Customer Reviews

Shaved Fish

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This was a collection of hits put together not only by the author but by an artist. It's the total package and concept that matters here. Of course the post-mortem greatest hits are more slick and inclusive. Five of the eleven songs on "Shaved Fish" were never on an LP before this collection: "Give Peace A Chance," "Cold Turkey," "Instant Karma," "Power To The People" and "Happy Xmas". Back in 1975 that was reason enough to grab this collection Sure "Give Peace A Chance" is butchered (and should not have been). But the age did not know about re-mastered compact discs that allowed for seventy minutes of crystal clear digital sound. Don't look at "Shaved Fish" through digital eyes but rather through the vinyl cracks and hisses and scratches of art and the 70's. The album cover is full of Lennon's humor and intelligence. The title is brilliant. Maybe you had to be there to really appreciate what I'm saying, and I'm not saying the other greatest hits shouldn't be grabbed and enjoyed. Enjoy them all. But this LP/CD is Lennon at his artful, political, humorous best. Don't compare 1975 to 2000. John and Yoko were a "happening" as was all their music and art and daily events. This collection rates with Lennon's "Plastic Ono Band" and "Imagine" recordings. Buy it!

People have become spoiled by CDs, it seems. Common criticisms of "Shaved Fish" are that it doesn't contain any of Lennon's later material, and that it doesn't contain enough material.

There are a number of reasons why "Shaved Fish" is what it is:

* It's a straight reissue of an LP. The typical 1975 LP contained 30-40 minutes of music.

* It's a singles collection, and about half the tracks had never been available on any album. Furthermore, the original release date of October 1975 suggests it was targeted in part at holiday shoppers.

* As with George Harrison's "The Best of George Harrison", it's important to remember that "Shaved Fish" is essentially a Contractual Obligation Album. 1980's "Double Fantasy" was originally a Geffen release, while the posthumous "Milk and Honey" originally came out on Polydor. All of Lennon's post-Beatles recordings before his five-year hiatus from the music business were released on Apple (EMI). It is only because of subsequent licensing arrangements between Yoko Ono and EMI that Lennon's eighties recordings are included on any compilations (e.g., "The John Lennon Collection", the "Imagine" soundtrack, "Lennon Legend") with his 1970-75 material.

(N.B., those who complain about the lack of songs from the "Imagine" LP should keep in mind that the song "Imagine" wasn't even released as a single in the UK until 1975 - which means that it could have failed to make this collection at all.)

The really great thing about "Shaved Fish", of course (though this is probably less of a selling point now than it was in 1975), is the inclusion of the non-album singles "Give peace a chance", "Cold turkey", "Instant karma!", "Power to the people", and "Happy Xmas (War is over)". All of these songs are still vital, though "Power to the people" hasn't aged as well. "Give peace a chance" is still relevant (despite its dated references), "Cold turkey" and "Instant karma!" are still powerful in their rawness, and "Happy Xmas" has become a modern Christmas classic.

The "lost weekend" chart highlights are all here as well: the utopian "Mind games", the no.1 "Whatever gets you through the night" (with Elton John on piano and harmony vocal), and the gorgeous "#9 dream" - still my favorite Lennon single.

Complain about the lack of later songs if you like, but "Shaved Fish" is still the only compilation of Lennon songs to have actually been released during his lifetime - and it's still available, in all its raw, abbreviated glory...

This album got into my car today, 20 March 2002, because it it the thirty-third anniversary of John and Yoko's marriage in Gibralter.

From the moment that you hear the segment of 'Give Peace a Chance' to the same song reprised at the end, each and every track is excellent.

Living in England in the 60s and 70s, it was hard to escape hearing and seeing John and Yoko and who would want to? Whatever they did was newsworthy. I am reminded with every track of the public appearances, bed piece with the long hair, appearing on TV to explain why they both shorned their locks when they made Instant Karma, the criticisms levied when Sometime in New York City was released etc.

Every single track on this album is a winner from the pain of mother to the infectious chant of Power to the People.

