The Lennon Anthology is a real treasure. I was dreaming to purchase it in late 1998 and 1999 and finally had luck to do it in 2000. One of the best post-Beatles releases of all time.
Most of the "Rock 'N' Roll" tracks that originally appeared on "Menlove Avenue" were also released as bonus cuts on the 2004 reissue of the "Rock 'N' Roll" album although I believe the version of "My Baby Left Me" is a different version than the one originally released on "Menlove Avenue". "Serve Yourself", undoubtedly would've been strongly considered for the "Milk And Honey" project if Lennon had not been assassinated. Along with "Real Love", it was the song that Lennon paid the most attention to in the final year or so of his life that wasn't included on "Double Fantasy". The final demo of "Serve Yourself" recorded by Lennon in the months prior to his death, was eventually given issue as a bonus track as part of the "Lennon Signature Box" some years back. As for the "Lennon: Anthology"? In my opinion it's still singularly the best box set ever associated with The Beatles as a group or solo. Yoko Ono does some amazing work when it comes to preserving John Lennon's legacy and this set is no exception. I really cannot find a flaw with what she and co-producer Rob Stevens chose to include as there are some true revelations throughout the set and as you mentioned beautifully packaged as well. FWIW, at one point in time Mark Lewisohn was heavily involved in the "Lennon Anthology" project and even assisted Ono in curating a track listing for the collection. However, allegedly Lewisohn fell out of favor for a period of time with Apple (particularly Ono and George Harrison) and was removed from the "Lennon Anthology" project entirely. It would've been interesting to see what Lewisohn would've contributed to either of those projects, although as I said Rob Stevens was an invaluable asset to Ono in co-producing the "Lennon: Anthology" set.
I haven't seen a review of Paul's "Press to Play" album, one of my favorites. I think he was stretching himself on that one, going outside the usual pop box. There are some great melodies there even if the lyrics aren't all that they could be (always a weak point of his). Please give it a fresh listen and review.
I think I read somewhere that the Only You demo was a last-minute discovery, and as such there wasn't room on the appropriate disc for it. Also, considering its unfortunate status, I find the song Dear John to be quite eerie.
Hello John, You are absolutely right. Angel Baby should have been included on the Rock N Roll album. John does a very soulful version of this classic. Rosie Mendez Hamlin's Angel Baby is a classic oldie amongst us Mexican-Americans! To Know Him Is To Love Me was recorded by The Teddy Bears, a singing group which included Phil Spector! Nice upload! Raul.🙂
What is an anthology? is it a collection of the best of/all the albums.. or is it a collection of outtakes and alt. versions? Tom Petty's anthology seemed more like the former but then the Beatles Anthology was the later. Great review John.. I much prefer listening to alt. versions of the songs too.. fascinating to hear the development of the tracks.
Thanks, great review! I actually prefer a couple of bootlegs released a few years back called 'The Imagine Sessions' and 'Absolute Elsewhere (the Mind Games sessions)'. If you have opportunity, listen and do a review on those two sets😀. These contain multiple takes for each song on the specific albums, but must admit though can get boring since several or too many takes in a row sound too similar (and you start to wonder why included when one or two takes only were needed). Perhaps that the strength of the Lennon Anthology. Yoko resisted in beating over the more casual Lennon fan's heads with monotonous multiple takes. This turns out to be an easier listen than a hardcore Beatles or Lennon fan would want. As for me (after listening all the way through a couple of times), I wound up copying my favorites onto one tape cassette (then onto a CD)... that's the one I listen to. My fave on this set is "the happy Rishikesh song' (of which first section sounds a lot like the bridge or 'middle eight' sections of George Harrison's song 'Blow Away').
