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11.13am
31 March 2008
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Recorded: 13 September 1969
Producers: John Lennon, Yoko Ono
Released: 12 December 1969
John Lennon: vocals, electric guitar
Yoko Ono: vocals
Eric Clapton: backing vocals, electric guitar
Klaus Voormann: bass guitar
Alan White: drums
Tracklisting:
Blue Suede Shoes
Money (That’s What I Want)
Dizzy Miss Lizzy
Yer Blues
Cold Turkey
Give Peace A Chance
Don’t Worry Kyoko (Mummy’s Only Looking For Her Hand…
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5.17am
22 December 2013
Offline Hadn’t listened to this one for quite some time now but rediscovered it recently during my annual early-December celebrations of John’s life… Great performances, especially considering the circumstances surrounding the event… For one, it sounds as though this was about as “last minute” as one could get with staging something like this and that spontaneity is what ultimately fueled the high octane show… Accounts of John hastily throwing together the band in the 11th hour and having them rehearse on the plane over make for a Great Rock ‘N’ Roll Story… this was a Rock ‘N’ Roll happening after all…
Another factor here, which some may not know about, is apparently John was very ill en route and during the gig… There were stories of him vomiting profusely backstage… It’s unclear whether this was because John was suffering from heroin withdrawal or simply because of nerves, with this being the first live performance by a Beatle in awhile… He does indeed look a little pale during the film and it’s to his credit that he delivers on all of the songs selected in such heavy fashion:
The Get Back Sessions in January clearly had an influence on John here as he returns to his roots… He’s still a Beatle on this night, seemingly rebelling against the gloss of ‘Abbey Road ‘ that the others ultimately opted for… Too bad that they didn’t play ‘The Ballad of John & Yoko’, it would’ve been heavy as hell…:-)
10.46am
18 April 2013
Offline It’s a great performance/film. The free-form Yoko pieces are the best, in my opinion. Way ahead of their time. I love seeing John and Eric creating feedback and noise together. It’s clear that bands like Sonic Youth saw John and Yoko as a big influence.
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Von Bontee"If you're ever in the shit, grab my tit.” —Paul McCartney
3.05pm
26 January 2017
Offline I agree that its a great show. While I like the throwback and new John songs more than the Yoko bits, Yoko is better here than she is on Sometime In N.Y.
Just like in the Decca auditions, John’s vocal on Money really shines.
"The pump don't work cause the vandals took the handles!"
-Bob Dylan, Subterranean Homesick Blues
"We could ride and surf together while our love would grow"
-Brian Wilson, Surfer Girl
12.26am
22 December 2013
Offline 
Something that’s become lost throughout the various Beatles’ 50th Anniversary celebrations recently passed, or looming large ahead, is the half century marking of this legendary performance by John & Yoko, Klaus Voorman, Eric Clapton with drummer Alan White, who recently reminisced about the show in ‘Rolling Stone’ magazine https://www.rollingstone.com/m…..-804823/ …:-)
10.08am
26 January 2017
Offline It’s so awesome to hear John doing updated versions of the earlier Beatles songs, especially with a band that talented. I agree with @Expert Textpert ‘s earlier point that bands like Sonic Youth owe a lot to this sort of thing.
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Von BonteeI've been up on the mountain, and I've seen his wondrous grace,
I've sat there on the barstool and I've looked him in the face.
He seemed a little haggard, but it did not slow him down,
he was humming to the neon of the universal sound.
1.29pm
14 December 2009
Offline I definitely appreciate Clapton heavying up “Lizzie”, using that repetitious guitar lick as a takeoff point rather than just playing it straight up every bar. On the whole, though, I don’t think the renditions on Side One are really inspired.
I agree with ET that Yoko’s side is the more interesting of the two. No doubt she thought up the cover concept, too!
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Expert TextpertPaul: Yeah well… first of all, we’re bringing out a ‘Stamp Out Detroit’ campaign.
1.42pm
26 January 2017
Offline Maybe the renditions aren’t inspired, exactly, but it’s satisfying to hear them played with better equipment and John’s more ragged vocal style.
The following people thank QuarryMan for this post:
Von BonteeI've been up on the mountain, and I've seen his wondrous grace,
I've sat there on the barstool and I've looked him in the face.
He seemed a little haggard, but it did not slow him down,
he was humming to the neon of the universal sound.
8.33pm
22 December 2013
Offline QuarryMan said
Maybe the renditions aren’t inspired, exactly
I dunno… comparing this show with the “uninspired” Rooftop Gig previously makes me wonder… ‘Yer Blues ‘ rips it all to shreds… no wonder they waited so long for ‘Let It Be ‘ to be released… this was the show that never was… the ‘Plastic Ono Band’ really took off here… John was in rare form on this night, as was his supporting cast…:-)
1.48am
17 October 2013
Offline Von Bontee said
I agree with ET that Yoko’s side is the more interesting of the two. No doubt she thought up the cover concept, too!
