Shaved Fish

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
John Lennon's solo hits have been repackaged numerous times since his tragic death in 1980, but Shaved Fish--the only compilation actually released during his lifetime--remains the strongest solo Lennon collection. As with his former partner Paul McCartney, Lennon's post-Beatles albums were (with the notable exceptions of Plastic Ono Band and Imagine) generally patchy affairs, but his singles were almost uniformly excellent. Shaved Fish includes all of his hits from 1969 to 1975, including such non-LP singles as "Instant Karma," "Cold Turkey," and "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)." These tracks and others mirror the political and social turbulence of the Nixon era, as well as the inner turmoil that gripped Lennon during this period, but there's still room for the occasional slice of pure pop, like "#9 Dream" and "Whatever Gets You Through the Night." In short, it's a compelling capsule of Lennon's post-Fabs, pre-domestic-bliss period. --Dan Epstein

Tracks:

Medley: Give Peace A Chance/Cold Turkey
Instant Karma!
Power To The People
Mother
Woman Is The Nigger Of The World
Imagine
Whatever Gets You Through The Night
Mind Games
#9 Dream
Medley: Happy Xmas (War Is Over)/Give Peace A Chance (Reprise)
Medley: Happy Xmas (War Is Over)/Give Peace A Chan

Amazon.com

John Lennon's solo hits have been repackaged numerous times since his tragic death in 1980, but Shaved Fish--the only compilation actually released during his lifetime--remains the strongest solo Lennon collection. As with his former partner Paul McCartney, Lennon's post-Beatles albums were (with the notable exceptions of Plastic Ono Band and Imagine) generally patchy affairs, but his singles were almost uniformly excellent. Shaved Fish includes all of his hits from 1969 to 1975, including such non-LP singles as "Instant Karma," "Cold Turkey," and "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)." These tracks and others mirror the political and social turbulence of the Nixon era, as well as the inner turmoil that gripped Lennon during this period, but there's still room for the occasional slice of pure pop, like "#9 Dream" and "Whatever Gets You Through the Night." In short, it's a compelling capsule of Lennon's post-Fabs, pre-domestic-bliss period. --Dan Epstein

Customer Reviews:

What a shame!.......2005-10-02

The Singles" Happy Xmas (War Is Over) " was copied from Peter Paul and Mary "In The Wind 1963"-Stewball (Mezzetti/Stookey/ Okun/ Travers). They had the same melody! What a shame!

Lennons own greatest hits.......2005-09-09

John Lennon was a genius. That much is a given. With the beatles he helped craft the seminal sound of a generation. Their career has been constantly repackaged into greatest hits collections. However, this greatest hits collection is Lennon's own selection of his solo hits. The gem of this collection is the non-album single Instant Karma, which some of the less educated may know as Shine On. Lennon's other selected hits include the classic Imagine, the cathartic Mother and my favorite Christmas song of all time Happy Xmas(War is Over). Bottom line is, if your a Beatles/Lennon fan, please buy this disc

The Essence of Lennon.......2005-06-04

Of all the compilations of Lennon's solo music to come out, I personally find this one to be the best. Not only is every song listenable, you may find yourself playing songs over to fully grasp the strength of his lyrics as well.
Lennon fully captures spirit of the 60's and 70's peace movement in songs like "Instant Karma", "Power to the People", and especially "Give Peace A Chance". "Cold Turkey" is more or less rock & roll styled music. "9 Dream" is smooth yet somewhat astral; "Whatever Gets You Through the Night" is more fast paced. "Mother" is a gripping peace spoken as a manchild to his departed mother. "Happy Xmas" is far from a commercial holiday song. Instead it pleads with the listener on a musical level to celebrate in the true peaceful spirit of the holidays. And of course there's the megahit "Imagine", which gives one a window into Lennon's ideal world.
What I like best about this album is that although the music can make you almost feel the 'make love not war' movement right in your home today, every song still holds up artistically. If you really want to know Lennon, you must have this cd.

This man was gifted...He is too much for me!!.......2005-01-25

Man, I wish I was aware of his music back in the 70's but I was a small pre-K lad growing up in Texas more concerned about playing with toys than music. Shaved Fish really moved me beyond anything I have heard. This was the first Lennon album I ever purchased. ''Mother'', Power to the People", ''Cold Turker'' and "Woman is the" are some really compelling songs that I think are really on a level of its own. Spector's "Wall of Sound" created a real masterpiece for one to enjoy. Stevie Wonder coming in at the end of the album and dueting with John Lennon is a real treat. I hope Ono releases that particular track cause I am hoping to hear that in its entirety. It would have been a real treat if Lennon and Wonder had done a whole album together. That record would sell like hotcakes!! Just like the single, ''Ebony and Ivory" did with McCartney. Shaved Fish is by far one of the best greatest hits packages I have ever heard and it is by far more superior than any of the packages that have been relased of late. Overall, this record is too damn good.

FOR THE TRUE BEATLE FAN.......2004-01-29

This review should actually encompass all of the Beatles' recordings, as a group as well as the individual efforts of John, Paul, George, and Ringo, but reviewing this CD will do. IF YOU ARE A TRUE, REAL, NO-NONSENSE BEATLE FAN, NO OTHER REVIEW LESS THAN A PERFECT ONE WILL DO!!! IF YOU LOVE THE BEATLES, YOU WILL BUY THIS, AS WELL AS ALL OTHER BEATLE MUSIC! IF YOU DON'T HAVE IT,GET IT. IF YOU HAVE IT IN ANOTHER FORMAT, GET THE CD. SHAVED FISH is a fantastic album, but then again, John Lennon is, was, and always will be THE musical genius of our time and all other times to come.

Average customer rating:

Shaved Fish
John Lennon
Manufacturer: Parlophone
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Pop | 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

Classic Rock | Imports | Stores | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000B2UPKM
Release Date: 1975-01-01

Tracks:

Give Peace a Chance - John Lennon, John Lennon
Cold Turkey
Instant Karma!
Power to the People
Mother
Woman Is the Nigger of the World - John Lennon, John Lennon
Imagine
Whatever Gets You Thru the Night
Mind Games
#9 Dream
Medley: Happy Xmas (War Is over)/Give Peace a Chance (Reprise) - John Lennon, John Lennon

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