John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Decades later it's a little hard to appreciate just how shocking Plastic Ono Band was at the time of its release. Yes, John Lennon's first post-Beatles solo album is still a must-own for any rock fan, but decades of punk, metal, and grunge have desensitized our ears somewhat to the naked howls of despair that fill tracks like "Mother," "Isolation," and "I Found Out." In addition, "I don't believe in Beatles," the climactic line of "God," doesn't have nearly the resonance as it did around the time of the Fab Four's breakup, when such a sentiment practically bordered on heresy. And yet it's a testament to the high quality of Lennon's songs that Plastic Ono Band continues to be an incredibly moving listening experience. --Dan Epstein
John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band, Music, John Lennon, Album Rock, Pop, Popular Music, Rock, Rock & Roll, Singer/Songwriter
Average customer rating:
- Pain Knows No Creed
- Johnny, we hardly knew ye.....
- lennon's best solo effort.
- The Best Solo Beatles Effort
- The Dream is Over...
|
John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band
John Lennon
Manufacturer: Capitol
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
General
| Alternative Rock
| Styles
| Music
General
| Pop
| Styles
| Music
Singer-Songwriters
| Pop
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| Music
Pop Rock
| Pop
| Styles
| Music
General
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
Singer-Songwriters
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
Album-Oriented Rock (AOR)
| Classic Rock
| Styles
| Music
General
| Classic Rock
| Styles
| Music
Similar Items:
- Imagine
- Mind Games
- Double Fantasy
- All Things Must Pass [DIGI-PAK EDITION]
- Ram
ASIN: B00004WGEL
Release Date: 2000-10-10 |
Tracks:
- Mother
- Hold On
- I Found Out
- Working Class Hero
- Isolation
- Remember
- Love
- Well Well Well
- Look at Me
- God
- My Mummy's Dead
- Power to the People
- Do the Oz
Amazon.com
Decades later it's a little hard to appreciate just how shocking Plastic Ono Band was at the time of its release. Yes, John Lennon's first post-Beatles solo album is still a must-own for any rock fan, but decades of punk, metal, and grunge have desensitized our ears somewhat to the naked howls of despair that fill tracks like "Mother," "Isolation," and "I Found Out." In addition, "I don't believe in Beatles," the climactic line of "God," doesn't have nearly the resonance as it did around the time of the Fab Four's breakup, when such a sentiment practically bordered on heresy. And yet it's a testament to the high quality of Lennon's songs that Plastic Ono Band continues to be an incredibly moving listening experience. --Dan Epstein
Amazon.com
John Lennon Photos
More from John Lennon
Imagine |
Lennon Legend |
The U.S. vs. John Lennon |
Mind Games |
Working Class Hero |
Walls and Bridges |
Customer Reviews:
Pain Knows No Creed.......2007-06-16
'Plastic Ono Band' is still ingenious and uncompromising since its inception. John, who always wanted to be successful doing it his own way, let us know throughout the Beatle years what was on his mind: From "Help," and "I'm a Loser," to "Strawberry Fields Forever," and "I'm So Tired," Lennon never took the easy way out in pop music, except being honestly himself is easier than posturing. Here on 'POB' John showcases blistering self-pity at a time of needed catharsis and healing. Just through the angst of the Beatles split, off of heroin, and having to draw from memories of a childhood of rejection and hostility elicited from "Primal Therapy", he spares us no sentimentality. The economy of John's songwriting has seldom been sparer as he lays it all on the line.
At the time, it's been said over and over again that he alienated his audience. Since then, looking at alternative music before Kurt Cobain, et al, it seems to be several steps ahead and only time has made the no-nonsense production catch up to this brilliant work without becoming dated.
"Primal Therapy" has often been mocked and derided in the media, particularly TV and movies, but it served as a marvelous vehicle for the man and his music. The slow-crescendoing "Mother," which opens the album ends like a few others with screaming. John's sonorous vocals resonate as simple dirge-like chords accompany himself through the loss of a mother who gave him up to his auntie. (A loving relationship, if not at a distance, he lost her at seventeen, and his father abandoned them both much earlier.) Not compensated by institutions, Lennon goes after the church in "I Found Out," and "God," the finale'. In between he has a solid rocker with "Remember," a cornerstone of the album surrounding his mother's loss, but also the loss of faith in elders. "Well, Well, Well," pulsates more as he pummels over sexual shame in the midst of attempted cohesion. The album mixes slow songs well to give the listener some solace. "Love" is simply exquisite with breathey vocals and a beautiful piano and bottom-line lyrics regarding the necessity of requited love. "Isolation" does to social separation what "Well, Well, Well" did with the sexual--only more quietly. "Working Class Hero" incorporates folk to meander over societal expectations of machismo in Liverpool. "Look at Me" looks to the beloved--here Yoko--for consolation and regress for others' faults.
