John Lennon solo remasters to be released in October 2010

Eight digitally remastered solo albums by John Lennon are to be re-released in October, alongside three special compilations, to coincide with what would have been the singer’s 70th birthday.

In this very special year, which would have seen my husband and life partner John reach the age of 70, I hope that this remastering / reissue programme will help bring his incredible music to a whole new audience. By remastering 121 tracks spanning his solo career, I hope also that those who are already familiar with John’s work will find renewed inspiration from his incredible gifts as a songwriter, musician and vocalist and from his power as a commentator on the human condition. His lyrics are as relevant today as they were when they were first written and I can think of no more apposite title for this campaign than those simple yet direct words ‘Gimme Some Truth’.

The eight albums have been digitally remastered from the original mixes, and will be issued as part of a worldwide campaign called Gimme Some Truth. The titles are: John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band (1970), Imagine (1971), Some Time In New York City (1972), Mind Games (1973), Walls And Bridges (1974), Rock ‘N’ Roll (1975), Double Fantasy (1980) and the posthumously-released Milk And Honey (1984).

Double Fantasy has been remixed by Yoko Ono and producer Jack Douglas. The new ‘Stripped Down’ version will be part of a two-CD set.

Double Fantasy Stripped Down really allows us to focus our attention on John’s amazing vocals. Technology has advanced so much that, conversely, I wanted to use new techniques to really frame these amazing songs and John’s voice as simply as possible. By stripping down some of the instrumentation the power of the songs shines through with an enhanced clarity.

The albums have been digitally remastered from Lennon’s original mixes by Ono and a team of engineers led by Allan Rouse at EMI’s Abbey Road Studios in London and by George Marino at Avatar Studios in New York. Each of the remastered titles will be packaged in digipack sleeves with original album art and will feature booklets with photos and new liner notes by Paul Du Noyer.

There will also be a deluxe 11 CD collector’s box set titled John Lennon Signature Box, containing the remastered albums plus previously unreleased rarities and non-album singles. The box will include a limited edition print of a Lennon artwork, and a hardback book including photographs, poetry, artwork, and liner notes by Anthony DeCurtis.

A four-CD set of themed discs titled Gimme Some Truth will also be issued, containing 72 songs on the themes of Roots (Lennon’s rock ‘n’ roll roots and influences), Working Class Hero (socio-political songs), Woman (love songs) and Borrowed Time (songs about life). It will include liner notes by DeCurtis and rare photographs.

A 15-song best-of collection titled Power To The People: The Hits completes the reissue programme. It will be available as a single CD, digital download, and an Experience Edition with additional content.

The project will be launched in 4 October 2010 in most countries, and the following day in North America. The remastered tracks will also be available as digital downloads.