Update (12/19/03)

Steve -

It's amazing how many old non-stories resurface and are mistaken for new. The "Lennon Legend" CD, released in 1997, also gives sole credit to Lennon for "Give Peace A Chance." Clearly, this omission could not possibly have had anything to do with the "Back in the U.S." credit uproar, which would not happen until half a decade later. Keep up the great work with the site.

Update (12/11/03)

VH1 Classic "Headline Act" celebrates the launch of the new "Lennon Legend" DVD, featuring an exclusive interview with Yoko Ono to discuss the new project which includes never-seen-before footage of John and Yoko, the original 16mm "Imagine" film negative, as well as some of John's original artwork. The hour-long program will premiere on Monday, December 15 at 11:00 AM, and 7:00 PM.

"Well, I think you should look at this DVD and you'll see all aspects of John. You can find him being very, very, funny and sometimes he's extremely serious. He can be surprisingly tactful too, but you know, of course he's also John. So, it's all about him coming out in this. I think it's very interesting that way," said Yoko Ono.

The second half of "Headline Act" features videos of some of Lennon's most well known hits including "Imagine," "Love," "Mind Games," "Woman," "Stand By Me" and "Jealous Guy." The episode will re-air on Thursday, December 19th at 8:00 AM, 4:00 PM and 12:00 AM and Friday, December 20 at 11:00 AM, 7:00 PM and 3:00 AM.

Launched in May 2000, VH1 Classic is a 24-hour network that presents music videos, concerts and music specials featuring classic rock, soul and pop artists from the 60s, 70s and 80s. Featured artists include The Beatles, The Stones, Tina Turner, Led Zeppelin, Marvin Gaye, The Who, Stevie Wonder, The Police and many more.

Update (12/10/03)

Hi, Steve,

I interviewed Yoko Ono about the new version of "Happy Xmas (War is Over)," which I think should be shown in every church, synagogue, temple, and schoolroom in the country. The article appeared in the Orange County Register Dec. 7. Here is the link: http://www2.ocregister.com/ocrweb/ocr/article.do?id=70548§ion=ENTERTAINMENT&subsection=ET_MUSIC&year=2003&month=12&day=7. It may also be found at www.riprense.com.

Best,
Rip

A comment to Jeff Slate about the credit for "Give Peace A Chance" on the "Lennon Legend" DVD being changed from "Lennon/McCartney" to "Lennon": This was also done on the CD edition several years ago (and several years before "Back In The US/World," mind you). And I THINK it's also been done on some other Lennon releases from recent years.

I don't mind. I didn't really mind what Paul did either. It's just a bit funny that all those people who got SO upset when Paulie "reversed" the credits on that infamous live album are so quiet about this. :-)

This is in response to Jeff Slate's 12/9/03 letter. The changed credits for "Give Peace A Chance" are hardly new. They showed up sans McCartney for the first time in 1997, on the "Lennon Legend" CD, and again in 1998, on the "John Lennon Anthology" box set.

Finally got a chance to dig into this over the (snowy) weekend. The DTS mixes are very nice.

Has anyone pointed out that Yoko has changed the credit on GPAC to "John Lennon"? A little dig right back at Paulie, perhaps?

Update (11/20/03)

I don't think any mentioned that on the Lennon Legend, Instant Karma is the "Yoko Knits" version. Glad to finally have the full version of that! I just can't understand why she did a new video for Cold Turkey. The good thing is how good the One to One footage looks, That should be her next project. A One to One DVD with multiple angles.

Update (11/19/03)

There was a private screening of the Lennon Legend DVD on Monday night, November 17th, at the Loew's theater at Broadway and 19th Street in Manhattan. Actually, not all of the DVD was shown -- a majority of the song "videos" were. Yoko was in attendance and introduced the showing. She looked stunning and was also very emotional as she briefly spoke about how difficult it was putting the project together. She said that although she's listened to John's voice on recordings many times because of the "business" (since his death) this was the first time that she had to actually see John as well as hear him and it was very difficult until she acted like John really was there advising her. After the screening, Yoko went to the microphone again and apologized for the quality of the screening. The projector did wash out a lot of the clarity of the footage and was too bright at times. She said she had just done a screening in London and the images were perfect. I managed to speak to her for a moment before leaving to tell her I thought the collection was great, and she actually was apologizing to me for the quality of the projection! Upon leaving the theater, we were all given a copy of the Lennon Legend DVD. I must say, the images on the screen were so powerful -- there was a lot of happiness, but also a lot of sadness. I have a deeper respect for Yoko for all that she's still managed to do with John's work and her own after all she's been through.

Five stars out of five, saying the "minutiae of Lennon's life" that appears in the footage comes "together powerfully, kaleidoscopically, to itensify the original meaning of some songs while broadening the purpose of others and endowing more, still, with a terrible, posthumous significance". The DVD extras are given only three stars, but after such a glowing review, I doubt that would put many people off.

Update (11/3/03)

The following is my quick review of the first time I saw the Lennon Legend DVD today. The highlights are:

1.- Sound is amazing, Stereo is very well mixed and many songs have extended intros and outros.

2.-Two videos are "Free as a Bird & Real Love" Style: Working Class Hero and (Just Like) Starting Over.

3.- Yoko appears through all the DVD except in the new video of Mind Games which has wonderfull unseen scenes of John walking in Central Park most of the time and concluding at the place where "Sgt. Pepper Lonely Hearts Club Band" were performing.

4.- Many of the videos mix scenes from diferent periods of time, most of them from 1969, 1971-73: Borrow Time, Nobody Told Me, Give Peace a Chance.