Ever since my first listen back in 1980 a couple months before his tragic murder, 'Plastic Ono Band' has always been a cathartic experience for me. Regardless of how I relate to my own creed in contrast to Lennon's in "God," I feel, nevertheless, the same pain. "Mind Games" would offer a different set of beliefs, for although non-religious, Lennon was certainly spiritual, and therefore not setting up a contradiction. 'POB' is accessible to everyone because he expresses so well the pain of the alienated, the rejected, and the hurt. No one does it like Lennon did, and he, like any great poet/singer/songwriter can speak a message on everyone's behalf. Here he has a corner that no one has done before or as well since. In the end all of our creeds may be different, but our pain remains the same.
Johnny, we hardly knew ye............2007-06-07
John Lennon was my hero back then, he remains my hero. Not trying to give a critical analysis, just saying that this album is unique in the history of rock and roll. The pain addressed is music to my ears. This is the only album in the history of rock and roll that proves that you don't have to spout dogma to tell the truth. Art and music were made better by this album. We love you Yoko, remain strong.
lennon's best solo effort........2007-03-13
over the years i have read so much about what an outpouring of pain this album contains. it has often been made to sound almost unlistenable because of it's dreary atmosphere. well, there are no feel good hits of the summer here, that's for sure. but it is an outstanding piece of work that bares repeated listening. "mother," "i found out," "working class hero," "isolation" "God," and "my mummy's dead," are all very bleak; songwriting confessionals where the soul is laid open, exposing pains to the listener that are not 'pleasant' to hum along with. lots of great art is painful, however. read many novels? anna karenina comes to mind. not a laugh riot, but a great piece of literature, most agree. this is sad music, painful music, yes. but this is a classic achievement in the world of music. you should not miss it just because of it's heavy atmosphere of sorrow.
The Best Solo Beatles Effort.......2007-02-27
First, I must say that I will not criticize John Lennon for his lack of lyrical consistency - after all, consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds. So I don't really care about his "message of the week" - I'm only interested in the tunes.
With that said, Plastic Ono Band is IMHO the best Beatles solo album to be released to date, and unless Paul or Ringo are unveiling something seriously unexpected sometime soon, I'd imagine it will stay that way. This album is John Lennon naked - raw emotion, frantic playing, and gutteral singing.
The opening track "Mother" starts off a harmless enough piano-based song with a nice melody, but soon transforms into Primal Scream therapy from John. "Well, Well, Well" is another example of vocals unrestrained; you can hear echoes of these two songs in later music such as Nirvana's "In Utero".
"God", "Working Class Hero", "Remember", "I Found Out" are fine examples of John working out his internal issues here for all to see - something his writing partner in his old band never had the capability to do effectively. This is about as HONEST of a CD as you'll see a performer release, and the timing of it - released in the storm of the Beatles Breakup - makes it even more interesting.
The musical styles range from gospel ("God"), to straight up reverbed rock and roll ("I Found Out") to folk ("Working Class Hero") to proto-punk ("Well, Well, Well") to tender balladry ("Love")... and Lennon shows here he can successfully execute all of those styles. Unfortunately, his first album would turn out to be his best - by quite a wide margin, IMO.
There are not a lot of bad things about this album - however, it's not as good as any of the later Beatles output (save 'Let It Be'), so to give it five stars would be unfair to those classics. But if you want to see the peak of post-Beatles creativity from the Fab Four, this would be it. The fact that the individual Beatles never rose to greater heights should tell you that the sum of the Beatles were most definitely greater than its parts.
The Dream is Over... .......2007-02-20
John was part of a major force to be reckoned with in the 60s, and even though "White Album" had sparce moments, nothing was as naked as this would be. Songs like "Look at Me" and "Well Well Well" were written while he was still a Beatle, "Cold Turkey" would have been a great fit on here (better than the extra tracks at least), and half of "Imagine" were also written during the end of the Beatles.
This album was his "hello to the 70s" statement. The end of the 60s were a letdown, let's have some hope for what lies in store in the 70s.
The album/CD is out to shock you. First shock is the f-word John uses on "Working Class Hero". 37 years and you will rarely if ever hear this on the radio. Second shock: Phil Spector produced it. Known for putting on the sappy strings on Paul's songs on "Let It Be" as well as producing this and "Imagine" for John and "All Things Must Pass" for George, this in particular is unlike any of Phil's productions.
Stark, bare, natural. Influence on punk? Listen to Suicide's first album and listen to this again.
He calls it as he sees it. He doesn't buy what religion is selling him, and is encouraging people to use their brains. He mentions Paul, but he doesn't rip him apart as he does later on "How Do You Sleep". His mother's early death has him digging up some truly raw emotion on "Mother", and his fractured relationship with his dad comes up in the song, as does his own relationship with his son Julian.
Pink Floyd's Roger Waters has said this album has had a huge impact on him when he started writing from "Dark Side of the Moon" to "The Final Cut". Artists ranging from Bowie to Streisand to Cocker have covered songs off of it, but John's vulnerable voice makes it a tough sell for anyone else to sing it.
Yoko also released her "Plastic Ono Band" the same day this was released, and some of the fans were upset that they were "tricked" into buying Yoko's album instead of John's, however if you do the John/Yoko/John that is similar to "Double Fantasy" it is an interesting listen.
Average customer rating:
- Lennon's solo debut
- lo mejor de lennon!!!!!!
