Beatles & Solo Ultimate Album Ranking: John Lennon
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 ก.ย. 2024
- Beatles & Solo Ultimate Album Ranking: John Lennon
I recently did a full Paul McCartney album ranking series of videos. Here I do the same for John Lennon, then combine the lists to get an overall combined John & Paul ranking. I will soon be adding George and Ringo in to the mix, then finishing with the Beatles albums for an Ultimate Album Rank!
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Paul McCartney Album Ranking Part 1 (Best watched before seeing this video!): th-cam.com/video/dVA7RV4uHT4/w-d-xo.html
1. Plastic Ono Band (the best and purist solo album from anyone)
2. RAM
3. Imagine
4. Band On The Run
5. Walls And Bridges
6. McCartney
……and the rest.
My personal rankings:
1. Imagine
2. Plastic Ono Band
3. Mind Games
4. Walls and Bridges
5. Double Fantasy
6. Rock 'N Roll
7. Milk and Honey
8. Some Time In New York City
9. Live Peace In Toronto
I haven't included the avantgarde albums that he recorded with Yoko as I don't consider it proper music.
I get your point about the song Mind Games going on but I think when you’re in the vibe of it, it’s so powerful and only because of the repetition. In the last five years, it’s become in my top 5 Lennon songs. Suddenly, it just hit me.
If I ranked them this would be mine,
1. Plastic Ono Band
2. Walls and Bridges
3. Imagine
4. Mind Games
5. Double Fantasy
6. Rock and roll
7. Live in New York
8. Sometime in NYC
9. Milk and Honey
10. Live Peace
11. Life With Lions
12. Menlove Avenue
13. Two Virgins
14. Wedding Album
I included live in New York and Menlove Avenue, which you didn't include in your ranking probably because they were released posthumously.
This is extremely accurate!! Excellent job
Cool that you put "Walls and Bridges" at nr. 9. It's a really fine album.
Thanks for taking the time to do this. It’s interesting to see how others rate their albums. ‘Imagine’ is a fine album, and I love all of John’s contributions on ‘Double Fantasy’, but apart from his singles I’m not really familiar with a lot of the material on his other albums.
It was nice to see RAM in at the top spot. I love that album, but I’ve always thought it’s one of those albums that is greater than the sum of its parts. Whereas, ‘Band on the Run’ has more songs that could have been individual singles. Also, glad to see ‘McCartney’ made it into the top ten. I love how raw and basic it is, with limited production. It was quite out of character for Paul, but I’m glad he did it.
Great idea Andrew. Will be a fun series
Sorta unrelated but I LOVE those first two early experimental George albums. Curious to see what you think
Next episode will reveal!
@@AndrewDixonMusic Beatles always have been my first love in music as a kid. But I’ve grown to deeply love more avant garde stuff. So it’s always nice to see how versatile the Beatles were. Writing “she loves you” and “revolution 9”. Both wonderful to my ears
Thanks Andrew. This series suggests you've been spending a lot of time with Ringo recently. Looking forward to hearing your take on his solo work 👍
Always loved Walls and Bridges with the fab Philly sound. Plastic Ono Band remains the greatest Lennon album. I have always loved the serene and peaceful cover and yet the music contained within is raw powerful and brutal and ultimately beautiful...
I’m a major McCartney solo and Wings fan and have a mild interest in Ringo and George solo material but I really can’t get into the Lennon stuff. I did however enjoy your review.
I needed time to get into the Paul stuff after the big John numbers. It sometimes takes time
Yeah, I think the problem is that there is too much politics and too much Yoko in John’s solo stuff. I’m not a fan of Roger Waters politics either but I can still get into some of his music and Floyd of course, but with John it just doesn’t hit me after he left the Beatles. To my ears, with few exceptions, it sounds dull, gloomy and rather tuneless. The production is also usually very flat. I can’t think of one Lennon solo song I really like whereas I can name several George and Ringo songs I love and I love some of the songs John did with the Beatles. Oh well, saves me money.
Hi Andrew. Great that your doing this. Looking forward to George’s legendary albums coming into the list and surely Ringos Ringo Album will deliver on enjoyment. It will be really interesting to see the very final chart with the Beatles albums placed in their too…
I am awed by your dedication in buying not only the original albums but all the remixes! Thanks for your always-honest and individual opinions 🙂 .... and now I am guessing what colours you'll be using to merge the George, Ringo and Beatles albums into the list. What a rainbow that's going to be! 🌈🎶💕
I'm glad someone else appreciates the vital importance of the colour scheme! 😄👍
@@AndrewDixonMusic I always think in their Sgt Pepper outfits.
