Imagine (John Lennon album)
Imagine | ||||
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Genre | Rock | |||
Length | 39:29 | |||
Label | Apple | |||
Producer | ||||
John Lennon chronology | ||||
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Singles from Imagine | ||||
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Imagine is the second solo
Lennon recorded the album from early to mid-1971 at his
Imagine was a critical and commercial success, peaking at number one on both the UK Albums Chart and US Billboard 200. Along with John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band, it is considered one of Lennon's finest solo albums. In 2012, the album was voted 80th on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. The album has been reissued multiple times, including in 2018 as The Ultimate Collection, a six-disc box set containing previously unreleased demos, rare studio outtakes, "evolution documentaries" for each track, and isolated track elements along with surround mixes.
Background
While in New York, former
Recording and structure
Recording for the album started on 24 May at Ascot Sound Studios.
Lennon enlisted help from
Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono flew to New York on 3 July to continue sessions for the album the next day, at the Record Plant.[2] Many instrumental parts were re-recorded there, and strings and saxophone by King Curtis were also added.[2] The tracks that were finished at Record Plant were "It's So Hard", "I Don't Want to Be a Soldier" and "How Do You Sleep?"[2] As on Lennon's last album, Phil Spector joined him and Ono as co-producer on Imagine. The string arrangements for the album were written by Torrie Zito.[7]
Extensive footage of the sessions, showing the evolution of some of the songs, was originally filmed and titled Working Class Hero before being shelved.[2] Footage of "Gimme Some Truth" aired as part of the BBC TV show The Old Grey Whistle Test on 12 December 1972.[2] Portions were released as part of the documentary film Imagine: John Lennon.[2]
Music and lyrics
Imagine was written and recorded during a period of particularly bad feeling between Lennon and former bandmate
The track "
Lennon also indulged his love of rock and roll with "Crippled Inside" and "It's So Hard". "Gimme Some Truth", first heard during the Let It Be sessions in early 1969, appears on the album with a new bridge. The politically themed "I Don't Want to Be a Soldier" closes the first half of Imagine in a cacophonous manner. The last song on the album was "Oh Yoko!"; EMI pushed for this track to be issued as a single, but Lennon thought it was too "pop".[14]
Packaging
The photographs on the front and back covers were taken by Ono, using a
Release
Apple Records issued Imagine on 9 September 1971 in the United States and a month later, on 8 October, in the UK. Early editions of the LP record included a postcard featuring a photo of Lennon holding a pig, in mockery of McCartney's similar pose with a sheep on the cover of Ram.[18][19]
Even though Spector championed a "Back to Mono" aesthetic starting in the 1980s,
"Imagine", backed with "It's So Hard", was released as a single in the US on 11 October 1971.[2] The album went to number one worldwide and became an enduring seller, with the title track reaching number three in the US. "Imagine" was not issued as a single in the UK until four years later, to coincide with the release of Lennon's Shaved Fish singles collection.[21]
Promotional film
In 1972, Lennon and Ono released a 70-minute film to accompany the Imagine album which featured footage of them at their Berkshire property at Tittenhurst Park and in New York City. It included many of the tracks from the album and some additional material from Ono's 1971 album Fly.[2] Several celebrities appeared in the film, including Andy Warhol, Fred Astaire, Jack Palance, Dick Cavett and George Harrison. Derided by critics as "the most expensive home movie of all time",[citation needed] it premiered to an American audience on TV on 23 December 1972.[2]
