Anthology

John Lennon Anthology album review

John Lennon: Anthology

John Lennon Anthology is a 4-disc set of out-takes & demos (94 "tracks") from his solo years, each disc covering a certain era:

Ascot 1970 - 1971...Plastic Ono Band & Imagine
New York City 1972 ...mostly Lennon's radical politics
The Lost Weekend 1973 - 1974 ...lots of booze, chats & rock'n'roll
Dakota 1975 - 1980...the house-husband

The highlight is the Cheap Trick demo for I'm Losing You (from Double Fantasy) Read King Crimson bass player Tony Levin's blog on making the video, a quarter of a century after recording the track.

John Lennon & Cheap Trick: Losing You

Lennon Estate music video

There are few other delights, including:

the demo version of Real Love (see Anthology)
a fairly good version of Mind Games
ditto I'm The Greatest (see Ringo's Ringo)
ditto Goodnight Vienna (from Ringo's Goodnight Vienna)
an over-the-top version of Woman from Double Fantasy &
Grow Old Alone With Me (from Milk & Honey)

John Lennon: Grow Old Alone With Me

new string arrangement by George Martin for John Lennon's Anthology

There are a few surprises as well, including some send-ups of Bob Dylan (Serve Yourself) & Beatle George's mantras (The Rishkesh Song).

Personally, I would have really loved Lennon Anthology if Lennon's SOLO output had been stronger...as there are many demos sounding quite different to the released versions...but as it is, I merely find Anthology "interesting" and recommended for really devoted fans or archivists.

John Lennon Anthology

"...At first glance, The John Lennon Anthology appears to be another box set with hit best known songs along with a few live performances and outtakes. But the set is actually made up entirely of alternate versions of his best known songs with some live songs and outtakes sprinkled in. The results are interesting and intriguing..." Amazon reviewer Thomas Magnum

"...Listening to this album in its entirety at one sitting is a very touching and moving experience for any fan and it never fails to affect me every time I listen to it. If you thought you knew John Lennon before you've heard this, you're in for a big surprise..." Amazon reviewer Frederick Baptist

John Lennon: Wonsaponatime album review

John Lennon: Wonsaponatime

There is a 1-disc version of the John Lennon Anthology, a Greatest Hits, if you like, called Wonsaponatime, which was released at the same time as the John Lennon Anthology package. Wonsaponatime includes my highlights:

I'm Losing You

Real Love &

Grow Old Alone With Me

John Lennon: Wonsaponatime, Anthology Lite

"...I put this on and it sounds like John recently went into a studio somewhere and made this album. If he were alive, this is what I'd expect him to sound like now and even the songs sound like new! John may have produced these recordings some time ago but the material on this CD fits perfectly in with the best of todays progressive rock...If you're a Beatle fan...this is the album to have..." Amazon reviewer Peter Batt

"...

The offhand jazz-folk version of What You Got turns a dull, overproduced album cut into a great chant
Versions of Working Class Hero and Imagine may not be better than the released verions, but stripped of production flourishes, they offer a rawer look at the performer at work
Boiling versions of I'm Losing You and I Don't Want to Face It make clear that the Double Fantasy sessions were hot ones
But most wondrous is the selection of love songs. You start thinking maybe Lennon was the greatest writer of love songs in pop history; Oh My Love, Real Love & Grow Old Alone With Me are penetratingly beautiful..."

...this record is...like having the Beatles back..." Amazon reviewer A. Customer

For more info, see: