ALBUM REVIEW: John Lennon - Imagine

    Here we are, one year gone from The Beatles' volatile split in April of 1970, and Lennon's cards had all been played fairly well - the year prior, he dropped the revelatory bombshell of his Plastic Ono Band on a more than unprepared public, showing that the Smart Beatle was all too eager to have gotten his divorce with the group back in September of 1969. It was an eye-opening self-examination of his fame and fears, and the resulting record still holds as one of the all time best to come out of any solo Beatle, and in a year when his competition included the cozy McCartney and the Declaration of Independence that was All Things Must Pass, that's no small feat. Of course, Lennon's not done yet, and if there is any criticism that could be drawn towards Plastic Ono Band, it's certainly its relative inaccessibility compared to the more poppy albums previously mentioned - the Primal Scream, eh? No matter, because if you want more Lennon, than his seminal Imagine has it in droves. Sanding down a lot of the rough edges of Plastic Ono Band and refining them into a more catchy pop rock that's far more on brand with John, Imagine isn't as biting as his previous, but still has its reflective moments and rebellious edge of some of Lennon's best work, but now with a catchier coat of paint. It makes an ideal follow-up to the preceding album, continuing ideas while also branching off into its own thing, and the result is another great record from John.

    The biggest change that Lennon has undergone in between the two records is the overall style and production of the record, even with some similarities between the two, most obvious in John's backing group. Ostensibly, we're still hearing the Plastic Ono Band in these recordings, but now with some minor changes; drumming duties rotate between Jim Gordon (of Derek and the Dominoes fame), famed session player Jim Kelter, and fellow session man Alan White, with the latter carrying most of the time-keeping throughout the album. Joining John on guitar is fellow ex-Beatle George Harrison, not only delivering his now iconic slide guitar on many songs, but also being an occasional lead guy on some of the album's highlights (including on the Beatles leftover that is "Gimme Some Truth"). Klaus Voorman is back giving us a steady bass rhythm on many songs, and rock pianist Nicky Hopkins joins the group with his expert piano playing, the ideal flavoring on any track from the country-flavored "Crippled Inside" to the blues of "How Do You Sleep?". The band sounds great throughout, arguably tighter than on Plastic Ono Band, and the same can be said for the production work, where Phil Spector yet again gets his hands in the mix. In comparison to his more minimal work on Plastic Ono Band, however, Imagine is more in-line with the lush stylings of Spector's previous works, although still not quite at the Wall of Sound level - still, moments like "I Don't Wanna Be a Soldier Mama" have a healthy amount of reverb, just so you know who produced the album. To know him is to love him, I suppose. Still, it makes for a very professional sounding record, emphasized by Lennon's diversity throughout the record, as well.

    Imagine showcases many sides of Lennon's character, and very confidently as well. This isn't just in the context of his personality or character, but in his musical stylings; from pop to rock; from country to blues. Few songs Lennon has crafted are as immediate of a radio hit as "Oh Yoko!" with its heartfelt lyrics and immediately catchy melody, even featuring a solid harmonica solo from him. It makes for a solid album closer as well, and since it never became a single, I'll take what I can get from it. Moments like "It's So Hard" or the aforementioned "Gimme Some Truth" show John's expertise at rock, and the former also showcases his skill at blues rock with its crunchy lead. "Crippled Inside" is a lovable piece of country rock if ever there was one, only increased by Harrison's excellent Dobro playing and Hopkins' colorful ragtime-inspired piano. Not only is it a musically satisfying and diverse record musically, but John's lyrical side shows every part of him. The sensitive side of Lennon is most evident on two of the album's best songs in "Oh My Love" and "Jealous Guy", the former of which is personal enough to have passed on Plastic Ono Band, and the latter is a confessional look at John's controlling behavior - one of his most blunt songs, and it pays off for it. We don't just see John the human, but John the activist; both "Imagine" and "Gimme Some Truth" are classic Lennon activism, the former being a more peaceful song of hope for everyone to live more peacefully and without worldly possessions, and the latter being an anthemic call against self-serving hypocrites who look to obscure reality - just gimme some truth. "I Don't Wanna Be a Soldier Mama" contains hints of protest against societal ideals, as well, but isn't nearly as anthemic or relatable as the previous two. We even see John at his most spiteful on "How Do You Sleep?", a song that's long been interpreted as a dig against former partner Paul McCartney - it is brutally written, but even a Paul fan like me has to admit that this is a kickass number from John, with a certifiably biting George Harrison slide solo to boot. Every facet of the album comes together to give us an image of Lennon, as clear and distinct as his photograph on the front cover.

    Lennon's follow-up to his revelatory masterpiece certainly had expectations heavy, and while Imagine doesn't quite top his previous record in my book, it's a hardy contender alright. Many of the best aspects of Imagine are rooted in its predecessor, but are presented here in a more clean, confident, and often more approachable manner. Much like McCartney's Ram earlier the same year, Imagine proves that Lennon's solo success was no handout or fluke, but a natural continuation of his never-ending creativity and ambition. It's a successful pop record in every sense of the word, filled with character, charm, and a biting edge that gives the certifiable touch of John Lennon. A hell of a great time for Lennon and Beatles fans alike, and certainly a good way to get into the wild world of his catalog, and that sure as hell is the truth.

RATING: ✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯

Listen to Imagine.