Cool little story about meeting Yoko and suggesting that it just be unreleased material. Thanks for the suggestion. Whether of not your suggestion helped this is a really great box set. I remember I bought this boxed set and Bruce Springsteen's Tracks set on the same day which cost me a good chunk of change that day. When is Paul going to do this?? Never gonna happen. It's disappointing that he's sprinkled many rarities on to the archival series. I don't know if he does this to help sell the archival package or to put these rarities into the proper context of when they were recorded. Still, He has plenty of stuff that could be gathered and put into a really nice box set like this. As far as George's work he may not have as much rarities to go thru but I've come across plenty of rarities or unreleased work on TH-cam that could easily amount to maybe a 3 cd set. Unfortunately, some of these rarities have been sprinkled on to cd releases as tack on bonus material. Booooo!
John, would you say that instead of a sequel to the Lennon Anthology, Yoko may do several or maybe even all of his albums in the same way Imagine was done late last year?
The original album is given a new remix, then a generous selection of outtakes and unique mixes where they are available, such as quadrophonic. Is that something you can see happening with the Lennon catalog?
![ILLSLICK X YOUNGOHM - We're The same [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/yUJNkobYR0E/mqdefault.jpg)
The Lennon Anthology is a real treasure. I was dreaming to purchase it in late 1998 and 1999 and finally had luck to do it in 2000. One of the best post-Beatles releases of all time.
Great advice you have given here on releasing only previously unreleased tracks
Most of the "Rock 'N' Roll" tracks that originally appeared on "Menlove Avenue" were also released as bonus cuts on the 2004 reissue of the "Rock 'N' Roll" album although I believe the version of "My Baby Left Me" is a different version than the one originally released on "Menlove Avenue". "Serve Yourself", undoubtedly would've been strongly considered for the "Milk And Honey" project if Lennon had not been assassinated. Along with "Real Love", it was the song that Lennon paid the most attention to in the final year or so of his life that wasn't included on "Double Fantasy". The final demo of "Serve Yourself" recorded by Lennon in the months prior to his death, was eventually given issue as a bonus track as part of the "Lennon Signature Box" some years back.
As for the "Lennon: Anthology"? In my opinion it's still singularly the best box set ever associated with The Beatles as a group or solo. Yoko Ono does some amazing work when it comes to preserving John Lennon's legacy and this set is no exception. I really cannot find a flaw with what she and co-producer Rob Stevens chose to include as there are some true revelations throughout the set and as you mentioned beautifully packaged as well. FWIW, at one point in time Mark Lewisohn was heavily involved in the "Lennon Anthology" project and even assisted Ono in curating a track listing for the collection. However, allegedly Lewisohn fell out of favor for a period of time with Apple (particularly Ono and George Harrison) and was removed from the "Lennon Anthology" project entirely. It would've been interesting to see what Lewisohn would've contributed to either of those projects, although as I said Rob Stevens was an invaluable asset to Ono in co-producing the "Lennon: Anthology" set.
Can;t wait for final Lennon demos collection..2020..
Has something been announced?
@@TheRagBag not yet..hope so..
I haven't seen a review of Paul's "Press to Play" album, one of my favorites. I think he was stretching himself on that one, going outside the usual pop box. There are some great melodies there even if the lyrics aren't all that they could be (always a weak point of his). Please give it a fresh listen and review.
1nelsondj I reviewed Press To Play a while back
I got this in 1999 at a record fair. It was sealed but had damaged packaging and was going relatively cheap - I couldn't/wouldn't pay full price.
I think I read somewhere that the Only You demo was a last-minute discovery, and as such there wasn't room on the appropriate disc for it. Also, considering its unfortunate status, I find the song Dear John to be quite eerie.
Menlove Avenue was issued on CD; "Here We Go Again" is on the CD Gimme Some Truth box set.
