Rock ‘N’ Roll, the sixth and final studio album by John Lennon before his five-year retirement into househusbandry, was a collection of cover versions of 1950s and early 1960s songs recorded during the legendary Lost Weekend. It was released in the United States on 17 February 1975.
It was rush-released in February 1975 in an attempt to limit the damage caused by Roots, an unofficial collection issued by Morris Levy during the fall-out from a plagiarism case.
Sales of Rock ‘N’ Roll were slow, with the vogue for nostalgia having largely ended with David Bowie’s Pin Ups and Bryan Ferry’s These Foolish Things, both issued in 1973.
The album reached number six in the UK following its release on 21 February 1975, spending a total of 25 weeks on the chart.
In the US it peaked at number six on the album chart. Capitol’s first pressing for Rock ‘N’ Roll was for just 2,444 LPs and 500 8-track cartridges.
A single, ‘Stand By Me’/‘Move Over Ms L’, sold moderately well, but peaked at number 20 in the US and 30 in the UK. Promotional copies of a second single, ‘Ain’t That A Shame’/‘Slippin’ And Slidin”, were sent to radio stations, but it was never released.
Also released in late 1973 there was Moondog Matinee by the Band.
Truth be told, the best thing about this album is the front cover photo. I’d’ve much rather heard John perform these songs back in the Cavern Club/Hamburg days.
John sounds like he’s low energy and/or not really interested in this nostalgia project. Where was the John Lennon who belted out rockers like Barrett Strong’s “Money (That’s What I Want)” and Larry Williams’ “Slow Down” back in the Beatles days?