Customer Reviews

Imagine

5 star:		(75)
4 star:		(28)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

What is it about Lennon's Imagine that makes it his most popular work? If Plastic Ono Band showed Lennon finally grabbling with the demons of his youth, Imagine demonstrated that Lennon hadn't abandoned his songcraft. He also hadn't allowed that songcraft to overshadow the content of his songs (as on later solo albums Mind Games and Walls & Bridges). There is a maturity in the best songs from Imagine that was only hinted at previously.

If you already own Imagine is it worth buying again? It depends on how much you like the album. The depth, clarity and overall sound quality has been greatly improved. You won't hear any striking differences in the mix as Yoko Ono and engineer Peter Cobbin have remained faithful to the original mix as much as possible. I've read several reviews here about how the sound doesn't "jump out" at you like the outtakes from the Anthology boxset. There's a simple reason for this; the outtakes were no frills takes without overdubbing. Additionally, those tracks were unfamiliar to most fans (except those who had the bootleg boxset)and that unfamiliarity (along with the minor differences between the different takes)allowed one to listen to them with a fresh set of ears. Imagine has become overfamiliar to most folks just from all the radio airplay most of the songs have received over the years.

The booklet isn't a huge improvement over the original CD booklet. It does have some rare and previously unpublished photos. The lyrics were printed on both the original album sleeve and the CD reissue and they are here as well. What this album lacks is a bit more information on the recording sessions themselves. It would have been interesting to see Imagine reissued in a simliar fashion to McCartney's Band On The Run reissue from last year. While the Band On The Run reissue wasn't perfect, McCartney at least attempted to provide added value with the interview portions and live takes on the second disc. Still, one can only imagine (pardon the pun) all the criticism Yoko would have received if she had attempted to "tamper" with this classic recording even more than she did.

Is Imagine worth purchasing again? If you love the album then the answer is yes. The sound on the original CD was pretty poor (partially due to the condition of the mastertapes). This remix brings new vitality to a handful of great (and a couple of not so great) songs. Imagine wasn't Lennon's definitive statement as an artist. However its boldest and best tracks rank up there with the best material Lennon wrote both with the Beatles and as a solo artist.

One of the most enjoyable things about the re-release of remastered editions of albums, such as this, is the opportunity to revisit music you have not heard in years to see if it still holds up-this CD does. "Imagine," more than any other Lennon album, shows the almost schizophrenic nature of John's work. Songs from John the idealist and romantic (the title track and "Oh, My Love" for example) are juxtaposed next to songs by a bitter and tortured John (his scathing attack on Paul McCartney, "How Do You Sleep?" and "Gimme Some Truth"). Sometimes these elements appear in the same song-the lyrics of "Crippled Inside" are serious and personal but the backing music has an almost dance-hall feel to it.

You should note that this CD was not only "remastered" but "remixed" under the direction of Yoko Ono, John's widow. This gave me some pause as I considered that the integrity of the original music might be compromised in an attempt to update or modernize the sound of this classic album. However, there is nothing to fear. The remastering and remixing is perfect-the music and vocals are given room to breath as each musical element can be clearly heard. This especially helps songs like "I Don't Wanna Be a Soldier" which previously sounded cramped and cluttered. The music, and especially John's voice, are remarkably clear. What this new version also shows is that while John may not have been the most technically polished singer he was certainly one of rock's more emotional vocalists-he sings each song with great feeling and care. The very timbre of his voice communicates deep seeded emotions. Moreover, the inclusion of "Jealous Guy," one of the best love songs Lennon ever wrote, is worth the price of this CD alone.

When the name "John Lennon" is mentioned today, an image of the proto-dreamer sitting at his piano calmly asserting his starry-eyed ideals over a serene melody immediately comes to mind. When Mr. Lennon first strayed from The Beatles, however, his character was much harder to pinpoint. While his former songwriter partner, Paul McCartney, established early-on that he intended to remain a baby-faced poprocker, Mr. Lennon threw a few curveballs before fully developing the personality that is now his mythos.

His first projects outside The Beatles were three LPs, released from 1968 to 1969, on which he collaborated with unconventional, Japanese "performance artist" and his soon-to-be wife, Yoko Ono on a series of experimental tracks, consisting of freeform instrumental noodling, sound effects and spoken or screamed voices (The first of which, the infamous Two Virgins, featured a nude photograph of the somewhat unkempt duo on its cover). Meanwhile a series of the couple's unusual, low-budget films, including a 40-minute video starring Mr. Lennon's penis, appeared at modish art exhibits and film festivals. As projects such as these surfaced and the two became inseparable, it appeared that Mr. Lennon's post-Beatles career would be incorporated into Ms. Ono's aura of avant-gardism and uncompromising weirdness. Then, in December of 1970, he released the album, John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band, which, despite its title, was his first non-Beatles project not to feature his spouse's equal creative footing. Although it was stunning display of lyrical sophistication and bare-boned emotional outpouring, the album would hardly be the typical John Lennon album, with its sheer bleakness and seething antipathy. Still, Mr. Lennon was writing structured songs and producing something cohesive, a sign that he would not forever be a rugged, tripped-out specter. His next release, Imagine, issued in September 1971, however, would forever define his solo career.

