Customer Reviews

Double Fantasy Stripped Down [New Mix + Original Recording Remastered]

5 star:		(48)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

It's been impossible to listen to this album separate from the context of Lennon's death for the past 30 years, and in many ways it still is. But if the "Stripped Down" version doesn't exactly reclaim the album (it is, after all, a collection of pop songs meant as a snapshot in time, not the valedictory artistic statement fate turned it into), the warmth and immediacy of the remix definitely unyokes it from the time and place of it's making and turns it into an album for the ages. For me, it's less about what's missing here, or what's been changed there, but that the whole overall feel of the album, and specifically the presence of Lennon's voice, is more direct and impactful. So, if it's not a revelatory rediscovery of the music, it's definitely the better version of the album, and the one I'll be listening to.

For too many years to recall, Double Fantasy was a difficult listen, very problematic to separate the murder of John Lennon from the joyfulness of the music that John displays here in his half of the album. When I went back to the album years later with the release of Milk and Honey, I excluded the Yoko material. Yesterday, I played the entire record and I must say I'm quite surprised at how good Yoko's material is, the vocals are not up to professional standards, but the music is really quite vital and exciting in no small measure due to John's intuitive abilities. The new mix is the real deal for me, I never liked the Gospel singing girls on "Starting Over", they are completely wiped off the "Stripped Down" version to astonishing effect. The new mix features a crispness to the songs, with John's voice no longer being double tracked and background singers being wiped clean. JL's voice is also brought far up into the mix as is the drums. The guitars sparkle with clarity, and in fact all of the songs have a spaciousness and clarity not heard before with these tracks, also most importantly the whole affair has been flattened out, it doesn't sound like John's singing between two mountains, the echo of the vocals has vanished and that brings a lot of warmth to the proceedings. I'd give this album as a whole, 4 stars, but the Lennon songs are worth five, this collection represents some of his best solo material. The song "Woman" actually sounds like an alternate take to me, the others sound like the originals, some of the songs continue to run past the original length and offer some interesting differences. All in all this is a terrific buy as you get the Original CD and the new mix for the price of one, so really only a Blue Meanie would criticize something that's essentially given away with the original. Highly recommended.

First of all, some people don't like remasters/re-releases since they see it as just for money. You don't have to buy it though. However, one point for them besides improved sound that the big fans do want, is a way to introduce it to younger or newer fans. And it's also a good way to mark a certain occasion, like what would be his 70th Birthday week.

As for the album, I went and got it today, and the original version sounds good and crisp. John's songs are all perfect, he was at the top of his game. As for Yoko's, it's not that bad. Her music is not very mainstream, but there are some songs that are worth listening to: "Kiss Kiss Kiss", "I'm Moving On"(Does go great with John's "I'm losing you"), "Give me something" and "Hard times are over."

As for the stripped down version, you can definitely hear the vocals more. The differences aren't intense, but you can tell. To me, "Woman" is the biggest difference from the original, the acoustic guitar really stands out. The stripped version is like an added bonus, and was a good idea to make the music fresh and make the vocals stand out some more, without changing it too much. I think it's worth a buy, $12.99(price as of this writing) is a great deal for the two albums.

Listening to 'I'm Losing You' as I type and it's simply great. gritty and intimate.
Stripped Down is def. worth having, and you also get the original version if you don't like Stripped. 2 for the price of 1.

I remember when this album came out when I was in 10th grade. I bought the LP day of release and liked it --but didn't love it. Even my other friends in 10th grade knew it was, shall we say-'overcooked'. But we were exited he was back, no doubt about it.

'Just Like Starting Over', though a good radio single, sounded as over-processed as a slice of American Cheese to our ears. We were into the Clash and Adam Ant at the time, so it just didn't fit into where music was at the time. But then again, it was his Middle Aged album, and we were not his intended audience.

I also didn't much like or connect with Yoko's songs(though 'walking on this ice' from these same sessions was superb) but I got over it as the years passed. It is what it is, and much of her DF stuff is sweet in retrospect using the ears of a now middle aged person.

(Side note: I used to loudly play Yoko's 'Don't Worry Kyoko (Mummys Only Looking for a Hand in the Snow)' to torture my parents when they pissed me off. It's truly god awful, but in an oddly great way)

One thing to keep in mind about DF is that John wouldn't have gone in the studio at all if it hadn't been for Yoko. He stated plainly in interviews around the time that it was a showcase for her, so she could get some recognition for her music, which he felt she deserved (and which in all honesty is debatable).

So to all the Yoko haters giving this a low rating out of sheer spite--please grow up--and don't dis this grittier version (alongside the original version) because Yoko made you mad when you were`a child. Time to move on my friends.

Simple fact: Double Fantasy is a classic. Lennon's last fully realized LP showcased a man moving comfortably into middle age, growing up without growing completely content. The songs are sharp, witty, and often moving. The original mixes included here are a great sonic trip down memory lane.

Now onto the "Stripped Down" version included here. To these ears, it improves on the original mixes in every way. The echo is gone from the vocals, superfluous background vocals have been removed, and nearly every instrument is heard in greater relief and clarity than it was on the original release. Tony Levin's stellar bass work, in particular, on these tracks stands out as one of the main drivers of these tunes.

"Just Like Starting Over" benefits from this arrangement, adding warmth and depth while removing the surface gloss. "Cleanup Time" and "I'm Losing You" get the most from removing the echo, and the other tracks are similarly well served. Sure to be overlooked here is what the new mixes have done to Yoko's contributions--they're all richer in the new context than before. Yoko's music has always been about intimacy, and simplifying the mixes and putting her vocals up front reveals the passion she brought to the project. In fact, rather than serve as the distraction from John most people thought they were 30 years ago, they instead provide a strong counterpoint to his songs, and show that Yoko is an accomplished artist in her own right. To be sure, she's not on John's level, but her contributions no longer grate as they once did.

