Cover artwork
John Lennon designed the artwork for Mind Games himself. The front cover pictured him alone in a wilderness, overshadowed by a mountain-sized rendering of Yoko Ono. The meaning was obvious: he was adrift without Ono, although her influence was still the dominant force in his life.I think I really needed some space because I was used to being an artist and free and all that, and when I got together with John, because we’re always in the public eye, I lost the freedom. And also, both of us were together all the time, twenty-four hours a day. And the pressure was particularly strong on me because of being the one who stole John Lennon from the public or something… Whatever the reason is, I was under very strong pressure and I think my artwork suffered. I suffered a lot and so I thought I want to be free from all that. I needed the space to think. So I thought it would be a good idea that he would go to LA and just leave me alone for a while.
All We Are Saying, David Sheff
The image also featured two suns were in the sky, symbolising the spirits of the pair. The same image was repeated on the rear cover, but with Lennon’s figure slightly larger and with a rainbow in place of the suns.
The release
In contrast to Some Time In New York City, Mind Games was well received by the public. In the United States it peaked at number nine on the Billboard 200, was certified gold, and spent 31 weeks on the chart.
The album reached number 13 in the United Kingdom, and was also certified gold in May 1974. Mind Games was in the UK album chart for a total of 12 weeks.
Tony King, who worked as a promotions executive for Apple Records in Los Angeles, encouraged Lennon to give several print and radio interviews in support of the album.
While he had been with Yoko he had been involved with all these semi-subversive activities, which had not given him a great reputation in America. He said to me at the time, ‘Look, I’ve got this album, what do you think I should do?’ I said, ‘Honestly, you’ve got to go out and make a few friends, because you’ve lost a bit of support because you’ve been involved with things of a controversial nature.’ So he said, ‘Fine, you organise it, I’ll do it.’ And he did.
Lennon And McCartney Together Alone, John Blaney
Mind Games was released in November 1973. The following month, Lennon and May Pang left New York for Los Angeles, where they remained until June 1974. Their spell on the West Coast saw Lennon embrace a drink-fuelled lifestyle which led to the often chaotic sessions for Walls And Bridges and Rock ‘N’ Roll. In comparison, the backdrop to Mind Games looked positively tranquil.
Yoko’s Approximately Infinite Universe was recorded in late 1972 and released in January 1973, which was several months before the move from Greenwich Village to the Dakota.
I bought the vinyl in 1973 when it came out, then the cd, and thought ” Do I need another copy?” YES is the answer ! Much louder and clearer sound, especially Tracks such as MEAT CITY , you can HEAR the lyrics now , and the guitars sound loud and ROCK just as they should !
When Mind Games came out , alot had happened since the two years following Imagine . John and Yoko had left Britain for New York , ” Some Time in New York City ” had alienated alot of people ( not me , I thought it was honest , and good in parts) . John was living apart from Yoko. Had alot of women in England forgiven John for splitting up with Cynthia ? I felt, at the time, everyone was suddenly going to give John some back lash . A lot of friends thought Mind Games was okay , not great , and its sort of suffered from that ever since.
Mind games as a song and a single was excellent , it should have got a much better chart position than it did . The next track “Tight A$” is a Tex Mex Rocky track with great humour in the lyrics , and the famous Lennon laugh . Another highlight is Aisumasen , an apology to Yoko, sung superbly , with an excellent guitar solo. “Out Of The Blue” build from an acoustic start to a full blown band climax with excellent lyrics . ” Bring On The Lucie ” is a “lost gem ” , ” Right Boys, this is it, over the Hill!” Heart on the sleeve, as always , some one had to say something , great biting lyrics .
” You Are Here ” is a complete contrast with its lyrics on meeting a woman from Japan , cultural differences , and original . “Only People ” does sound a bit steeped in slogans these days, but does have its moments . ” Intuition” sounds quite bland, which is rare for JL . Never liked “One Day ( at a time )” sung in falsetto for Yoko, still sounds no better .
The new cd comes in a fine package now, with new photos and drawings . The bonus tracks are home versions for Aisumasen , Bring On The Lucie and Meat City .
Well worth buying !
