Doctor Kite
Aug 09, 2003, 04:58 PM
This is my first Bootleg review, please excuse any general crapness or mistakes (of which i am sure there will be a few).
For many Plastic Ono Band marks the pinacle of John's solo career. Not for me, i'll go for the imagine album everytime. Whilst i would accept that POB reaches hights that Imagine does not, i also feel it has too many moments that are just boring really (Well Well Well springs to mind for example). Also I think Mother was bettered on the Live in New York City album. With that in mind an alternate version of imagine was always going to be higher on my "to get" list than POB and i was delighted to get a CDR version for a little over £1 (that under a dollar i think).
A couple of notes: 1) I understand that there is a 1 disc and a 3 disc version of the alternate imagine, this review is of the one disc version. 2) Any comparisons to the normal version of imagine is to the remastered CD version released a couple of years back.
GENERALITIES
The alternate imagine is a strange beast. A lot of the time it feels half produced something of a hybrid version of the Bathroom Tile production of POB and the warmth of the remastered imagine. The interesting thing for me was that a lot of the reverberating wall of sound that characterises Phil Spectors production was apparent even in this alternate form. I had always belived that much of this sound came from overlays, but much of it appears to have been there right from the initial recording.
The sound of the album is really quite unique, it is almost as if the sound of each instrument (and John's voice obviously) was piped into a cavern or chamber to echo around for a bit and then that resulting sound was chanelled through a megaphone or PA system.
In general whilst this is clearly a spector influenced production the orchestration that is on the normal imagine is mostly abscent here. Much of the bass, piano and drums seems to be either more prominent or more detailed (to steal shamelessly from joelscrowservo "they breathe").
THE TRACKS
1) Imagine: More than a Demo recording, less than a fully fledged track. This alternate version indicates how much production and polishing went into the final track; a hell of a lot more production than one would have imagined (sorry couldn't resist) for such a track which sounds so simple and elegant. The Bass is heavier, more detailed and more prominent. The track sound somehow less clutered as though the instruments have space to spare. On the downside the track lacks warmth and emotion and John's vocals lack the compasion and optimism one is used to on this track.
2) Crippled Inside. Not too disimilar to the normal version. However this track (and the next) really illustrate my "instruments to cavern to PA" explanation above. The Reverb is almost like real sound or a solid instrument in of itself and it's almost if it's echoing too.
3) Jealous Guy. The reverb on John's voice and the Piano is seriously out of control on this one to the detriment of the song. The POB bathroom tile sound is evident too again it lacks warmth, it has impact; but then so does a shard of crystal cutting into your skin! On the other hand the bass is a little more prominent and a lot more detailed, unfortunately it sounds a little like it has been pumped through a digeridoo before being recorded, giving it a vaguely flatunlant sound. This unfortuante combination gives the track a slightly scizophrenic feel.
4) It's so Hard: Very similar to the finished product, a little more reverb on John's voice but other than that there's not much in it.
5) How Do You Sleep? At this stage most of the lyrics appear to be there but the arrangements are not. There are a fair few differences between this and the finsihed track. For a kick off theres a reprise of the first verse at the end. Lennon's voice lacks its usual commitment (as Anthology 2 said, john usually commits whatever the take or stage of development the song is at), here there are lots of drawn out oohs and aahs at the end of lines, some are delivered in funny tones of voice too! The Ba-Da-Da-Da Ba-Da-Da-Dum guitar riff is less relentless and less prominent than on the final version and there's an irritating Keyboard/Melatron/Sytnth in the background too (to be honest have no idea what the instrument was, those were my best guesses). John asks George to take it (or words to that effect) before his guitar solo. Interestigly there are a few How do you sleep, brother?/sister? lines in the lyrics.
6) Gimmie Some Truth. As with It's So Hard not too many differences. However there is a bit of guitar running through the song that sounds like someone is playing on a bango that has very loose strings (or one of those little cheap plastic guitars that young kids get which always end uyp with loose strings in a couple of hours).
7) Oh My Love. John's voice on this on is a bit more ethereal with a touch more reverb on it too. The piano is more prominent and sounds great, really interesting actually. Another track with a slight POB feel to it.