Overall, this new disc is nothing short of a revelation, and a stronger album for it. Highly, highly recommended.

I went out and bought this CD yesterday with high hopes and "Stripped Down" exceeded my expectations. The original version of Double Fantasy was a bit over-produced and now many songs sound dated with respect to the over-production.

John Lennon was an incredible artist and performer. Sadly most of his solo material was over-produced by Phil Spector, or in this case Jack Douglas.

Here on "Stripped Down" you can hear John's vocals up-front and very clear. The additional intros and fade-outs are a joy to listen to. You really can hear how much John enjoyed recording this album.

"Double Fantasy" included some of Yoko's best performances. Her stripped down versions of "Yes, I'm Your Angel" and "Beautiful Boys" are fantastic.

The final two tracks, "Every Man Has A Woman" and "Hard Times Are Over" are prizes, as John's backing vocals are brought up front, and as a result these Yoko songs now are close to being duets, with Yoko AND John both singing lead. Back in 1984, there was a John Lennon-only version of "Every Man Has A Woman." I believe it was released as a flip-side to one of the Milk & Honey singles. It would have been great if they had included this version as a bonus track.

Bottom line, this is a top-notch release and I recommend it to all JL fans.

I have read all reviews and oh boy, poor Yoko. The critisism this poor womman gets! First of all, thank you, Yoko, for making it possible for us TRUE Lennon fans to be able to hear something we have never heard before from Lennon for the past 30 years. As stated in one of the reviews, i too believe that you release his material for his fans...i'm very greatful for that....the thought of "making money" doesn't even cross my mind...only the excitement of a new Lennon release. For those of you that think that only the Lennon half is worth listening to, then you're all totally missing the point of this album anyway....he wouldn't have been able to title it "double fantasy" if the album didn't include Yoko....in my opinion, it's totally classic...all great songs from BOTH John & Yoko...to me, this is yoko at her best...they were both at the top of their game with this recording. Any TRUE Lennon fan is going to be thankful for this release...i mean what is not to like?...The version of "Woman" on the Stripped cd is completely awesome...infact they all are..just hearing Lennon's talent flow endlessly from start to finish...you can even hear him harmonizing some of Yoko's vocals, which of course go GREAT together. And as far as all of Yoko's songs, she's flawless throughout. A Pure classic, plus the newly remastered original version....how can you go wrong?? Everything is so much crisper and clearer. You've done it again Yoko...another GREAT release...I hope you have many plans to keep John Lennon's music alive in the future..they have all been so appreciated....and just for the record..Yoko Ono/ Season Of Glass is classic too....he was definately there helping you make that album!! The bottom line??...any true fan is going to completely love this release.

The remaster of the original Double Fantasy is beautifully done. Like many of the second wave of digital remasters, it adds depth, detail and clarity without messing with the essential sound of the original. To me it's on par with the remastered Milk and Honey I already have; less dramatic than the recent Beatles remasters though (probably because of the better quality source material).

The stripped down disc though is where this really shines. Obviously this is where people's opinions differ. For myself: as much as I love the original, it is so sweet to hear it without the 80s overproduction. Although they made a few decisions I disagree with (some parts of some tracks sound more like demos than than alternate production values - most especially, the opening chords to Starting Over, which just sound thin and sloppy), overall it's a sublime revisioning of the album with a rougher, rawer edge that I like. A huge aspect of this is to do with Lennon's voice having been stripped of all the reverb and double-tracking. He has such a gorgeous voice, so expressive, and John Lennon the person really comes through here in a way he couldn't under all that processing.

This takes it to another area where I have seen this criticised. John Lennon HATED the sound of his own voice and was always changing it through double-tracking, reverb, speeding up, and so on. He would NEVER have let this be released (and Yoko said as much in an interview). But I'm glad it was anyway, because it's really something. We don't always know what's best for us, and we don't always assess ourselves accurately. John was wrong about himself in this regard. (And for those outraged that "other people" should come in and make these decisions, Double Fantasy was never a John Lennon album: it was a John Lennon and Yoko Ono album and she has as much right as him to make decisions about it.)

And speaking of Yoko: unlike many I don't hate her material but I do find her voice difficult, and I don't think it always fits well alongside John's. But the stripped down treatment is very kind to her material. Her voice doesn't trouble me in the same way, and the overall feel and sound of her songs is, somehow, in some way, better.

Anyway, I'd recommend the remastered original album to anyone (it is a true classic of our time, being a beautiful comeback album from a great artist reinventing himself), but the stripped down version is probably for those who are fans or just appreciate his work.

Dean

Okay, I'm not very critical when it comes to Lennon or the Beatles, but this is a real treat. No, not for the casual listener (unless you don't already have Double Fantasy, in which case this is a bargain), but I appreciate any chance to hear music that I love from another perspective. The key for me is that each new "rendering" provides me with a greater appreciation of the artistry.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOHN, and thanks for sharing your life with us.

The original slick-as-snot production of Double Fantasy has not been improved by remastering--the Stripped Down version, however, is a different story. First off, what a joy to hear (Just Like) Starting Over without the cloying choir! The alternating songs by John and Yoko sound like they belong to the same sessions now, instead of some clumsy editing job of separate solo efforts. Each song benefits from the more intimate (and rocking) sound. The album as a whole is infinitely more listenable. John's humor and rock and roll instincts and Yoko's, sometimes brutal, directness play well off each other. I give the Stripped Down version 5 stars not only because the songs sound great, but because I can happily play it in my car--which is the real test of a classic.