You Philistine Andrew putting Ram above Imagine!!! I do jest. They both had references to each other’s feelings at the time. I appreciate how you described Plastic Ono Band as being like a novel. A great personal Album. Enjoyed your take on this ranking 😀
Ram is #1 with me too. The Mini Lp SHM cd from Japan is the finest cd I've ever heard. Enjoyed the video! Beatles together and solo can't be beat!
When I was younger my top 10 between these two would have been John dominated nowadays I think John would have a hard time beating Paul to get an album in my top 10 enjoyable listens Paul is just easy and fun to listen to, relaxing but not in a bad way
My favourite Lennon solo album is "Mind Games". I taped it from the radio onto my Dad's reel-to-reel player when I was probably 11 (so it was 1987). The Beatles were the only band I was listening to at that time, almost neurotically, and this album was a nice extension of that first love/passion/addiction of mine. I already knew "Imagine" at that time too, but it didn't make as huge an impression on me as this one (though I would still rank it at #2 now). By contrast, I bought "Walls and Bridges" on cassette seven years later, and it was just OK for me. Now a big question, what if it had been the other way round? I will never know, but it is these personal contexts that make these rankings really worthwhile for me, so I appreciate your stories very much.
"Mind Games" is the most Beatley-sounding Lennon album to my ears, as if John renounced the POB esthetics and came back to his dreamweaving,, which I really love. As for the song I Know (I Know), I have never seen it pointed out among Beatle Eds, but this is one of the very few Lennon solo songs with a Beatlesque three-part harmony (the other one I can think of is Dear Yoko, though the lower harmony seems to be buried in the mix on that one, if it is there at all). Three-part harmony, such a trademark of The Beatles, and John was so unwilling to deploy this golden trick as a solo artist, what a pity.
And now for your ultimate Beatles ranking... :)
Gerard
For the most part I agree with your rankings, Andrew, although I probably would swap Imagine and Plastic Ono Band... partly because I find the lyrics to "How Do You Sleep" to be so awkwardly petty, but mainly because POB is overall just more emotionally engaging. And I'm happy to see Walls and Bridges so highly ranked. I do hope that the next time WaB gets reissued that it follows the sound profile of the mixes on the Gimme Some Truth compilation, because I think that's the best those tracks have ever sounded.
thank you for this brother. Best john album for me is mind games just because its easy and it was his seperation / solo album without yoko ( dont want to diss her but i prefer john as solo guy). Then its double fantasy which IF it were all john would be my #1 album. Walls and bridges is probably 3r although it could be #1 on any other given day since i constantly go back and forth. Paul for me is RED ROSE, RAM, WILD LIFE AND OVER AMERICA ( which combined band on the run, venus and speed of sound) all thogether in rockin best versions. My personal picks only of course. Love flowers and off the ground as well including memory full and creation in the backyard. Mccartney #1 and #2 are incredible as well and COULD be my big picks again on any other day. Luv you brother and thanks for these wonderful reviews and i agree with most if not all of your opinions
Thanks! Watched the Revolver song by song review and the unboxing before I bought the album.
Thank you, that's very kind! Hope you enjoy the box. CD or vinyl?
Hello Andrew, have really enjoyed this series so far. It will really be massive after you get George,Ringo and The Beatles added in. Looking forward to it! Take care.
My ranking would be almost identical to yours, with 2 exceptions. POB would be #1, Imagine #2, and I'd switch Mind Games & MIlk and Honey. Great video, as always!
I´m glad you give "Walls and Bridges" the credit it deserves. Great album. I also think "God" is amazing, too, one of his best, Beatles or solo.
Thank you Andrew as always brilliant video all your hard work is so appreciated 🎸
Very credible list. I agree with most of your rankings - Walls and Bridges is one of my favourite Lennon albums. Not such a fan of Sometime in NYC.
Probably one of the best videos you have done...insightful, detailed informative....I acquiesce with imagine and plastic ono band. But it's so hard ( no pun intended )... I havent even considered 2 virgins, life with the lyons, wedding album. Will check out the walls and bridges remix thank you Andrew try not to melt! Hopefully my vinyl is OK 👍
Thank you!
Greetings Andrew ✌️, Very interesting in the manner you have ranked these albums👍 Cant wait to see how George does against John & Paul's albums.
