[edit] John Lennon: Imagine

"Imagine" was John Lennon's second major release apart from the Beatles. Released on Sept. 9, 1971 (US) and Oct. 8, 1971 (UK), it has remained John's most commercially successful album. It was recorded primarily in John's home studio which turned out to be the last time he would ever record in England.

Produced by: John Lennon, Yoko Ono and Phil Spector Engineered by: Philip McDonald, Eddie Klein, Eddie Offord, Eddie Veal and Eddie Beer Cover Design and Photo by: Yoko Ono Label: Apple SW-3379

1. Imagine
2. Crippled Inside
3. Jealous Guy
4. It's So Hard
5. I Don't Want To Be A Soldier
6. Give Me Some Truth
7. Oh My Love
8. How Do You Sleep?
9. How?
10. Oh Yoko!

John Lennon's 2nd solo album, is very different from it's predecessor in term of production, music, and lyrics. Spector co-produced them both with John and Yoko. But it would seem that for imagine, he'd been offered more freedom to let go his creativity and do it his own way.The recording took place in Ascot, Lennon's house in the UK before he settled in the U.S for good. Those of you who saw the DVD (and you're many) know what kind of atmosphere surrounded those sessions.

Lennon had sought the help of great and talented musicians; George Harrison on lead guitar, Klaus Voorman on bass, Nicky Hopkins on piano, and three drummers play different tracks Jim Keltner Jim Gordon Alan White and King Curtis's Saxo will give to the album a very interesting and bluesy sound at times.The song 'Imagine' is the great classic that we all know and love, with that legendary piano intro, one of Lennon's most popular tune without any doubt.

'Crippled Inside' with it's great arrangement's, funny lyrics, John plays a great guitar part on that one, Klaus Voorman is on Bass, Nicky Hopkins on piano and Harrison plays Dobro. With his great songwriting skill, Lennon proves here that sarcasm can be used in a funny way.

'Jealous Guy' was a rough demo for the white album, and john decided to use it on Imagine. This track has turned into such a great classic it's been covered so many times, it's such a beautiful song, it almost makes me weep everytime i hear it.

'It's So Hard' and 'Don't wanna Be A Soldier Mama I Don't Wanna Die' they both sound more Spectoresque' than the rest. Lennon and him were a legendary producers team. King Curtis plays a mean saxo on both tracks, Harrison is on slide, 'Don't Wanna Be A Soldier' sounds very bluesy.

'Don't Wanna Be A Soldier' seems to have been cut from endless funky sessions it sounds specially great in the 'Imagine' remasterised version ...

'Gimme Some Truth' is my personal favourite. It's just perfect, and each time i hear it, it produces that sensation in my guts. Lennon's way to protest had reach an all time high and maturity with that thick layer of intelligent sarcasm. George Harrison's solo on that one is breath-taking.

'Oh My Love' was written by Yoko as a poem and John gave that great melody to it. Nicky Hopkins adds his touch to the track with an electric piano. That one had been selected for the white album too but ended up in "Imagine" instead.

'How Do You Sleep' was later described by John as an angry letter to Paul: "I don't think that way about him everyday of my life" he once said. The song was angry and sarcastic all the same, and Paul retaliated the same year in his "Ram" album ("Too Many People" ect) The george Harrison solo (and slide guitar) was later described by John as "the best Harrison solo to date".

'How' yet another Lennon gem with beautifully balanced lyrics and a chorus so beautiful it breaks your heart It's in those kind of tracks that we can judge Phil Spector's creativity.

'Oh Yoko' a funny catchy tune he wrote. It works very nicely with poetic lyrics and good humour The melody is uplifting, and John sings very well. The Dylan style harmonica towards the end will convince the listener that this album is amazing.

So 'Imagine' confirmed John Lennon as a real solo artist he proved that he was able to fill albums with songs without the Beatles, and he could deliver those albums without fillers. He was still searching his sound, but i think Spector had found the right way to record that peculiar voice that was Lennon's his natural talent to write protest songs was taking shape and it could be felt very strongly here.

'Imagine' could have been the blue print of what the albums of the early seventies were going to be: fully produced albums glittering with their saxophones. Us, fans accepted the album with a great cheers (just like the previous one) and 'Imagine' climbed at once at number one. John Lennon's second best album in a painfully short solo discography.

[edit] John Lennon: Imagine

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