- One of Lennon's best albums-or Lennon invents modern punk
- Mobile Fidelity Rules!
- MFSL letdown on a five star album
|
John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band
John Lennon
Manufacturer: Mobile Fidelity Koch
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
General
| Alternative Rock
| Styles
| Music
Singer-Songwriters
| Pop
| Styles
| Music
Pop Rock
| Pop
| Styles
| Music
General
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
Singer-Songwriters
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
Album-Oriented Rock (AOR)
| Classic Rock
| Styles
| Music
General
| Classic Rock
| Styles
| Music
Similar Items:
- Imagine
- Mind Games
- We're Only in It for the Money
- They Only Come Out at Night
- Minute by Minute
ASIN: B0000DZTVX
Release Date: 2004-01-20 |
Tracks:
- Mother
- Hold On
- I Found Out
- Working Class Hero
- Isolation
- Remember
- Love
- Well Well Well
- Look at Me
- God
- My Mummy's Dead
- Power to the People
- Do the Oz
Customer Reviews:
Lennon's solo debut.......2004-05-01
Plastic Ono Band (1970.) John Lennon's first solo album.
In 1970, the Beatles finally broke up after a number of clashing differences within the band. Fortunately though, the break up of the band did little to discourage fans - all four members went on to successful solo careers. John Lennon had created several solo projects prior to the break up (the Unfinished Music releases, the Wedding Album, etc.), but none of them were really albums - they were more sound collages than anything else. But, following those blunders that even Beatles die-hards tend to overlook, Lennon put together the first incarnation of his solo band, which he dubbed the Plastic Ono Band. On this, his first solo album, his old Beatles comrade Ringo Starr plays drums, and his old buddy Klaus Voorman plays bass (John met Klaus back when the Beatles were a lesser-known group and they were touring Germany. He is the person that drew the Revolver album cover.) How does John's first solo album measure up? Read on and find out.
Admittingly, this album lacks the polish and the popularity of its follow-up, Imagine, but it's a solid album for the most part. One of the biggest hits of his solo career, Mother, can be found on this album. In this track, John expresses frustration toward his father deserting him and his mother dying at a fairly young age. An alternative, edited version of this song was issued as a single (the edited single version can be found on the Lennon Legend hits compilation.) Another fairly popular song that can be found on this album is Working Class Hero. In the middle-era of the Beatles career, John was heavily influenced by Bob Dylan, and that influence really shows on this track. Here, he manages to create an excellent song with excellent lyrics. A number of other, lesser popular but still excellent tracks can also be found on the album. Billy Preston, a guest pianist on Beatle albums from the latter years, also makes an appearance on this album. As the album progresses, it comes off as uneven in places, but still, many of the songs are excellent.
This compact disc reissue of the album includes two bonus tracks that were not on the original LP. The first one is Power To The People, a fairly big hit for Lennon. The track is very popular, but until now it had only been available on compilations and singles, so it's good to finally have it on an album. Next up is the highly-bizzare Do The Oz. This is a weird track which John and Yoko wrote together. Although strange, this is a better track than some people give it credit for being. Give it a chance, and it will grow on you. There were other non-LP tracks from this era that would have made good bonus tracks, too, and I wish they would have made the cut. Also, on the case, it doesn't say anywhere that these are bonus tracks, which can lead to confusion for new fans. Another thing missing from the case (which also isn't anywhere in the liner notes) is the original album release date - this album was originally released toward the end of 1970.
Overall, John Lennon's first true album as a solo artist is a good one. It's WAY better than Ringo's Sentimental Journey, slightly better than Paul McCartney's McCartney, but not nearly as good as George Harrison's All Things Must Pass (all four of these are their solo debut albums, released in the year 1970, which is why I'm comparing THEM.) If you're a Lennon fan and you've got an open mind, give Plastic Ono Band a listen. But if you're a fan who is more on the casual side, go directly to Lennon's second solo album, Imagine. Don't bother with hits compilations; they just don't do him justice.
lo mejor de lennon!!!!!!.......2004-03-11
este es el mejor disco que el beatle john lennon grabo en toda su corta vida.las mejores canciones interpretadas por la banda plastic ono(ringo starr,lennon,yoko y alan white,no esta clapton ok?')la produccion suena cruda ,como me gusta sin esas cuerdas de spector.canciones como mother,working class hero,hold on,son todas buenisimas.yo tengo la version remaster del cd ,suena mucho mejor que la original.este plastic ono es la quinta produccion de lennon como solista y no hay nada como el ,tal vez imagine sea el segundo mejor.este disco no es solo el mejor disco de lennon si no tambien uno de los mejores de cualquier beatle como solista.comprenlo ya!!!! q estan esperando.
One of Lennon's best albums-or Lennon invents modern punk.......2004-03-02
Although previously reissued, this version of POB uses the best technology to deliver the best sound for a CD possible. While the Capitol version sounds great there is slightly better depth, warmth and clarity on this edition of the album.
Personally, I would have preferred to see MFS reissue this great album with both the remixed and original mix of the album (pretty easy to do as the album runs around 39 minutes if you take off the awful bonus tracks from a single which should have been on "Sometime in New York City" and not this great album. "Instant Karma" and "Cold Turkey" would have fit much, much better).