Love the ranking. It's hard for me to do an enjoyment level list though because, I listen to John's Rock and Roll album the most! Slippin and Slidin.....what fun! I got it when it was released and all my friends loved it. (We were cool 12 year olds and we knew it.) 😄
The Lennon official video of Slippin has an overdub of the album...but you can find the video with the live take of the song on TH-cam. John's fun is contagious.
I like pulling out the rockers to play often too....What you Got off of Walls and Bridges. A little New York City off of SINYC.
🙂
If you want to put Rock n Roll at number 1 go for it!
Last comment 😬 - Totally agree with your top 4! Ram is by far the most enjoyable Paul McCartney album, and Imagine, being John’s most “accessible” album, is also quite enjoyable. For me, I don’t want to be a Solider, and Gimme Some Truth are the best in Imagine.
I also get a chuckle when the song Imagine is used as a religious song sense the meaning of the lyrics is no religion, only ourselves to make the world a better place. Yet, it’s sung in church, it’s sung in choirs, like they never bother with reading the lyrics.
Good video, lots of fun. Now I just have to go and find UK pressing for the great CD covers. ✌️
Ram is by far my most played McCartney album - I’d have loved him to do a Brian Wilson style full performance concert in 2021 to mark 50yrs since release - although I’m not sure how he could pull off Monkberry Moon Delight now…….
Great vid Andrew.
Here’s my ranking , I’ve left out the wedding album, two virgins etc, have no desire to purchase them.
1. Imagine
2. Mind Games
3. Walls and Bridges
4. Double Fantasy
5. Rock n Roll
6. Milk and Honey
7. Plastic Ono Band
8. Sometime in New York City
I’ve also gone on my enjoyment of the albums.
Rare to see Plastic Ono Band that far down!
Haha I just don’t enjoy that record. I totally respect the fact it’s raw and superbly written in places but I just don’t enjoy listening to it. I played it again just before it was remixed recently and still felt exactly the same. I personally find Ringos material from the 90s more enjoyable and exciting. I wished I loved it. But still great video Andrew and I look forward to George and Ringo rankings!!
If I ranked them this would be mine,
1. Imagine
2. Plastic Ono Band
3. Double Fantasy
4. Walls and Bridges
5. Rock'n'roll
6. Mind Games
7. Live in New York
8. Sometime in NYC
9. Milk and Honey
10. Menlove Avenue
11. Live Peace in Toronto
12. Wedding Album
13. Life With Lions
14. Two Virgins
What a feat you’re taking on. Will be very interesting to see where it all places. Wondering why though you left off Live in New York City considering you included all of Paul’s live albums though?
The only reason I left it out is because it's not an album John decided himself to release, so also the reason why Live Peace In Toronto was included 🙂👍
@@AndrewDixonMusic that does make sense. I figured it was something like that.
Seeing Mind Games ranked below Milk and Honey AND Some Time in New York City hurts a bit, but knowing how familiar you are with the material, I begrudgingly respect it nonetheless. Thanks for another great video, Andrew.
My top 4 of the combined John/Paul list would be as follows:
1. Imagine
2. Band on the Run
3. Plastic Ono Band
4. Ram
Hi Andrew, this is a great video project and I look forward to the next installments. Amazing work 👏
My top 3
1.Double fantasy
2.Imagine
3.John Lennon collection
Great video Andrew,....I'm not sure if I agree with you on the positioning of your top two but I'm going to get them both in heavy rotation this week and try to make up my mind! It's interesting how many times you remarked that various remastered/remixed versions helped 'lift' certain tracks. Speaking to music fans who are not necessarily big Beatles/Lennon fans, quite a few people say they don't like the production and sound on John's solo records. Sonically he seemed to 'come out of the trees' a bit with Walls and Bridges, and it's too bad he then didn't go on releasing music with that brighter, cleaner sound over the next few years
I don't know what it is about John and George's Albums in the 2nd quarter of the 70s but for both it feels like there's good stuff in the mix just desperate to be set free from behind a wall of mud.
@@AndrewDixonMusic It may have been something to do with Spector and/or their joint love of the Spector sound.
Andrew, this is very interesting. It’s a lot to take in, mostly because of the size of Macca’s catalog. I am one of those people who enjoy Two Virgins. It has always been fun for me since I bought it in Jan 1969.
