The Collection. On tape, taped off vinyl, which I acquired very early in 1981 - quel surprise. But in my defence I had already requested (Just Like) Starting Over as a Christmas present before 8 December.
It's actually the only John Lennon album I own, although I have a fair few Beatles albums.
Al of the tracks are at least pleasant to listen to. The album as a whole is greater than merely the sum of its parts.
It was a truly fascinating listening experience. I read something a few days ago where someone offered an opinion that he never listens to pop music these days because he has found that it has nothing new to say him after all these years. I find this an interesting point of view, but not one that I can share.
I have never been a mad keen John Lennon fan. I could go all intellectually and pointy-eared and discuss how he explored different roads. But that's not me. Instead I will point that half of this album contains some really very good songs - Mind Games, Love, Imagine, Jealous Guy, (Just Like) Starting Over , Woman and I'm Losing You.
What makes them good songs?
Well, obviously, in the end it's just my opinion - ie I like them...!
I suppose it's that each of these songs (except Imagine) is remarkably personal - John Lennon is writing these about his life, his experience, his emotions.
Yet the words speak very directly to me, either because of my direct experience or because I recognise the truth in them. I can imagine that they speak universally and yet they are never anything but personal. That is just the words, but in each case the music is apt for the words echoing the mood of the words. A perfect partnership.
Imagine is not a personal song, and I know that there are people who regard it with this the utmost cynicism - a multi-millionaire singing "Imagine no possesions..." But, actually, for me, it's the melancholy piano line that really gets me each time. In that strange winter of 1980/1 my sister said that it modulates. What's that, I asked. It changes key, she told me. And I still believe it to be one of the most poignant key changes in music.
Unfortunately, these great songs are sandwiched by a fair few shrug numbers that rather deter me from playing the album more frequently.
