Update (12/9/04)

Update (11/27/04)

Update (11/22/04)

Update (11/15/04)

Update (11/9/04)

I have to say (first off AMAZING website; it gets a daily visit from me) that I am not as impressed with the sonic side of "Acoustic." The flanging effect that appears on several tracks is very distracting for me and takes away from the intimate feel of the demos. "Working Class Hero" in particular sounds too processed and thin and lacks all the warmth found on the "Anthology." The EQ-ing of "Dear Yoko" almost makes it, for me, impossible to listen to. I still prefer the "Real Love" on "Imagine: John Lennon." The packaging is fun but I am very sad about the sound. I expected it to be an album that I would play repeatedly. I won't.

Update (11/8/04)

Hi Steve:

Interesting comment from Andy Fusco regarding ACOUSTIC's overdubs. I listened to the disc last night for the first time as I fell asleep and haven't had the chance to A/B against previously released or booted other versions. I would caution against jumping to the conclusion that whatever overdubs present might have been made my other "uncredited artists." It is just as possible that John overdubbed the corrections himself from one tape to another. John's habit of solo demoing during the "Double Fantasy" era was to create a base track of vocal and guitar. If he liked the track, he might then record another guitar, whistle/vocal or crude hand-clapping rhythm enhancement onto it. It's been a while since I've studying the unreleased recordings, but I distinctly remember A/Bing what I thought were distinctly different demo versions of "Watching the Wheels" (I think) only to discover that both had the same guitar/vocal under-track.

Steve:

While your site needs no additional controversy, I am wondering about the possibility that John's work on "Acoustic" has been enhanced by uncreditted artists.

To my ears, I hear what sounds like a 12-string tracked onto this version of "Dear Yoko" that wasn't there on "The Lost Lennon Tapes." Also a couple of the whistling glitches on "It's Real" appear vocally "fixed," if you compare this new version with the one on "DakotaCD4" in the Lennon anthology boxed set. Lastly here on "Real Love," is what sounds like noticeably fuller background instrumentation than that which is audible on the "Imagine: John Lennon" soundtrack version.

Not that I have any real problem with posthumous tinkering: I very much approve of "Free As A Bird" and "Real Love" and my only issue with "Grow Old With Me" is that it was done so badly. My qualm here is that if you are going to "improve" John's rough tapes, admit it up front and give credit to the artists responsible. Of course, I could be wrong.

Perhaps improved production technology, not additional musicians, is solely why the stuff on "Acoustic" sounds different and better. Gosh knows that this new version of "Working Class Hero" blows the socks off any take I've heard heretofor, and it sure is 100% John.

Update (10/30/04)

Hi, just a thought I took up in my review of the record here in Sweden: Why did they omit the wonderful Be My Baby, which really is a must for this records completion. It was included on CD3/The Lost Weekend of the Lennon Anthology box, but this is where the track belongs, at least as a bonus track together with Angel Baby. Maybe, just maybe, Yoko didn't like to hear John sing so sensually directly to May Pang? And when she heard some of the other takes ... well, they would have upset me if I was her. Anyway, one of the best remix/remasters yet! It took 20 years of CD production to learn how to master the media. All the best! Robert

Hi Steve:

I just bought the Rock & Roll Remastered CD, and I have one word for it: awesomeeeeeeeeeee. The sound is great, the remaster is being doing carefully, the bass boost truly get the felling to be there (specially in you can’t catch me and Sleepin’ and Slidin’) the sax reverbs all across the specter of the sound system, I have to said that Mrs. Ono Supervise one great remaster. Yeap I agree with Terry Ott in that this is not always a favorite to me, but over the years I find it interesting and powerful, but in this remix I found this record reborn, made me jump and scream great rock & roll, and the bonus tracks (as some already available) are great also, a good surprise hear Mr. Lennon greet his ex-band mates

In addition to Ole M. Olsen comments on the new "Rock N Roll" CD, I can add that not only is the European version copy-protected (it seems that UK copies are not) but EMI went as far as to print the awful "copy controlled" logo directly on the front sleeve, which is a total disgrace and lack of respect for the artist's work. (See scan at left.) The sound is excellent, of course, but the sleeve is a big letdown, specially after so much care was given to John's previous reissues.

