(The Praeger Singer-Songwriter Collection) Ben Urish, Ken Bielen-The Words and Music of John Lennon-Praeger (2007) (31 page)

happened to John.

John had turned 40 only two months earlier. A friend at work had been

driving along the Palisades and had seen Yoko’s sky-written birthday greet-

ing to John. I didn’t pay close attention to John’s doings in New York as an

ex-Beatle, but I knew he was around.

When we arrived at the Spectrum, there were banners unfurled. Not for

Bruce, though. They were tributes to John. Hand-printed proclamations

on bed sheets. When Bruce came out, the first thing he did was talk. He

said some things are hard to accept, but we have to live with them and go

on from there. He said that “Twist and Shout,” John’s closing vocal on the

124    Afterword

Beatles’ first album 18 years earlier, was the first song he learned. And he said

if it wasn’t for John Lennon, we would all be someplace different that night.

The band closed the show with “Twist and Shout” as its tribute. I read an

account afterward that said Bruce broke into tears. From where I was sitting,

I couldn’t tell.

On the Sunday afternoon after John’s murder, almost six days on, there

was a memorial at Central Park, the park adjacent to the building where he

and Yoko had made their home with their five-year-old Sean. Yoko asked for

10 minutes of silence in the afternoon. At least one of the New York televi-

sion stations carried the memorial live.

My dad and I watched it. Throughout the past week, he kept telling me

not to be upset about all this. Have to keep on going. For whatever reason,

he was watching, too.

I remember the silence, the cameras panning across the crowd that had

gathered at the band shell, the only sounds those of the chirping birds.

The guy who had brought with his Liverpool mates such a wonderful

sound to our television screens less than two decades earlier was now being

remembered with silence on TV.

All video, no audio.

Nothing but silence.

Silence.

—Ken Bielen

Discography

Albums

Unfinished Music No. 1
—
Two Virgins.
Yoko Ono, John Lennon vocals and

speech, sound effects. “Two Virgins Section 1” (Yoko Ono, Lennon);

“Together” (Yoko Ono, Lennon); “Two Virgins Section 2” (Yoko Ono,

Lennon); “Two Virgins Section 3” (Yoko Ono, Lennon); “Two Virgins

Section 4” (Yoko Ono, Lennon); “Two Virgins Section 5” (Yoko Ono,

Lennon); “Two Virgins Section 6” (Yoko Ono, Lennon); “Hushabye

Hushabye” (Yoko Ono, Lennon); “Two Virgins Section 7” (Yoko Ono,

Lennon); “Two Virgins Section 8” (Yoko Ono, Lennon); “Two Vir-

gins Section 9” (Yoko Ono, Lennon); “Two Virgins Section 10” (Yoko

Ono, Lennon). 331⁄3 rpm phonodisc. Apple T-5001 (distributed by

Tetragammaton Records), 1968. Reissued on compact disc in 1997 as

Rykodisc 10411 with bonus track “Remember Love” (Yoko Ono).

Unfinished Music No. 2
—
Life with the Lions.
Yoko Ono, John Lennon vocals and

speech, sound effects. “Cambridge 1969” (“Song for John”; “Cambridge

1969”; “Let’s Go on Flying”; “Snow Is Fal ing All the Time”; “Mummy’s

Only Looking for Her Hand in the Snow”) (Yoko Ono, Lennon); “No Bed

for Beatle John” (Yoko Ono); “Baby’s Heartbeat” (Yoko Ono, Lennon);

“Two Minutes Silence” (Yoko Ono, Lennon); “Radio Play” (Yoko Ono,

Lennon). 331⁄3-rpm phonodisc. Zapple ST-3357, 1969. Reissued on com-

pact disc in 1997 as Rykodisc 10412 with two bonus tracks: “Song for

John” (Yoko Ono) and “Mulberry” (Yoko Ono).

Wedding Album.
Yoko Ono, John Lennon vocals and speech, sound effects.