I've also listened to this great album since I first purchased it on vinyl many years ago and, I'll be honest, the remix and clean up are great. The remixing stays pretty true to the overall original mix but takes advantage of digital technology to create better depth and sound quality. The mix is a bit more sterile sounding than the original but, on the whole, it's an improvement sonically. Nevertheless, it would have made far better sense to release both versions of the album on one since the original CD has been deleted.
I think it's ironic to complain that this isn't a SACD hybrid disc since SACD essentially remixes the original album for a 5.1 format. Like the Harrison reissues, this probably should have been issued in 5.1 to begin with. Regardless, this is still an essential album from Lennon's checkered but always interesting solo career.
Mobile Fidelity Rules!.......2004-02-04
As I Understand it, the remixes were done in a high resolution PCM based format. If Mobile Fidelity had released a hi rez PCM digital album mix on SACD it would fraudelent and deceptive. Instead they gave the us best CD technologically possible of one of the greatest records in rock history.
MFSL letdown on a five star album.......2004-01-29
This review is focused on the new MFSL release, not on the album's content, which I have always given 5 stars, and have played regularly since I purchased it on lp when it first came out. I am disappointed for a few reasons.
First, why is this(and Imagine)the only recent MFSL releases that are not on SACD? All their other new releases are Hybrid/SACD, this would have been a welcome addition. Both these great albums deserved a format upgrade.
Secondly, I cannot believe they used the remix from the 2000 reissue of this cd instead of the Original Master mixes. This is the main reason I bought the disc($30), to hear an upgrade of the Original mixes. Usually MFSL sticks to the Original Masters as advertised. I compared this disc to the 2000 reissue, and there is not enough of an upgrade to warrant the expensive price.
If they had released it in SACD, or gave us the original mixes, then it would have been worthwhile. (Imagine also uses the reissue mix instead of the original).
An aside thought, although I usually like bonus tracks in general, I must say that "Power to the People", and "Do the Oz", do not fit in with Plastic Ono Band at all. The original tracks have a specific "feel" that is not present on the bonus tracks.
Although this disc sounds great, so does the reissue, which you should be able to get for alot cheaper. Insert is exactly the same as the reissue.
Overall, a big disappointment, as this disc should have, and easily could have been done better. Watch them release it on SACD or DVD-Audio within the year. I can't help but feel that they are trying to get extra purchases out of us.
Average customer rating:
|
Remember
John Lennon
Manufacturer: EMI
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
General
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
Similar Items:
- Ringo Starr and Friends
- Memory Almost Full [Deluxe Limited Edition]
- Traveling Wilburys (2CD/1DVD, Deluxe Edition)
- The U.S. vs. John Lennon
- Open Your Box (Remixes)
ASIN: B000NHT9AW |
Product Description
Track Listing:
1)#9 Dream,
2)Instant Karma! (We All Shine On)
3)Working Class Hero,
4)Hold On,
5)Watching The Wheels,
6)Remember,
7)God,
8)Mother,
9)Sean's "Little Help..."
10)Imagine,
11)Steel And Glass,
12)I'm Losing You,
13)Going Down On Love (Instructions Only)
14)Nobody Told Me,
15)Isolation,
16)Nobody Loves You (When You're Down And Out)
17)Jelous Guy,
18)(Just Like) Starting Over
Average customer rating:
- Pain Knows No Creed
- Johnny, we hardly knew ye.....
- lennon's best solo effort.
- The Best Solo Beatles Effort
- The Dream is Over...
|
John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band
John Lennon
Manufacturer: Capitol
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
General
| Pop
| Styles
| Music
Singer-Songwriters
| Pop
| Styles
| Music
General
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
Singer-Songwriters
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
Album-Oriented Rock (AOR)
| Classic Rock
| Styles
| Music
General
| Classic Rock
| Styles
| Music
Similar Items:
- Imagine
- Mind Games
- Double Fantasy
- All Things Must Pass [DIGI-PAK EDITION]
- Ram
ASIN: B000002UD2
Release Date: 1990-10-25 |
Tracks:
- Mother
- Hold On
- I Found Out
- Working Class Hero
- Isolation
- Remember
- Love
- Well Well Well
- Look At Me
- God
- My Mummy's Dead
Amazon.com
Decades later it's a little hard to appreciate just how shocking Plastic Ono Band was at the time of its release. Yes, John Lennon's first post-Beatles solo album is still a must-own for any rock fan, but decades of punk, metal, and grunge have desensitized our ears somewhat to the naked howls of despair that fill tracks like "Mother," "Isolation," and "I Found Out." In addition, "I don't believe in Beatles," the climactic line of "God," doesn't have nearly the resonance as it did around the time of the Fab Four's breakup, when such a sentiment practically bordered on heresy. And yet it's a testament to the high quality of Lennon's songs that Plastic Ono Band continues to be an incredibly moving listening experience. --Dan Epstein
Amazon.com
John Lennon Photos
More from John Lennon
Imagine |
Lennon Legend |
The U.S. vs. John Lennon |
Mind Games |
Working Class Hero |
Walls and Bridges |
Customer Reviews:
Pain Knows No Creed.......2007-06-16
'Plastic Ono Band' is still ingenious and uncompromising since its inception. John, who always wanted to be successful doing it his own way, let us know throughout the Beatle years what was on his mind: From "Help," and "I'm a Loser," to "Strawberry Fields Forever," and "I'm So Tired," Lennon never took the easy way out in pop music, except being honestly himself is easier than posturing. Here on 'POB' John showcases blistering self-pity at a time of needed catharsis and healing. Just through the angst of the Beatles split, off of heroin, and having to draw from memories of a childhood of rejection and hostility elicited from "Primal Therapy", he spares us no sentimentality. The economy of John's songwriting has seldom been sparer as he lays it all on the line.