I've been enjoying the Rock'n'Roll re-issue since it's European release date, September 27. The sound is great. Together with Mind Games this is probably the most striking of all the Lennon remixes. There are guitars on "Sweet Little Sixteen", for example, that weren't there, or audible, in the original mix. The voice box guitar of the intro of "Stand By Me" has been removed. The brass section sounds great. All the mixes are very clear and pushy and the album cleary benifits from the new mixes. That's the good, and most important, news.

The bad news is, the CD is in fact copy controlled. (My CD-player is offended and doesn't want to play it properly.) The copy controll logo has been put on the beautiful front cover (!) after all the nice re-releases with original cover art (Stones, Who, Kinks et al.). How can one be that ignorant? Imagine a re-released Abbey Road with a ruined cover. I hope Apple Corps Ltd. will have more influence regarding the art conception of a re-released Beatles catalogue.

Hi Steve,

Hope you are well. I now have my copy of the reissued 'Rock N' Roll' and, as youd expect the sound is great. The CD in tray features a line drawing by Lennon of a Rock singer on stage, and the booklet features a handful of black and white photos of Lennon from the days just before the Beatles made it big. Aside from the credits, however, there is nothing else in the booklet. Surely EMI/Parlophone could have found some more photos or had some text written about the history of the album? As a result, the project does look rather rushed, as though not as much thought has gone into this release. Surprisingly, the CD back cover also features an Apple logo.

The alternate ending for 'Just Because' has John saying: 'It's all down to Goodnight Vienna...Hi to Ringo, George Paul...How are you...and to all of the people in England...(whats cooking)?

Update (10/5/04)

just received the re-release of Rock 'N' Roll from amazon.co.uk today (for ONCE we Europeans get a release earlier than the Americans ;-).

Not too much to say about the music - we all know it, and I've always liked the album myself. And of course, most of the bonus material is familiar as well. Like the other "pre-househusband" re-releases, it's remixed as well as remastered, by the good folks at Abbey Road - with the same good results as before (though the purists will naturally fight that claim :-).

The "booklet" is rather slim - four pages. Besides the front cover, the back of the jewel case is basically repeated on the back of the booklet. Inside are five nice Hamburg era shots of John on the right, and all possible credits on the left.

On the inside of the jewel case there's a nice "rock'n'roll" drawing by John, that I personally can't recall having seen before - though I'm sure it's been printed somewhere.

An interesting thing about the cover is a fairly prominent green Apple logo on the back of the jewel case, the back of the booklet and on the CD itself. Apart from on facsimiles of the original LP labels (and a flat apple beneath the album logo on the back of "Imagine"), I haven't noticed the Apple logo on any of the other re-releases. And I can't help but wonder why it's actually there? Just a further bit of nostalgia? :-)

The CD label has no "Compact Disc" logo, by the way, but it doesn't seem like it's "copy protected" anyway, unlike most of EMI's recent releases (at least its European releases). So there's no need to boycott the album. ;-)

Anyway, the nicest new thing about the release comes at the very end, in the "Just Because" reprise where John says: "I'd like to say hi to Ringo... Paul... George... How are you? And everybody back home in Liverpool." A nice addition to the album. :-)

Hey there!

I received my copy of John Lennon's Rock 'n' Roll reissue from amazon.com.uk today. I love it! Ever since I first listened to this album back when it came out, I've always wished someone would remix it properly. The wait is over! This reissue has benefited more than any other JL reissue from a good careful remix. This album will move way up my list of Lennon favorites. I'm not sure which songs differ in length, etc. (because I almost never listened to the previous version), but some of the fades seem longer. I'm hearing instruments I never knew were there. Is that a sitar on Do You Wanna Dance? I'm not going to quibble about the bonus tracks because to me, the whole CD is a bonus. It'll be fun to play it with Paul's cover CDs.