Big Lennon fan here but sadly not a fan of several of his albums. I don’t think his Solo career was strong and prefer his Beatles work. I have just found you, Andrew so I am enjoying your TH-cam Channel. ☮️❤️
Thank you 🙂👍
I share your enjoyment of Borrowed Time - a great piece of music which has been largely forgotten about.
It is very interesting to measure how fan of Paul & John you are. And I have tried the same, which leads me to a really different ranking for me. Our biggest differences : I am putting Driving Rain and other albums way higher. Back to the Eggs is in my top 10. And mostly I have trouble to put any John's solo album higher than top 20 (which is where I would probably put Imagine & Plastic Ono Band). But we share the same album on n°1 spot :) Thanks for the video, I will be very pleased to see the next ones.
That was interesting. I love Double Fantasy even some of Yoko's songs are good. Beautiful Boy Darling Boy is my favourite of John's tracks on the album followed by I'm Losing You which you didn't mention.
I'm Losing You: Moody and magnificent!
for me it's 1- Plastic Ono Band 2- Imagine 3- Sometime in NY City ... then all the rest (post 1970)
1. Walls and Bridges
2. Imagine
3. Plastic Ono Band
4. Mind Games
5. Some time in New York City
6. Double Fantasy
7. Milk and Honey
8. Rock n Roll
I enjoy every album. This is just my list for the moment. I put Walls and Bridges first. It's always my favorite Lennon Album. Rock n Roll is on last place but on other days it's in my top 3.
"Rock'N'Roll" from 1975,even though they were all covers,his rendition of classic tracks from his rock'n'roll heroes such as Chuck Berry and Buddy Holly.
Morning Andrew , very interesting chart of John Lennon Albums , I would have not included unfinished music vo1 & vol 2 & the wedding Album , but everything else after that I would have. , including compilations as well
But it’s not an easy task , but I love sometime in New York City Album , because I love political songs .
I didn't know about "Live Peace In Toronto" I'll have to check it out.
Great video and interesting 👍 id have double fantasy and milk and honey higher and I have never understood the high esteem that Ram is held in. I get the personal connection with Some time in NYC but its much lower for me.
Interesting to note your top two albums (of the combined rankings) are both 1971 albums where John and Paul were taking jabs at each other. Having said that, your top five is probably the same as mine, even if I might shuffle their order slightly.
I know exactly what you mean about Working Class hero, my mum was exactly the same. I ‘liberated’ the single years ago so I can know listen to it in peace without having my mum tutting away and giving me a disapproving glare. Not sure it ever occurred to her that it wasn’t me swearing on her single.
Every song I listened to that my mum disapproved of was one of her records! 😄
It's nice to see some love for Some Time In New York. While it is understandable that Live In New York City is excluded, I am curious as to how you would rank it among John's solo career.
Can't remember exactly where I ranked it here but I don't think my opinions have changed too much: th-cam.com/video/IwBopgzpZZo/w-d-xo.html
Andrew , your reviews are great, can u do one on ranking beatle solo albums, that should be good!
Thanks! I'm right in the middle of building such a thing at the moment, it starts here and will be finishing with my next video I'm currently working on.... Beatles & Solo Ultimate Album Ranking: th-cam.com/play/PLic9raX2cEEtzECAj_5eZN-3btyfrOFNl.html
Hi Andrew: I didn’t like Sometime in New York on first release, and it has never grown on me - sounds dated and very much of it’s time imo so for me it would be way lower in the list. Plastic Ono Band and Imagine both stone wall classics, but for sheer enjoyment I go to Walls and Bridges. No angst on there, just sheer musical brilliance ( You could argue Steel and Glass was his dig at Allen Klein, or a recognition that Paul was right about (Klein) after all). Fantastic idea, look forward to your George list
And doesn't it borrow its main riff from How Do You Sleep? Similar sentiments directed at 2 important figures in John's life and 2 different times.
Great vid Andrew. Loving this mini series and a big thumbs up for Beaucoups of Blues when the time comes (I hope).
Wow...I'm shocked. I've never thought of "Ram" as being a very good album let alone a more enjoyable album than McCartney's 1st release. I can see why you find "Imagine" more enjoyable and I respect that you readily admit "Plastic Ono Band" is the superior work (but an emotionally tough listen....). Robert Hilburn rated Lennon's POB as the single greatest solo LP of all time (surpassing everyone...including the best Dylan releases...). As a piece of Art, I think he's correct. "Tug Of War" is clearly better than "Flaming Pie" as well....I'd put "Band On The Run," in this list, in third position behind the Lennon releases. This was very enjoyable and you've clearly given this a lot of thought!
