 "John's best" | 2009-02-24 |
| - Reviewed By jackanimals |
| Contains the most beautiful love song ever written, "Oh My Love.' John was right--nobody does his songs. It's like they just don't get it--except for Imagine.Paul's got magical melody out the wazoo but John had the soul, the depth, and the guts to say it true and say it out loud. A real and lasting piece of musical art. Many generations from now people will still be discovering this album and getting the Beatle message loud and clear--even if it's a solo album this fantastic. |
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| "A dreamer" | 2007-02-20 |
| - Reviewed By annievan54 |
An important element of the success of John Lennon's second solo effort, IMAGINE, was the musicians who assisted in this project: George Harrison, King Curtis, Nicky Hopkins, Klaus Voorman, Jim Keltner, Alan White, Joey & Tommy Badfinger, Jim Gordon, Mike Pinder and others contributed their talents to the sessions.
As on his first album, Lennon explored his concerns and pain on IMAGINE, (minus the scream therapy). He also expressed the love in his heart and his optimism for the future. Almost 40 years later, we need that hopefulness more than ever.
Includes a 16 page booklet that has song lyrics as well as stills from the IMAGINE movie, and other photos. Highest recommendation.
TOTAL RUNNING TIME -- 39:25 |
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| "An Oldie but a Goodie" | 2007-01-19 |
| - Reviewed By User: A3HZ6HITR1HGMP |
| I'm so glad to have purchased this CD. It's been long enough since I've heard it to serve as a great reminder of what a talented man John Lennon was. His music is beautiful yet raw, simple yet sophisticated. This album has stood the test of time very well. |
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| "His best, no doubt about it." | 2006-05-28 |
| - Reviewed By jlizon |
| Easily Lennon's best post-Beatle work. And what a shame too, as it only comes barely a year and a half after their final swan-song, "Let It Be" hit the market place. One would think, that like his Beatle career, he would keep getting better and better and better. But who was to know? This disc, tastefully co-produced by Phil Spector (who also aided Lennon on his previous solo outing), is a much more commercial venture than "Plastic Ono Band," his first real solo disc. The vitrol in the lyrics are gone, replaced by themes of love for Yoko and the world. The music is fuller, more fleshed out. Not the least of reasons being that orchestration is used on several songs and Lennon employed for the most part, more musicians on each track than he did the "Plastic One Band" disc. "Imagine" kicks off the dsic and it's an all-time classic. Simple, solemnly-sung, touching and to the point. "Crippled Inside" finds John getting superb aid from ex-bandmate George Harrison on dobro. It's an upbeat, shuffling song, given a lot of life by Nicky Hopkin's honky-tonk piano. "Jealous Guy" finds Lennon in a remorseful mood. Heavenly orchestration allows Lennon to literally toy with the words, alternately caressing and pleading his case. Jim Keltner excels on drums. "It's so Hard" is up next. It's a straight-ahead, hard-driving band number aided by the horn work of the late King Curtis. "I Don't Want to be a Soldier" finishes off the side and really, it goes on too long. This is the only real evidence of Spector's trademark wall-of-sound. Although the irony is that's it's a perfect fit for this song. At over 6 minutes the song is not nearly interesting enough to keep us interested. "Give Me Some Truth" is a blistering song and Lennon never lets up. Harrison also excels again. Harrison's contributions on guitar for this disc cannot be overstated. His playing is simply brilliant and outside the scope of what he played for the Beatles. "Oh My Love" is little more than a trite song with an interesting melody but Lennon sings it well and one tends to overlook it as it's sandwiched between two killer tracks. "How Do You sleep" is John's personal attack on Paul. The sneering vocal, the cutting slide played by George, and the on-the-money drumming by Alan White makes this one of the highlights of the disc. "How" is another beautiful tune. Who said he couldn't write good melodies? "Oh Yoko" is rather endearing. Even though it's about Yoko, it has a good tune and it's very catchy. Avoid the new "Yoko re-mastered" version of this disc. This is the version Lennon himself released in 1971. How on earth could Yoko think she knows better than John. This is Lennon's best solo work and the standard all his other solo efforts are compared to. |
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| "Great album" | 2000-06-21 |
| - Reviewed By User: A304ZHF04ZWU8K |
| It's funny how you can have a song like "Imagine" on the same CD as "How Do You Sleep?". Still, it works (at least I think so). If you're skeptical, just get it for the title track. You don't have to like the rest of the songs, it's a classic. It's more than a classic, it's a masterpiece. As for the rest of the album, "Jealous Guy" and "Oh My Love" are beautiful and touching. "How Do You Sleep?" is amusing. Still, it's a little upsetting how sinister and mean Lennon was towards his former buddy. "Those freaks was right when they said you was dead". Overall, the most Beatles-like album of John's short solo career. One of the best ex-Beatle solo albums. NOT another Plastic Ono Band. Definitely an essential. |
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 "The work of a master" | 2000-04-12 |
| - Reviewed By lp542 |
| Imagine is one of the best songs of all time, which already gives this album a head start. Insecurity and jealousy are recurring themes in Lennon's work. Jealous Guy ( a posthumous no 1) and Crippled inside are two excellent well crafted songs in this vein. Oh Yoko is a good song but he has limited its appeal by dedicating it to uh, ...Yoko. Oh My Love is an excellent love ballad. The scathing diatribe against McCartney in How do you sleep really backfires. The irony is that McCartney apparently wrote the music for Gimme some truth towards the end of the Beatle period, and does not get writer credit here. Some of the other songs are not that great but there is an abiding sincerity in Lennon's work that gives it a certain appeal. Probably his best post Beatle work, and really a must have for any Lennon fan. Not quite five star, but highly recommended. |
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