Anyone who votes for "Working Class Hero" to be banned from ILX.
― Wenlock & Mandelson (Tom D.), Friday, May 28, 2010 11:01 AM (7 hours ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink
because they're smarter than everyone else?
― Filmmaker, Author, Radio Host Stephen Baldwin (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn)
Because that was the "hit".
Deep album cuts only, plz. You've been warned.
― a reprehensible gentility of trouser (staggerlee), Saturday, 29 May 2010 00:48 (thirteen years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.
― System, Saturday, 5 June 2010 23:01 (thirteen years ago) link
xp Working class hero wasn't even on "The john lennon collection." It's a popular album track, but hardly a "hit."
― billstevejim, Saturday, 5 June 2010 23:39 (thirteen years ago) link
Went for "isolation" bc I enjoyed daniel johnston's cover.
― billstevejim, Saturday, 5 June 2010 23:50 (thirteen years ago) link
Working Class Hero
― Miles "Tails" Davis (Daruton), Sunday, 6 June 2010 00:36 (thirteen years ago) link
Great album that I listened to a lot as a teenager. Eventually I used it up, and I've never gone back to it. Like Joy Division, for me, it belongs to a specific time in my life. I'd probably vote for "God," but I won't vote.
― clemenza, Sunday, 6 June 2010 01:57 (thirteen years ago) link
I think I still love "Love," though it's been a while since I've heard it.
Speaking of which, and this will be a real longshot, but is anyone familiar with a cover of "Love" from around '91 or so, came out (I think) not long after St. Etienne's cover of "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" and very much in the same vein (female singer, Soul II Soul-ish groove, etc.)? I heard it once, in a record store in Vancouver, thought it was great, didn't think to buy it, have never heard it since, have never been able to find anything about it on the web. I may have been stoned that day and imagined the whole thing. Please tell me I'm wrong.
― sw00ds, Sunday, 6 June 2010 02:34 (thirteen years ago) link
P.S. I much prefer Double Fantasy, truth be told. I don't think Lennon made great albums as a solo artist (loads of good songs, though), but I probably still enjoy 75% of what's on there, and Yoko's stuff helps tip the scales in the right direction. (I am, oddly enough, sick of most of the singles from DF, though, and never cared much for "Woman" or "Starting Over.")
― sw00ds, Sunday, 6 June 2010 02:37 (thirteen years ago) link
Last thought and I'll shut up, but... this might still be my favourite commentary on Lennon's primal scream phase:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qrMEEN6WxM&feature=related
― sw00ds, Sunday, 6 June 2010 02:43 (thirteen years ago) link
(song is from National Lampoon's 1972 LP)
― sw00ds, Sunday, 6 June 2010 02:44 (thirteen years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufK7ryaVuqU
― PaulTMA, Sunday, 6 June 2010 15:59 (thirteen years ago) link
Voted Working Class Hero just to be a contrarian fucker.
― Protect family from germs of disease (KMS), Sunday, 6 June 2010 20:32 (thirteen years ago) link
I never heard WCH until I heard the album, so I have no qualms about voting for it (not that I would anyway).
I didn't hear the Beatles apart from TV commercials until I was 20. It just wasn't in my house growing up (both father and mother too young/not big music people).
― Miles "Tails" Davis (Daruton), Sunday, 6 June 2010 20:35 (thirteen years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.
― System, Sunday, 6 June 2010 23:01 (thirteen years ago) link
mine only got three votes, yet i can't fault anything in these results--flawless record if there ever was one
― iago g., Monday, 7 June 2010 00:14 (thirteen years ago) link
that's pushing it a little far, but it's a nice record, if just a tad self indulgent as was much of Lennon's solo career. I'm struggling to think of anyone else in rock who succesfully managed to make it by being so internalised and self-referential as John on songs like "Oh Yoko!" etc.
An interesting taking sides would be POB vs Imagine.
― village idiot (dog latin), Monday, 7 June 2010 11:12 (thirteen years ago) link
flawless record if there ever was one
I wouldn't say it's flawless, but it's certainly a flawed album that would suffer from being reorganized, cleaned up, polished or otherwise changed in any way. It's great in spite of (and often because of) its flaws.
