Customer Reviews

Double Fantasy

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(23)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Of course, most people who bought this CD bought it to hear John Lennon's classics, "Woman," "Watching the Wheels," etc. Many others bought it because it was John Lennon's last record, (not true, "Milk and Honey" is still out of print, but the recently released "John Lennon Anthology" may trigger some interest in laying it on CD) but hardly anyone out there understands Yoko. If most of you out there would drop the pre-judgment that Yoko is awful, you might like much of her music. It is truly revolutionary. This album marked a comeback for both of the artists (both living "private lives" dating back to about 1975) and would be some of the last moments of John Lennon's career. He did not go out on any sour notes; nearly all of the John Lennon songs on this CD are also on the "John Lennon Collection" greatest hits compilation. "Milk and Honey" also boasts classics, most notably "I Don't Want To Face It." (Reissue it!!!) As mentioned before, Yoko does show her brilliance on these two albums as well, most notably with "Kiss Kiss Kiss." However, these are not Yoko Ono's crowning achievments. For any Yoko basher to truly dissolve their misconceptions, they should check out "Season Of Glass." As for John, his stuff on this is typically classic, but his BEST best would have to be the intimate "Plastic Ono Band." "Double Fantasy" is a very interesting and vital crossroads.

"Starting Over" has a great beat and is Lennon at his adult best. He's in-love and on top of the world. This song is brimming with past, present and future, in another words: Yoko Ono. "Kiss Kiss Kiss" is a Yoko we had not heard before. The beat is avant-garde but danceable and erotic. This song was a preview of what was to become cutting edge during the next decade. "Cleanup Time" is an autobiographical piece. Both "Double Fantasy" and "Milk and Honey" had these day to day what's happening between John and Yoko interplays. What's really interesting here is the dialogue between John and Yoko. Both LP's are brutally honest and passionate, warts and all. "Give Me Something" shoots back at Lennon's preceeding song. Then comes the sad "I'm Losing You" with his usual wit and sarcasm. "I'm Moving On" is Yoko again shooting back in this unfolding love - hate dialogue. This song has the bite of a great white. "Beautiful Boy" is Lennon at his most tender. I always thought the intro warm and inviting: with the ocean surf breaking into the three lighthearted chimes (one for each of them) as an almost Oriental mood takes hold. "Watching The Wheels" is vintage Lennon. This one and "Nobody Told Me" (from "Milk and Honey") were the two songs that took me back to the early wit and insight of Beatle Lennon. "Yes, I'm You're Angel" is Yoko being so unOno with this coy school girl singsong song. It works. But what a departure from her early LP's. "Woman" is Lennon's masterpiece here. It will grow and age well with time. "Beautiful Boys" and "Dear Yoko" are my two least favorite songs on the LP. "Every Man Has A Woman" is Yoko's other great song on this LP. This one jets into the New Wave of the 80's. I instantly liked this one. "Hard Times Are Over" is ironic, to say the least, when you think of what happened. "Walking On Thin Ice" takes its rightful place on this re-release. It has a relevance and history all by itself. This song remains one of Yoko's Masterpieces. The walk through Central Park is a lovely stroll with John, Yoko & friends. I purchased the LP before 12-08-80. It's so sad when you think of all the symphonies he might have writ.... I never tire of seeing the black and white LP photo of John and Yoko kissing. While on the back cover are these two political stoics standing solid and dignified on a street corner in New York City. The contrast between the front cover jacket and the back cover always caught my attention. Lovers and artists caught on camera for all of history.

This should have been the greatest time in John and Yoko's life.A wonderfull album,Raising 5 year old Sean,the start of MTV,who know's what kind of music would have followed "Double Fantasy.John's songs are fantastic."Starting over," the first single released was amazing,and John got to see the record climb to Number 1.His fans were still with him after being away for five years."Women,I'm Losing you,Cleanup Time," are wonderfull cuts also,but my favorite is "Beautifull Boy," written about Sean.I love the line,"Before you cross the street,take my hand,life is what happens to you while your busy making other plans."My favorite song of Yoko's is "Kiss,Kiss,Kiss." I think this numbers a great Disco cut,and very experimental and different.I'm also glad Yoko's "Walking on Thin Ice," is included in this new version.John was murdered coming home from the studio working on the record.Its unreal,but John would have been 60 this year.The World lost 20years of wonderfull,experimental,peaceloving sounds from one of the greats.