Enjoy!

Rod

John Lennon Acoustic EMI 8744292 finally will be rele4ased on 1 Nov 2004 in Germany (Europa). The link for EMI Germany is: http://www.capitolmusic.de/xml/1/550325/8744292.html Tracklist as repoerte before, the live tracks were available before:

Tracks: 1 Working Class Hero, 2 Love, 3 Well Well Well *, 4 Look At Me, 5 God*, 6 My Mummy's Dead*, 7 Cold Turkey*, 8 Luck of The Irish #, 9 John Sinclair#, 10 Woman Is A Nigger Of The World, 11 What You Got*, 12 Watching The Wheels, 13 Dear Yoko*, 14 Real Love*, 15 Imagine ##, 16 It's Real.

* previously unreleased

# Live in Ann Arbour/MI, Chrysler Arena 10 Dec 1971, Free John Sinclair Rally; war auf 4CD John Lennon Anthology CD2 tr. 12

## Live At The Apollo Theatre, New York City, Attica State benefit 17 Dec 1971; war auf 4CD John Lennon Anthology CD2 tr. 3

Hello Steve,

I got the disc yesterday and here comes the details.

Yoko said in the album linear notes: "I dedicate this album to the future guitarists. John always played from his heart. I hope you will learn to do the same. - Love, Yoko" The booklet also comes with complete lyrics and chords to the songs on the album. Cover: http://www.thebeatles.hk/images/solo/john/records/cdalbums/acoustic.jpg and back: http://www.thebeatles.hk/images/solo/john/records/cdalbums/acoustic-back.jpg

For the songs, besides those 7 unreleased versions, others are already available on Anthology album, but in a remixed format, like: strange guitar echo on “Working Class Hero” and “Love”. The CD also comes with a white guitar saying “Imagine Peace”.

Have a nice weekend!
Regards,
Leslie
http://www.thebeatles.hk

Update (9/11/04) On Thursday, Capitol officially announced a Nov. 2 release date for the Lennon "Acoustic" and "Rock 'n' Roll" discs we've reported previously. Billboard.com reports seven of the "Acoustic" tracks -- "Well Well Well," "God," "My Mummy's Dead," "Cold Turkey," "What You Got," "Dear Yoko" and "Real Love" -- are previously unreleased. "Rock n' Roll" will also have four bonus tracks -- "Angel Baby" and "To Know Her Is To Love Her" from "Menlove Avenue," and alternate versions of "Since My Baby Left Me" and "Just Because," the latter featuring a Christmas message to Paul, George and Ringo. (Originally posted to Abbeyrd Beatles Page Breaking News Blog.)

Here's the press release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
September 9, 2004 