A double album of unreleased songs would be amazing
Just love lennon, John, my favorite beatle, have all his solo, as well as most the other three, great job you do mate....🍁leif
Hello John, You are absolutely right. Angel Baby should have been included on the Rock N Roll album. John does a very soulful version of this classic. Rosie Mendez Hamlin's Angel Baby is a classic oldie amongst us Mexican-Americans! To Know Him Is To Love Me was recorded by The Teddy Bears, a singing group which included Phil Spector! Nice upload! Raul.🙂
Start reviewing Bootlegs John..it's infinite ..Sweet Apple Trax would be a good starter!
John, super review, have you reviewed Double Fantasy Stripped/Let It Be Naked/John Lennon Acoustic?
What is an anthology? is it a collection of the best of/all the albums.. or is it a collection of outtakes and alt. versions? Tom Petty's anthology seemed more like the former but then the Beatles Anthology was the later. Great review John.. I much prefer listening to alt. versions of the songs too.. fascinating to hear the development of the tracks.
The original gimme some 4cd has 1 disc of rock n roll
Would love to hear "street of dreams"..
Not the Ronettes, but The Paris Sisters. Based on what’s written on Spector’s dead Dad’s grave.
Thanks, great review!
I actually prefer a couple of bootlegs released a few years back called 'The Imagine Sessions' and 'Absolute Elsewhere (the Mind Games sessions)'. If you have opportunity, listen and do a review on those two sets😀.
These contain multiple takes for each song on the specific albums, but must admit though can get boring since several or too many takes in a row sound too similar (and you start to wonder why included when one or two takes only were needed).
Perhaps that the strength of the Lennon Anthology. Yoko resisted in beating over the more casual Lennon fan's heads with monotonous multiple takes. This turns out to be an easier listen than a hardcore Beatles or Lennon fan would want.
As for me (after listening all the way through a couple of times), I wound up copying my favorites onto one tape cassette (then onto a CD)... that's the one I listen to.
My fave on this set is "the happy Rishikesh song' (of which first section sounds a lot like the bridge or 'middle eight' sections of George Harrison's song 'Blow Away').
Nice T shirt John !
Yoko asked you for advice what to put on the album?! Wow
Cool little story about meeting Yoko and suggesting that it just be unreleased material. Thanks for the suggestion. Whether of not your suggestion helped this is a really great box set. I remember I bought this boxed set and Bruce Springsteen's Tracks set on the same day which cost me a good chunk of change that day. When is Paul going to do this?? Never gonna happen. It's disappointing that he's sprinkled many rarities on to the archival series. I don't know if he does this to help sell the archival package or to put these rarities into the proper context of when they were recorded. Still, He has plenty of stuff that could be gathered and put into a really nice box set like this. As far as George's work he may not have as much rarities to go thru but I've come across plenty of rarities or unreleased work on TH-cam that could easily amount to maybe a 3 cd set. Unfortunately, some of these rarities have been sprinkled on to cd releases as tack on bonus material. Booooo!
I can not focus on your review because I am distracted by your T-Shirt. Where did you buy it ? I am big fan of your reviews.
I was just as angry about this album as about Anthology ......
A bit off topic, but like your T shirt, and often wondered who's child that boy is standing next to the McCartney's. Is it James?
Yes it's James
I think that is Gianni Gregorrini, Barbara's son from her prior marriage.
@@davidskidmore4189 Yes at the front yes but in Linda's arms is James
Ah, Yes! Good call @@@johnheaton5667
Thanks
John, would you say that instead of a sequel to the Lennon Anthology, Yoko may do several or maybe even all of his albums in the same way Imagine was done late last year?
The original album is given a new remix, then a generous selection of outtakes and unique mixes where they are available, such as quadrophonic. Is that something you can see happening with the Lennon catalog?
Paul Boyd hope so yes!
I’m not sure you’ve actually reviewed Milk and Honey
Have You reviewed BBC sessions from The Beatles? Love You videos
Niels Bie yes a while back..think I did a joint one...cheers
Teddy Bears did To Know Him.
That is true. Phil Spector was their producer I think. I know he wrote the song though.
Shud have been a lot better..