joelcrowservo
Aug 10, 2003, 04:23 AM
Okay, to balance out the Imagine review (which if you havent read, DO!), heres a look at Johns final sessions this week:
Beatles Bootleg Review: John Lenon- "A Heart Play" 1998
http://www.fabfour.de/jl051.jpg
Track Listing:
The Studio Sessions, Hit Factory, New York, August-September 1980
I´m Stepping Out (early take)
I´m Losing You (early Cheap Trick take)
Cleanup time (early take)
Cleanup time
Cleanup time (mix with unused effects)
(Just Like)Starting over (studio talk)
(Just Like)Starting over (early take/mix)
Beautiful boy (early take)
Dear Yoko
Watching the wheels (different vocals)
I Am the walrus (goofing)
Woman
Woman (rough mix)
Dream lover/Stay (Unreleased Cover)
(Forgive Me)My little flower princess (rough mix)
Nobody told me (early take)
I don´t wanna face it
Borrowed time
Woman (with more backing voices, unused)
I´m Stepping out
First-the disc I have only features the first part, the second being demos, so obviuosly we'll only look at the studio recordings. Most of this CD was taken from Vigotones "Lennon Journals" set, and it is all in pretty good sound quality. But all tracks seem a little sped up, and most are probably monitor mixes. No matter, its great and a little sad to hear John in the last weeks of his life, having fun and laying down the law in the Record Plant! John has a good time with the musicians, mostly New York guys like Hugh McCracken, Andy Newmar and Bowies Earl Slick, but he is also in full command mode. Any screwing around was hardly tolerated when the red light went on. Not a big change from the Beatle days! Most of these tracks are early takes of the songs, with slightly different arrangements. One I found most interesting was "Cleanup Time". What has to be around the final take is still missing a section (the instrumental part before ..'The queen is in..'). It also features the African childrens sound during each chorus, instead of at the end. And the only time we hear 'show those mothers how to do it' ( as seen on the Double Fantasy liner notes) is only heard mumbled during one of the first takes. "Starting Over" remains mostly the same, but we hear John trying to decide how best to go from the intro into 'its been so long..'. The band throws around ideas, but the final version seems to be an edit of the last take heard ( ending before the middle 8)here and another one not on here.
Dont get your hopes up for "I Am The Walrus". Its John saying "I am you and you are you and we are we.." with a comment afterwards! And its Johns comments you'll enjoy as much as the music. Before beginning "Starting Over", he announces 'this ones for Elvis,Eddie and Gene...and Buddy!'. Then theres the unfortunate comment made by Yoko during recording of "Woman". John is talking about how he feels like hes back singing "Girl" again, and should be doing that sharp intake of breath as on that song. After singing a bit, Yoko announces that John sounds "like a Beatle". "An EX BEATLE, you f***ing b****! Actually, I'm supposed to be Smokey Robinson at he moment my dear." WOW! He also talks a bit about the early Beatles, when they first discovered double tracking, and how much he loved it. His funny recital of "Dear Yoko"s lyrics is also interesting, as in a Peter Sellers type voice he says "I miss you when youre not here, oh my g** damn dear, dear yoko".
Theres also the great bonus of a version of one of Johns favorite oldies, Bobby Darins "Dream Lover". It probably could have been used, except that John only seemed to remember SOME lyrics, and even then not always the right ones! Its still awful fun, bookended with Maurice Williams "Stay".
All in all, this was an interesting listen, especially doing as I did, hearing it after "Plastic Ono Band Demos"! Lennon 1970 was obviously conflicted and not too happy. Lennon 1980 was the opposite, which makes this sad, but such great music cannot leave you with a sad feeling at all.
SUMMARY/RATING: ****1/2 (4 1/2 Stars)- An essential addition to your Lennon collection. A great listen no matter what, and how could a master at work not make an interesting CD? Get this one!
***********************************
Okay you usual and unusual bootleggers, come back to the five and dime here! Theres no remixes, so its friendly for Legs here now!! See you next week, on Beatles Bootleg Reviews, brought to you by Plenty of Jam Jars Baby.
