The new mix of Mind Games was released while I was on my latest trip to Liverpool, and I listened to it standing alone in the church hall at St. Peters., John's voice echoing off the walls of the very room in which it all started. And it occured to me how singular John and Paul and the Beatles are -- that I'd even want yet another new mix -- and I do! I do! and that I could be so deeply moved by the mere fact of his studio chatter (I particularly loved his claiming of his right to be irrational, because isn't that the sublime right of all great, world changing artists?)
Thanks for these insights. Was the bar set too high for ex-Beatles? Yes, it was I believe.
In the 70s, there were no super deluxe editions. When a band split - even The Beatles - that was it, apart from flogging compilations. Beatles solo albums had to fly the flag for the memory of the band. Anything less than a pseudo-Beatles album was a failure.
I've always thought this record was underrated. After Some Time in New York City critics smelled blood I think. There's nothing critics love more than to tear down what they'd previously built up. I personally don't think it's useful to read rock criticism until at least ten years pass since a record's release. When you're knee deep in a zeitgeist only an extremely astute critic can write with perspective. I remember as a kid getting the first edition of the Rolling Stone Record Guide, then years later getting the second edition and comparing the ratings between the two. A ton of revisionism, to say the least. Like, in the first one they trashed every Doors album, while in the second one they were all assigned 4 stars minimum.
Anyway, yes, John was sitting around doing nothing while May Pang assembled a band to work on Yoko's album, and when John visited the studio he liked what he heard, so he retained the band and dashed off some songs while they earned money doing nothing themselves, but they're good songs! He was literally John Lennon, after all. I really like all the songs on Mind Games, even though only a couple I would consider classics. Did people set the bar too high for ex-Beatles in the early 70s?
Interesting realization, comparing John and Paul in '73: Mind Games is vastly superior to Red Rose Speedway, but Band on the Run is better than Mind Games.
Ah a Lennon legend slot at Glastonbury… think we’ve all dreamed of that!
The new mix of Mind Games was released while I was on my latest trip to Liverpool, and I listened to it standing alone in the church hall at St. Peters., John's voice echoing off the walls of the very room in which it all started. And it occured to me how singular John and Paul and the Beatles are -- that I'd even want yet another new mix -- and I do! I do! and that I could be so deeply moved by the mere fact of his studio chatter (I particularly loved his claiming of his right to be irrational, because isn't that the sublime right of all great, world changing artists?)
Thanks for these insights. Was the bar set too high for ex-Beatles? Yes, it was I believe.
In the 70s, there were no super deluxe editions. When a band split - even The Beatles - that was it, apart from flogging compilations. Beatles solo albums had to fly the flag for the memory of the band. Anything less than a pseudo-Beatles album was a failure.
All wrong, of course, as is my theory (possibly).
I've always thought this record was underrated. After Some Time in New York City critics smelled blood I think. There's nothing critics love more than to tear down what they'd previously built up. I personally don't think it's useful to read rock criticism until at least ten years pass since a record's release. When you're knee deep in a zeitgeist only an extremely astute critic can write with perspective. I remember as a kid getting the first edition of the Rolling Stone Record Guide, then years later getting the second edition and comparing the ratings between the two. A ton of revisionism, to say the least. Like, in the first one they trashed every Doors album, while in the second one they were all assigned 4 stars minimum.
Anyway, yes, John was sitting around doing nothing while May Pang assembled a band to work on Yoko's album, and when John visited the studio he liked what he heard, so he retained the band and dashed off some songs while they earned money doing nothing themselves, but they're good songs! He was literally John Lennon, after all. I really like all the songs on Mind Games, even though only a couple I would consider classics. Did people set the bar too high for ex-Beatles in the early 70s?
Interesting realization, comparing John and Paul in '73: Mind Games is vastly superior to Red Rose Speedway, but Band on the Run is better than Mind Games.
Anyway, another great Glimpse, Ian!
Plastic Ono Band is my fav solo Lennon.
Yes, great album.
I know the title track for sure; one of Lennon's more intriguing solo numbers.