― I just wish he hadn't adopted the "ilxor" moniker (ilxor), Monday, 7 June 2010 13:45 (thirteen years ago) link
That is correct.
― Mark G, Monday, 7 June 2010 13:49 (thirteen years ago) link
I really really like "Hold On". Wish it would have placed higher.
― Adam Bruneau, Monday, 7 June 2010 15:23 (thirteen years ago) link
I think the self indulgence mostly showed later. He genuinely seemd to have mined his psyche and personal history on this record, to strip himself down to the man, instead of the god of beatles. So the great pop musician takes a backseat. The songs sound intimate, and - despite the odd bit of screaming, an acceptable habit for a rock n roll singer - the emotion lightly worn.
― Dr X O'Skeleton, Monday, 7 June 2010 22:39 (thirteen years ago) link
I agree! It is perfect in its imperfection...thanks for clarifying!
― iago g., Monday, 7 June 2010 23:07 (thirteen years ago) link
Kinda surprised you rate this album, ilxor!
― Myonga Vön Bontee, Tuesday, 8 June 2010 04:20 (thirteen years ago) link
It's an all-time favorite! Why surprised?
― I just wish he hadn't adopted the "ilxor" moniker (ilxor), Tuesday, 8 June 2010 04:51 (thirteen years ago) link
I think the self indulgence mostly showed later.
This is one of the most self indulgent albums ever released. Also, most of it is rubbish. But "Love" is still a beautiful song.
― Tied Up In Geir (Geir Hongro), Tuesday, 8 June 2010 09:29 (thirteen years ago) link
This is one of the most self indulgent albums ever released.
More than "Two Virgins"?
I'm possibly the only person that thinks it has a charm all of it's own.
I've searched for reviews but most degenerate into straight-out racism.
― Mark G, Tuesday, 8 June 2010 09:33 (thirteen years ago) link
Played it again today. Remember is just so quietly insistent till the final boom
― Dr X O'Skeleton, Tuesday, 8 June 2010 14:46 (thirteen years ago) link
The Classic Album Plastic Ono Bank is currently on BBC iplayer (if you're in the UK) till 21st July.
Struck by how much Arthur Janov looks like Michael Palin with a wooly wig. And Elliot Mintz doing himself no favours with a creepiness aura.
Ringo and Klaus come over pretty well.
― Bob Six, Saturday, 10 July 2010 13:34 (thirteen years ago) link
COOKIE!
― but the boo boyz are getting to (Z S), Wednesday, 24 October 2012 18:05 (eleven years ago) link
I don't believe in magicI don't believe in I-ChingI don't believe in BibleI don't believe in tarotI don't believe in HitlerI don't believe in JesusI don't believe in KennedyI don't believe in BuddhaI don't believe in mantraI don't believe in GitaI don't believe in yogaI don't believe in kingsI don't believe in ElvisI don't believe in ZimmermanI don't believe in BeatlesI just believe in meYoko and meAnd that's reality
The dream is overWhat can I say?The dream is overYesterdayI was the dream weaverBut now I'm rebornI was the WalrusBut now I'm JohnAnd so dear friendsYou just have to carry onThe dream is over
love this song, so much. it's amazing that a piece with a relatively slow tempo can build up so much tension (the series of I Don't Believes). that last bit ("the dream is over", etc) is such a perfect coda, lyrically and compositionally. it feels like the end of the 60s, not in a sad way or a optimistic way, it just is. he was in the center of the zeitgeist so i suppose it would make sense that he'd be one of the first to recognize that a unique moment had passed, but were dragged from the 60s kicking and screaming it still seems impressive.
― but the boo boyz are getting to (Z S), Wednesday, 24 October 2012 18:14 (eleven years ago) link
sorry, meant to say "so many people" were dragged from the 60s blab blag blah
i still don't really think i understand the beginning of the song, though: "god is a concept by which we measure our pain". lennon told RS "pain is the pain we go through all the time. You're born in pain. Pain is what we are in most of the time, and I think that the bigger the pain, the more God you look for." i get that, sure...but did he mean that pain is the primary element that drives people to create the concept of god? and what kind of measure was he talking about? or was he just high?
