I do think the Mind Games deluxe set as well as this incredible book illuminates the underrated quality of the songs on the album and how John & Yoko lived their lives very genuinely for celebrities. Lennon was a human being who did stick his neck out for people, as well as have character flaws & weaknesses. Like all human beings!
Great work John - I have the Imagine and Plastic Ono Band books so will be getting this one too. They're beautifully produced. Currently working my way through Mixing Up The Medicine, an equally stunning book and a must for Dylan fans.
I understand why John feels a need to say Yoko should have equal billing on these products and that she is a respected artist. But reality is represented in the comment sections in YT where she continues to have low favorability. Whether that is because some people still blame her for the breakup of the Beatles, or perhaps the clips of her interjecting noises during John's live performances and on record, or the way she treated Julian after John's death, etc.... I just don't see that changing, even 50 years on. Perhaps someone will read this 50 years from now and chime in.
So the Mind Games book covers the period from 1971 to Mind Games in 1973…so I guess Sometime in NYC is now an afterthought and it’s obvious the box got “canceled” . I guess that one song Deep Sixed it.
@@shyman99 It had some good tunes…New York City is one of Lennon’s great rockers. Sunday Bloody Sunday is absolutely killer and has very powerful lyrics. John Sinclair is a pretty good blusey protest song. There are some stinkers in there for sure. I think the bigger issue is that they merged John and Yoko’s early New York City era (late 71 to 1972) inky the Mind Games era. This is historically inaccurate and it also shows clearly that the planned Box Set for “Sometime in NYC” (which likely would have included a remastered “One to One” concert, etc.) was indeed scuttled as many speculated all because the “one song” proved too much of a hassle.
Sometime in New York did have some good songs but the subject matter eg Angela and John Sinclair are a turn off for me . People don’t want to be preached at. Also I resent having another artist forced on me. When I buy a Lennon album that what I want. Some of Yoko stuff is ok but I would prefer to have just Lennons stuff. The second album was crap IMO . I bought the album when it came out and was hugely disappointed with it for the reasons above . If they do reissue it I would hope they forget the second album and find something else to make it a double if that’s what they want but I would make it a single album. I know everybody raves about Lennons solo stuff but honestly IMO a lot of it was sub Beatle standard with only a few songs in the Beatle league.
Yoko Ono was and is an artist and influenced John hugely and intellectually. But to suggest she was Lennons equal musically is nonsense. Lennon went to lengths to try and pretend she was but her music was rubbish like wailing in a sack on stage. Around the time of the break up he even said her music was better than the Beatles but we will forgive him as he himself spoke some rubbish around this time. IMO she could have done more in the 70s to encourage John to have a good relationship with Paul and George but she was worried about John getting back to being close to Paul so discouraged it.
Very informative and well thought through video John
I do think the Mind Games deluxe set as well as this incredible book illuminates the underrated quality of the songs on the album and how John & Yoko lived their lives very genuinely for celebrities. Lennon was a human being who did stick his neck out for people, as well as have character flaws & weaknesses. Like all human beings!
A positively delightful tome
This is another good video, and you make me want to hear those Yoko albums!
Great video, thanks for sharing.
It’s a fabulous well informed book
If these books continue through to MAH we will have as close to a detailed account of their lives as we are likely to get
Great work John - I have the Imagine and Plastic Ono Band books so will be getting this one too. They're beautifully produced. Currently working my way through Mixing Up The Medicine, an equally stunning book and a must for Dylan fans.
Looks good John, will put it on the Xmas list.
I understand why John feels a need to say Yoko should have equal billing on these products and that she is a respected artist. But reality is represented in the comment sections in YT where she continues to have low favorability. Whether that is because some people still blame her for the breakup of the Beatles, or perhaps the clips of her interjecting noises during John's live performances and on record, or the way she treated Julian after John's death, etc.... I just don't see that changing, even 50 years on. Perhaps someone will read this 50 years from now and chime in.
Yoko wrote most of the Beatles songs from about 1966 on. She also played bass on all tracks on both Let It Be and Abbey Road.
Completely irrelevant to the topic at hand, but I love your Tintin book covers on the wall
He obviously isn’t a great man to treat Yoko that way. Not to mention his treatment of Julian.
Excellent review, Mate
Can you visit John Lennon’s first flat in New York City?
Mark David Chapman
So the Mind Games book covers the period from 1971 to Mind Games in 1973…so I guess Sometime in NYC is now an afterthought and it’s obvious the box got “canceled” . I guess that one song Deep Sixed it.
One song? Most people want to forget the entire album ever happened. I don't call it an afterthought. I call it purposeful amnesia.
@@shyman99 It had some good tunes…New York City is one of Lennon’s great rockers. Sunday Bloody Sunday is absolutely killer and has very powerful lyrics. John Sinclair is a pretty good blusey protest song. There are some stinkers in there for sure. I think the bigger issue is that they merged John and Yoko’s early New York City era (late 71 to 1972) inky the Mind Games era. This is historically inaccurate and it also shows clearly that the planned Box Set for “Sometime in NYC” (which likely would have included a remastered “One to One” concert, etc.) was indeed scuttled as many speculated all because the “one song” proved too much of a hassle.
Sometime in New York did have some good songs but the subject matter eg Angela and John Sinclair are a turn off for me . People don’t want to be preached at. Also I resent having another artist forced on me. When I buy a Lennon album that what I want. Some of Yoko stuff is ok but I would prefer to have just Lennons stuff. The second album was crap IMO . I bought the album when it came out and was hugely disappointed with it for the reasons above . If they do reissue it I would hope they forget the second album and find something else to make it a double if that’s what they want but I would make it a single album. I know everybody raves about Lennons solo stuff but honestly IMO a lot of it was sub Beatle standard with only a few songs in the Beatle league.
Yoko Ono was and is an artist and influenced John hugely and intellectually. But to suggest she was Lennons equal musically is nonsense. Lennon went to lengths to try and pretend she was but her music was rubbish like wailing in a sack on stage. Around the time of the break up he even said her music was better than the Beatles but we will forgive him as he himself spoke some rubbish around this time. IMO she could have done more in the 70s to encourage John to have a good relationship with Paul and George but she was worried about John getting back to being close to Paul so discouraged it.
Nauseating.