NEW JOHN LENNON "ACOUSTIC" COMPILATION AND REMIXED/REMASTERED VERSION OF
"ROCK 'N' ROLL" TO BE RELEASED IN U.S. NOVEMBER 2
(New York, NY) - On November 2nd Capitol Records will release two John
Lennon albums: the new John Lennon Acoustic and a remixed and remastered
version of Lennon's classic Rock 'n' Roll with bonus tracks. Both releases
were supervised by Yoko Ono.
John Lennon Acoustic brings together some of the world's favorite acoustic
Lennon tracks together on one album for the very first time. Seven of the
album's seventeen tracks are available for official release for the first
time.
John Lennon, Acoustic 
1. Love (Acoustic) 
2. Working Class Hero (Acoustic) 
3. Well Well Well (Acoustic) 
4. Look at Me (Acoustic) 
5. God (Acoustic) 
6. My Mummy's Dead (Acoustic) 
7. Cold Turkey (Acoustic) 
8. I'm a Man (Acoustic) 
9. Luck of the Irish (Live) (Acoustic) 
10. John Sinclair (Live) (Acoustic) 
11. Woman is the Nigger of the World (Acoustic) 
12. What You Got (Acoustic) 
13. Watching the Wheels (Acoustic) 
14. Dear Yoko (Acoustic) 
15. Real Love (Acoustic) 
16. Imagine (Live) (Acoustic) 
17. It's Real (Acoustic) 
Lennon's classic Rock 'n' Roll, one of the most highly revered albums of his
career, will also be released on November 2nd, the fourth of Lennon's solo
albums to be remixed and remastered.
The album, which was originally released in 1975, appears now with four
bonus tracks and a new selection of b/w Lennon photographs in the booklet.
The bonus tracks are: "To Know Her Is To Love Her" and "Angel Baby," both
remastered, "Since My Baby Left Me," a never-before issued version of the
track included on Menlove Avenue, and a reprise of "Just Because" with an
alternative ending and a very special Christmas message to Paul, George,
Ringo, Yoko and the British people. Yoko was inspired to include this
version of the track for all Lennon fans across the world.
Rock 'n' Roll paid tribute to Lennon's teenage idols, including Chuck Berry,
Gene Vincent, Fats Domino, Little Richard, Ben E. King and Buddy Holly.
Sessions for the album began in LA in 1973 with Phil Spector producing.
Lennon returned to the album and completed it the following year, retaining
three tracks produced by Spector. The album was originally produced by John
Lennon.
John Lennon, Rock 'n' Roll 
1. Be Bop a Lula 
2. Stand By Me 
3. Rip It Up/Ready Teddy (Medley) 
4. You Can't Catch Me 
5. Ain't That a Shame 
6. Do You Wanna Dance? 
7. Sweet Little Sixteen 
8. Slippin' and Slidin' 
9. Peggy Sue 
10. Bring it on Home/Send Me Some Loving (Medley) 
11. Boney Moronie 
12. Ya Ya 
13. Just Because 
BONUS TRACKS: 
14. Angel Baby (from Menlove Avenue, not remixed) 
15. To Know Her is to Love Her (from Menlove Avenue, not remixed) 
16. Since My Baby Left Me (alternate version to Menlove Avenue) 
17. Just Because (Reprise) 
###

Update (9/5/04)

Hi there!

The Australian release date for Rock'n'Roll Music is set at Mon 27 Sep 2004 (http://www.sanity.com.au/product.asp?intProductID=574290&intArtistID=4760). The article also says that 'Angel Baby' and 'To Know Her Is To Love Her' are taken from Menlove Avenue, and have not been remixed. However 'Since My Baby Left Me' is a different version to the one on Menlove Avenue and 'Just Because (Reprise)' has never been previously issued. All the best!

Polydor-Island (Universal Music Germany) is going to release a DVD from The Rolling Stones "Rock'n'Roll Circus" featuring Yoko Ono and a guy called Dirty Mac aka John Lennon. The release date in Germany will be October 4th, 2004 almost eight years the critically CD release. The DVD will have some extras, e.g. an never before seen performance of Dirty Mac. The sound is Dolby Digital 5.1. Here are some more information in German language and a low-res pic of the cover ... Cheers,

EMI Capitol Music Germany just load up the cover for the new re-issue of Double Fantasy / Milk & Honey as double cd http://www.capitolmusic.de/xml/1/550325/5999362.html

The cd contents shall be the same as the Oct 2000 / Oct 2001 re-releases. ... There's also an article about the new Lennon Rock'n'Roll re-issue at NME site.

Update (8/30/04)

John Lennon "Rock And Roll" Remastered Press Release [ August 27, 2004 ]

A press release for John's Rock And Roll remastered CD is released today. This details the version of the bonus tracks. "To Know Her Is To Love Her" and "Angel Baby" are remastered version taken from Menlove Avenue, "Since My Baby Left Me" is a new version different from that on Menlove Avenue and a new reprise version of "Just Because".

