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Best John Lennon album?
20 November 2010
2.36am
mr. Sun king coming together
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Joe, what do you think of Rock ‘N’ Roll ? And Also, if you dislike 3 of the 8 Cd’s in the signature box, why didn’t you buy the CDs individually?

As if it matters how a man falls down.'

'When the fall's all that's left, it matters a great deal.

23 November 2010
10.47am
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Joe
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Why did I buy it? Because even though I'm not that keen on some of the albums, I'm still a hardcore Lennon-head. I've posted proof below.

Secondly, I can talk myself into buying anything Beatles-related as research material for this site. I wanted to see what was inside the box. Thirdly, I wanted the CD of home demos and studio outtakes, Fourthly, the site makes enough money by people clicking on ads and buying Amazon things to fund all my Beatles purchases (thanks guys!), so it didn't really cost me anything.

This was my entry to the fifth part of the John Lennon 70th birthday competition. I laid all my vinyl and CD covers on the living room floor and got Ellie to stand on a stepladder to take the pic. I didn't win the comp but it was fun to enter.

Joe LennonImage Enlarger

Not the most flattering pic, but it's hard not to have a double chin when you're lying down. It didn't really come out as I'd hoped, but hey.

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23 November 2010
10.55am
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Joe
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Oh, sorry, I didn't answer your other question. Rock 'N' Roll is OK. It's a bit too radio-friendly 1970s rock for my liking – I'd have preferred it if John did a proper back-to-basics r'n'r album without the Spector production.

I actually prefer the outtakes Be My Baby and Angel Baby to most of what's on the album. A lot of it feels like Lennon was doing karaoke rather than crafting a proper record (for the Spector sessions he was just the singer, although he produced the latter songs on his own, not terribly well IMO).

I think, on reflection, John's solo back catalogue is greater than the sum of its parts. There are some stunning and some dismal moments, but as a body of work I think it's fascinating.

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23 November 2010
12.25pm
sarah machinella
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Joe said:

 

Joe LennonImage Enlarger

 


 

Am I the only person seeing the resemblance here? Probably.

Who ended up winning?

23 November 2010
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Joe
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Nobody's ever said that before. I'll ask my mum if she ever had a fling with George Martin, though I don't think it's likely.

The winners are listed on the competition site. I was close to being a runner-up, but I only really wanted the first prize.

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23 November 2010
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mr. Sun king coming together
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What was the first prize

As if it matters how a man falls down.'

'When the fall's all that's left, it matters a great deal.

23 November 2010
1.13pm
sarah machinella
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A John Lennon art print, according to the website.

23 November 2010
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Joe
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Again, have a look at the competition site. It's all listed there. a-hard-days-night-paul-1

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Or buy my paperback/ebook! Riding So High – The Beatles and Drugs

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23 November 2010
1.16pm
sarah machinella
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You have to register to see anything, though. Which I did, of course. I wish I could have entered that. Not that I would have won, but you know…

23 November 2010
1.28pm
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Joe
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Sorry, I didn't know that. The first prize was a framed print of a John Lennon drawing. I doubt it was done in his lifetime but I'm sure it'd be nice to have anyway.

Can buy me love! Please consider supporting the Beatles Bible on Amazon
Or buy my paperback/ebook! Riding So High – The Beatles and Drugs

Don't miss The Bowie Bible – now live!

23 November 2010
2.16pm
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Zig
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Joe said:

I think, on reflection, John's solo back catalogue is greater than the sum of its parts. There are some stunning and some dismal moments, but as a body of work I think it's fascinating.


I could not have worded that any better, Joe.

On the previous page of this thread I mentioned that I was wishing I had been more selective in my purchase rather than springing for the entire box set. After some time to reflect and a second listening to the discs, I find myself glad to have it for the very same reasons you mentioned.

As for the topic of this thread, I don't like to get into “bests” because that is so subjective. But I will tell you my favorites are definitely the first 2. By that, I mean Plastic Ono Band and Imagine – not the avant-garde stuff done earlier with Yoko.

To the fountain of perpetual mirth, let it roll for all its worth. And all the children boogie.

23 November 2010
9.11pm
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mithveaen
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So Zig do you recommend getting the Box Set? a-hard-days-night-paul-6

 

I don't have any John's solo albums … and to be honest I can see myself listening to John's albums a little bit more often than George or Paul's.

Here comes the sun….. Scoobie-doobie……

Something in the way she moves…..attracts me like a cauliflower…

Bop. Bop, cat bop. Go, Johnny, Go.

Beware of Darkness… 

23 November 2010
10.45pm
mr. Sun king coming together
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Having Heard 5 of the 8 (not all remastered but still) They seem worth it. mind Games can be Very Hit-and-Miss, so you might not like it but still get them all for completion reasons. BTW Only need to hear Milk And Honey , Rock 'n' roll and Sometime In New York City, (which I might Skip).

As if it matters how a man falls down.'

'When the fall's all that's left, it matters a great deal.

26 November 2010
7.59pm
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Zig
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mithveaen said:

So Zig do you recommend getting the Box Set? a-hard-days-night-paul-6

 

I don't have any John's solo albums … and to be honest I can see myself listening to John's albums a little bit more often than George or Paul's.


Yeah, mith – but only if you want it for the reasons Joe cited. I downloaded all of it into my iPod and then made a separate playlist of all my favorites. That playlist has 66 songs on it! If you don't want to spend the money on the entire box, go through iTunes and just buy your favorite individual songs or just start by buying the first 2 albums. Those are definitely my favorites.

To the fountain of perpetual mirth, let it roll for all its worth. And all the children boogie.

26 November 2010
8.03pm
mr. Sun king coming together
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Here's My Two Cents. Buy The First two and Walls And Bridges , Buy John's songs on Double Fantasy and then buy your favourites off the rest

As if it matters how a man falls down.'

'When the fall's all that's left, it matters a great deal.

26 November 2010
8.58pm
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mithveaen
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a-hard-days-night-ringo-8 Thanks for your recommendations.

 

I guess I'll get the Box Set. I'm buying all the CDs anyway and I don't like to buy single songs. To be honest I love to experience full albums, with its lows and highs.

 

The only problem is having the money to get the whole damn set. a-hard-days-night-ringo-14 I hate you Yoko!! two-virgins Well, not really but you know what I mean…

Here comes the sun….. Scoobie-doobie……

Something in the way she moves…..attracts me like a cauliflower…

Bop. Bop, cat bop. Go, Johnny, Go.

Beware of Darkness… 

26 November 2010
9.20pm
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Zig
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mithveaen said:

 

The only problem is having the money to get the whole damn set. a-hard-days-night-ringo-14 I hate you Yoko!! two-virgins Well, not really but you know what I mean…


I know what you mean.

I have a slightly different predicament with George's solo work. I want so bad to start buying his stuff now but have a sneaky suspicion that his collection might be remastered next year around the 10 anniversary of his…

I can't say it. It's bad enough that it will be 9 years on Monday.a-hard-days-night-george-5

To the fountain of perpetual mirth, let it roll for all its worth. And all the children boogie.

27 November 2010
12.35am
mr. Sun king coming together
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Thank you Zig, for reminding me of this monumental day. I will only listen to George's solo works, and the works of his band, The Beatles (have you heard of them? They're a pretty good group, don't you think?).

As if it matters how a man falls down.'

'When the fall's all that's left, it matters a great deal.

27 November 2010
12.45am
mr. Sun king coming together
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Zig said:

 

I know what you mean.

I have a slightly different predicament with George's solo work. I want so bad to start buying his stuff now but have a sneaky suspicion that his collection might be remastered next year around the 10 anniversary of his…

I can't say it. It's bad enough that it will be 9 years on Monday.a-hard-days-night-george-5

 

Also, Hold off Until Summer of Next Year to decide on the Harrison set. Give your Credit card a break. They will probably say by July. I really need some money. Thank God my Birthday is right near Christmasapple01


As if it matters how a man falls down.'

'When the fall's all that's left, it matters a great deal.

29 November 2010
6.08am
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parco63
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1. walls + bridges

2. plastic ono band

3. imagine

4. rock + roll

5. milk + honey

6. double fantasy

7. mind games

 

Wild Card: Compilation of JL's White Album tracks, that would really be his first solo album and you could do similar w/GH's and PM's and make an EP of Ringo, all of those wd hold up well.

 

Haven't heard all of Some Time in NYC or any of the records prior to POB except for Live Peace Toronto; Blue Suede Shoes kicks ass but things fall off after that and I can't really consider it a JL album; haven't heard all of the 1972 live album.  Rock + Roll's place on this list will probably surprise or bother some, but considering the trauma of its production and its importance to JL's personal history going back to the 1950s deserves better than its gotten.  I don't consider any of these to be poor albums, even the ones toward the bottom of the list; all quite compelling and beautiful, rankings are primarily for consistency of songs/vision/musical craft.  M + H edges out DF because it has more of a rock and roll edge that I like, plus more mystery, but I am a big DF fan, too.  W + B not just my favorite JL but one of the finest albums of the 1970s, period.

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