8) How Do You Sleep?: A not more developed than last time. the vocal is more committed and the reprise of the first veres is gone. The Ba-Da-Da-Da Ba-Da-Da-Dum riff is more prominent and approaching the relentless quality of the final version. Unfortunately it sounds like a banjo afflicted with the same flatulants that affected the Bass on Jealous guy. John asks How do you Sleep PUNK!
9) How?: Probably the best of the alternate versions, superior (IMO) to the final version. Little orchestration, the drums and the piano are more prominent and more detailed. The reverb on the Piano is not so strong, thus the piano has a perfunctory quality to it which i really liked. The only things to say against this version is that early in the song John appears to have a frog in his throat (for those not familiar with the term read a little croaky), there is also a bit of twinkly syths which gets a bit wearing. But the final verdict is in on this one: Normal How? hang your head in shame.
10) Oh Yoko! Quite similar to the normal version. Slightly shifted to the POB style, but only slightly. Johns vocals are a little bit harder as are the drums. The harmonica at the end seems to be a little bit more elaborate too. A very good alternative to the normal verison. On a par with it.
11) San Fransisco Bay: Filler. A half formed ditty. Charming but slight.
SO IS IT ANY GOOD
Despite some unfavourable comments and comparisons above i would wholeheartedly recommend the alternate imagine to anyone with an interest in, or likeing for, solo John (or even just the imagine album). The only person i could see not liking this is one that a) doesn't like bootlegs, 2) already has the 3 CD version. Of course very few of the tracks are better than their final/normal version counterparts but that is only to be expected; off the top of my head i can only think of two Beatle related tracks which better the normal version, Mother Natures Son on Anthology 3 and I'm Loosing You on Wonsaponatime. For this album to have 1 better version and one equal one speaks volumes about its quality.
The alternate image is also very listenable in its own right and is a good way of extending the lifespan and interest of the original. If you get to the end of POB and are in the mood for more Lennon of that style this would be a very good bet. Certainly for less than a dollar you could do MUCH worse and would be unlikely to do any better! images/icons/wink.gif
I generally loathe to boil something down into marks, but for the sake of clarity: 4/5 (Would've been higher but there is a three disc verion out there!)
For many Plastic Ono Band marks the pinacle of John's solo career. Not for me, i'll go for the imagine album everytime. Whilst i would accept that POB reaches hights that Imagine does not, i also feel it has too many moments that are just boring really (Well Well Well springs to mind for example). Also I think Mother was bettered on the Live in New York City album. With that in mind an alternate version of imagine was always going to be higher on my "to get" list than POB and i was delighted to get a CDR version for a little over £1 (that under a dollar i think).
A couple of notes: 1) I understand that there is a 1 disc and a 3 disc version of the alternate imagine, this review is of the one disc version. 2) Any comparisons to the normal version of imagine is to the remastered CD version released a couple of years back.
GENERALITIES
The alternate imagine is a strange beast. A lot of the time it feels half produced something of a hybrid version of the Bathroom Tile production of POB and the warmth of the remastered imagine. The interesting thing for me was that a lot of the reverberating wall of sound that characterises Phil Spectors production was apparent even in this alternate form. I had always belived that much of this sound came from overlays, but much of it appears to have been there right from the initial recording.
The sound of the album is really quite unique, it is almost as if the sound of each instrument (and John's voice obviously) was piped into a cavern or chamber to echo around for a bit and then that resulting sound was chanelled through a megaphone or PA system.
In general whilst this is clearly a spector influenced production the orchestration that is on the normal imagine is mostly abscent here. Much of the bass, piano and drums seems to be either more prominent or more detailed (to steal shamelessly from joelscrowservo "they breathe").
THE TRACKS
1) Imagine: More than a Demo recording, less than a fully fledged track. This alternate version indicates how much production and polishing went into the final track; a hell of a lot more production than one would have imagined (sorry couldn't resist) for such a track which sounds so simple and elegant. The Bass is heavier, more detailed and more prominent. The track sound somehow less clutered as though the instruments have space to spare. On the downside the track lacks warmth and emotion and John's vocals lack the compasion and optimism one is used to on this track.