It was inevitable that critics were going to measure Mind Games against his POB and Imagine albums expecting it to be on a par with them, which was a tall order for him. As with other arts music is borne out of the mood of the creator at the time not to mention the context and circumstance. The music while excellent in places does in general convey a lacklustre atmosphere
This is a good summation of this album. Everytime I listen to it I can still hear good songs performed without real spirit. The homogenous sound is perhaps the greatest drag. The background singers are, for lack of a better word, wrong. John’s affectation for using echo on his voice is abused and, frankly, unnecessary. When I first heard collection this I had a sneaking suspicion that John might be losing his voice or at the very least the ability to put ‘balls’ into his delivery. As I understand it, John produced this himself but another person had to follow and clean up John’s raggedness. Each song is quite good and given some energy and, yes, confidence along with a more skilled producer this could have been a really great set.
After the critics savaged Lennon for Sometime In New York City,it appears that John didn’t want to offend anyone with Mind Games. I would like to know where you read the story that someone else(?)cleaned up the album.
Perhaps he’s alluding to Yoko’s remastered re-release? She did in fact boost a lot of the levels, and improved some separation as well. Sounds really good. The she re-released the original mix as well. But I also think some of the “sound” issues are due to the pressing. Which was very shitty during that time. Capital in American mostly had very shitty pressings. The Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab pressing of Mind Games is magical. Wonderful. This is a gem of an album when heard well.
Unfortunately, this was not something I’d read. Back in the ’70s I was considered one of the regions ‘Beatle experts’ and almost landed a radio program. Naturally the general knowledge of the Beatles was limited, but some of us had access to music insiders, etc. Anyway, this alleged tale of producers on ‘Mind Games’ reared its head during a kind of round-table tete-a-tete. I tried to get confirmation from more reputable sources and was able to get one to reluctantly confirm the claim. I’ll see if I can land real confirmation. As I understood it then, this ‘other producer’ essentially cleaned it up somewhat like ‘Let It Be’ was cleaned, only there were no Phil Spector-like intrusions or embellishments. As for me, I am good with John being the only producer. But when I compare this collection with ‘Walls And Bridges’ I have to say that John really improved in the time between the two.
Meanwhile, I agree with your position. Despite John’s public persona, he really really was concerned with what people thought. ‘Mind Games’ was an attempt to be less offensive, but he ended up becoming lost and undistinguished amongst the other music of the time.
Since John produced most of his first solo album by himself, Lennon had to let Spector know that work had begun by posting an advert in Billboard, I am sceptical of anyone else producing or overseeing Mind Games.
May Pang and the musicians on the album have never mentioned another producer taking hand in the making of the album. I am looking forward to your update.
John was more focused for Walls and Bridges and spent more time on it, and had produced (Pussy Cats) as well in the interim between Mind Games and Walls And Bridges.
Also Jack Douglas was very involved in Walls and Bridges.
Mind Games like Walls and Bridges were my two least favourite John lennon albums, certainly a few good songs but MG was under produced as WaB was over produced…docsmith
One of my fav’ albums. Songs like “You are here” “Out the Blue” “Aisumasen (I’m Sorry)” “Tight A$” “Bring on the Lucie” …. Incredible. The dynamics and colors. Spinozza’s guitar, Ascher’s keyboards. Edwards’ bass lines are so groovy and entwine beautifully with the harmonic elements. I’ve heard many people complaining about this album and i just don’t get it. Maybe it has some production issues, like some have mentioned, but the overall production I think suits the songs perfectly. It’s another side of Lennon. Upbeat and aggressive at moments, meditative and sublime at others, this album is full of surprises. It’s a very interesting journey … in my opinion, in the same level as Imagine and Plastic Ono Band.
right mike50! i agree with what youve written…
I agree mike50! I love this album and think the songs are strong, despite some production issues, which have more to do with the studio techniques and mores of the day (which John may have been inexperienced in, particularly as he was trying to “layer” instruments a la Spector). The remixes improve the aural experience immensely, espacially on Meat City!
I have been labouring under the misapprehension that Jesse Ed Davis played on this album, particularly the solo on Aiseumasen – hats off the David Spinozza for one of all-time favourite solos. You are Here is great, despite the Hawaiian guitars and the conceit of building ‘Rising Sun’ to ‘Surprising Sun’, to ‘Morning Star’ is just wonderful word play. Tight A$ has to be one of his most under-rated rockers and, agai, chapeau to Spinozza, although I am sure John takes at least two of the solos.
Roll on John!
