John Lennon Spread

4.17.11

The legacy left behind: Celebrating John Lennon

INSIDE: Documenting Lennon’s life PAGE 2

Released, Remastered

PAGE 4

AS A BOY ALL JOHN LENNON NEEDED WAS LOVE

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‘Nowhere Boy’ speaks about Lennon’s life, musical career “Nowhere Boy” is a tender film about John Lennon’s tormented teenage years in Liverpool.

Though he’s too handsome for the role, Aaron Johnson (“Kick-Ass”) gives a fine performance as a young man torn between Mimi (Kristin Scott Thomas), the schoolmarmish aunt who raised him, and his free-spirited mother Julia (AnneMarie Duff), who gave him up after his seafaring father disappeared. (She was hit by a car and killed when John was 17.)

Despite his painful family situation -- or, possibly because of it -- Lennon developed a creative streak that led him to art school (he was bored by the routine) and to the music of Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry and Screamin’ Jay Hawkins.

After his aunt bought him his first guitar, Lennon’s career path was set. Lennon met Paul McCartney at a church festival, McCartney introduced him to George Harrison and the band that would become the Beatles was born. McCartney and

Harrison were better guitar players, but from the very start Lennon was their dynamic, wisecracking leader.

In her directing debut, multimedia artist Sam Taylor-Wood shows Lennon’s many, often contradictory, sides.

He could be selfish and cruel -- at a party, he makes a hurtful remark about McCartney’s dead mother -- but he also could be generous and loyal.

He could be selfish and cruel... but he could also be generous and loyal.

Lennon’s naked love songs revealed Remastered, released songs delight music fans

BY MARK BEECH Bloomberg News

J

ohn Lennon thrives, at least when it comes to the industry surrounding him.

The former Beatle was shot dead in 1980, at 40. Saturday would have been his 70th birthday. Apart from the television specials, books, new monuments and “Nowhere Boy” movie, there’s a huge amount of music on offer -- remastered CDs and newly released songs.

“Power to the People: the Hits” comes as a single-disc introduction or a deluxe edition with a DVD of all its songs. The compilation is similar to “Lennon Legend” from 1997, with five fewer tracks. Just about all Lennon collections have “Give Peace a Chance,” “Instant Karma!” and (if you must) “Happy Xmas (War is Over).” Rating: Good.

Those wanting more can opt for “Gimme Some Truth,” a new box

with four themed CDs: Working

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“If the joys of the song ‘Imagine’ have soured through repetition, the rest of the 1971 record shows Lennon emerging from his personal hell...”

- Mark Beech Class Hero (politics), Woman (love songs), Roots (rock ‘n’ roll) and Borrowed Time (personal tracks).

Rating: Average.

Still, the 1991 four-CD set “Lennon” did it better with its simple chronological approach. Rating: Excellent.

Lennon’s best work was with the Beatles, and the band’s albums were reissued in an improved form last year. Fans already will have marked Oct. 19 for the re-release of the two compilations “1962-1966” and “1967-1970.” Rating: Excellent.

His solo discs are available separately or as part of a “Signature” 11-CD box set. Wisely, the reissues don’t include the experimental “Unfinished Music” LPs, “The Wedding Album” or the raw “Live Peace in Toronto” with Yoko Ono in 1968-69.

Instead, we start with “John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band.” The 1970

release is known for its expletiveladen lyrics and declaration “the dream is over.” The true gems are tender ballads such as “Love” and “Look at Me.” Rating: Excellent.

If the joys of the song “Imagine” have soured through repetition, the rest of the 1971 record of the same name shows Lennon emerging from his personal hell, mocking Paul McCartney (“How Do You Sleep”), loving his wife (“Oh Yoko!”) and maturing in reflective numbers such as “Jealous Guy.” Rating: Excellent.

The double LP “Some Time in New York City” from 1972 remains a sloppy ragbag of frazzled jams and slogans from every trendy left-wing bandwagon that Lennon jumped on. Only “Woman Is the Nigger of the World” endures. Rating: Poor.

After this abrasive effort, “Mind Games” was unashamedly commercial. It was recorded in 1973 at the start of Lennon’s split from Ono, yet betrays little of this turmoil on numbers such as “Out the Blue.” Rating: Good.

“Walls and Bridges,” from 1974, is a fine effort given that it was done during Lennon’s 18-month boozy “lost weekend.” There’s the Elton John duet “Whatever Gets You Thru the Night,” “#9 Dream” and the heartfelt “Nobody Loves You (When You’re Down and Out).”

Rating: Very good.

THE BEST OF LENNON Since the death of John Lennon, there have been a multitude of remasterd CDs and newly released songs.

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“Lennon” Rating: Excellent “1962-1966” Rating: Excellent “Plastic Ono Band” Rating: Excellent “Power to the People” Rating: Good

“Gimme Some Truth” Rating: Average

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