The fact that Mr. Lennon wrote the title track, an absolutely perfect mantra that summed-up his idealist values in a single morning and recorded it in only two takes demonstrated that, excluding "How Do You Sleep?," his absolutely scathing attack on Mr. McCartney, all the hostility and weirdness had been expunged from his system and his gift for beautiful, tuneful, poignant songs had resurfaced. The rest of Imagine is full of similar forthright and simply stated, yet utterly inspiring social and spiritual inquiries ("Crippled Inside," "Give Me Some Truth," "I Don't Wanna Be a Solider Mama, I Don't Wanna Die") and sweet, sensitive odes of love ("Jealous Guy," "Oh My Love"). Mr. Lennon's songwriting talent is astounding. His ability to place the most immense and poignant emotions and principles into the most enchanting and subtly beautiful songs is absolutely uncanny. Still, Imagine is not perfect. "Oh Yoko" is as annoying as being seated next to playful newlyweds on a subway and it was somewhat unnecessary that Mr. Lennon add every pun and insult he could think of to "How Do You Sleep?" for listeners to grasp his opinion of his former bandmate. The majority of Imagine's songs, however, are examples of the rarest type of pop music, the sort that effortlessly makes a listener think broadly and feel specially moved. This is what immediately comes to mind when the name "John Lennon" is spoken today, an intelligent and assertive icon of love, peace and the utopian dream.

"Imagine" is an album that has always had a slightly muddy sound quality to it, perhaps because it was recorded in a home studio or because Phil Spector, the king of mud, was involved. This remaster does what it can to remedy the situation, with mixed but overall positive results. Of the album itself, I think it was the last focused effort Lennon would offer for a long time, and roundly enjoyable from start to finish. Most fans will find it more accessible than his previous masterpiece, "Plastic Ono Band." "Imagine" is Lennon's best-loved solo song, and one of his personal favorites. "Crippled Inside" is a curious mix of honest emotion and corny musical parpody, that showcases the fine talents of the musicians (Andy White, Nicky Hopkins, George Harrison, Klaus Voorman) very well. "Jealous Guy" is another winner of a melody. "It's So Hard" is straight blues features great saxophone work by King Curtis. "I Don't Want to Be a Soldier" is a massive jam, a bit disorganized but grooving in its Spectory echoes. "Gimme Some Truth" is an outstanding Lennon rocker, an impatient piece of social criticism and honesty, one of Lennon's most compelling qualities. "Oh My Love" is one of Lennon's most beautiful songs and recordings ever, apparently based on the clarity of love he found in his early days with Yoko. "How Do You Sleep?" is a notorious attack on Paul McCartney, musically brilliant and not all that nasty in retrospect. The song adds needed balance to the idea of Lennon as tender saint which some of the other songs portray. "How?" is another beauty of a song, full of odd pauses and structure. "Oh Yoko" is a catchy and uplifting closer. This album proves that Lennon could shine as a solo artist under the right circumstances.

When I first heard this album, I didn't understand what all the hype was about it. I mean, there were some amazing songs, and some very catchy songs, but classic???And then I listened to it again, and then again, and I have come to realize that I really love this album. First of all, you have the song "Imagine". I don't need to say anything more about that, but my actual favorite song on the album is "Gimme Some Truth". That song is sung with such passion, man. I was watching the "Making of Imagine" thing called "Gimme Some Truth", and you could see how into it John really was. I love that song! That's a classic for me, really. Enjoy it more than "Imagine" even.

Also, I really love "Jealous Guy" - so beautiful and gently sung. And the melody is gorgeous. "Oh My Love" is definitely the most beautiful song on the entire album. John Lennon really had a very special voice. I could never understand how he could hate it because I always thought his voice was much superior to Paul's because it gave me so much more; a lot of passion.

Anyway, I don't understand how people can actually be turned off by "How Do You Sleep" and its message. I mean, are you forgetting that McCartney wrote "Too Many People" and digs a little at John? And John was obviously a little over-sensitive and took it a little too hard, so he writes this song (which I don't think is that mean-come on people?) and everyone's like "what a hypocrite" because he had "Imagine" on the album. But "Imagine" is just that...just imagine. He isn't saying that he actually believes these things or displays these qualities, he just wants people to imagine. Goodness. Some people taking it a little far...