Critical reception
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
The Great Rock Discography | 9/10[citation needed] |
Mojo | [24] |
MusicHound Rock | 4/5[25] |
Paste | [26] |
Q | [27] |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [28] |
Uncut | [29] |
Reviewing the album for Rolling Stone in 1971, Ben Gerson said it "contains a substantial portion of good music" but considered Lennon's previous LP to be superior. He also warned of the possibility that Lennon's "posturings will soon seem not merely dull but irrelevant".[30] Alan Smith of the NME lauded the album as "superb", "beautiful" and "one step away from the chill of his recent total self-revelation, and yet a giant leap towards commerciality without compromise". He said it was Lennon "showing McCartney how to tighten up the flab in his music, and its worth", and concluded: "Lennon rides high!"[31] In Melody Maker, Roy Hollingworth named Imagine the best album of the year and Lennon's finest work up to that point.[32]
Imagine was voted the fifth best record of 1971 in
Reviewing for
In 2012, Imagine ranked at number 80 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.[37] It dropped to number 223 in the 2020 edition of the list.[38]
Legacy
Lennon later expressed his displeasure with the more commercial sound of the album, saying that the title track was "an anti-religious, anti-nationalistic, anti-conventional, anti-capitalistic song, but because it's sugar-coated, it's accepted".[39] In a November 1971 interview for Melody Maker, McCartney spoke positively of Imagine, considering it to be less political than Lennon's previous solo albums. In a subsequent edition of the same publication, Lennon rebuked his former bandmate, saying, "So you think 'Imagine' ain't political? It's 'Working Class Hero' with sugar on it for conservatives like yourself!!"[40] and likened McCartney's politics to those of the staunchly traditional Mary Whitehouse.[41]
After
In October 2010, another remastered version of the album was released, and the album re-entered the Billboard 200 at number 88. On 23 November 2010, Imagine became available on the Rock Band 3 video game, exploiting the music game's use of a keyboard. On Record Store Day 2011, in honour of the album's 40th anniversary, it was re-released on 180-gram LP with an additional 12" white LP record entitled Imagine Sessions, featuring tracks taken from the John Lennon Anthology. In January 2014, the album was released by Universal Music on the High Fidelity Pure Audio Blu-ray format, featuring PCM, DTS HD and Dolby Tru HD audio tracks, based on the 2010 remaster.[nb 2] In 2018, the album was remixed yet again and titled Imagine: The Ultimate Collection.[49] A six-disc box set, spread over four CDs and two Blu-ray discs, features previously unheard demos, rare studio outtakes, and isolated track elements along with a 5.1 surround mix and the original four channel quadraphonic mix.
Track listing
All songs written by
Original release
Side one
- "Imagine" – 3:01
- "Crippled Inside" – 3:47
- "Jealous Guy" – 4:14
- "It's So Hard" – 2:25
- "I Don't Want to Be a Soldier"[nb 3]– 6:05
Side two
- "Gimme Some Truth" – 3:16
- "Oh My Love" – 2:50
- "How Do You Sleep?" – 5:36
- "How?" – 3:43
- "Oh Yoko!" – 4:20
Bonus EP in the 2011 40th Anniversary LP edition
Side one
- "Baby Please Don't Go" – 4:03
- "Imagine" – 3:24
- "How Do You Sleep?" – 5:23
Side two
- "Jealous Guy" – 4:12
- "Oh My Love" – 2:56
- "I Don't Want to Be a Soldier Mama" – 5:23
Bonus tracks on the 2018 Ultimate Mixes reissue
Sides one and two were combined as tracks 1–10, along with the following bonus tracks:
- "Power to the People" – 3:26
- "Well… (Baby Please Don't Go)" – 4:07
- "God Save Us" – 3:15
- "Do the Oz" – 3:12
- "God Save Oz" – 3:31
- "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" – 3:35
Personnel
Personnel per John Blaney.[50] Track numbering refers to CD and digital releases of the album.