At the time, it's been said over and over again that he alienated his audience. Since then, looking at alternative music before Kurt Cobain, et al, it seems to be several steps ahead and only time has made the no-nonsense production catch up to this brilliant work without becoming dated.
"Primal Therapy" has often been mocked and derided in the media, particularly TV and movies, but it served as a marvelous vehicle for the man and his music. The slow-crescendoing "Mother," which opens the album ends like a few others with screaming. John's sonorous vocals resonate as simple dirge-like chords accompany himself through the loss of a mother who gave him up to his auntie. (A loving relationship, if not at a distance, he lost her at seventeen, and his father abandoned them both much earlier.) Not compensated by institutions, Lennon goes after the church in "I Found Out," and "God," the finale'. In between he has a solid rocker with "Remember," a cornerstone of the album surrounding his mother's loss, but also the loss of faith in elders. "Well, Well, Well," pulsates more as he pummels over sexual shame in the midst of attempted cohesion. The album mixes slow songs well to give the listener some solace. "Love" is simply exquisite with breathey vocals and a beautiful piano and bottom-line lyrics regarding the necessity of requited love. "Isolation" does to social separation what "Well, Well, Well" did with the sexual--only more quietly. "Working Class Hero" incorporates folk to meander over societal expectations of machismo in Liverpool. "Look at Me" looks to the beloved--here Yoko--for consolation and regress for others' faults.
Ever since my first listen back in 1980 a couple months before his tragic murder, 'Plastic Ono Band' has always been a cathartic experience for me. Regardless of how I relate to my own creed in contrast to Lennon's in "God," I feel, nevertheless, the same pain. "Mind Games" would offer a different set of beliefs, for although non-religious, Lennon was certainly spiritual, and therefore not setting up a contradiction. 'POB' is accessible to everyone because he expresses so well the pain of the alienated, the rejected, and the hurt. No one does it like Lennon did, and he, like any great poet/singer/songwriter can speak a message on everyone's behalf. Here he has a corner that no one has done before or as well since. In the end all of our creeds may be different, but our pain remains the same.
Johnny, we hardly knew ye............2007-06-07
John Lennon was my hero back then, he remains my hero. Not trying to give a critical analysis, just saying that this album is unique in the history of rock and roll. The pain addressed is music to my ears. This is the only album in the history of rock and roll that proves that you don't have to spout dogma to tell the truth. Art and music were made better by this album. We love you Yoko, remain strong.
lennon's best solo effort........2007-03-13
over the years i have read so much about what an outpouring of pain this album contains. it has often been made to sound almost unlistenable because of it's dreary atmosphere. well, there are no feel good hits of the summer here, that's for sure. but it is an outstanding piece of work that bares repeated listening. "mother," "i found out," "working class hero," "isolation" "God," and "my mummy's dead," are all very bleak; songwriting confessionals where the soul is laid open, exposing pains to the listener that are not 'pleasant' to hum along with. lots of great art is painful, however. read many novels? anna karenina comes to mind. not a laugh riot, but a great piece of literature, most agree. this is sad music, painful music, yes. but this is a classic achievement in the world of music. you should not miss it just because of it's heavy atmosphere of sorrow.
The Best Solo Beatles Effort.......2007-02-27
First, I must say that I will not criticize John Lennon for his lack of lyrical consistency - after all, consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds. So I don't really care about his "message of the week" - I'm only interested in the tunes.
With that said, Plastic Ono Band is IMHO the best Beatles solo album to be released to date, and unless Paul or Ringo are unveiling something seriously unexpected sometime soon, I'd imagine it will stay that way. This album is John Lennon naked - raw emotion, frantic playing, and gutteral singing.
The opening track "Mother" starts off a harmless enough piano-based song with a nice melody, but soon transforms into Primal Scream therapy from John. "Well, Well, Well" is another example of vocals unrestrained; you can hear echoes of these two songs in later music such as Nirvana's "In Utero".
"God", "Working Class Hero", "Remember", "I Found Out" are fine examples of John working out his internal issues here for all to see - something his writing partner in his old band never had the capability to do effectively. This is about as HONEST of a CD as you'll see a performer release, and the timing of it - released in the storm of the Beatles Breakup - makes it even more interesting.
