John Lennon - Imagine (1971) SQ Quadraphonic Mix
Vinyl Rip @ 96/24 | FLAC 4 Channel (Computer Decoded) | FLAC Stereo | Artwork
Media: UK pressed LP # Apple Q4PAS 10004
Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine (All Music Guide)
(this reviews the stereo version)
After the harrowing 'Plastic Ono Band', John Lennon returned to calmer, more conventional territory with Imagine. While the album had a softer surface, it was only marginally less confessional than its predecessor. Underneath the sweet strings of "Jealous Guy" lies a broken and scared man, the jaunty "Crippled Inside" is a mocking assault at an acquaintance, and "Imagine" is a paean for peace in a world with no gods, possessions, or classes, where everyone is equal. And Lennon doesn't shy away from the hard rockers -- "How Do You Sleep" is a scathing attack on Paul McCartney, "I Don't Want to Be a Soldier" is a hypnotic antiwar song, and "Give Me Some Truth" is bitter hard rock. If Imagine doesn't have the thematic sweep of Plastic Ono Band, it is nevertheless a remarkable collection of songs that Lennon would never be able to better again.
Track Listing:
01 Imagine (3:06)
02 Crippled Inside (3:51)
03 Jealous Guy (4:12)
04 It's So Hard (2:25)
05 I Don't Want To Be A Soldier (5:58)
06 Give Me Some Truth (3:13)
07 Oh My Love (2:43)
08 How Do You Sleep (5:22)
09 How (3:42)
10 Oh Yoko (4:21)
My additional notes:
One of the world's best known albums in one of the world's least known versions.
If you have Dr. Robert's great MFSL Stereo rip, put this one in the same CD case!
Say what you like about Lennon, his influence on modern culture is immense - and not just as a Beatle. We could all probably do without the Gallagher brothers interpretations but in all other respects Lennon has been a shining example of shameless 'goodness' wrapped up in angst. 'You might say I'm a Dreamer'... indeed but I'd rather that than hear one of Bono or Sting's platitudes about the green movement.
I wonder why people tend to belittle Yoko Ono's influence, and I applaud Lennon's frank and intimate portayals of his love for Yoko. Cringe if you like but 'Oh Yoko' is actually one hell of a love song. Perhaps one that only Lennon could get away with? I'm more comfortable with that song than with 'How Do You Sleep' which is a bit like airing your dirty laundry in public.
The quad version is quite rare now and regularly sells for about 150 USD - and probably more to stereo buyers than quad fans... like a lot of 70's SQ Quadraphonic remixes, the SQ process demanded they go back, physically, to the master tapes and start from scratch. It features slightly and not so slightly different versions of tracks. The most notable exceptions: There is no orchestral 'hubbub' intro to 'How Do You Sleep' and several low-level instrumental elements familiar to the stereo mix are missing or changed in other tracks. And it's in quad of course. It's not a 'gimmicky' mix by any means (although the squawking sound effect at the end of 'Soldier' flies around the speakers) don't look for pyrotechnics, this is a mellow quad mix.
Completist? Perhaps but the quad mix certainly adds a new dimension to an old favourite.
As usual I put my best efforts into presenting this as faithfully as possible. Hope you like it. Enjoy responsibly!
Gallon-sized jugs of thanks to Son-Of_Albion once again for posting this for me.
Euripides Jan 2011