Musicians
- John Lennon – vocals (all), piano (1, 7, 9), electric guitar (2, 4–6, 8, 10), acoustic guitar (3), whistling (3), harmonica (10)
- George Harrison – Dobro (2), slide guitar (5, 6, 8), electric guitar (7)
- Ted Turner – acoustic guitar (2, 8)
- Rod Linton – acoustic guitar (2, 6, 8, 10)
- Joey Molland, Tom Evans – acoustic guitar (3, 5) (credited as "Joey and Tommy Badfinger")
- Andy Davis – acoustic guitar (6, 8–10)
- Klaus Voormann – bass guitar (all but 2), double bass (2)
- Steve Brendell – double bass (2), maracas (5)
- John Tout – piano (2, 8) (incorrectly credited as playing "acoustic guitar")[51]
- Nicky Hopkins – tack piano (2), piano (3, 5, 6, 9, 10), electric piano (7, 8)
- King Curtis – saxophone (4, 5)
- John Barham – harmonium (3), vibraphone (9)
- Mike Pinder – tambourine (3, 5)
- Phil Spector – harmony vocal (10)
- The Flux Fiddlers (members of the New York Philharmonic) – orchestral strings (1, 3–5, 8, 9)
- Alan White – drums (1, 2, 6, 8–10), vibraphone (3, 5), Tibetan cymbals (7)
- Jim Keltner – drums (3, 5)
- Jim Gordon – drums (4)
Production
- John Lennon – producer, cover artwork[52]
- Yoko Ono – producer, cover photography
- Phil Spector – producer
- Jack Douglas– engineer[53][54]
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom (BPI)[70] | Gold | 100,000* |
United States (RIAA)[71] | 2× Platinum | 2,000,000^ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
References
Footnotes
- ^ UK EMI JLB8[42]
- ^ Side one: "Baby Please Don't Go" (Walter Ward), "Imagine", "How Do You Sleep?" Side two: "Jealous Guy", "Oh My Love" (Lennon–Ono), "I Don't Wanna Be a Soldier".
- ^ The title also appears variously as "I Don't Wanna Be a Soldier Mama I Don't Wanna Die" or "I Don't Wanna Be a Soldier Mama".
Citations
- ISBN 0-7525-8514-2.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-7119-8307-6.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-63110-175-5.
- ISBN 0-7119-9864-7.
- ISBN 978-0-9544528-1-0.
- ISBN 978-1-4234-0609-9.
- ^ "Lennon's Imagine Orchestrator Zito Dies". Contactmusic.com. 8 December 2009. Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
- ^ The Editors of Rolling Stone, Harrison, Rolling Stone Press/Simon & Schuster (New York, NY, 2002), p. 42.
- ISBN 0-451-20735-1.
- ISBN 978-0-313-37907-9.
- ^ "Playboy Interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono – 1980". john-lennon.com. Archived from the original on 15 August 2014. Retrieved 15 December 2007.
- ISBN 978-0-7493-8658-0.
- ^ "45 Years Ago: John Lennon Reclaims His Legacy With "Imagine"". Classic Rock. 9 September 2016. Archived from the original on 8 September 2017. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
- ISBN 978-0-275-99180-7.
- ^ Yoko Ono (December 2018). "John Lennon Imagine Yoko Ono". Archived from the original on 9 March 2019. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
- ^ Richard Forrest (1 January 2019). "The Cover Design Of John Lennon's "Imagine" Album. Not Warhol After All?". Archived from the original on 19 October 2020. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
- ^ "The Book That Inspired 'Imagine'". Slate. 4 July 2014. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
- ^ Clayton 2003, p. 301
- ISBN 978-0-06-075401-3.
- ^ "QuadraphonicQuad Beatles Surround Music Releases". Quadraphonicquad.com. Archived from the original on 10 March 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2011.
- ^ "Imagine". Connollyco.com. Archived from the original on 22 May 2011. Retrieved 9 September 2011.
- ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Imagine – John Lennon". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 25 February 2021. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
- ^ ISBN 0899190251. Archivedfrom the original on 14 November 2018. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
- ^ Doyle, Tom (November 2010). "John Lennon Signature Box". Mojo. p. 114.
- ISBN 1-57859-061-2), p. 667.