The musical styles range from gospel ("God"), to straight up reverbed rock and roll ("I Found Out") to folk ("Working Class Hero") to proto-punk ("Well, Well, Well") to tender balladry ("Love")... and Lennon shows here he can successfully execute all of those styles. Unfortunately, his first album would turn out to be his best - by quite a wide margin, IMO.
There are not a lot of bad things about this album - however, it's not as good as any of the later Beatles output (save 'Let It Be'), so to give it five stars would be unfair to those classics. But if you want to see the peak of post-Beatles creativity from the Fab Four, this would be it. The fact that the individual Beatles never rose to greater heights should tell you that the sum of the Beatles were most definitely greater than its parts.
The Dream is Over... .......2007-02-20
John was part of a major force to be reckoned with in the 60s, and even though "White Album" had sparce moments, nothing was as naked as this would be. Songs like "Look at Me" and "Well Well Well" were written while he was still a Beatle, "Cold Turkey" would have been a great fit on here (better than the extra tracks at least), and half of "Imagine" were also written during the end of the Beatles.
This album was his "hello to the 70s" statement. The end of the 60s were a letdown, let's have some hope for what lies in store in the 70s.
The album/CD is out to shock you. First shock is the f-word John uses on "Working Class Hero". 37 years and you will rarely if ever hear this on the radio. Second shock: Phil Spector produced it. Known for putting on the sappy strings on Paul's songs on "Let It Be" as well as producing this and "Imagine" for John and "All Things Must Pass" for George, this in particular is unlike any of Phil's productions.
Stark, bare, natural. Influence on punk? Listen to Suicide's first album and listen to this again.
He calls it as he sees it. He doesn't buy what religion is selling him, and is encouraging people to use their brains. He mentions Paul, but he doesn't rip him apart as he does later on "How Do You Sleep". His mother's early death has him digging up some truly raw emotion on "Mother", and his fractured relationship with his dad comes up in the song, as does his own relationship with his son Julian.
Pink Floyd's Roger Waters has said this album has had a huge impact on him when he started writing from "Dark Side of the Moon" to "The Final Cut". Artists ranging from Bowie to Streisand to Cocker have covered songs off of it, but John's vulnerable voice makes it a tough sell for anyone else to sing it.
Yoko also released her "Plastic Ono Band" the same day this was released, and some of the fans were upset that they were "tricked" into buying Yoko's album instead of John's, however if you do the John/Yoko/John that is similar to "Double Fantasy" it is an interesting listen.
Average customer rating:
- New Reissuse of Live Peace
- Yoko? Oh! No!
- Wonderful Live Appearance...
- Live Peace In Stunning 1997 Yoko Ono Remix!
- Yoko Unleashed
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Live Peace in Toronto, 1969
Plastic Ono Band , John Lennon , and Yoko Ono
Manufacturer: Toshiba EMI Japan
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
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ASIN: B00005GL8J
Release Date: 2004-04-27 |
Tracks:
- Introduction of the Band
- Blue Suede Shoes
- Money (That's What I Want)
- Dizzy Miss Lizzy
- Yer Blues
- Cold Turkey
- Give Peace a Chance
- Don't Worry, Kyoko (Mummy's Only Looking for Her Hand in the Snow)
- John, John (Let's Hope for Peace)
Customer Reviews:
New Reissuse of Live Peace.......2006-04-29
After reading the reviews here, I was inspired to get Plastic Ono Band. I was reluctant, since it had not been remastered, but I did anyway. After buying at a local retailer, opened it to find the calendar dated to 2006! Looking on the back, I realized it was a new remaster. I will leave the rest to the great reviewers here, but this is noteworty
NB it is a mobile fidelity remaster, 24 karat gold. Never heard any others, but this one sounded great.
Yoko? Oh! No!.......2005-07-31
I'm pretty much in the "can't stand Yoko" crowd, especially when it comes to this performance. I try to be empathetic and happy that Lennon truly found the love of his life in her. I would even say she had a positive effect on him overall (I think some of his very best music was written while he was in harmony with her). I even have a lot of appreciation for avant-garde music (like Faust). And Rock n' Roll isn't always meant to be pretty . . . I just don't care to be subjected to Ono's main performance from LIVE PEACE again, thank-you.
The other reviewers covered the good stuff from this show quite well on this forum already, as well as the basic background info. It's some of the rawest, rockin-est stuff any of these guys has ever done. I just want to add that Clapton in the video footage looks VERY annoyed at Ono and flashes her some scathing looks. Now, I can't claim to know what the man was thinking of course. Another reviewer who claimed to be AT this show said the crowd was booing, so maybe Clapton was teed off at that. Whatever the case, he looks like he's in sheer agony, playing through clenched teeth. Fortunately for us, he channels his feelings into some kick-ass guitar playing.
Wonderful Live Appearance..........2005-06-12
The Toronto show which this album comes from was John's first real concert away from The Beatles. He had already appeared on The Rolling Stones' Rock and Roll Circus but that was more of a TV special than it was a concert, so this pretty much constitutes his first non-Beatles gig.
