Resurrecting the Album Club

[Lawrence001]

Does anyone want to have a go at this. If not I will when I've got time in the next few weeks.

[Wakefield Turntables]

Erm... what does it entail?

[Macca]

Erm... what does it entail?

Each week someone pick an album they think has merit, and explains why. Then everyone listens to it and then gives their opinion.

Doesn't entail much more than picking an album and writing something about why you think it's great. Doesn't need to be an essay.

[Barry]

Erm... what does it entail?

Just type in "Album Club" into the search box at the top right of the page.

I ran the Album Club for a year and it was me that turned it into a competition, hoping to increase interest and participation. It was a partial success, but not enough for me to want to continue with it.

That was in 2020. If Lawrence wants to have a go at resurrecting The Album Club, then all power to him - I shall certainly contribute.

[Wakefield Turntables]

I nominate band on the run Wings.

[Barry]

John Lennon & Yoko Ono – 'Double Fantasy'

Label: Geffen Records – K 99131
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Country: UK
Released: November 17, 1980
Genre: Rock
Style: Pop Rock

A1 John Lennon – (Just Like) Starting Over (Written by J. Lennon) 3:55
A2 Yoko Ono – Kiss Kiss Kiss (Written by Y. Ono) 2:41
A3 John Lennon – Cleanup Time (Written by J. Lennon) 2:57
A4 Yoko Ono – Give Me Something (Written by Y. Ono) 1:34
A5 John Lennon – I'm Losing You (Written by J. Lennon) 3:58
A6 Yoko Ono – I'm Moving On (Written by Y. Ono) 2:19
A7 John Lennon – Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy) Steel Drums – Robert Greenidge (Written by J. Lennon) 4:01

B1 John Lennon – Watching The Wheels Dulcimer [Hammer] – Matthew Cunningham (Writtenby J. Lennon) 3:59
B2 Yoko Ono – I'm Your Angel Arranged By [Horns] – Tony Davilio (Written by Y. Ono) 3:08
B3 John Lennon – Woman (Written by J. Lennon) 3:32
B4 Yoko Ono – Beautiful Boys (Written by Y. Ono) 2:54
B5 John Lennon – Dear Yoko (Written by J. Lennon) 2:33
B6 Yoko Ono – Every Man Has A Woman Who Loves Him (Written by Y. Ono) 4:02
B7 Yoko Ono – Hard Times Are Over (Written by Y. Ono) 3:20

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...JFSAbb1wwiqIEb

This is John Lennon at ease with his life and with his wife Yoko Ono. He had settled in the US with his citizenship assured, and now free of recording contract obligations was happy to simply spend time with Yoko and his son Sean. On this album the track listing alternates between songs by John and by Yoko.

Interestingly the songs sung by John tend to be gentle ballads, whereas those sung by Yoko are harder rock pop. Yoko’s songs are just as good as her husband’s, an example being 'Kiss Kiss Kiss', in which avant-garde drop-outs and spoken-word Japanese overdubs go hand in hand with piercing guitar work. She consistently sings beautifully, banishing forever memories of her infamous caterwauling on other albums. John's 'Cleanup Time' is powerful rock which incongruously celebrates his househusband status, and while 'Dear Yoko' sees him giving thanks to his wife simply for existing, such sentimentality doesn't preclude a delightful strutting old-time rock‘n’roll backdrop.

Meanwhile, on three pulsating tracks sequenced together – 'Give Me Something' (Yoko), 'I'm Losing You' (John) and 'I'm Moving On' (Yoko) – the couple seem to be engaging in a dialogue about the sometimes perilous terrain of marriage. In a perfect symbol of the way that the two have become one, the closing 'Hard Times Are Over' is a Yoko track that, in its vulnerability and surrender to love, would make you swear it was a John song.

This is that last record made by Jon Lennon - he was shot dead three weeks after the record was released.


I'm not sure if I have a favourite track, but I do like the first track 'Just Like Starting Over', 'Beautiful Boy' and 'Woman' by John Lennon, as well as 'Kiss Kiss Kiss', 'Give Me Something', and 'Hard Times are Over' by Yoko.

Give it a listen and let us know what you think.

[Pigmy Pony]

As it stands, my only experience of Yoko's 'caterwauling' (good description) is the b-side of "Cold Turkey" single. (it said on the label "PLAY LOUD") Iirc it was called "Don't Worry Yoko (Mummy's only looking for a Hand in the Snow)". Maybe she mellowed on later recordings, but in any case I'll give Double Fantasy a go.

[Alex_UK]

Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy) is strangely a song my 16 year old daughter plays quite regularly, and I have “Woman” on 7” single but not played in decades. Looking forward to trying this one.

[Macca]

I have this record on vinyl only and I'm not going to dig out my turntable so will have to go from memory.

Similar to a lot of Lennon and Beatles albums - some good tunes and some filler and rubbish.

I like 'Watching The Wheels', 'Woman' and 'Starting Over' but not much for the rest if it. I have Lennon compilation CD which has 'Beautiful Boy' on it, I always skip it - and 'Imagine' too. Lame songs.

[Pete The Cat]

My musical youth came after The Beatles’ first few solo albums had passed by. When I saw Album Club was being resurrected I decided to add DF to my long list of albums that I should hear. I remember its singles but have no other context to colour my view of it. I appreciate The Beatles but I’m not passionate, for years I could make do with just the Red and Blue compilations, and I’m neutral about Yoko Ono since I wasn’t interested enough back in the day to have an opinion.

The thing that surprises me is how obviously schizophrenic the DF album is. Other than I’m Losing You segueing into I’m Moving On it doesn’t seem bothered about feeling like the work of an ensemble/duo. It’s like one of those split albums that two bands on an independent record label would do, ie taking one side each, except in this case they alternate the tracks between the two writers. In doing so I’m afraid I find it an incoherent listen end-to-end.

I often wonder how it is that razor sharp twenty-something standup comedians turn into comfortable thirty-something childrens’ book authors. All that energy seems to evaporate. I guess nature didn’t envisage us getting to middle age and we were just designed have a few years full of hormones and hunting before meeting a grisly end. That’s what I hear from Lennon’s tracks and in so far as everyone says he’s expressing contentment then I get it, they’re just too lightweight for me. IMHO Woman is the best melody and Watching The Wheels is the best songwriting, but had they been written a decade earlier I doubt either would have made it onto the Blue album.

Taken separately I find Ono’s tracks more interesting, fresher and worth a second listen. Kiss Kiss Kiss, especially. Sure, they have some silly noises but her songs try, in a way that Lennon’s songs don’t seem to enough. 1980 would've been new wave/post punk era, so the fact that she fits in with that vibe so easily reflects less favourably on his efforts. However ILY has nearly 6m Spotify streams whereas its partner IMO has 1.2m, so what do I know - the listening public are clear on who they come to DF to listen to.

I guess that if I had the context of growing up with the Beatles and following John’s journey and apparent re-emergence I would feel differently. We’re each naturally inclined to want the heroes of our youth to show that they’ve still got it. I’m glad I gave DF a rinse and it has got me thinking I should give the Plastic Ono Band a try next… Cheers