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In 1970 the Beatles had finally announced their separation, and each of the now ex-Beatles released solo albums. All were wildly different. Ringo put out two, the first being a collection of well-polished standards mainly from the 1940's (decades before this was a popular idea), and the second a slick Nashville country album that aside from featuring a young Jerry Reed, was very forgettable. Paul put out his self-titled debut, and while it did contain 'Maybe I'm Amazed',. it was also full of song fragments, which he would continue to litter his albums with for many years to come. George had 'All Things Must Pass', which as a two-record set, was a benchmark he would never again surpass (the 'Apple Jam' third record is a one-listen borefest). And then there was John. His escapades with Yoko had already encompassed four albums (only half of one, the 'Live Peace in Toronto 1969' was worth the effort). So nobody really expected 'Plastic Ono Band' to be anything other than more strangeness. Instead, we were given an album for the ages. While not as commercial as George's, it stands alone as the only album by any of the Beatles to really communicate the emotion and feeling of its creator. From the tolling bells that introduce 'Mother' to the scratch cheap phonograph sound of 'My Mummy's Dead', we get Lennon, more naked than 'Two Virgins', offering up his soul to his public. The songs are sparse, stripped lean and the more powerful for it. That this was three years after 'Strawberry Fields Forever' shows how John was just as much a creative dynamo as Paul (an opinion sometimes lost nowadays). The anger and grief and tenderness of John's voice come through on numbers like 'I Found Out', 'Isolation', 'Hold On John' (which would have fit perfectly on 'Imagine' a year later) and 'Love'. 'Remember' and 'Well Well Well' are blistering slabs of rock and roll also. If this album is John's 'Sgt. Pepper', then 'God' is the new 'A Day in the Life'; he breaks down the illusions that many of us share and at the end, sings clear-eyed and newly awoken to the reality that it's all down to each of us, and maybe those we care for. 'Working Class Hero' does the same, and by giving voice to his own pain, reaches that pain we all share at one time or another. The effect is simply stunning. Driven by Ringo's no-frills drumming and the excellent bass of Klaus Voorman (who only now is being seen for his underrated ability), John's guitar or piano (sometimes played by Phil Spector or Billy Preston) adds only what's required. Many musicians say a lot less with more noise. 'Plastic Ono Band' returns us whenever we want to a time when John Lennon was alive, breathing and thinking. It reflects how much we all lost when he left us.Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
The music is a masterpiece of late great John Lennon.I have owned the Lp since many years but my copy was not so good so I have bought the cd edition for this reason.The remastered edition cd sounds very good.I guess the edition would be better without the bonus tracks. No doubt "Pover To The People " is a great song but I think this is the case when the less is more as the much.The original LP and earlier cd version far better as composition.That is brilliant. P.S. The booklet with additional Photographs is fine.
Had the original vinyl sounded great. First 1980's CD transfer absolutely awful, flat and very dull. This 2000 remix sounds fantastic, so sticking with this one. Not heard either the 2010 remaster or the very recent latest remix.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Great cd of a great band.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
5 star songs with intense lyrics and beautiful production
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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