Rating: 10/10

Top Track: ‘Imagine’

Time for my favorite John Lennon solo album. To me, this album captures Lennon at his peak and is much more than its title track ‘Imagine’. This album is also only the second album I have given a rating of 10/10 to. There’s a reason I don’t give out 10/10’s willy-nilly. That rating means that I can listen to this album over and over and never tire of it. It means that if I had to choose just one album to listen to for the rest of my life, this one is one of my top choices. Keep in mind that my ratings are totally subjective and shouldn’t be taken very seriously. I’m sure, but I think this album might’ve been my dad’s favorite Lennon album as well. Inside of the cover there is a fairly large white-washed poster of John playing the piano with pin holes and tape marks all over the corners (thanks Papa). The sleeve that holds the record itself is covered with headshots of all the musicians who contributed to the album and a spiraling list of who played which instrument. The other side of the sleeve contains lyrics to every song on the album. The the label of the record itself, on a picture of an apple core, are the initials “RB”, my dad’s. On the back of the album cover is the quote, “imagine the clouds dripping. dig a hole in your garden to put them in” credited to “yoko ’63”. The quote was pulled from Yoko Ono’s book Grapefruit which was being re-released at the time. This album was made to be listened to on vinyl. Sure, on Spotify is sounds great, but like I’ve said before, there’s nothing like the real thing. I find everything about this album fantastic, from the range of sound to the polaroid photo of John on the cover (taken by Yoko, not by Andy Warhol who was rumored to have taken it). Alright, let’s get into the top track.

This was probably the quickest decision of a top track that I have made thus far. Sure, songs like ‘Jealous Guy’, ‘Gimme Some Truth’, and ‘How Do You Sleep?’ were taken into account, but they were never really in the running. How could I not pick the title track of this album as well as one of the best songs ever written? It had to be ‘Imagine’. I would give anything to listen to this song for the first time again. I can still remember being a wee lad and having my mind blown. Yes, the song is extremely overplayed by disc jockeys and amateur piano players alike; and while it is overplayed, it never gets old. I didn’t just pick the song because of its popularity or even because of how great a song it is, I picked it because it speaks to me. In fact I picked it because it speaks to everyone. Which is all John Lennon wanted. I think that ‘Imagine’ is the most John Lennon song he ever wrote. If any of that makes sense. I think this song is as close to perfect as any song is ever going to get. The music has a minimalistic quality that does just enough to lay down one of the most memorable melodies ever recorded. John doesn’t try to do too much with the music and the same goes with the lyrics. The song is a call to everyone who hears to come together and live in peace. That’s all John Lennon wanted. Cut the crap, all the division, hate, and labels that pull us apart and just “be as one.”

Okay, so why is this album a perfect 10/10 in my eyes? Like I said, this is John Lennon at his peak. The range of sound on this album is just incredible, from the softness of songs like ‘Imagine’ to blues-y tracks like ‘It’s So Hard’ and ‘I Don’t Wanna Be A Soldier Mama’; even some straight up classic rock, Beatles-y songs like ‘Gimme Some Truth’ and ‘How Do You Sleep?’. And why not throw in a fun, goofy song like ‘Crippled Inside’. The levels in this album are just insane. John always seemed to have a flair for the dramatic. Speaking of dramatic, I want to talk about ‘How Do You Sleep?’. I think that it’s quite possible that this song could be considered the first diss track ever written. Way before hip hop artists were flaming each other on SoundCloud, John Lennon was doing it back in the 70s. The wounds of the Beatles break up were still pretty fresh when recording this album, especially between John and Paul McCartney, whom the track is about. This song basically calls out Paul for being a phony and thinking too highly of himself. That must’ve stung coming from someone who used to be your best friend. And to add insult to injury, George Harrison plays a remarkable blues-filled guitar solo on the track; another ex-Beatle and close pal of McCartney’s. McCartney would later respond with a track of his own, but more on that later (hint, hint). All that aside though, I really enjoy this song. The heavy guitar, the strings, the keyboard, it’s easily my second favorite song on the album. ‘Jealous Guy’ is probably my third favorite for anyone wondering.

I really like the way Lennon decided to end the album. ‘Oh Yoko!’ is one of my favorite Lennon songs believe it or not. It’s so upbeat and happy, it just has a great vibe to it; and it’s extremely enamored John is with Yoko. I mean, he’s just so in love; and how can love be a bad thing? I mean, their relationship was a big part in breaking up the Beatles, but let’s not get into that. John begins the album with a slow, hopeful song and ends with a cheerful song about the woman he loves, as well as a harmonica solo. He literally ends the album on a high note, well kind of. I think my point was made. The piano playing on the track is really great as well. In fact, I think the piano playing on all the tracks is great, especially on ‘Jealous Guy’. I think it really makes the song. Man, that man was so talented.

Well, I hope this post convinced some people that this album is more than its title track and did, in fact, deserve the 10/10 I gave it. I absolutely love this album and John Lennon himself. If there was a Mount Rushmore of song-writers, John Lennon’s face would be one of the four, without question. He has served as such an inspiration to artists of all mediums from all parts of the world. He inspired two of my personal song-writing heroes, Kurt Cobain and Noel Gallagher. I believe this album has aged ridiculously well. I would put it up against any great album of the past 20 years. John Lennon was so good at writing and playing timeless music. It makes me emotional to think about how he died and how he didn’t get to keep doing what he loved to do. He would’ve been 80 years old this December and it has been nearly 40 years since he passed away. R.I.P. to the legend and may his music live on forever.