It's a truly wonderful performance with Eric Clapton, brilliant as usual, on lead guitar, breaking into some great solos, Klaus Voorman (an old German friend of The Beatles) on bass, Alan White on drums, and John on lead guitar. They start off with som great rock and roll covers. The band, newly named the Plastic Ono Band, breathe great life into these covers, and they all sound very rough and loud. After they go through these covers, they perform the fantastic Beatles song Yer Blues, which sounds even better here than it does in its studio version. They also premiere John's song about his heroin habit, Cold Turkey. It's not nearly as good as the studio version, or the version the Plastic Ono Supergroup did at the Peace For Christmas concert during Christmas of 1969, but it's still enjoyable, although it basically falls apart during the end. They then do a great version of Give Peace A Chance. Although I love the original version, it's fun hearing it in this electric version, even if John forgets the lyrics occasionally, which he actually does during some of the early numbers as well.
Of course, then it goes into Yoko's section of the concert. Before you start reading, I'm going to tell you that I'm a huge Yoko fan and I think she did "punk" before it was "punk". The two songs she does here, Don't Worry Kyoko (Mummy's Only Looking For Her Hand In The Snow) and John, John (Let's Hope For Peace), are wonderful numbers, especially the first one, which has some great guitar courtesy of Eric Clapton. Eventually, the band starts leaving the stage until it's only the scream of feedback left.
Live Peace In Toronto is a great album, but it's also very rough and if you prefer the polished studio versions of these songs, then you might want to listen to them again instead of listening to this album.
Live Peace In Stunning 1997 Yoko Ono Remix!.......2005-01-16
Stunning is the word to define this CD, because it contains the entire live performance that John Lennon and his brand new group, the Plastic Ono Band, gave in September 1969 in a Rock and Roll Revival in Toronto, Canada. It was the first time that John appeared live without the Beatles. Lennon himself, Yoko Ono, Eric Clapton, Klaus Voorman, and Alan White which formed The Plastic Ono Band, a conceptual band which included a varity of talented and explorative musicans over the years. The songs included in this set are classics, and derived from the Lennon's Liverpool and Hamburg days, like Money, Dizzy Miss Lizzy, and Blue Suede Shoes. The other songs were from the late Beatles era, Yer Blues, Cold Turkey and the great Give Peace a Chance. There are two Yoko songs, Don't Worry Kyoko (Mummy's Only Looking For Her Hand In The Snow) and John, John (Let Hope For Peace), included on side two which are traditional Ono experimental with heavy electric guitar feedbacks and Yoko's unique, and utterly fascinating avant garde vocals. The sound of this CD is simply amazing, due to the remix that Ms. Ono gave to the original tapes in 1997. Definitely, a must, for all John Lennon and Yoko Ono fans. Buy it NOW!
Yoko Unleashed.......2004-12-17
This album is just so cool. Almost totally unrehearsed, the Plastic Ono Band pull off one of their greatest live shows ever. For John's side the rock 'n' roll classics are classic, 'Yer Blues' you just wish the Beatles could have played it as good on the 'White Album', the mellow version of 'Cold Turkey' you just chill out to, the re-working of 'Give Peace a chance' rocks and provides a few laughs as John make up the words as he's forgotten them.
But the most important part hasn't been played yet. John says to the audience, "Now Yoko's gonna do her thing all over you." And Yoko screeches, moans, and wails for 20 minutes as the audience watched in horror. They booed then, but these twenty minutes gave birth to Bjork, Hole, Nirvana, and pretty much all of alternative and experimental rock. For that very reason, this album is possibly one of the most significant in rock history. A must-have.
KEY TRACKS: "Give Peace a Chance" and "John John"
Average customer rating:
- Excellent first solo effort
- Go for the Gold !
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John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band
John Lennon
Manufacturer: EMI
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
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ASIN: B000051TBA
Release Date: 2000-09-20 |
Tracks:
- Mother
- Hold On
- I Found Out
- Working Class Hero
- Isolation
- Remember
- Love
- Well Well Well
- Look At Me
- God
- My Mummy's Dead
- Power To The People
- Do The Oz
Album Details
Japanese Version featuring an Outer Slipcase Cover. Tracks Are the Same as the USA Version.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent first solo effort.......2004-05-21
Plastic Ono Band (1970.) John Lennon's first solo album.
In 1970, the Beatles finally broke up after a number of clashing differences within the band. Fortunately though, the break up of the band did little to discourage fans - all four members went on to successful solo careers. John Lennon had created several solo projects prior to the break up (the Unfinished Music releases, the Wedding Album, etc.), but none of them were really albums - they were more sound collages than anything else. But, following those blunders that even Beatles die-hards tend to overlook, Lennon put together the first incarnation of his solo band, which he dubbed the Plastic Ono Band. On this, his first solo album, his old Beatles comrade Ringo Starr plays drums, and his old buddy Klaus Voorman plays bass (John met Klaus back when the Beatles were a lesser-known group and they were touring Germany. He is the person that drew the Revolver album cover.) How does John's first solo album measure up? Read on and find out.
