John Lennon - Lennon Legend: The Very Best Of John Lennon
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Free Music Notes for Lennon Legend: The Very Best Of John Lennon
Free Music Review: Give John a Chance
Hit: 5 Stars
"Lennon Legend" is a twenty track, one disc overview of John Lennon's solo career, released in 1997. It is remastered, but unlike the new "Working Class Hero" compilation, it is not remixed, so the levels and presence of all the instruments will be just how you'll remember from the radio.
I'm a big Beatles fan, being one of my favorite groups, and it's hard to choose a favorite member between the four of them. I do like John's work a lot though. He's very good at capturing his life on tape, I think is the best way to sum it up. His loves, his hates, his hopes, his dreams and his reaction to celebrity are all here, all with a really special personality to them that's hard to really put a finger on. Now, an awful lot of bands and singers talk about their celebrity status these days in music, but for the most part it's not half as interesting or as honest as the way John does it. (Bands like Pink Floyd and Marillion also have a bit to say about the rock'n'roll merry go round too, in a rather heartbreaking way, but that's another story...)
The tracks on this CD range from non-album singles of the late 1960s ("Give Peace a Chance","Cold Turkey",etc) all the way to songs from the Double Fantasy/Milk & Honey sessions the year of his death in 1980. The tracklisting isn't in any real order, though it does go sort of chronological in the middle, while the beginning and end are just a mix of his late 1960s/early 1970s stuff.
Here's a rundown of what tracks come from where:
3 tracks from the "John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band" LP (1970)
2 tracks from the "Imagine" LP (1971)
No tracks from the "Sometime In New York City" LP (1972)
1 track from the "Mind Games" LP (1973)
2 tracks from the "Walls and Bridges" LP (1974)
1 track from the "Rock 'n Roll" LP (1975)
4 tracks from the "Double Fantasy" LP (1980)
2 tracks from the "Milk and Honey" LP (1984)
There are 5 tracks (Instant Karma! Power To The People, Cold Turkey, Happy Xmas & Give Peace a Chance) which were originally non-album singles, but you can pick some up on CDs of John's earlier albums as bonus tracks.
Even though it is a compilation, I think the photography in this compilation has become rather iconic and influential in it's own way. Check out the front cover of Jet's 2006 album "Shine On" and compare, it's kind of similar (with the black and white photo, big patch of black and those type of sunglasses). The booklet of the CD contains more photographs of John, along with pics of Phil Spector, George Harrison and Yoko Ono. Haven't seen these pictures anywhere else, and they're nice to have. Lyrics in the booklet would have been nicer (there aren't any here) but anyway.
Though it's not every track that I think says the most about John, all the hits and all the essential tracks are here, and this disc would be a great addition to any CD collection, especially for Beatles fans. Give John a chance!
Free Music Review: Let's be rational now...
Hit: 5 Stars
Normally I disregard ignorant people who waste their time bashing artists in music review forums, as opposed to giving an actual concrete estimation of the album in question. I make an exception here.To the person below who decided to use this space to rant about their hatred of John Lennon: grow up. Lennon never claimed to be a saint or a perfect person, and constantly made others aware that he had indeed made many mistakes. But who are we to judge someone and cast stones because of things that happened in their life that they may or may not have had control over?
Would it be right for me, for example, to call Kurt Cobain a useless heroin-addicted, self-centered idiot who took his life and gave no credence to that of his daughter's? No. And I wouldn't, because I don't know what the man was going through.
John Lennon was a very complex, brilliant man. His solo music, contrary to the claims of many, does not suck by any means. He wrote from his heart and from his soul, and many times he sounded angry or troubled or happy or lovey-dovey...but it was all him! He didn't mask himself, he didn't invent little stories, he said it like it was and he didn't deny his own mistakes.
I would also like to remind people that the man was only 40 years old when his life was taken from him. 40!!! When his first child was born he was 22. Sure, he could have been the devoted, doting father, but where would the Beatles have been? Hmm? Would we have had Hard Day's Night, Help or Rubber Soul or "Ticket to Ride", "A Day in the Life", "Norweigen Wood" or any of the other gorgeous music he created if he had stayed at home and become John the Loving and Devoted Father.
No. He was messed up in a lot of ways, and yes he left his first wife for Yoko, but he didn't hide it! He walked around with her and said, "yes I left my wife for Yoko, I love Yoko, my first marriage wasn't working, and c'est la vie!" If you ask me, in order for John Lennon to grow as an artist and a person, he needed to make all the mistakes he made. At 40 he seemed to have his life pretty much sorted and his son Julian and him were building up what would have been a pretty great relationship, according to Julian, but we all know what happened.
So go to your Nirvana board and preach about Cobain there. John Lennon was a genius and my favorite musician, yes, and I know he had flaws, strengths, angry days, happy days and lots of love. He was the personification of what it means to be a human being and accept that you have limitations, and admit them.
This is a beautiful album. I own it, don't listen to it much though...I have his other albums and I love to listen to all of them all the way through because, for me, his music is glorious. But for starts, get it! You'll learn a lot about a person who opened his life up, to be scorned or mocked, or praised...he had convictions and he lived his up until his death. So just back off and let him R.I.P.