- ^ Kemp, Mark (23 October 2007). "John Lennon – Reissues". Paste. Archived from the original on 19 October 2014. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
- ^ "John Lennon Imagine CD Album". CD Universe/Muze. Archived from the original on 25 December 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
- ^ "John Lennon: Album Guide | Rolling Stone Music". Rollingstone.com. Archived from the original on 9 February 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
- ^ Mulholland, Garry (November 2010). "John Lennon – Remasters". Uncut. p. 108. Archived from the original on 11 November 2014. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
- ^ Gerson, Ben (28 October 1971). "Imagine". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 12 September 2012. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
- ^ Smith, Alan (11 September 1971). "John Lennon: Imagine (Apple)". NME. Retrieved 10 March 2021 – via Rock's Backpages (subscription required).
- ^ Hollingworth, Roy (9 October 1971). "John Lennon: Imagine (Apple)". Melody Maker. Retrieved 10 March 2021 – via Rock's Backpages (subscription required).
- ^ Anon. (10 February 1972). "The 1971 Pazz & Jop Critics Poll". The Village Voice. Archived from the original on 4 November 2018. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
- ^ Miles & Badman 2001, pp. 58, 59.
- ^ Christgau, Robert (10 February 1972). "Pazz & Jop 1971: Dean's List". The Village Voice. Archived from the original on 4 November 2018. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
- ^ Savage, Jon (April 2000). "John Lennon Imagine". Mojo. p. 106.
- ^ "500 Greatest Albums of All Time: John Lennon, 'Imagine'". Rolling Stone. 31 May 2012. Archived from the original on 4 June 2012. Retrieved 12 June 2012.
- ^ "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time". Rolling Stone. 22 September 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
- ^ Gilmore, Mikal (5 December 2005). "Lennon Lives Forever: John Lennon". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 13 February 2008. Retrieved 2 December 2006.
- ^ "Lennon & McCartney, Melody Maker Magazine, November 1971". The Beatles Interview Database. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 25 February 2010.
- ISBN 978-1-84836-525-4.
- ^ a b Blaney 2005, p. 203
- ^ "norwegiancharts.com – Norwegian harts portal". VG-lista. Archived from the original on 2 November 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
- The Official Charts Company. Archivedfrom the original on 3 April 2015. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
- ^ "swedishcharts.com John Lennon – Imagine". Sverigetopplistan. Archived from the original on 24 October 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
- ^ "John Lennon – Chart Archives on the Billboard 200". Homepage1.nifty.com. Archived from the original on 3 November 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2010.
- ^ "Highest position and charting weeks of Imagine <Remixed and Digitally Remastered edition> by John Lennon". Oricon Style.
- ^ "Lennon's Last Piano for Sale, Bo Diddley's Better, McCartney on Home Shopping Network". Rolling Stone. 30 May 2007. Archived from the original on 19 November 2008. Retrieved 25 February 2010.
- ^ "John Lennon's Imagine to be reissued as six-disc box set". 23 August 2018. Archived from the original on 27 September 2018. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
- ^ Blaney 2005, pp. 82–90
- ^ "Interview with John Tout, May 1998". Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
- ^ "Imagine John Yoko - Making the Imagine album artwork". December 2018.
- ^ "Imagine – John Lennon | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
- ^ "John Lennon's "Imagine": Inside the Song with Jack Douglas". 15 July 2019.
- ^ ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Top Albums/CDs – Volume 16, No. 12, November 06 1971". RPM. Archived from the original on 12 November 2012. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
- MegaCharts. Archivedfrom the original on 14 November 2013. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
- ^ Pennanen, Timo (2021). "John Lennon". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 146. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
- ^ "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 23 January 2024. Select "Album" in the "Tipo" field, type "John Lennon" in the "Titolo" field and press "cerca".
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- ^ "The Official Charts Company – John Lennon – Imagine". officialcharts.com. Archived from the original on 29 September 2015. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
- ^ "John Lennon Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
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- ^ "American album certifications – John Lennon – Imagine". Recording Industry Association of America.