The John Lennon
Anthology

It is almost a difficult process to provide a concise review of this latest Lennon album within limited confines, but we’ll take a shot. Once one gets over the shock of the fifty-two quid going a.w.o.l. from your pocket, the return is a beautifully presented and packaged box CD set consisting of four CDs and an extensive set of notes presented in the format of a book, with tasty artwork and accompanying photographs.

The extent of the excise of presenting a Lennon Anthology is handled by four CD’s, which The extent of the excise of presenting a Lennon Anthology is handed by four CD's which provide a chronicle of post-Beatle life from the split up to the steps of the Dakota building. The four CD’s - "chapters" - which provide this account are Disc 1 – Ascot, Disc 2 – New York City, Disc 3 – The Lost Weekend and Disc 4 – The Dakota.

Disc 1 – Ascot is generously peppered with out takes from the ‘Plastic Ono Band’ and ‘Imagine’ sessions. On a personal preference basis the former is the better album with its biting observations the latter, (while still pure Lennon) contains the ‘sugar frosting’. The bottom line with this disc is that there is plenty which commands attention with many songs half-way there and representing work in progress – which, all said, is the function of any anthology.

Of real interest is the version of ‘Imagine’ (with additional melodic electric piano), ‘Remember’ (an exercise in tempo) and the early ‘Jealous Guy’. One only has to look at the credits contained in the book to realise how evident Starr and Harrison were on many of these sessions. Knowing for years that Harrison’s slide featured on the McCartney dig ‘How Do You Sleep’, I was surprised to find his contribution also on ‘Oh My Love’.

Disc 2 – New York – features work from the 1972 period. Personally I can’t say I was ever very enamoured with the heavy New York style production of this era. The notes finally explained the mystery to me of who John Sinclair really was and in this sense the Anthology also ties up a lot of loose ends and question marks.

Disc 3 – The Lost Weekend – sees John in LA with Harry Neilson, Phil Spector, Ringo Starr, Keith Moon etc, with partying and Brandy Alexanders in abundance. The greater part of the material on this disc features out-takes from the Rock ‘n’ Roll sessions and from Walls and Bridges.

‘Nobody Loves You When You’re Down And Out’ probably says more about the mind set of Dr. Winston O’Boogie than anything else. Rumour had it that on at least one of the sessions Phil Spector was given to discharging a hand gun into the ceiling of the control booth! - strange days indeed!!!

Disc 4 – This was my first listening of Dakota and I thought it was the most enjoyable and poignant of the four discs. Contrary to the seeming by public quietness of Lennon in this baking bread period, he a was pretty busy dude stashing away material for later use. Billy Joel was once given to remark as to why there was no one to play rhythm guitar like John Lennon – he was right.

From even the hasty home taping to the studio work one realises how solid his playing always was. Of note on this disc I thought were: ‘Watching The Wheels’ (very Dylan in this acoustic rendition), and ‘Nobody Told Me’ (a rougher cut than the pervious). Remarkable in its aggression and its witty lyrics is the ‘Serve Yourself’ home demo. If I am correct this song dates back to circa 1968. One wonders if he had lived and gone on tour in 1981 as he spoke of doing, would this have been in the set – Lennon at his most remarkable and savage best. ‘Losing You’ comes across as a better version than the one on Double Fantasy, with plenty of ropy bass lines and a count back after the middle eight.

For guitar players in the club, try scrumming along to ‘Woman’ (with your guitar in concert pitch this is in the key of D!!!, a nice exercise to play along with John!!!). ‘Poignant’ is Sean’s Little Help (From My Friends). What can you do but listen to this with a hanky! On ‘Grow Old’ the credits for orchestration/scoring go to a Georgio Martino – gotta be Uncle George, eh?

The verdict; this is a very extensive tract of Lennon genius. While there is a sting price-wise in acquiring this set I think it is likely to be one of the most played CD’s in any Beatle buff’s collection. The pure drop indeed.

By Peter McGarry

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