“John and Yoko” (Yoko Ono, Lennon); “Amsterdam” (Yoko Ono,

126    Discography

Lennon). 331⁄3-rpm phonodisc. Zapple SMAX-3361, 1969. Reissued on

compact disc in 1997 as Rykodisc 10413 with three bonus tracks: “Who

Has Seen the Wind?” (Yoko Ono), “Listen, the Snow Is Falling” (Yoko

Ono), and “Don’t Worry Kyoko (Mummy’s Only Looking for Her Hand

in the Snow)” (Yoko Ono, Lennon).

Plastic Ono Band—Live Peace in Toronto 1969.
John Lennon vocals, guitar,

piano; Yoko Ono vocals, Eric Clapton guitar, Klaus Voorman bass gui-

tar, Alan White drums. “Blue Suede Shoes” (Carl Perkins); “Money

(That’s What I Want)” (Janie Bradford, Berry Gordy); “Dizzy Miss

Lizzy” (Larry Williams); “Yer Blues” (Lennon, Paul McCartney); “Cold

Turkey” (Lennon); “Give Peace a Chance” (Lennon, Paul McCartney);

“Don’t Worry Kyoko (Mummy’s Only Looking for Her Hand in the

Snow)” (Yoko Ono); “John John (Let’s Hope for Peace)” (Yoko Ono).

331⁄3-rpm phonodisc. Apple 076–90877, 1969. Reissued in 1995 on

compact disc as Capitol 7904282.

John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band.
John Lennon vocals, guitar, piano; various

assisting instrumentalists and vocalists. “Mother” (Lennon); “Hold On”

(Lennon); “I Found Out” (Lennon); “Working Class Hero” (Lennon);

“Isolation” (Lennon); “Remember” (Lennon); “Love” (Lennon);

“Well Well Well” (Lennon); “Look at Me” (Lennon); “God” (Len-

non); “My Mummy’s Dead” (Lennon). 331⁄3-rpm phonodisc. Apple

SW-3372, 1970. Reissued on compact disc in 2000 as Capitol CDP-

724352874026. Includes the additional track “Do the Oz” (Lennon,

Yoko Ono).

Imagine.
John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band. John Lennon vocals, guitar, piano;

various assisting instrumentalists and vocalists. “Imagine” (Lennon);

“Crippled Inside” (Lennon); “Jealous Guy” (Lennon); “It’s So Hard”

(Lennon); “I Don’t Wanna Be a Soldier” (Lennon); “Give Me Some

Truth” (Lennon); “Oh My Love” (Lennon, Yoko Ono); “How Do You

Sleep?” (Lennon); “How?” (Lennon); “Oh Yoko!” (Lennon). 331⁄3-rpm

phonodisc. Apple SW-3379, 1971. Reissued on compact disc as Capitol

724352485826.

Some Time in New York City.
John Lennon Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band

with Elephant’s Memory and Invisible Strings. John Lennon vocals,

guitar, piano; various assisting instrumentalists and vocalists. The last

four tracks are recorded with Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Inven-

tion. “Woman Is Nigger of the World” (Lennon, Yoko Ono); “Sisters,

O Sisters” (Yoko Ono); “Attica State” (Lennon, Yoko Ono); “Born in

a Prison” (Yoko Ono); “New York City” (Lennon); “Sunday Bloody

Sunday” (Lennon, Yoko Ono); “The Luck of the Irish” (Lennon,

Yoko Ono); “John Sinclair” (Lennon); “Angela” (Lennon, Yoko Ono);

“We’re All Water” (Yoko Ono); “Cold Turkey” (Lennon); “Don’t

Worry Kyoko” (Yoko Ono); “Well (Baby Please Don’t Go)” (Walter

Ward); “Jamrag” (Lennon, Yoko Ono); “Scumbag” (Lennon, Yoko

Discography    127

Ono, Frank Zappa); “Au” (Lennon, Yoko Ono). 331⁄3-rpm phonodisc.