JOHN LENNON “ROCK ‘N’ ROLL”, REMIXED, REMASTERED AND RELEASED ON SEPTEMBER 27. FOUR BONUS TRACKS( INCLUDING TWO PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED VERSIONS) INCLUDED ON NEW CD

John Lennon's classic "Rock 'n' Roll" album is released on Parlophone on Sep 27, the fourth of John's albums to be remixed and remastered.

The album, which was originally released in 1975, appears now with four bonus tracks and a new selection of b/w Lennon photographs in the booklet.

The bonus tracks are; "To Know Her Is To Love Her" and "Angel Baby", both remastered, "Since My Baby Left Me", a different version to the track included on 'Menlove Avenue', and a reprise of "Just Because", with an alternative ending and a very special Christmas message to Paul, George, Ringo, Yoko and the British people. Yoko was inspired to include this version of the track for all Lennon fans across the world, especially for the British fans.

"Rock 'n' Roll" paid tribute to John's teenage idols, including Chuck Berry, Gene Vincent, Fats Domino, Little Richard, Ben E. King and Buddy Holly. Sessions for the album began in LA in 1973 with Phil Spector producing; John returned to the album and completed it the following year, retaining three tracks produced by Spector. The album was produced by John Lennon.

The raw simplicity of '50's music came easily to him and the album reflects that power. The album cover features an incredible image of John as a young teddy boy in Hamburg, taken in 1961. He said in 1974, when discussing the image: "I thought, is this some kind of karmic thing? Here I am with this old picture of me in Hamburg from '61, and I'm ending as I started, singing this straight rock 'n' roll stuff".

The album track listing is:

• BE-BOP-A-LULA
• STAND BY ME
• MEDLEY; RIP IT UP/READY TEDDY
• YOU CAN’T CATCH ME
• AIN’T THAT A SHAME
• DO YOU WANNA DANCE
• SWEET LITTLE SIXTEEN
• SLIPPIN’ AND SLIDIN’
• PEGGY SUE
• MEDLEY:BRING IT ON HOME TO ME/SEND ME SOME LOVIN’
• BONY MORONIE
• YA YA
• JUST BECAUSE
• ANGEL BABY
• TO KNOW HER IS TO LOVE HER
• SINCE MY BABY LEFT ME
• JUST BECAUSE (REPRISE)

The remixing and remastering was supervised by Yoko Ono.

Leslie
www.thebeatles.hk

Dear Steve,

Here comes the tracklisting for the "Rock And Roll" remastered album mentioned on your site. The album cover artwork is the same as original release.

Cheers!

John Lennon "Rock And Roll" Remastered Release [ August 25, 2004 ]

Rock And Roll album is going to be the next release to the John Lennon
remaster series. The remastered album plus four bonus tracks will be
released on September 27 via Apple/Parlophone with catalogue number 874
3292. The tracklisting is as follow:

Be-Bop-A-Lula
Stand By Me
Medley: Rip It Up/Reday Teddy
You Can't Catch Me
Ain't That A Shame
Do You Want To Dance
Sweet Little Sixteen
Slippin' And Slidin'
Peggy Sue
Medley: Bring It On Home To Me/Send Me Some Lovin'
Bony Moronie
Ya Ya
Just Because
Bonus tracks
Angel Baby
To Know Her Is To Love Her
Since My Baby Left Me
Just Because (Reprise)

It is not sure that the three bonus tracks here ("Angel Baby", "To Know
Her Is To Love Her" and "Since My Baby Left Me") are the remastered
versions for those releaed on Menlove Avenue.

Regards,
Leslie
www.thebeatles.hk

John Lennon "Rock'n'Roll" will be released on 27 Sept in Germany (Europe) at EMI Capitol Music with 4 Bonus tracks.

Also, the German DVD issue of How I Won The War (MGM), released Germany 12 Aug, has besides original English mono tune, also German language, as well as Spanish, Italian Language to chose - also mono of course. No bonus material included either. Unfortunately they used this "false" American copy, where all soldiers who where tinted in orange, blue green etc are turned into grey - as Lester reports in (my Jan 2004) Interview (printed in latest "Beatlefan"). This is especially noticeable around 1 h 30 min in the scenes who played in Germany/Holland... battle fields in the woods

Hi there!