Beatles Bootleg Review: John Lenon- "A Heart Play" 1998
http://www.fabfour.de/jl051.jpg
Track Listing:
The Studio Sessions, Hit Factory, New York, August-September 1980
I´m Stepping Out (early take)
I´m Losing You (early Cheap Trick take)
Cleanup time (early take)
Cleanup time
Cleanup time (mix with unused effects)
(Just Like)Starting over (studio talk)
(Just Like)Starting over (early take/mix)
Beautiful boy (early take)
Dear Yoko
Watching the wheels (different vocals)
I Am the walrus (goofing)
Woman
Woman (rough mix)
Dream lover/Stay (Unreleased Cover)
(Forgive Me)My little flower princess (rough mix)
Nobody told me (early take)
I don´t wanna face it
Borrowed time
Woman (with more backing voices, unused)
I´m Stepping out
First-the disc I have only features the first part, the second being demos, so obviuosly we'll only look at the studio recordings. Most of this CD was taken from Vigotones "Lennon Journals" set, and it is all in pretty good sound quality. But all tracks seem a little sped up, and most are probably monitor mixes. No matter, its great and a little sad to hear John in the last weeks of his life, having fun and laying down the law in the Record Plant! John has a good time with the musicians, mostly New York guys like Hugh McCracken, Andy Newmar and Bowies Earl Slick, but he is also in full command mode. Any screwing around was hardly tolerated when the red light went on. Not a big change from the Beatle days! Most of these tracks are early takes of the songs, with slightly different arrangements. One I found most interesting was "Cleanup Time". What has to be around the final take is still missing a section (the instrumental part before ..'The queen is in..'). It also features the African childrens sound during each chorus, instead of at the end. And the only time we hear 'show those mothers how to do it' ( as seen on the Double Fantasy liner notes) is only heard mumbled during one of the first takes. "Starting Over" remains mostly the same, but we hear John trying to decide how best to go from the intro into 'its been so long..'. The band throws around ideas, but the final version seems to be an edit of the last take heard ( ending before the middle 8)here and another one not on here.
Dont get your hopes up for "I Am The Walrus". Its John saying "I am you and you are you and we are we.." with a comment afterwards! And its Johns comments you'll enjoy as much as the music. Before beginning "Starting Over", he announces 'this ones for Elvis,Eddie and Gene...and Buddy!'. Then theres the unfortunate comment made by Yoko during recording of "Woman". John is talking about how he feels like hes back singing "Girl" again, and should be doing that sharp intake of breath as on that song. After singing a bit, Yoko announces that John sounds "like a Beatle". "An EX BEATLE, you f***ing b****! Actually, I'm supposed to be Smokey Robinson at he moment my dear." WOW! He also talks a bit about the early Beatles, when they first discovered double tracking, and how much he loved it. His funny recital of "Dear Yoko"s lyrics is also interesting, as in a Peter Sellers type voice he says "I miss you when youre not here, oh my g** damn dear, dear yoko".
Theres also the great bonus of a version of one of Johns favorite oldies, Bobby Darins "Dream Lover". It probably could have been used, except that John only seemed to remember SOME lyrics, and even then not always the right ones! Its still awful fun, bookended with Maurice Williams "Stay".
All in all, this was an interesting listen, especially doing as I did, hearing it after "Plastic Ono Band Demos"! Lennon 1970 was obviously conflicted and not too happy. Lennon 1980 was the opposite, which makes this sad, but such great music cannot leave you with a sad feeling at all.
SUMMARY/RATING: ****1/2 (4 1/2 Stars)- An essential addition to your Lennon collection. A great listen no matter what, and how could a master at work not make an interesting CD? Get this one!
***********************************
Okay you usual and unusual bootleggers, come back to the five and dime here! Theres no remixes, so its friendly for Legs here now!! See you next week, on Beatles Bootleg Reviews, brought to you by Plenty of Jam Jars Baby.