Admittingly, this album lacks the polish and the popularity of its follow-up, Imagine, but it's a solid album for the most part. One of the biggest hits of his solo career, Mother, can be found on this album. In this track, John expresses frustration toward his father deserting him and his mother dying at a fairly young age. An alternative, edited version of this song was issued as a single (the edited single version can be found on the Lennon Legend hits compilation.) Another fairly popular song that can be found on this album is Working Class Hero. In the middle-era of the Beatles career, John was heavily influenced by Bob Dylan, and that influence really shows on this track. Here, he manages to create an excellent song with excellent lyrics. A number of other, lesser popular but still excellent tracks can also be found on the album. Billy Preston, a guest pianist on Beatle albums from the latter years, also makes an appearance on this album. As the album progresses, it comes off as uneven in places, but still, many of the songs are excellent.
This compact disc reissue of the album includes two bonus tracks that were not on the original LP. The first one is Power To The People, a fairly big hit for Lennon. The track is very popular, but until now it had only been available on compilations and singles, so it's good to finally have it on an album. Next up is the highly-bizzare Do The Oz. This is a weird track which John and Yoko wrote together. Although strange, this is a better track than some people give it credit for being. Give it a chance, and it will grow on you. There were other non-LP tracks from this era that would have made good bonus tracks, too, and I wish they would have made the cut. Also, on the case, it doesn't say anywhere that these are bonus tracks, which can lead to confusion for new fans. Another thing missing from the case (which also isn't anywhere in the liner notes) is the original album release date - this album was originally released toward the end of 1970.
Overall, John Lennon's first true album as a solo artist is a good one. It's WAY better than Ringo's Sentimental Journey, slightly better than Paul McCartney's McCartney, but not nearly as good as George Harrison's All Things Must Pass (all four of these are their solo debut albums, released in the year 1970, which is why I'm comparing THEM.) If you're a Lennon fan and you've got an open mind, give Plastic Ono Band a listen. But if you're a fan who is more on the casual side, go directly to Lennon's second solo album, Imagine. Don't bother with hits compilations; they just don't do him justice.
Go for the Gold !.......2003-12-11
If I'm gonna pay this much for the CD, I'm gonna get the best and wait until the 24k Gold CD version from Mobile Fidelity comes out! Millenium version... pleeeeeze ;)
Average customer rating:
- Beware! This is not John Lennon!
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John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band
Yoko Ono
Manufacturer: V2 Japan
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
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ASIN: B000KN9FQC
Release Date: 2007-02-05 |
Tracks:
- Why
- Why Not
- Greenfield Morning I Pushed An Empty Baby Carriage All Over The City
- Aos
- Touch Me
- Paper Shoes
- Open Your Box
- Something More Abstract
- South Wind,The
Album Description
Limited Edition Japanese pressing of this album comes housed in a miniature LP sleeve. 2007.
Album Details
Japanese Limited Edition Issue of the Album Classic in a Deluxe, Miniaturized LP Sleeve Replica of the Original Vinyl Album Artwork. Bonus Tracks Are "Open Your Box", "Something More Abstract" and "The South Wind".
Customer Reviews:
Beware! This is not John Lennon!.......2007-05-19
I mistakenly got this due to inaccurate product descriptions on the website and I've been regretting it since. I was looking for the "John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band" in which John does the singing but I didn't know until too late that there are actually two versions of this album: one with John featured which is infinitely better and one with Yoko Ono featured which is the exact opposite in terms of quality and then some. If you thought Revolution 9 from the Beatles' "White Album" was bad, you ain't heard nothing yet my friends! This album makes Captain Beefheart's "Trout Mask Replica" sound like the soundtrack to "The Sound of Music." The mlps packaging isn't that well produced as the cardboard used is very thin although it is interesting to note that both free jazz legends Ornette Coleman and Charlie Haden as well as ex-Beatles John Lennon and Ringo Starr are credited with being part of the band. The "singing" duties were done solely by Yoko herself. Primal screaming and noise making at its very best! Avoid at all costs unless you are into masochism. The album should be renamed "The Yoko Ono/Waste of Plastic Ono Band"
Not recommended!
Average customer rating:
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John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band
John Lennon
Manufacturer: Apple
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
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ASIN: B000B2UPJ8 |
Tracks:
- Mother
- Hold On
- I Found Out
- Working Class Hero
- Isolation
- Remember
- Love
- Well Well Well
- Look at Me
- God
- My Mummy's Dead
- Power to the People
- Do the Oz
Average customer rating:
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John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band
John Lennon
Manufacturer: Koch Entertainment D
ProductGroup: Music
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ASIN: B0002B9R92
Release Date: 2004-01-20 |
Tracks:
- Mother
- Hold On
- I Found Out
- Working Class Hero
- Isolation
- Remember
- Love
- Well Well Well
- Look at Me
- God
- My Mummy's Dead
- Power to the People
- Do the Oz
Average customer rating:
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John Lennon Plastic Ono Band / Mind Games
John Lennon
Manufacturer: CD Maximum
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Binding: Audio CD
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ASIN: B000J3G8Z4 |
Product Description
2 albums on 1CD- 23 trx total- "JOHN LENNON PLASTIC ONO BAND" -11 trx & "MIND GAMES" -12 trx. Rare official release made exclusively for Russia, in English.
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