You’re ‘aving a laugh. Yoko’s caterwauling is unlistenable.
I nearly bought this album several times….listening as you could in those days in a little booth in ‘One Stop Records’ on Oxford street. Although I really wanted John and Eric’s contribution I couldn’t justify spending the little money I had on half a record.
8.02am
18 April 2013
Offline Not laughing at all. If you watch the video of the performance, what John and Eric doing during the Yoko pieces is fascinating. They are clearly creating the future. Some of us are only able to live in the past, I guess.
"If you're ever in the shit, grab my tit.” —Paul McCartney
8.14am
18 April 2013
Offline Yoko and John’s work together was a clear influence on noise rock bands like Sonic Youth, as evidenced by this album recorded with Yoko (as a nod to her influence) just before Sonic Youth broke up.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wik…..imthurston
Those who blind themselves with hatred of Yoko rob themselves of hearing John’s best guitar work.
"If you're ever in the shit, grab my tit.” —Paul McCartney
9.29am
22 December 2013
Offline Expert Textpert said
Those who blind themselves with hatred of Yoko rob themselves of hearing John’s best guitar work.
been down this road before… because someone is of the opinion that “Yoko’s caterwauling is unlistenable” doesn’t equate to “hatred of Yoko”… “John’s best guitar work” isn’t even audible most of the time because of her singing… this was a Rock ‘N’ Roll Revival concert not an Avant Garde Exhibition, something for those “of us are only able to live in the past”… atleast they had the sense to leave it for the end so people had the opportunity to exit without missing out on what they’d paid for, or kept it on one side of the record so it could easily be avoided… supposedly the musicians walked off of the stage as well… I have tremendous respect for Yoko Ono as a human being, but I can’t stand the sound of her wailing (perhaps “whaling” would be more appropriate) and even “John’s best guitar work” doesn’t make it listenable for me…:-)
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Wigwam9.39am
18 April 2013
Offline You seem to have missed something. Not sure how you could hear one of the greatest performances of John’s career and draw those conclusions.
This is what drives me away from Beatles fans.
I guess I’m glad John broke up The Beatles.
"If you're ever in the shit, grab my tit.” —Paul McCartney
11.46am
15 November 2018
Offline I’ve only heard a couple tracks but what I’ve heard, I’ve liked. Yer Blues was fabulous.
@Expert Textpert I’m intrigued, are any of Yoko’s tracks on YouTube?
Love one another.
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1.06pm
7 March 2019
Offline The video of the full concert is in the second post on this thread.
I watched the video before I knew about the album, so when I heard the album, it sounded very different (especially some tracks, like Yer Blues ).
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50yearslateIsn't he a bit like you and me?
2.55pm
26 January 2017
Offline I get where both sides are coming from in this debate. Maybe the concert wasn’t the appropriate place for the avant-garde aspects of what Yoko and John were doing, but it doesn’t stop the pieces themselves from being really cool, and definitely pointing the way to the future.
I've been up on the mountain, and I've seen his wondrous grace,
I've sat there on the barstool and I've looked him in the face.
He seemed a little haggard, but it did not slow him down,
he was humming to the neon of the universal sound.
5.11pm
18 April 2013
Offline 50yearslate said
I’ve only heard a couple tracks but what I’ve heard, I’ve liked. Yer Blues was fabulous.@Expert Textpert I’m intrigued, are any of Yoko’s tracks on YouTube?
There should be quite a few Yoko tracks on YouTube.
"If you're ever in the shit, grab my tit.” —Paul McCartney
5.15pm
18 April 2013
Offline Fireworks by Katy Perry is not one of them. People keep using that video of a performance and faking it so that it looks like Yoko is trying to cover different songs. This is done by Yoko haters who want you to think “Oh my God she can’t sing, she just screams.”
I bet 99% of the people on this forum have not heard even 10 Yoko songs.
"If you're ever in the shit, grab my tit.” —Paul McCartney
5.18pm
15 November 2018
Offline Expert Textpert said
50yearslate said
I’ve only heard a couple tracks but what I’ve heard, I’ve liked. Yer Blues was fabulous.
@Expert Textpert I’m intrigued, are any of Yoko’s tracks on YouTube?
There should be quite a few Yoko tracks on YouTube.
Right, I meant the ones (one?) from Live Peace In Toronto .
Expert Textpert said
Fireworks by Katy Perry is not one of them. People keep using that video of a performance and faking it so that it looks like Yoko is trying to cover different songs. This is done by Yoko haters who want you to think “Oh my God she can’t sing, she just screams.”
How rude.
I bet 99% of the people on this forum have not heard even 10 Yoko songs.
I’m afraid I’m one of the 99% but I do plan to change that. Any recommendations?
Love one another.
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