I kinda agree with this ranking .... also with your view on Platic Ono Band.
I'd put R&R a little bit more up, because I love the sound, the vibe and the warmth of the album.
Andrew it’s been awhile real good to see you, Johns albums are masterpieces, Double Fantasy fantastic, what he could have from there, Milk and Honey a great album, His Rock n’ Roll album, a rocker, Walls and Bridges John Fantastic, Mind Games, another great album, Plastic Ono Band one of Johns Excellent Masterpieces with the New super deluxe, it is fantastic,he laid himself out very personal album Some Time in New York City a great album songs are superb, Imagine Johns ultimate masterpiece every song so good, So Perfect, Andrew My Friend TakeCare, Be Safe, Steve
Great stuff again Andrew. I think you do a 3rd Glasto set list for Macca - a third mega set list is definitely possible!
The Clangers! That's fucking brilliant. And it does, it does sound like the Clangers
New listener here ... very enjoyable, Andrew! Looking forward to the next batch.
Thank you, and welcome 🙂👍
Great commitment in that long second list, Andrew. I concur with much of your order, but . . . Sometime In New York City ABOVE London Town? Controversial.
I can sleep comfortably tonight 🙂👍
I respectfully disagree on two points - minor ones, to be sure, but....I thought the ultimate remix of "I Don't Wanna Be a Soldier..." left it watered-down a bit. That guitar lick on the original mix said "IT'S THE 1970s and JOHN IS PISSED!". It's still a good riff but it didn't have the strength and impact of the original. Also on Imagine, I really do love How Do You Sleep. Sure, it was hard to hear years ago, but it's funny now and once in a while I can either use a lyric as a zinger or use that to inspire me to write my own fresh zinger at someone.
I didn't really like the Mind Games remix, either - the sound effects on the title track were too distracting and Meat City was watered-down and made soft. It took all the "edge" of New York out of that song, not to mention the fade-out, "why are they doing those...strange...things" can barely be heard anymore.
One last thing about Walls and Bridges - it's my favorite Lennon album, and I love the story behind "Ya Ya". Of course it was offensive that John had to be sued for two lousy lines of lyrics in the first place, but also a relief that all he had to was record a few Morris Levy tunes. Having said this, when he just went into a very amateurish-sounding "cover" of the song, I just cracked up because I could just picture Levy tearing his hair out and screaming as John laughed about it.
Great telly. Cheers. All things must pass is going to number 1, I can feel it in my bones
Find out next episode! 🙂👍
He threw up several times beforehand and during that show,he was so nervous.He was out of practice,playing live again.
You overlooked 'Cold Turkey' on the STINYC album. Incredible version of that song. Also 'You Are Here' and 'Aisumasen' from Mind Games LP and 'Woman Is The N' worth a mention. You could have included 'John Lennon Anthology' and its spin-off 'Wonsuponatime' - lot of unreleased songs on there including the stunning 'Real Love'. 'Menlove Avenue' had unreleased stuff too. And no 'Live In New York City' either. We could go on...'Shaved Fish' has his singles and a brilliant cover. Instead you include stupid effing '2 Virgins'. Help the guy out! It's not his fault he got shot.
'Rock'n'Roll' has some brilliant stuff. Would have that far higher. Obviously not to your taste.
Agree with you about STINYC (and that's pronounced 'stink'). People say the issues are dated, but so what? That makes it interesting historically. I always thought it was a fascinating snapshot of those times. You're the first person I've heard say that.
I was deliberately only including albums that John made the decision to release, plus Milk and Honey as very likely being a close copy of what he would have released given the chance.
John released Two Virgins, he didn't choose to release Live in NYC.
Mostly agree with your comments and thoughts on John's list.
As for merging with Paul's I would put Imagine equal no.1 with Band On The Run.
Really would of loved a proper version of Grow old with me.
Great video and choices!
I do love mind games and would have put that at number 3
Mind games favorites; Tight A$ and intuition, great songs!!
No Menlove Ave, Live in New York City, or compilations (as you did with McCartney)?
I have the "Wedding Album" box. And an original release of "Two Virgins".
Mind Games at #7? That’s sad. I don’t know why this album is so undervalued.
I couldn't justify putting it anywhere else....