You are also reminded of John and Yoko's persistent message of peace and it is hard to escape the conclusion that the world needs them both as the world's conscience to draw attention to the barbaric atrocities still going on around the world and the continued position of women in all societies.

This is one powerful album which deserves to be in everyone's collection. It suggests too that there should be a Lennon's singles album with all of the A abd B sides and including the Elastic Oz Band single.

Happy Anniversary Lennons.

From 1969 to 1975, John Lennon's image was of a political and social animal, not a musician. In his role as an artist, it was his lyrics, not his music, that counted. So, it is not surprising that Shaved Fish, this collection of John Lennon's big solo hits during that period, is replete with political and social commentary. Certainly, the lyrics are powerful. But the quality of these songs, the music--is something else.

Interesting choice to put "Give Peace a Chance" as the opener, over "Imagine"--it appears John is impatient for action in Vietnam and elsewhere. "Instant Karma" and "Power to the People" are absolutely great rockers, and watch it--the former wrings of the truth. The beautiful piano and strings on "Imagine" constitute one of rock's finest moments, along with John's idealistic lyrics. Yet (I hate to commit sacrilege) I like "#9 Dream" better. Listen to John ponder, the beautiful chorus, the lush, sensuous instrumentation--this gorgeous song is his most exquisite musical moment. "Mind Games" is also better than "Imagine," a supremely passionate and intense exclamation, one of the best songs John ever wrote. On and on--"Whatever Gets You Thru The Night" is another, so excellent rocker--by the way, why did not anyone think of a song with that title (and theme) before? Musically less strong, but punctuated with John's urgent desire to arouse empathy for the opposite sex--are "Mother" and "Woman Is the Nigger of the World." "Cold Turkey" is not a highlight. Still, what a fitting choice to have "Happy Xmas" (War Is Over) and a reprise of "Give Peace a Chance" as the finale!

Shaved Fish is actually a concept album even though it is greatest hits. It is a comprehensive statement of where John is, what he represents at the time. The music is so brilliant it matters not whether you care about John's message. Shaved Fish is the best Beatles solo CD, period.

I know there are other, bigger collections out there, but this was the only one that was put out when John was still alive and had control over what would be on it. Sure there are hits and misses, but that's what so greatly summed up his solo career. This collection best shows his honesty, even at the cost of popularity sometimes. That's why this collection will always remain one of my favorites. This was John's way of wrapping things up and putting them in order before dropping out of the public eye for five years. Also, what a great cover this record has, even though the CD can't compare to the LP on this level.

Yes, there are more complete collections. Yes, it's worth having for the album art. But here's my main reason for recommending "Shaved Fish": it contains the original mix of the song "Mind Games." The remixed reissue of the "Mind Games" album is a travesty, especially the title track, which has had all the majesty sucked out of it. If you want to hear the original, enthralling "Mind Games" track, get "Shaved Fish."

If you just want the biggest hits and more of them than you might want to try "Lennon Legend" (I must say that the re-mastering job on "Lennon Legend" is very thin and very over done though). I heard that this album was made by John Lennon himself. The music on this album will be with us for many years to come. "Imagine", "Mind Games", "Whatever gets you thru the nigh" and "Instant Karma" are worth the ticket price alone. But there is something about this album that blows all of the newer best of Cd's away. It has a flow and a feel. It helps to stare at the album cover while listening to it. I think "Woman is the Nigger of the World" (A song that you'll probably never see on any other greatest hits packages in the future) makes this CD, album even more worth it. The edited "Give Peace a Chance" seems to make it an even more powerful song for some reason. Trivia: Stevie Wonder sings on "Give Peace a Chance" at the end of the album.

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.

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.

John Lennon put out a number of noteworthy hits in the seventies. This 1975 collection fairly neatly summarizes the sort of things he did, although you're probably better off, if you don't want all the original albums, with "The John Lennon Collection." One thing that bothers me about "Shaved Fish" is the truncation of "Give Peace a Chance", and then the ruination of the end of "Happy Christmas" by crossfading over it a version of "Give Peace a Chance" that they don't even tell you what the hell it is. (I think it's Stevie Wonder helping to perform the song at Madison Square Garden.)