Last Friday I ordered the following Apple CD´s in record shop here in Bremen, Germany: Modern Jazz Quartet: "Space" and "Under the jasmin tree" and Radha Krshna Temple. Yesterday the CD´s arrived, they are exactly the same as the first reissues in the 90´s. No bonus tracks, no changes in the cover artwork etc...

In reply to Jonathan Dancey's post (12/4/03), for those of you still wondering, the live version of "Imagine" found in the "Lennon Legend" book isn't, as could have been expected (because of its previous appearances on the "John Lennon Collection" video and "Lennon Legend" DVD), from the 1975 "Salute To Sir Lew Grade" TV special. Rather, this one originates from the Mike Douglas Show, featuring the Lennons, which was broadcast on February 17, 1972 (also available from Rhino on video and on DVD in some countries).

Hi again Steve;

I only checked on Hopkin, Preston, and Modern Jazz Quartet on Amazon UK; but it seems most have been put back to a Jan. 4th (or 5th) release.

Preston's "That's the Way God Planned It" has a 1-Dec date & gives a 1-2 day ship-out time. MJQ's "Under the Jasmine Tree" also gives a 1-Dec release, but gives a 4-6 week ship-out date. MJQ's "Space" has a 1-Dec release date, but says limited availability - this item out-of-print, suggests the customer order it used! So I guess things aren't all worked out yet.

Steve:

Here's some new of various new issues in the UK:

Apple CDs: The following are reissued on 1 December:

• Mary Hopkin "Postcard" And "Earth Song Ocean Song"
• Billy Preston "Encouraging Words" And "That's The Way God Planned It"
• Modern Jazz Quartet "Under The Jasmine Tree" And "Space"
• Radha Krisna Temple "Radha Krisna Temple"
• Ed Sullivan DVD

This was issued here on 1 December:

Put It There video

This is being reissued on DVD on 1 December:

John Lennon Happy Xmas single: This is apparently the remixed version from the Lennon Legend DVD. The other tracks are also remixed. The vinyl issue is on green vinyl

Lennon Legend book: The cd included in this book apparently includes a live version of Imagine.

Dear Steve,

I don't think I've seen this mentioned on your site, but according to the latest issue of Beatles Nytt - the magazine issued by The Beatles Information Center here in Sweden - both Walls And Bridges and Rock'n'Roll will be reissued on CD with bonus tracks early next year. This info comes straight from Sven Åke Peterson, who handles the Beatles catalogue at EMI in Sweden.

Not really big news, but the latest issue of Mojo has a very brief section in their news pages stating that the reissue of Harrison's albums "33 and a Third," "Gone Troppo," "George Harrison," "Somewhere In England," "Cloud Nine" and "Live in Japan" have all been put back to next year. Apparently, they were originally being lined up for release this November, alongside "Brainwashed."

I'm usually the guy griping and complaining about remixed CDs... but for the most part, I think they did a fantastic remix/reissue job with Mind Games. In my opinion, this was always the worst sounding Lennon album - all squashed in the high mid range. But now, you can hear the full spectrum... crisp high frequencies and fat low-end too. This was such a dated sounding album... but now, lots of the songs sound like they could have been recorded yesterday. "Aisumasen" in particular blew me away.

But I agree that they dropped the ball big-time on "Meat City." I suspect that they listened to the previous CD release (instead of the original vinyl) as their guide... which ALSO faded out before the very end of "Meat City." Too bad. I also would have scrapped most of the annoying backing vocal group on the album... but I understand that they didn't want to rewrite history THAT much. It seems to me that they are cranked up even HIGHER in the mix on songs like "One Day (At A Time)," which for me makes that song almost unlistenable. Thankfully, we have the very cool version without the backing vocals on the Lennon Anthology box!

Still... the new Mind Games is still a must-buy. I can't thank the reissue team enough. (Now if they could only do Rock 'n' Roll... the songs from that session on the box set sound amazing.)