5.- Happy Xmas is a complete new video made completly by Mrs. Lennon. It show old and contemporary pictures of children injured by war: From Vietnam to Afghanistan, from Israel to Sep/11. The video can make you cry, but, c'mon this is a John Lennon DVD not "The world as seen by Yoko".

The Bonus material is one of the best things of the DVD. The live performance of Imagine and the video of Slippin' and Sliddin' worth the price alone.

If you're a Lennon fan you must have this DVD, but please don't e-bay your old Lennon Collection VHS.

Update (10/30/03)

Dear Steve,

EMI has launched an official site for “Lennon Legend” DVD. The website http://www.lennonlegend.com was launched this week, with video previews and downloads (wallpapers and screensavers).

German newspapers and television station are not well excited on the new DVD "Lennon Legend" - DVD is released in Germany on October 27, 2003 - The tenor is, that this work is more an "ego trip" of Yoko and a mystification of John than a real cool music video or a dispute with a rebellious, contradictory, difficult musician. The media claimed, that the DVD has to owe an altogether rather sentimental note probably to the strong influence of Ono. It submits the picture free of fault of a husband who idolized his wife, maked silly things with kids, went on peace demoes and loved romantical walks in the Central Park. Would John Lennon wanted to remain so in memory? But nobody in the press mentioned s.th. about the sound of the DVD. The visual impression of the DVD is one side of the coin, the other is the music - and this is really known for John. The sound is incredible - the producers took carefully the possibilities of 5.1 surround sound - not overdosed, for example, one channel on both front speakers, the other on both back speakers, the third channel on the center speaker: A special kind of surround sound - really. The songs are not faded out, this provides a certain charm. The songs are fresh and clear. >From the point of the taste of music this DVD is a must to have it in a collection and it is a good present as well to everybody, who loves pretty good 70s Rock'n'Roll Music.

Update (10/28/03)

I got the DVD today, and you are in for a real treat when its released in the U.S. etc. Its great, and although I don't have 5.1 surround sound, the sound quality is AMAZING!

Update (10/25/03)

From what I have read the men wearing the fake faces were supposed to be a dig at Sir Lew Grade for being "two faced" possilbly for his taking control of the Beatles' songwriting company against their wishes. Just thought I would clear up Chris' question on this. This can be found on page 273 of Bill Harry's THE ULTIMATE BEATLES ENCYCLOPEDIA.

Steve,

LAUNCH! is showing the video for Mind Games on their new playlist; it is all the footage of John in Central Park, some of which I had not seen before and the sound of the new mix, even over the internet feed, is fantastic! Thanks again for the great column.

Update (10/24/03)

Update (10/23/03)

Update (10/20/03)

The program "Fantástico" of TV "Globo in Brazil " yesterday (Sunday) showed rare home movie footage of John Lennon. The scenes showed John, Yoko and Sean in several different places. For example: John and Sean celebrating their birthdays, enjoying a beach, etc. This footage appears on "Lennon Legend" DVD.

Here's the scope (though they didn't mention the DVD release): The new footage was basically comprised of images taken from a super 8 film, showing John playing around with Sean in the Dakota, on the beach, eating at a restaurant, etc. It was shown with the regular version of Watching The Wheels as the background soundtrack.

Update (10/17/03)

Can't believe it, but it's true. EMI here in Sweden has just postponed the release date for the John Lennon Legend dvd from 17 October to 29 October. Because? The commercial will include both the CD and the DVD. The CD is to be released on the 29 October.

(10/16/03) From Peter Nash of the British Beatles Fan Club:

Dear Steve,

Went to the premiere of the "Lennon Legend" DVD last night at the Curzon Mayfair Cinema in London. Yoko looked young and trendy and graciously signed my copy of "Grapefruit". She gave a short talk onstage about the new DVD before the screening.

As to be expected, the sound quality on the new release is excellent. However many of the tracks have had brand new promos made for them. Even songs such as "Give Peace A Chance" and "Cold Turkey", which already had original promos, now have new footage. "Cold Turkey" is made up from clips from the One To One Concert. Very few original promos are still intact on this DVD. In fact probably only "Instant Karma" and "Woman", so collectors will need to keep their copies of "The John Lennon Collection" VHS.

Saying that, the newly compiled promo films work extremely well, some shot in a "Free As A Bird" style with footage from the re-furbished Mendips included. An excellent new Lennon release but slightly dissapointing for the reasons stated above. Regards...Pete Nash
www.britishbeatlesfanclub.co.uk

Commenting on the video, Yoko said, “It was important that his message should come through. There are one or two details that may be difficult to watch. They’re rather strong stuff, but I expect you don’t mind that because John would have wanted it that way.” (Thanks to Trini Schultz.)

Update (9/26/03)

1. Imagine
2. Instant Karma! (We All Shine On)
3. Mother
4. Jealous Guy
5. Power To The People
6. Cold Turkey
7. Love
8. Mind Games
9. Whatever Gets You Thru The Night
10. #9 Dream
11. Stand By Me
12. (Just Like) Starting Over
13. Woman
14. Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)
15. Watching The Wheels
16. Nobody Told Me
17. Borrowed Time
18. Working Class Hero
19. Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
20. Give Peace A Chance

John Lennon's Lennon Legend DVD will be released on October 27, 2003. The DVD features 20 tracks of orignal videos and some new and unseen footage with 5.1 Surround Sound in both Dolby Digital and DTS formats and a new PCM stereo mix. These mixes being undertaken at Abbey Road under Yoko's personal supervision. The film material contained is extremely stunning and much previously unseen footage is gathered with more familiar material. Of the bonus features, there are short animated clips of 20 of John's line-drawings which appear between the songs. There is also a picture gallery and some extra videos which are either alternative versions or represent tracks not included on the original album.