2) Crippled Inside. Not too disimilar to the normal version. However this track (and the next) really illustrate my "instruments to cavern to PA" explanation above. The Reverb is almost like real sound or a solid instrument in of itself and it's almost if it's echoing too.
3) Jealous Guy. The reverb on John's voice and the Piano is seriously out of control on this one to the detriment of the song. The POB bathroom tile sound is evident too again it lacks warmth, it has impact; but then so does a shard of crystal cutting into your skin! On the other hand the bass is a little more prominent and a lot more detailed, unfortunately it sounds a little like it has been pumped through a digeridoo before being recorded, giving it a vaguely flatunlant sound. This unfortuante combination gives the track a slightly scizophrenic feel.
4) It's so Hard: Very similar to the finished product, a little more reverb on John's voice but other than that there's not much in it.
5) How Do You Sleep? At this stage most of the lyrics appear to be there but the arrangements are not. There are a fair few differences between this and the finsihed track. For a kick off theres a reprise of the first verse at the end. Lennon's voice lacks its usual commitment (as Anthology 2 said, john usually commits whatever the take or stage of development the song is at), here there are lots of drawn out oohs and aahs at the end of lines, some are delivered in funny tones of voice too! The Ba-Da-Da-Da Ba-Da-Da-Dum guitar riff is less relentless and less prominent than on the final version and there's an irritating Keyboard/Melatron/Sytnth in the background too (to be honest have no idea what the instrument was, those were my best guesses). John asks George to take it (or words to that effect) before his guitar solo. Interestigly there are a few How do you sleep, brother?/sister? lines in the lyrics.
6) Gimmie Some Truth. As with It's So Hard not too many differences. However there is a bit of guitar running through the song that sounds like someone is playing on a bango that has very loose strings (or one of those little cheap plastic guitars that young kids get which always end uyp with loose strings in a couple of hours).
7) Oh My Love. John's voice on this on is a bit more ethereal with a touch more reverb on it too. The piano is more prominent and sounds great, really interesting actually. Another track with a slight POB feel to it.
8) How Do You Sleep?: A not more developed than last time. the vocal is more committed and the reprise of the first veres is gone. The Ba-Da-Da-Da Ba-Da-Da-Dum riff is more prominent and approaching the relentless quality of the final version. Unfortunately it sounds like a banjo afflicted with the same flatulants that affected the Bass on Jealous guy. John asks How do you Sleep PUNK!
9) How?: Probably the best of the alternate versions, superior (IMO) to the final version. Little orchestration, the drums and the piano are more prominent and more detailed. The reverb on the Piano is not so strong, thus the piano has a perfunctory quality to it which i really liked. The only things to say against this version is that early in the song John appears to have a frog in his throat (for those not familiar with the term read a little croaky), there is also a bit of twinkly syths which gets a bit wearing. But the final verdict is in on this one: Normal How? hang your head in shame.
10) Oh Yoko! Quite similar to the normal version. Slightly shifted to the POB style, but only slightly. Johns vocals are a little bit harder as are the drums. The harmonica at the end seems to be a little bit more elaborate too. A very good alternative to the normal verison. On a par with it.
11) San Fransisco Bay: Filler. A half formed ditty. Charming but slight.
SO IS IT ANY GOOD
Despite some unfavourable comments and comparisons above i would wholeheartedly recommend the alternate imagine to anyone with an interest in, or likeing for, solo John (or even just the imagine album). The only person i could see not liking this is one that a) doesn't like bootlegs, 2) already has the 3 CD version. Of course very few of the tracks are better than their final/normal version counterparts but that is only to be expected; off the top of my head i can only think of two Beatle related tracks which better the normal version, Mother Natures Son on Anthology 3 and I'm Loosing You on Wonsaponatime. For this album to have 1 better version and one equal one speaks volumes about its quality.
The alternate image is also very listenable in its own right and is a good way of extending the lifespan and interest of the original. If you get to the end of POB and are in the mood for more Lennon of that style this would be a very good bet. Certainly for less than a dollar you could do MUCH worse and would be unlikely to do any better! images/icons/wink.gif
I generally loathe to boil something down into marks, but for the sake of clarity: 4/5 (Would've been higher but there is a three disc verion out there!)