recommended.
Free Music Review: A Portrait of Lennon as an Artist and a Human Being
Hit: 5 Stars
The John Lennon Anthology encapsulates the spirit of John in a way that has never been done before. The box set is composed of alternate, live, and home recordings of the songs which formed the tapestry of John's solo career. John comes across as not only a talented songwriter, but also as a human being full of emotion and driven by passion. Songs like "Working Class Hero," "God," "Real Love," "Woman is the Nigger of the World," "Mind Games," "Serve Yourself," "Woman," and "Grow Old With Me" serve to document the progress of Lennon's consciousness as a human being as well as his wit,charm,and charisma while also conveying his attitudes towards the world and his own life. This collection is as close as one could get to encompassing the full extent of John's work while still preserving him as a human being instead of an idol or icon. Here, one gets the feeling that John is presented in a way which he might have liked to have been presented: a real working class hero.Free Music Review: Excellent mixes of alternate takes of John's songs.
Hit: 5 Stars
Being a lifelong Beatles & Lennon fan & now musician and songwriter and solo artist, I appreciate the beauty of the new mixes of alternate takes taken from the multitrack studio master tapes (such as the songs from Walls and Bridges, Milk & Honey, Double Fantasy...all of the Lps...and also I enjoyed the general feel of these alternate takes, as if they were the takes just before recording the so-called "final takes" that we've all been listening to over the years on the old officially-released albums. John seemed to be more relaxed, and also a bit bitchy at times telling the guitarist not to do this or that, etc. I'm glad I bought the box set. I have all his other albums and have heard all of the :Lost Lennon Tapes" over the years, and have even had the priveledge to meet Yoko Ono, whom I admire, and we have sent letters to each other over the years. Buy the box set, and read the wonderful booklet that comes with it. It's just as touching and amazing as the CDs are. Love and Peace Y'all.