Apple SVBB-3392, 1972. A reissue on compact disc (Capitol CDP

094634097628) in 2005 replaces the last three live Zappa numbers

with the “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)”/”Listen the Snow Is Falling”

studio single.

Mind Games.
John Lennon/Plastic U.F. Ono Band. John Lennon vocals,

guitar, piano; various assisting instrumentalists and vocalists. “Mind

Games” (Lennon); “Tight A$” (Lennon); “Aisumasen (I’m Sorry)”

(Lennon); “One Day (At a Time)” (Lennon); “Bring on the Lucie

(Freda Peeple)” (Lennon); “Nutopian International Anthem” (Len-

non); “Intuition” (Lennon); “Out the Blue” (Lennon); “Only People”

(Lennon); “I Know (I Know)” (Lennon) “You Are Here” (Lennon);

“Meat City” (Lennon). 331⁄3-rpm phonodisc. Apple SW-3414, 1973.

Reissued on compact disc as Capitol 724354242526.

Walls and Bridges.
John Lennon vocals, guitar, piano; with the Plastic Ono

Nuclear Band, Little Big Horns, and the Philharmanic Orchestrange;

various assisting instrumentalists and vocalists. “Going Down on Love”

(Lennon); “Whatever Gets You through the Night” (Lennon); “Old

Dirt Road” (Lennon, Harry Nilsson); “What You Got” (Lennon);

“Bless You” (Lennon); “Scared” (Lennon); “#9 Dream” (Lennon);

“Surprise Surprise (Sweet Bird of Paradox)” (Lennon); “Steel and Glass”

(Lennon); “Beef Jerky” (Lennon); “Nobody Loves You (When You’re

Down and Out)” (Lennon); “Ya Ya” (Morgan Robinson, Lee Dorsey,

Clarence Lewis). 331⁄3-rpm phonodisc. Apple SW-3416, 1974. A 2004

reissue on compact disc (Capitol 094634097123) adds the live perfor-

mance of “Whatever Gets You through the Night” with Elton John, an

alternate take of “Nobody Loves You When You’re Down and Out,”

and a brief in-house promotional interview for the album with Lennon.

Rock
’
N
’
Roll.
John Lennon vocals, guitar, piano; various assisting instrumentalists and vocalists. “Be-Bop-A-Lula” (Tex Davis, Gene Vincent);

“Stand by Me” (Ben E. King, Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller); Medley: “Ready

Teddy” (Otis Blackwell, John Marascalco), “Rip It Up” (Otis Blackwell,

John Marascalco); “You Can’t Catch Me” (Chuck Berry); “Ain’t That a

Shame” (Antoine “Fats” Domino, Dave Bartholomew); “Do You Want

To Dance” (Bobby Freeman); “Sweet Little Sixteen” (Chuck Berry);

“Slippin’ and Slidin’” (Richard Penniman, Edwin J. Bocage, Albert Col-

lins, James Smith); “Peggy Sue” (Buddy Holly, Jerry Allison, Norman

Petty); Medley: “Bring It on Home to Me” (Sam Cooke), “Send Me

Some Lovin’” (John Marascalco, Lloyd Price); “Bony Moronie” (Larry

Williams); “Ya Ya” (Morgan Robinson, Lee Dorsey, Clarence Lewis); “Just

Because” (Lloyd Price). 331⁄3-rpm phonodisc. Apple SK-3419, 1975. A

2004 reissue on compact disc (Capitol 724387432925) added “Angel

Baby,” “To Know Her Is To Love Her,” “Since My Baby Left Me,” and

a reprise of “Just Because.”

