Customer Reviews

Sometime in New York City (Mlps)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(13)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(15)

 

 

I read the previous reviews of this album, and I must disagree most vociferously. Let me take you back in time to 1972..........I bought this album the DAY it came out, the Vietnam War was still raging, the Pentagon Papers had just come out, and everyone was "politically aware" at the time. I remeber going to a peace march in NYC at the time, and John Lennon spoke, so did Daniel Ellsburg. This album hits the nail on the head when it comes to encapsulating the mood of the times. Sure, there are some crappy songs on this album, but the stuff that is good, is GREAT. There is a lot of good rock and roll on this album (remember rock and roll?). As for the "bonus" album, I don't know about the rest of you, but I think it's awesome! The first side, recorded at the Fillmore East (I think it was recorded the last week this place was open)is with the Mothers of Invention, featuring Flo and Eddie. Maybe a lot of people don't understand this kind of music, but if you're into it, you need to have it. The other side is also a live jam with Eric Clapton, Nicky Hopkins, Jim Keltner, and others. Maybe nowadays this stuff sounds dated, but not to me. This is not commercial stuff, just a bunch of musicians playing their hearts out. Definitely not Top 40, if that's what you're looking for, look somewhere else.

I like this album. It reminds me of my own adolescence. Angry young man and all that.

At the time John and Yoko seemed to be trying to latch on to anything that seemed real to him at the time (it's important to remember what the Lower East Side was like in 1972 when this album came out).

Eventually Lennon grew out of it into more mature fair, never quite escaping the rather antiseptic production until Double Fantasy. And then that jerk had to go and kill him.

This is the album the convinced me that Yoko's detractors were and are wrong. Her songs on this album are very hummable and easy to grasp. It's a trick to write simply, and she does it much better than someone who'd not written rock music before. Her messages are bleak but there's always hope in there somewhere.

The side with Zappa? Well, Zappa's Zappa. Even if you don't like them the results are at the very least entertaining.

The Grande Ballroom side? The messages are bleak again, but they're delivered with passion .... and the call and response between the horns and Yoko (mimicking their skronk)is absolutely magnificent -- they sound like they were having tons of fun when they were playing that gig.

If you've got an open mind and you like to listen to the equivalent of an adolescence in a musical career development, this is for you. If you don't fit that bill, don't grab it because you'll feel like you wasted your money.

I love the album,every song on it is really captures the era gone by. To me it just seems like yesterday...However , Why did they shorten Were All Water by Yoko? I really was excited when the CD came in and I took a listen to it and the final high pitch scream by Yoko was edited out to a gradual fade....I have been listening to this album since I bought it in 1973 (I had to sneak it in the house because if my parents had seen or heard it I would have been finished) I was very disappointed when I listened to the CD to discover this climatic end to a great piece of work had been altered.

Let's face it folks. The only reason this wretched disc is worth having is for disc 2 - Live jams featuring Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention. That said, guess what? Zappa released the same material (and more of it) without editing the comments on stuffing Yoko in a scumbag (from the song "Scumbag") on his own Playground Psychotics set. The only track missing from Psychotics is "Jamrag" from this disc which is actually Zappa's "King Kong". Lennon had the audacity to credit himself and Yoko Ono with the writing of that little ditty. The track on this disc titled "Au" featuring Yoko wailing/screeching with only guitar amp hum to accompany her is aptly titled "A Small Eternity With Yoko Ono" on Playground Psychotics. So if this disc is only worth owning for the Zappa/Mothers collaboration with John/Yoko, skip it altogether and get Zappa's Playground Psychotics. There is much better Lennon music to spend your money on. PS John was my "Favorite Beatle" Frank is EVERYBODY'S "Favorite Mother"! Rest In Peace John and Frank

Sometime in New York City is a great album. I would actually give it 4 and a half. I admit that some of the issues are very dated, but it doesn't hurt the quality of the album. Also, Yoko's songs are suprisingly listenable, especially Siaters, O Sisters. John's songs are obviously better, though. Woman is the Nigger of the World, New York City, Sunday Bloody Sunday, and John Sinclair are especially good. The songs I didn't mention are good also.

The Live Jam CD is also good. Yoko, however, really hurts it. Don't Worry Kyoko is horrible, and she manages to wreck Baby Please Don't Go, which would have been great. Cold Turkey is excellent and the others are also good.

The first CD is much better than the second, but the second would probably get 3 and a half to four. I would still reccomend buying it.

Reading the other reviews of this wonderful record only proves that the rock and roll audience is just as sanctimonious, self-involved and pompous as the upper class opera audience. Get a life. Who can argue with a song title like "Woman is the Nigger of the World." And you little weenies think Marilyn Manson is obnoxious. This is a fun record, even with the stupid Phil Spector reverb. The Zappa disc is wonderful. Yoko knew how to clear out a room, didn't she? And what is rock and roll for, if not that? Rock is supposed to annoy people, that's what keeps it alive. I'm glad I can replace my old vinyl copy with the CD. Long live John. Long live Frank.

Is there an artist who challenged his fans more than John Lennon? SOME TIME IN NEW YORK CITY rocks out! What did you want - John to rewrite "Imagine" and "I Want To Hold Your Hand" for the rest of his career? Producer Phil Spector, with the Elephant's Memory band, wonderfully complements John and wife Yoko Ono's topical songs. SOME TIME IN NEW YORK CITY stands as a musical snapshot of Richard Nixon's America. Compare any pop-music politics (Clash, Sting, you name it) to "Sunday Bloody Sunday," "Sister O Sisters" and "John Sinclair" and tell me if the Lennons weren't telling it like it was just as much. Further, the bonus disc is worthwhile simply for the live "Cold Turkey" - don't play it near a graveyard, those guitars will wake the dead.

This album ROCKS with a lot of heart. For years I avoided it because I heard it just had a bunch of clunky protest songs and really wasn't worth it. Snobs! I find Lennon's leftist stance exciting and the song topics still relevant: "Woman is the Nigger of the World," "The Luck of the Irish," John Sinclair getting "10 for 2". If you like his tune "Instant Karma" you'll dig this album--it has the same huge sound. Lennon did a lot of pop drivel (e.g._Walls & Bridges_) in his solo career but rarely ripped it up with a band like he does here on every track. Phil Spector's magnificent production just takes the cake. And for fans of Yoko Ono, you're in for a real treat as she gets some great turns at the mic, _Fly_ style. Lennon sings more passionately than he has since _Hard Day's Night_. He was climbing new heights, and for it, the U.S. government threatened to throw him out. This album perfectly captures the excitement and tumult of the time--and it sounds great--check it out.

John and Yoko's tour de force of Political and social commentary. If you weren't born yet, you might not get some of this album. If you don't listen to lyrics you might not understand this album and if your looking for The Beatles you probably won't like this album either. This ain't "Let it be" or "She loves you" or "Imagine" If you want good rock and roll with some great vocals and socially conscious lyrics pick this one up. I recently played this CD very very loud and I must say it rocks! The second disc was included free when the album came out. It must be viewed as a free CD. A jam. Frank Zappa is great on here too. The live version of "Cold Turkey" (of which I believe George harrison helped out on guitar) is a blistering no holes barred version. Again, this must be played loud.

It took John years to recover from this debacle. In the years after this came out, he was regarded as a joke and no one took him seriously. It was one thing to make a political statement and it was altogether another thing to make them into good songs. As a result, much of this sounded dated even in the 70's. Listening to it now puts things in a different perspective and time has treated this kindly. Disc 2 is great!