Product Description

In the five years following the break-up of the Beatles, John Lennon established himself as a critically and commercially successful solo artist in addition to dealing with a number of private and public tribulations. Lennon eventually released ROCK'N'ROLL, a batch of covers ranging the gamut of early rock classics from the '50s and '60s. Lennon threw himself lovingly into this project that hearkened back to the simpler times of being a teenager smitten with the sounds of Chuck Berry and Little Richard (both of whom are represented on this record), light years away from any kind of political statements.
Dr. Winston O'Boogie was in full effect whether applying a slight reggae beat to "Stand By Me" and "Do You Want To Dance" or using a pounding piano and honking saxophone to fine effect on "Ain't That A Shame". Unbridled joy can be heard in Lennon's swinging reading of "Slippin' And Slidin'" and within the yelps punctuating Larry Williams' silly "Bony Moronie".

Track Listing

1. Be-Bop-A-Lula
2. Stand By Me
3. Rip It Up/Ready Teddy
4. You Can't Catch Me
5. Ain't That A Shame
6. Do You Want To Dance
7. Sweet Little Sixteen
8. Slippin' And Slidin'
9. Peggy Sue
10. Bring It On Home To Me/Send Me Some Lovin'
11. Bony Moronie
12. Ya Ya
13. Just Because
14. Angel Baby
15. To Know Her Is To Love Her
16. Since My Baby Left Me
17. Just Because (Reprise)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5195 in Music
• Released on: 2004-09-27
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered

Customer Reviews

Good album
For an album that is made up of mostly demo's and John having fun in the record studio while recording earlier albums, this is actually very good and sounds like it came out of a proper session!

As said, this album was made up of songs John recorded between Sessions during the "Mind games" and "Walls and Bridges" sessions, two different style albums, but what he saw as having fun from those sessions, results in this album that really grows on you, and takes you back to the VERY early Beatles sessions!

Mostly a Great Album
Apparently this album was John's attempt to be 'just a musician' and let the producer treat him as the singer. However, when the producer was Phil Spector being difficult, this didn't turn out to be a good idea. Only four Spector produced songs made it to the finished record and John had to arrange and produce the rest.

I have to admit to hating Do You Wanna Dance and the Rip it Up medley, but the rest is great. You Can't Catch Me and Stand By Me are marvellous.

I like the extra tracks on the new CD release, but the packaging is pathetic: no musician credits or liner notes and only a thin bit of folded paper. OK, the LP had even less information on it, but a nice package does add value and many people may like to know the story behind the music. However, the cover features one of the best ever photos of John, so one can't complain.

Apparently the musicians were the same ones who played on Walls and Bridges, including Jesse Ed Davis and Jim Keltner.

John's singing on Just Because, when he was in effect saying goodbye to the music business, is a real highlight. But, it closed the original album and should also have closed this one. (A similar thing was done with John Lennon/POB, which should have closed with My Mummy's Dead, but in its new form, closes with Do the Oz, which doesn't make sense).

The album came out at the same time as other 'oldies' collections such as The Band's Moondog Matinee, Bowie's Pin Ups and Bryan Ferry's These Foolish Things (I think) but this beats them for sheer authenticity and honesty. And enjoyment.

Highly recommended.

John Lennon's Youth
A must have in any Serious collector of John's material. These covers of tracks he grew up with are covered perfectly. Had on LP which sounds great... what with the remastering on the CD his voice and style live on.