Mind Games is one if those albums I came to enjoy much more than I initially did. Same with Wings' London Town.
My mixed top 15:
1. Imagine
2. Plastic Ono Band
3. Ram
4. Walls And Bridges
5. Double Fantasy
6. Band On The Run
7. Flaming Pie
8. Chaos And Creation In The Backyard
9. Mind Games
10. Tug Of War
11. Venus And Mars
12. McCartney
13. Wild Life
14. McCartney II
15. London Town
Easy win for John!
@@AndrewDixonMusic Yet so many great Paul albums in this top 15
The "Double Fantasy" strpped down version is a so much superior version (like "Let it be Naked") ... Not a fan of "Walls and Bridges" ... Huge fan of "Sometime in NY City" compared to every critics. Elephant's Memory is a great band and, non-withstanding the lyrics and Yoko, the music is awesome.
Been listening to Bring On the Lucie all day! Forgot how good it was 👍
I've been listening to the Nutopian International Anthem on repeat for days 😀
The Clangers music ( by Vernon Elliott) is surprisingly lovely. Check it out.
Two Virgins always strikes me as quite a daft album. Almost Goon-like in some places. It's hard not to have a smile on my face listening to it, especially given its context. Life with the Lions, on the other hand, is a tougher listen for me. Cambridge 1969 verges on unlistenable, as does Radio Play. I do quite like No Bed for Beatle John, and the double whammy of Baby's Heartbeat and Two Minutes Silence is oddly affecting, but side one sours the album for me, in all honesty.
Wedding Album is my favourite of those experimentsl offerings, with the strange sensuality of John and Yoko contrasting with the fascinating Amsterdam, it's a weird yet compelling listen. Live Peace in Toronto is, I think, a great live album, but the standout for me is Don't Worry Kyoko, with its blistering guitar riffs and heartfelt Yoko vocals.
Enough has been said about Plastic Ono Band and Imagine, but I will add that Ringo's drums on the former are absolutely extraordinary. Of the latter, Jealous Guy is the standout track for me.
Some Time in New York City is an odd album. Woman is a N of the World and New York City being the Lennon highlights for me, with Yoko's contributions overall being somewhat stronger, in my view. The live album is alright, but inessential. The Lyceum stuff is decent, but the Zappa gig is just embarrassing.
Mind Games I enjoy more than his previous albums, JL/POB & I excepted. It's a bit weaker than Imagine, but it's still an enjoyable listen.
Walls and Bridges is a frustrating album for one very simple reason; it indicates a road not travelled. A couple of albums in this vein in the latter half of the 70s would have been, I'm absolutely sure, a highlight of his career. As it is, it's probably my favourite listen of his albums. Also, it's nice that the album with #9 Dream on it sits at #9; for the time being, at least.
Rock 'n' Roll was a contractual obligation, and feels like it at times. I do like it but, like you, I think it's not as interesting as it could - or possibly should - have been.
Double Fantasy is a lovely album, but that doesn't feel very Lennon. Don't get wrong, (Just Like) Starting Over, Woman, and Watching the Wheels are classics, more so than perhaps some of the stuff on Imagine, but it is tinged, regrettably, with sadness given what happened shortly afterwards. The same for Milk and Honey as well, really.
Sorry for the length of this, but I just wanted to ask a quick question: will be you doing an addendum to this video, and maybe including Live in New York City and so on?
Great detail there, you should have done this video instead of me! 😄
Not planning further videos at the moment but who knows once I start to plan what direction to go in next....
@@AndrewDixonMusic Well, all us Andrews look alike, so who would tell the difference!
Seriously, thanks for kind comment. Also, I look forward to seeing where Ringo sits in the pantheon. Hopefully, there'll be a handful top 20 placements...
I love love love and agree with Ram being #1 so far. But once George’s come into the mix, I’m not so sure. That will be tough.
Find out in the next episode! 🙂👍
Okay, I just started video, so we'll see where we end up:
1) Plastic Ono Band
2) Imagine (Raw Studio Mix where possible)
Those two are among my absolutely favorite albums of all time, even though I think Spector ruined every Beatles' related music he touched.
3) Double Fantasy (Stripped Down Mix)
4) Mind Games
5) Walls & Bridges
6) Some Time in NYC
Cheers!
'Nobody Told Me' is one of my favorite Lennon tracks.
I had the four cd Lennon Box too!