Anyway, this has to be one of my favorite solo-Beatles albums, behind only "Plastic Ono Band" and "All Things Must Pass". Its a really beautiful album. The one song that I would call the weakest is probably "Oh Yoko", which I kind of dig because its cute. But "How", "Its So Hard", "Crippled Inside", and "I Don't Wanna Be A Soldier..." are amazing. I love the way they are sung, the sound, and the overall vibe they give off. (I always get confused at JL's lyrics, though, but that's alright...)

This definitely is a classic album and I'm glad I have come to realize that. Beautiful music and amazing lyrics.

If PLASTIC ONO BAND was John Lennon declaring that "the dream is over", then IMAGINE proclaimed "long live that dream". Starting out with the wide-eyed idealism of "Imagine" put Lennon right back on the commercial turf he had somewhat lost with POB. The songs are obviously Beatle-esque ("Oh My Love", "Jealous Guy") and the rock n' roll Lennon enjoyed so much. The album showed John was as capable of turning out great commercial music just like his old partner what's-his-name. IMAGINE has many highlights: "Jealous Guy" is such a plaintive track, John's voice almost cracks, and the song itself is elevated by Nicky Hopkins truly beautiful piano; "Gimme Some Truth" is thunderous, and on the track George Harrison's guitar is harder than it ever was on his own solo music; "Oh My Love" is a simple love ballad, the kind of well crafted music McCartney had stopped doing at this point; and of course "How Do You Sleep?", the famous character assasination of Paul, which although most Beatle people could have done without, the music on the track (droning strings, Harrison's vicious slide work, Lennon's echoey vocals) makes it impossible not to listen, Harrison's presence making it clear who's side he's on. IMAGINE will stand the test of time as well as POB and BAND ON THE RUN and ALL THINGS MUST PASS. Initially, most people who get it may do so out of ex-Beatle curiosity, but the music goes beyond that. It stands as a diary entry of one of the most public but misunderstood icons of the late 20th century. Optimistic, furious, sometimes confused, IMAGINE is essential in the understanding of the Lennon "myth".

I've got to dock this 1/2 star for not being all that it could have been. No, the sound does not jump out at you like it did on Anthology, but these are not basic tracks, either. My initial listen shows a distinct improvement in sound over the previous CD release (which was so bad it should have been easy to improve upon), particularly the clarity of the string overdubs. I'll have to listen closer to see if these tracks were actually remixed. The mix on Imagine sounded absolutely the same.

I guess Imagine is, overall, John Lennon's most accessable album, but not every cut is great. It's So Hard is very cliche-driven, and I've always thought How was very clumsy. I Don't Want To Be a Soldier benefits greatly from the remaster. This is really the only time on the album where Spector recreates his famous wall of sound, and the remaster really brings out the large soundstage. It's just sort of wasted on a mediocre song. On the other hand, Imagine, Crippled Inside, Jealous Guy, Oh My Love and Gimmie Some Truth are great songs.

If you're a John Lennon fan, and want this album in the best sound you're ever going to get, there's no way around it-- this album is a must-buy.

John Lennon's classic "Imagine" CD benefits from the same remixing and remastering that The Beatles "Yellow Submarine Songtrack" received last year (it is also done by the same guy!). The album's sonic clarity and freshness make this sound leaps and bounds better than the original CD release. Let's hope that the rest of John's albums recieve this treatment. This #1 album contains one of the greatest songs of the rock era, the title track "Imagine" (just listen to how fresh the orchestra sounds now), the great single "Jealous Guy" and a couple great rockers which have the guitars blaring out now-"I Don't Want To Be A Soldier", and "How Do You Sleep". Even the albums closing and weakest song "Oh Yoko" sounds crisp and clear like it was recorded yesterday. On some albums, the remastering is hard to pick up, but on this one, and the "Yellow Submarine Songtrack", it is obvious and well worth buying and listening to again!

Lennon. Don't get it just for the title jam. Get it for "Give Me Some Truth", "Don't Want to Be a Soldier, Momma" and "How Do You Sleep?" All the jams are all touched with Lennon's unbridled genius...and remastered, the audiophile (digiphile?) can truly capture the essence of the musician necromancer..

I've always been a fan of remastered/repackaged classic rock cds. However, this cd is one of the best I've seen so far. John Lennon recorded this album in his house in England almost 30 years ago and the sound quality of the recording was never "spectacular." When I first heard this new remaster, I was blown away. The difference between this release and the former is night and day. This is remastering at its best...a total resurrection. I also liked the extra pictures provided in the cd booklet. Everyone should have a copy of this one.