Free Music Review: Shaved Sushi
Hit: 5 Stars
For anyone who remembers John Lennon's early compilation, 'Shaved Fish,' 'Lennon Legend' will undoubtedly provide a great treat. The songs are selected and arranged far better. The compilers made a great C.D.--not just a sampler. The best of 'Shaved Fish' is retained, and some other essentials are added from the second half of his solo career. Because the quality of his albums is mixed, ('Plastic Ono Band' being a groundbreaking triumph and 'Walls and Bridges' a meandering failure with some key moments), 'Lennon Legend' is a particularly good pick for Lennon fans. "Love," one of his best songs ever and "Working Class Hero" are aptly added from the former album, but the hits are retained from his lesser works as well. The listener is also offered his finest songs from 'Double Fantasy' and 'Milk and Honey'. The compilers (Maybe Yoko had some say?) were wise to extract "Woman Is the N----r of the World," a progressive, but poorly phrased song from the first collection and add his rendition of "Stand by Me," from 'Rock 'N Roll'. This addition is good and interesting, but some of echo effects make one believe that Phil Spector's hand left something to be desired. The album ends with some of his finest work from his early career, including one of the better original Christmas songs, "Happy X-mas (The War Is Over)".
Some of the highlights include the opener, "Imagine," a beautiful anthem that should suit anyone of any creed interested in God and an end to religious and political strife (and faith and servile fear). There's the classic rocker "Instant Karma," an appeal to brotherhood and a favorite song. "Cold Turkey," is a fine, but harrowing song done by the man we came to know for his uncompromising honesty. One of the unheralded songs is "Jealous Guy," a beautiful song lyrically, intricate musically, and a departure from the mushy production some of his songs suffered from. Then, there are the heart-warming moments from his last works. It is a pleasure to listen to the key songs from 'Double Fantasy' and 'Milk and Honey,' not only for the warmth they retain, but the consolation of knowing that at the end domesticity brought happiness to one of the greatest musical legends of the twentieth century.
Free Music Review: The Whole Album Is Worth The While For Imagine!
Hit: 5 Stars
This album is excellent! Not one song on this album is bad! One night, I wa listening to my dad's iPod shuffle. I came across Imagine and thought it sounded beautiful. That's an example of what a meaningful song is. not all this new age junk. That all -no offense but...- gives you nothing. If there is one song in the universe that can change the world, and make it peaceful, that song is Imagine. You hear the first line of it, "Imagine there's no Heaven," and BAM! You get the message that all the person siging this song wants peace. It's a calm, relaxing, and some-what sad song. Very mellow, perfectly clean, and exhibits the makings of a true, heart-felt, emotional song. I mean imagine a world like his, and I assure you, you will find the TRUE meaning of this song. If you go dig in to the song deep enough, I assure you, you will end up with tears in your eyes. This song is the most beautiful song EVER written, sang, it's the most beautiful song-period. Berfore I heard this song, I don't think I really knew what people would ask for. Now I do. Peace. Clearly, this song states that all Lennon wants, is peace. Turn a dream into a life. I think this song offers anything a person could ever hope for. Those poor veterans are getting killed in Iraq. That war is pointless. Because there people are, risking thier lives, for us. I think if we could go far, and show them apperciation, y carrying out at least some of Lennon's dream and stop wars, that'd make them proud. and you know what? It would make you, me, and Lennon proud, too. He is not the only dreamer, I am too. I completely agree with him. If we could show the world that Lennon was correct, Imagine would come true. You may think I'm crazy, but think what you think, because I don't care. So there you have it. this album is well-done. Songs are beautiful and touching, not at all junky. Yes, I'm calling your New Age music junk. That's what it is to me. One man's junk is another man's treasure. This album is great. It's worth buying just for the song Imagine. Lennon was not only a great musician, but also a peacemaker. And so is this album.Free Music Review: The Best!
Hit: 5 Stars
This set contains maybe some of the best pop songs ever written ever. John was (and still is) the most talented wordsmith to write and create music. He's talents shine on this Greatest Hits retrospective. The songs are all incredibly moody and at the same time hopefully with chants for peace and also just plain understanding of love. All of the songs are highlights to me. I'm a pretty recent fan of John's and am thrilled with this collection. The most well known hits are the simple and inspiriting "Imagine". It's a beautiful melody. Also "Mother" and "Jealous Guy" are both present and are simple ballads that yearn with lots of love and pain. The upbeat almost dance of "Whatever Gets You Through The Night" is such a great example of the time that John wrote his music, in the carefree drug and sexual culture of the mid seventies where anything goes. That's the great thing about all of the songs is that they are timepieces of the era that they were made in and yet can really be enjoyed today. Also a huge hit "Nobody Told Me" is on here which reflects on the "strange days" that John lived through. It's music upbeat pop. The fact that John can go through draining piano ballads like "Beautiful Boy" (my least favorite on here but with great vocals by Lennon) to the smooth light rock of "Watching The Wheels" shows the diversity of the prefromer. The last two tracks are very the thought provoking tracks "Happy Xmas" and the chanting rap of "Give Peace A Chance".
The set is incredible stuff and full of powerful songs not to mention just fun pop gems. I always thought that John was just a borrowing artsy reckloose when he broke up with the Beatles and full for Yoko Ono, but this set of proves that his talents stayed very intact and that he could create great legendary songs on his own and yet keep an edge. This set is an essential buy.