I really enjoyed your list & I agree mostly with it apart from John's Sometime In New York City which I'd honestly put it down with his first 3 experimental albums it's that bad!! It'll be interesting when you get to the Beatles actual albums in your list which most probably will make waves amongst fans lol !! Somehow I'm beginning to feel sorry for poor Ringo already as well !!!!
Ringo's got some strong competition that's for sure ...
@@AndrewDixonMusic Brilliant reply Andrew 🤣🤣🤣👍
Hi Andrew, just watching your latest video.......you've got a right tan.....this heat is doing my head in🍷👍👌
Way too hot for me...
Another posthumous CD in my collection is "Acoustic". It is nice but these demos are weak compared to the completed tracks. I recall listening to "Life with the Lions" and the "Wedding Album" in a booth in a Hollywood record store and decided not to buy them.
"Double Fantasy" is also one of my favourite solo albums,yet..
It's difficult to listen to at times,because of what happened.
The critics panned it before John died..
@@rgk9ruler777 it was unfortunate that it had to take John dying for it to start selling.He could never enjoy its eventual success.
@@melissabrown2109 I still don't think it's a great album honestly..
@@rgk9ruler777 fair enough.
COMMENT 1: I would have thought Wedding Album was the bottom of the rank because its an artifact that doesn't even appeal much on the theoretical level (best moments: John accidentally saying "protest `against' peace"!"). Of the J&Y art albums, Two Virgins is the best of the lot - not only does it combine the sound-collage and free-improv but it has a fun, eavesdropping on private jokes, sort of tone, probably the result of being not an editing-studio product but very much "live in the home studio". Life With The Lions is a notch below because everything seems overshadowed by the radio-bleep routine which goes nowhere far too slowly. And also the way the live improv piece starts with plenty of industrial intensity but unravels suddenly, just as Tchicai finally shows up, as Yoko resorts to her staccato porn-star-noise routine. (At least on the Toronto album she only does that for two minutes).
Just wondering if if John's work with the Dirty Mac his super group of the rock and roll circus qualifies Andrew. Probably not.
I decided not to include, but if I was going even more in depth I certainly could have.
Interesting andrew. Frankly after Imagine i felt john was patchy, bland and not very intersting.
I have to agree, I don’t think imagine would even make my top ten combining Macca and Lennon but it’s unfair as Paul has had so much more time.. Double Fantasy is half a great album.
I disagree. Plastic Ono Band is brilliant but hard to listen to while Walls and Bridges is grossly under-rated.
You are missing Walls and Bridges - it’s a fantastic album, up with some of the solo Beatles’ best, in my opinion. Mind Games has its moments, but ultimately is a bit hit and miss. The Lennon tracks on Double Fantasy, and Milk and Honey are excellent in my view - Nobody Told Me must be my all time favourite Lennon song.
Is it true that some songs of the Beatles, when listened to in the opposite direction, are completely different words ??? Are there any such songs? Or is it all fiction and they don't exist???
Your opinions are very much similar to mine.
My ranking: Imagine.
Sorry I read your list wrong You have Double Fantasy ranked higher than I thought
Ok
Andrew, I find it curious that you find "How do you sleep?" a hard listen, but you seem to feel quite differently about the lyric, "I don't believe in Beatles......"
I can find a distinction between John saying he doesn't believe there's Beatles any more, and that he's moved on to something he loves more, compared to him being openly hostile and personal towards the other half of Lennon & McCartney
@@AndrewDixonMusic thanks for your answer, Andrew. I can see why your responses were different. For what it's worth, mine were the opposite of yours, but for different reasons. John Lennon saying he no longer believed in the Beatles seems depressing to me (even though John was being honest and had moved on). I don't think I've played that track since the mid 70s as I find it musically dull. On the other hand How do you sleep ? is a song that is musically interesting (to me) with interesting lyrics. I appreciate it's a vitriolic attack on Paul McCartney which I did not condone but I can detach myself from that.
@@johndowling5850 I can't remember whether I specifically said this in the video, but I think How Do You Sleep is a very good song, instrumentally it's great, it's John with a passion, and I do really like it, it just always leaves me feeling guilty if I've sung along, with me being a huge fan of Paul.