― but the boo boyz are getting to (Z S), Wednesday, 24 October 2012 18:19 (eleven years ago) link
He left out "I don't believe in yesterday". But at least he worked that line into one of his last interviews
― Lee626, Wednesday, 24 October 2012 18:21 (eleven years ago) link
the way john sings the last two verses of 'god' -- after the whole 'i don't believe...' section -- is so crushing. just so gorgeous and sad it's almost painful.
― (The Other) J.D. (J.D.), Wednesday, 24 October 2012 18:21 (eleven years ago) link
I don't think he knew what he meant tbh
xp
― Force Boxman (Shakey Mo Collier), Wednesday, 24 October 2012 18:22 (eleven years ago) link
kinda feel like it's time for the anti-lennon backlash to take its course -- for my money this one and 'imagine' are the only two beatles solo albums i ever feel like hearing all the way through.
― (The Other) J.D. (J.D.), Wednesday, 24 October 2012 18:25 (eleven years ago) link
― I just wish he hadn't adopted the "ilxor" moniker (ilxor), Tuesday, June 8, 2010 12:51 AM (2 years ago)
Hope you weren't waiting all this time for a reply, ilxor! (Or whatever you're calling yourself now, if you're still around...) Anyways, it was just some old poll you started plus a few random posts made me assume you hated the entire "classic rock" canon, or whatever. (Sorry if there's any typos in this post - currently got asevere migraine & can only see the screen peripherally...)
― Faster than food (Myonga Vön Bontee), Wednesday, 24 October 2012 20:48 (eleven years ago) link
i still read occasionally, i just dont ever really post, busy with life-- not big on classic rock but i do unequivocally love almost all beatles, lennon solo, and early mccartney/harrison solo (mccartney, ram, all things must pass...)
― ilxor, Sunday, 4 November 2012 18:55 (eleven years ago) link
"Hold On" still my favorite here. I love the sound of this album, particularly how "Remember" feels like it could really fall apart at any moment, and does.
― Emperor Cos Dashit (Adam Bruneau), Sunday, 4 November 2012 19:45 (eleven years ago) link
The pre-POB Lennon/Ono solo stuff is really wonderful and way too overlooked. I mean how awesome is it that singer/songwriter in the world's biggest pop band released this?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBicW0CDdp4
― Emperor Cos Dashit (Adam Bruneau), Sunday, 4 November 2012 19:48 (eleven years ago) link
*cookie*
― Do Not POLL At Any Price (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 9 October 2014 19:57 (nine years ago) link
otm
― Karl Malone, Thursday, 9 October 2014 20:00 (nine years ago) link
new screenname in honor of the number nine birthday boy
― Bobby Ono Bland (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 9 October 2014 20:06 (nine years ago) link
catalog added to spotify, btw (the major-label parts, anyway)
― warning, #4 can't be unseen (WilliamC), Thursday, 9 October 2014 21:09 (nine years ago) link
Today?
― Bobby Ono Bland (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 9 October 2014 21:19 (nine years ago) link
II found out
― Bobby Ono Bland (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 9 October 2014 21:32 (nine years ago) link
couple of days ago xp
― warning, #4 can't be unseen (WilliamC), Thursday, 9 October 2014 21:33 (nine years ago) link
This and YO/POB have so many moments of unfuckwithable Ringo brilliance.
― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Thursday, 9 October 2014 23:47 (nine years ago) link
otm...I like to think of them as one of the great double-album-that-never-were
― Sir Lord Baltimora (Myonga Vön Bontee), Friday, 10 October 2014 00:00 (nine years ago) link
Yeah the Starr-Voormann pocket rules.
― a drug by the name of WORLD WITHOUT END (Jon Lewis), Friday, 10 October 2014 02:28 (nine years ago) link
Yeah, the songs and beats are not nearly as arranged as in The Beatles, but there is still hella groove.
― Bobby Ono Bland (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 10 October 2014 02:35 (nine years ago) link
? jim keltner is the drummer on John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band, not ringo
― Karl Malone, Friday, 10 October 2014 02:40 (nine years ago) link
Performative is a good description of this album
― hrep (H.P), Tuesday, 20 June 2023 12:25 (nine months ago) link