Dark?
i with mike50 on this one, i like this album. it’s says more than most. wilderness = the blues, alone = the blues. it’s john lennon,
For New York fans: Would like to know the exact place in Central Park where John appears walking in the beginning and end of the video clip “Mind Games”. Only a New Yorker who lived in the seventies would know. I think it should be close to the zoo or Naumberg bandshell. Please help me with that folks. 🙂
You Are Here is one of his best songs. It is a beautiful love song to Yoko. I just listened to it 10 times on YouTube. The background singers are perfect! Who are the background singers? I haven’t gone to dig out my album to read who they are and I can’t seem to find it online.
I would like to know who was referring John in the inner sleeve with: “Disease by Dennis” Does anyone know who is Dennis and why he called him disease?
Are there hidden faces in the clouds on the album cover?
The song Mind Games is one of my favorite John Lennon songs, it has a soaring beauty. Like #9 Dream off Walls and Bridges ,which is magical, it is a song only John Lennon could have written. Out The Blue is a great song. Overall a underrated album during a transitional period in Lennons life.
Yes. The title track Mind Games is a wonderful song, and one of his best solo efforts. Tight As is a take off on Cripped Inside…Meat City a take off on New York City.
The songs ranged from aimless fillers :Intuition… hahaha…. stops reading
Tweeze you’re totally right, some good songs massacred in the production process. The background vocals are awful and there are too many layers making everything sound messy. Add to that some of the lyrics are embarrassing:”When I’m down, really Yin,” and “We don’t want no pig brother scene,” very New York, very pretentious. Now if he had done this album in England with George Martin and left Yoko in the US, it would have been a different story!
I read somewhere many years ago that John Lennon heard the song Whiter Shade of Pale by Procol Harum on the radio in the backseat of a car and he liked the song very much. Then lateron, the Mind Games song came out and it’s basically the same chords and structure. Anyone else notice thator hear that story?
Whiter Shade of Pale was a top song that both Paul and John were digging! Several interviews by both Paul and John mention their love for the song. McCartney first heard it at the Bag of Nails when he met Linda I believe…
A strange under appreciated gem. Lennon was a bit lost yet focused on taking control of his music. Away from Yoko, and so what do you do? You produce it yourself! And being typically pretty lazy and impatient, we have some interesting choices on this album. At first glance some instances seem antiseptic from his typical grit. Especially, when you take it in the context of the gritty NYC funk of Sometime in New York City. Instead of the haphazard Elephants Memory, he chooses to get slick session dudes. He want to up the game, and I wonder if listening to Paul McCartney production spurned him to go that route. Competition always was part of their dance. I really feel the when you get a good source for Mind Games you have a much more enjoyable experience. The Capital pressing is horrid. As was much of their pressings in the 70s. The master is so low. Yet, listen to the Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab pressing and it is a revelation. I must admit too, Yoko’s master was well done. Much more clarity, boosted levels, and more clean.
So yeah a much slicker commercial album with many of Lennon’s hard edges a bit polished. I think Mind Games was the template he used when doing Double Fantasy. Albeit, Yoko on board. So while many critics and fans were dismayed with the slicker side of Lennon, this album is a deep interesting ride. There is some incredible beauty here. You are Here, Aisumasen (I’m Sorry) and Mind Games. Those tracks elevate this to an very beautifully introspective album. Liberation? Surely not Arthur Janov here! Lennon is on a twist and twirl.
Furthermore you have some very well done commercial rock. I Know and Out of the Blue are classic Lennon! Truly great vocals, lyrics and some very inspiring catchy musicianship. And some great creatively melodic hooks! This is classic Lennon in so many ways. I also, take umbrage implying Bring on Lucie is hamfisted, I it is a mature more accessible protest. Same theme as Sometime in NYC, yet far more well crafted (albeit, Woman is the N—-r of the World is a great hard hitting rock protest song!).
There are so many layers in this album. A more mature and measured shot of Lennon’s twist. Yet still surrealistic and beautiful word plays full of beauty and wonder. I suspect it would be rated higher if it came out in 1980 and on a good vinyl pressing…
I always thought Out The Blue was absolutely beautiful as an acoustic number, but went off course with the second part. In my view, that’s one of those instances where he could have used input from Paul to add a melodic bridge to go with the first verses. To me it sounds like two different ideas he stitched together, (like A Day in the Loft) but it doesn’t flow as easily.