Thanks again for the fantastic web site...

Update (11/7/02) From Neil Richardson:

Anyone noticed that whilst the remaster is sonically much improved, "Meat City" has been completely messed up! Essentially the same take, the new version is obviously an unedited version. with lots of extra vocal ad-libs throughout. Additionally the spoken part at the end is faded out far too early, cutting off the message "Who is that? Who is that? and why are they doing those strange (what) things?" Don't they run these things past people who are familiar with the material before releasing these things?

Update (11/2/02) Our source at Capitol didn't know anything about the bonus disc listed online for "Mind Games." The only thing extra on "Mind Games" is the three extra tracks.

Update II (11/1/02) We've gotten a couple of inquiries about a bonus disc for "Mind Games." We'll see what we can find out.

Update (10/23/02) We've heard an advance copy of "Mind Games." It's quite an improvement over the old MG CDs and similar to the job done with the previous Lennon reissues. The bonus tracks are Lennon home demos. The quality on these is sharp and clear. All in all, turned out nice again.

We also got this comment from Rod Switzer:

I've received the remastered version of Mind Games and it sounds wonderful. I guess the best description is improved clarity. It sounds very similar to the job done on the Yellow Submarine soundtrack except that Mind Games never really sounded good . . . until now. A huge improvement.

Kind of an interesting theme with "Mind Games" and George's "Brainwashed" being released so close together.

At the end of one of the bonus tracks it sounds like John saying "Hi May". If that's what he's saying, I wonder why Yoko left it on there?

Comment: The track he's referring to is track 14, "Bring on the Lucie (Freeda People) (Home version). All that's heard on the track is "Hello M.." as the track cuts out quickly. Interesting...

Update (10/8/02) From Jack C.:

The Hollywood and Vine JL site has updated the news section for the Mind Games release.

Update (10/3/02) The Capitol press release for "Mind Games":

Capitol Records to Reissue John Lennon's ""Mind Games'' on November 5th; Remixed, Remastered and Featuring Three Bonus Tracks

HOLLYWOOD Oct. 2, 2002 -- "Mind Games," John Lennon's seminal 1973 solo album, has been remixed, remastered and augmented by three bonus tracks, and will be reissued by Capitol Records on November 5, 2002.

The original album is complemented by three previously unreleased tracks an early version of "Aisumasen (I'm Sorry)" with alternate lyrics, a home version of "Bring On The Lucie (Freda Peeple)" and an alternate version of "Meat City."

In the tradition of Capitol's recent Lennon reissues ("Imagine," "Double Fantasy," "Plastic Ono Band" and "Milk and Honey"), "Mind Games" utilizes original cover art, but features new deluxe packaging. The 32-page booklet includes many previously unseen John Lennon drawings, photographs and memorabilia from the era, plus full song lyrics.

The follow-up to 1972's heavily politicized "Some Time In New York City," "Mind Games" was recorded at New York's Record Plant in August 1973, and released in November of that year. At the time, John was in the middle of his battle with Immigration to stay in the U.S., the Watergate scandal was making headlines and a global recession was underway.

"On 'Mind Games,' for the first time, Lennon has begun to mix his older, spiritual and religious yearnings with his political convictions," noted critic Dave Marsh upon its release. (A yellowed clipping of his review is reproduced in the CD booklet.)

Just before recording the album, John and Yoko had moved into the Dakota in New York. That same month had seen them reveal their image of Nutopia, a concept explored on the album sleeve for "Mind Games" and on the track "Nutopian International Anthem," a few seconds of silence. In their Declaration of Nutopia (issued on April 1st of 1973 and reproduced in the new packaging), John and Yoko described it as a conceptual country - one with "no land, no boundaries, no passports, only people...no laws other than cosmic."

"Mind Games" was remixed at Abbey Road Studios, and was produced by Yoko Ono, from the original production by John Lennon.