Andrew you know how fond I am of you but sorry Sometime NYC sucks any way you dice it! I know opinions are like arse…I am however willing to give Pipes another listen if it get a remix treatment 😀
Nice but for me, POB is number 1 ! And RAM in second.
the demo for "God" is superior to the album version
I was a teenager during most of the 70's. During that time, the press praised Paul's music. The same press wasn't as kind towards John's music. After John died, all of a sudden John was the best musician on the planet, and nothing Paul did could even compare with what John did. I bought Double Fantasy when it first came out. I was hoping that because John took five years off that this would be an amazing album. I was wrong. Mainly because every other track is a Yoko track, but other than Watching the Wheels, the John songs, in my opinion are weak. Andrew, I love you, but I think you give Yoko Ono too much credit. Why didn't you mention the B side of Live Peace? It's horrible. I feel sorry for the band who had to play while she did whatever she does. I do like Plastic Ono Band, Imagine, and certain songs from every John album (Except Some Time in New York City).
But I am sorry, because I don't think John's music holds a candle to Paul's music. And I am just talking about the period from 1970 to 1980. I'm rambling so I will leave it at that.
I was 10 in '73 and I remember the music press....Rolling Stone, Cream Magazine (Lester Bangs).....writing more that Paul was a sell out and John was an artist that disappointed them often. There was a Bangs article that was so savage to Paul, I remember getting teary from it! I think the press was brutal to both of them and just ridiculous in the comparisons.
Double Fantasy's reviews didn't hit the press until after John's death. No reviews could be impartial because everyone was so heartbroken. I still think it would have gotten praise though. John's songs are absolutely beautiful on it. When it won the Grammy for album of the year....it did feel like they were giving the award for all of John's work.
There's plenty of songs that didn't get a specific mention, generally I'm more likely to mention something I love (or something that's memorable) more than something I don't, so that was the only reaaon really that I didn't mention that specific Yoko live track. 👍
@@paulaelizabethg I agree with you that they both were criticized, but after Band on the Run, and especially during the Wings Over America (World) tour, the press definitely softened when it came to Paul.
As far as John's music, I respect opinions like yours, and don't get me wrong, I have every John Lennon album, but I prefer Paul's music over John's. My memory isn't great, but I do remember reading articles where Paul was being raked over the coals and John was being constantly praised.
@@paulaelizabethg I would like to know your opinion of Yoko. I just don't like her.
@@TheSchemel I think Walking on Thin Ice is a great record and the best thing musically, she has ever done. It is the only recording of hers I play repeatedly. As for an opinion on Yoko overall.....I can't give you one because my interactions with her have been so wonderful, I only have the utmost respect for her as a person and artist. Seeing her sitting there during Get Back, didn't change my feelings at all. I think she was pivotal in John becoming the artist he was born to be. If that meant together constantly...ok. Honestly, I've always liked her. 🙂
Andrew, I’m currently watching so I’ll comment again after it’s over, but I have to ask straight away; the albums you’re holding up, two virgins, life with the lions, etc, look smaller than a normal LP, what are they?? They look like the original vinyl, but half the size. Why 😳😬
They're CDs!
@@AndrewDixonMusic Must be available only in the UK, they don't come like that here in the US 🙁
@@juliahartley-barnes975 they are in the US. It’s called a Digipack cd. You’re probably thinking of jewel case cds which are much clunkier in my opinion
@@landonmcnamer4757 Really? Do you know any online shops that might have them? We only have 2 shops in my area and neither one Carrie’s anything but the jewel case type CD. Thanks so much!! 👍🏻
@@juliahartley-barnes975 if you’re looking for John, I’d get the Lennon boxset that exists. I’m quite sure those are digipacks. You could check amazon
Do Yoko lol
COMMENT 2: It's hard to clearly hear, or form an opinion on, the four big overexposed albums. But I will say that I tend to listen to the 1980 tracks in the context of each artist's box set. (I no longer care about the he-said/she-said concept - it's artificial anyway, the songs were written over a span of many years). And...Imagine may be the radio-friendly Lennon album, but, Plastic Ono Band: beyond critical comment, n'est-ce pas? Walls & Bridges was an immediate favorite of mine - it manages to fit in his last "psychedelic" classic (yes, I do mean that "pussy pussy" song!), some blues-rock, and Bless You, home to his classiest chord-progression. Mind Games has grown on me over the years, but it's still a struggle: one has to get past the lack of either lyrical detail or variety of tempos, to hear some more choice chord-progressions, and Spinozza. As a Yoko fan of course I instantly dug Some Time... - despite those mixing/editing decisions.
thought we were having a voting evening
No not this time. Not sure if I've already done Lennon albums as a World Cup. If not I'll do that some time (In New York City)