I bought this CD when I was ten after purchasing the John Lennon Collection. I loved it, everything about it (yes, even Yoko's contributions). This album was recorded after a five-year break from the public eye, which is exactly what John needed. Free from a record deal, he began writing songs for himself, and just wrote because he felt like it, not because he was being pressured by a label. That is one of the reasons that this album is so great, because John wrote these at his own pace, and had all the time in the world to perfect them. Because of this, his work on this album ended up being his best work. As a 16 year old who has been John Lennon's biggest fan for about six years now, I would reccomend this album to anyone. Yoko's work is also quite good, it may have to grow on you, but trust me. Even if you absolutely hate Yoko's vocals, it won't matter, because John's work on here is just so good.

When John Lennon's second son Sean Taro Ono Lennon was born on John 35th birthday on October 9,1975,John,at least temporarily,retired from making music to raise Sean and spend time with Sean's mother Yoko Ono. Sean was 4,nearly 5 years old when John returned to the studio to record this album,which would be his last,while alive. This album was a joint project for John and Yoko(Yoko wrote and recorded some tracks by herself). November 1980 saw the release of this album with its first Top 20 single JUST LIKE STARTING OVER,which later appeared on the posthumously released THE JOHN LENNON COLLECTION. KISS KISS KISS is one of Yoko's compositions. Also that appeared on TJLC are another Top 20 hit WOMAN,another Top 20 hit WATCHING THE WHEELS,I'M LOSING YOU,BEAUTIFUL BOY(DARLING BOY),an ode to Sean and DEAR YOKO. This album is one of the first released on the newly christened Geffen label,a subsidiary of Warner Bros. All the other songs are good. This album even won an Album of the Year Grammy(1981) in early 1982. A few weeks after the release of this album,40-year-old John Lennon was shot and killed by an insane fan who hours earlier requested and received an autograph from the entertainer. I dedicate this album to the memory of John(October 9,1940-December 8,1980).

Recorded as a comeback attempt, it is now impossible to listen to it in that context. This album must be listened to as a whole to understand the full effect. Many have preconceived notions of Yoko's music but her songs on this album are a lot of fun to listen to. This contains a lot of John's most accessible music and a lot of this has been repackaged, minus the Yoko songs. Do yourself a favor and listen to this all the way through and you'll have a better appreciation for John and Yoko.

This is John Lennon finally achieving some kind of maturity as a man, and a return to fine craftmanship as an artist. It is also Yoko Ono at her most accessible. And, it is a great new-wave New York sound from 1980.

I remember the day John Lennon was killed. He'd spent years in seclusion and somehow many blamed his wife, Yoko Ono. Then he emerged and wrote some good songs for this then new album. They were his OWN, not those of Yoko, remixed or redone. He finally showed that he had a mind of his own. He got lost and then came "Starting Over" which he tried to do. And then he was gone. Being a collector, I rushed out and bought the record. I just wanted to have his last work and it was well worth my time and listening to it all the way thru. He is still missed and this last album made it clear that Ono was still the love of his life, even though there has continued to be bad press about her. I think he would be disappointed.

Double Fantasy's slickness is its salvation. Lennon's solo work could be stunning and original but it could also be mundane and sloppy. Double Fantasy manages to reinvent Lennon by allowing him to revisit the pop sound of early rock'n'roll and the Beatles. Please Please Me or She Loves You wouldn't be out of place here musically. Lennon's best material captures the happiness at finding his creative muse again. Although some of the outtakes on the boxset have the fire lacking on some of the tracks here (most notably on the I'm Losing You recorded with 3/4 of Cheap Trick), Lennon's solid vocals and inspired melodies come to the fore and save the album.

Ono's contributions allow her to reinvent herself. She comes across as a kooky art-popster (in fact one can hear echoes of Ono in the B-52's and vice a versa). New wave had a tremendous impact on this album's production sheen and power pop sensibilities. Lennon never really created anything else quite like this album which is his power pop masterpiece. POB, Imagine and even Walls and Bridges resonate with either the grit or sense of isolation found on Lennon's mid to late period Beatles albums. These three albums (particularly the outtakes from Walls and Bridges vs. the final album) fit together as an imperfect tryptch of Lennon's salvation through music.

It's rather surprising given Jack Douglas' involvement with the album (he's produced both Aerosmith and Cheap Trick) that the production sounds so bland....but, again, that harks back to Lennon's childhood fascination with Phil Spector and singles from the 50's. A bit more grit would have earned this album a five star rating but as the last offical testament from John (remember, Milk and Honey was a posthumous release and unfinished at the time of his death so, technically, this is his last album)Double Fantasy more than holds its own.

Double Fantasy is a great Lennon album. Even if you don't like Yoko, you have to admit her songs on here do go along good with John's songs. The obviously best songs on this album, however, are some of Lennon's last songs. (Just Like) Starting Over, Beautiful Boy, Watching The Wheels, and Woman are some of his all time best songs. This album is essential to any fan.