"When considering this program of reissues, I kept thinking how John would have been thrilled by the possibilities offered by current recording technology," said Yoko. "Thus, along with the great team at Abbey Road, I was happy to ensure that these classic records could fully benefit from the improved mixing and mastering facilities available to us now."

Update (9/18/02) Undercover: New Beatles and a reissue from John (roundup of reissues and other projects)

Update (9/15/02)

Update (9/7/02) Richard Joly passed along this press release from Parlophone Records for the UK release:

JOHN LENNON "MIND GAMES" REISSUED ON OCT 7

REMIXED, REMASTERED AND FEATURING 3 EXTRA TRACKS

"Mind Games", John Lennon's seminal 1973 solo album, has been remixed, remastered and augmented by 3 bonus tracks, and will be reissued by Parlophone Records on October 7, 2002.

The original album is complemented by 3 previously unreleased tracks - an early version of "Aisumasen (I'm Sorry)" with alternative lyrics, a home version of "Bring On The Lucie (Freeda Peeple), and an alternative version of "Meat City".

New deluxe packaging follows in the tradition of the recent Lennon re-issue programme (Imagine, Double Fantasy, Plastic Ono Band and Milk and Honey) , with original cover art and a new 32 page booklet which includes many previously unseen John Lennon drawings, photographs and memorabilia from the era, plus full song lyrics.

The album is reissued two days before what would have been John Lennon's 62nd birthday, on October 9th.

"Mind Games" was recorded at New York's Record Plant in August 1973, and released in November that year. After the heavily politicised "Some Time In New York City" of 1972, "Mind Games" could be seen as a kind of re evaluation; John was in the middle of his battle to stay in the US, a global recession was underway, as was Watergate.

Just before recording the album, John and Yoko had moved into the Dakota building in New York. That same month had seen them reveal their image of Nutopia, a concept explored on the album sleeve for "Mind Games" and on the track Nutopian International Anthem, a few seconds of silence.

"Mind Games" was remixed at Abbey Road Studios, and was produced by Yoko Ono, from the original production by John Lennon.

Yoko said; "When considering this programme of reissues, I kept thinking how John would have been thrilled by the possibilities offered by current recording technology. Thus, along with the great team at Abbey Road, I was happy to ensure that these classic records could fully benefit from the improved mixing and mastering facilities available to us now".

And from Sven Solterbeck in Germany:

Dear Steve,

The website of the German EMI Electrola (www.emimusic.de search for: Lennon) reports that JOHN LENNON: MIND GAMES (remastered) is scheduled for October 11, 2002. No cover pic is shown.

The given tracklist is:

• 1. Mind Games
• 2. Tight As
• 3. Aisumasen (I'm Sorry)
• 4. One Day (At A Time)
• 5. Bring On The Lucie (Freda People)
• 6. Nutopian International Anthem
• 7. Intuition
• 8. Out Of The Blue
• 9. Only People
• 10. I Know (I Know)
• 11. You Are Here
• 12. Meat City
• 13. Aisumasen (I'm Sorry) - Home Version (Bonus Track)
• 14. Bring On The Lucie (Freda People) - Home Version (Bonus Track)
• 15. Meat City - Home Version (Bonus Track)

Here's a link to the German EMI site sent by Evelyn Schwarz: http://www.emimusic.de/xml/1/550325/index.html

Update (9/5/02) We gotten emails recently indicating a "Mind Games" reissue is coming on Oct. 7 in the UK and Oct. 8 in the U.S. We have no confirmation from Capitol as of yet. Track listing from one of our sources: Mind Games · Tight A$ · Aisumasen (I'm Sorry) · One Day (At A Time) · Bring On The Lucie (Freeda Peeple) · Nutopian International Anthem · Intuition · Out Of The Blue · Only People · I Know (I Know) · You Are Here · Meat City. Bonus Tracks: Aisumasen (I'm Sorry) (alternative version) · Bring On The Lucie (Freeda Peeple) (home recording) · Meat City (alternative version). (Thanks to Jack C. and J. Baumann.)

(3/21/02)