128    Discography

Shaved Fish.
John Lennon vocals, guitar, piano; various assisting instrumen-

talists and vocalists. Medley: “Give Peace a Chance” (Lennon, Paul

McCartney), “Cold Turkey” (Lennon); “Instant Karma!” (Lennon);

“Power to the People” (Lennon); “Mother” (Lennon); “Woman Is

the Nigger of the World” (Lennon, Yoko Ono); “Imagine” (Lennon);

“Whatever Gets You through the Night” (Lennon); “Mind Games”

(Lennon); “#9 Dream” (Lennon); Medley: “Happy Xmas (War Is

Over)” (Yoko Ono, Lennon), “Give Peace a Chance” (reprise) (Len-

non, Paul McCartney). 331⁄3-rpm phonodisc. Capitol SW-3421, 1975.

Reissued on compact disc as Capitol 077774664226. Consists of previ-

ously released material.

Double Fantasy: A Heart Play.
John Lennon vocals, guitar, piano; Yoko Ono

vocals; various assisting instrumentalists and vocalists. “(Just Like) Start-

ing Over” (Lennon); “Kiss Kiss Kiss” (Yoko Ono); “Cleanup Time”

(Lennon); “Give Me Something” (Yoko Ono); “I’m Losing You”

(Lennon); “I’m Moving On” (Yoko Ono); “Beautiful Boy (Darling

Boy)” (Lennon); “Watching the Wheels” (Lennon); “Yes, I’m Your

Angel” (Yoko Ono); “Woman” (Lennon); “Beautiful Boys” (Yoko

Ono); “Dear Yoko” (Lennon); “Every Man Has a Woman Who Loves

Him” (Yoko Ono); “Hard Times Are Over” (Yoko Ono). 331⁄3-rpm pho-

nodisc. Geffen GHS-2001, 1980. A reissue on compact disc (Capitol

724352873920) added a Lennon home demo titled “Help Me To Help

Myself,” Ono’s “Walking on Thin Ice,” and the “Central Park Stroll”

dialogue Ono had used as the introduction to her composition “It Hap-

pened,” the original flip side of “Walking on Thin Ice.”

The John Lennon Collection.
John Lennon vocals, guitar, piano; various assist-

ing instrumentalists and vocalists. “Give Peace a Chance” (Lennon,

Paul McCartney); “Instant Karma!” (Lennon); “Power to the People”

(Lennon); “Whatever Gets You through the Night” (Lennon); “#9

Dream” (Lennon); “Mind Games” (Lennon); “Love” (Lennon); “Happy

Xmas (War Is Over)” (Yoko Ono, Lennon); “Imagine” (Lennon); “Jeal-

ous Guy” (Lennon); “Stand by Me” (Ben E. King, Jerry Leiber, Mike

Stol er); “(Just Like) Starting Over” (Lennon); “Woman” (Lennon); “I’m

Losing You” (Lennon); “Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)” (Lennon); “Watch-

ing the Wheels” (Lennon); “Dear Yoko” (Lennon); “Move over Ms. L”

(Lennon); “Cold Turkey” (Lennon). 331⁄3-rpm phonodisc. Geffen GHSP-

2023, 1982. Reissued on compact disc as Capitol C2–91516. Consists of

previously released material.

Milk and Honey: A Heart Play.
John Lennon vocals, guitar; piano; Yoko Ono

vocals, piano; various assisting instrumentalists and vocalists. “I’m Step-

ping Out” (Lennon); “Sleepless Night” (Yoko Ono); “I Don’t Wanna

Face It” (Lennon); “Don’t Be Scared” (Yoko Ono); “Nobody Told Me”

(Lennon); “O’Sanity” (Yoko Ono); “Borrowed Time” (Lennon); “Your

Hands” (Yoko Ono); “(Forgive Me) My Little Flower Princess” (Lennon);

Discography    129

“Let Me Count the Ways” (Yoko Ono); “Grow Old with Me” (Lennon);

“You’re the One” (Yoko Ono). 331⁄3-rpm phonodisc Polydor 817–160–1;

compact disc Polydor 817–160–2, 1984. A reissue on compact disc in

2001 (Capitol CDP 7243535959 20) added Lennon’s lead vocal version

of “Every Man Has A Woman Who Loves Him,” demo versions of “Step-