Unfinished Music, No. 1: Two Virgins [EXPLICIT LYRICS]

John Lennon & Ono Yoko, Yoko Ono, John Lennon

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 3, 1997)
• Original Release Date: December 25, 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Explicit Lyrics
• Label: Rykodisc
• ASIN: B0000009RE
• Average Customer Review: 2.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (60 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #97,771 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Track Listings

1. Two Virgins Side One

2. Two Virgins Side Two

3. Remember Love [*]

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Two Virgins is still best known for its notorious cover photo of John and Yoko posing naked and unashamed. It's also remembered as a historical artifact: it was recorded overnight in Lennon's mansion, before the couple consummated their relationship. But few have heard the record and fewer still have played it twice. Essentially, it's the White Album's "Revolution 9" stretched into a whole record of white noise, tape effects, discord, and screaming. The follow up, Life with the Lions, was more interesting musically, but Two Virgins is the sound that first made the world say: "What?" --Taylor Parkes

From the Label

John & Yoko recorded the experimental sounds of Two Virgins the night before the morning they first made love."It was midnight when we started 'Two Virgins,' it was dawn when we finished, and then we made love at dawn. It was very beautiful."--JOHN LENNONJohn Lennon and Yoko Ono: all instruments and vocals.Recorded, 1968.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars John Lennon's musical debut with Yoko Ono., July 23, 2003

By	Louie Bourland (Garden Grove CA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

"Two Virgins" is one of the most historical and hysterical rock records ever released. It's historical because it was recorded during John Lennon's first get-together with future wife Yoko Ono. It's hysterical because of the controversial album cover as well as the music heard therein.
Basically, "Two Virgins" in its entirety is 30 minutes worth of Yoko squaking, warbling and screaming while John fiddles around with tape machines, plays notes at random on piano and guitar and also makes strange vocal noises. The recording quality is very lo-fi because the album was recorded in John's home studio in his attic.
This album probably would never be as big as it is today had it not been for its cover. The front cover shows John and Yoko completely full-frontal nude while the back cover shows them from behind. Obviously, this was more shocking than the music on the album itself.
While "Two Virgins" is by no means a musical masterpiece, it still is a peace of Beatles history that collectors should not be without.
The remastered Rykodisc CD includes one bonus track, Yoko Ono's "Remember Love" (the B-side to John Lennon's "Give Peace A Chance" single). This is a beautiful child-like song and proves that while Yoko is not a great singer, she can actually sing on key when she wants to.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Lennon's nadir--"Two Virgins" , April 14, 2007

By	Wayne Klein "If at first the idea is not absu... (My Little Blue Window, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

"Two Virgins" lives up to its title--it sounds like it was created by someone with absolutely no musical experience at all. While I'm a big fan of Lennon's Beatles and post-Beatles solo albums (even the weakest Lennon album "Sometime in New York City" has its minor moments), I found this completely unlistenable and a waste of 30 minutes of my time.

Is "Two Virgins" misunderstood? If it is it's because it's in an incomphrensible musical langauge. The cover was the only thing this album was notable for--a nude portrait of a couple who had found love. It created controversy (EMI didn't want to distribute it). As avant-garde its too simplistic as music it's a disaster. Avoid unless you must have everything (including every fart, belch and toe nail trimming) from Lennon.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars It's not music. If you know this..., October 21, 2001

By	Massimo (Pavia, Italy) - See all my reviews

"Two virgins" is not music, just a collage of sound, noises, words and something else, made by John and Yoko during a night together. If you know this, then you may listen and maybe even appreciate it. Do not judge this album as it was an ordinary music album, because it simply isn't. As a music album it would get a very low rate... but as a collage of sound, even such a strange thing can be nice.