Meditation Mixes
Nine remixes of the song ‘Mind Games’ were released in 2024, initially on the Lumenate app and later as a triple vinyl set and on streaming services.
The mixes were initially launched on the app on 1 May, and the vinyl and streaming versions followed on 11 October.
Mind Games will also be celebrated this year in several innovative ways. Sean Ono Lennon and The John Lennon Estate have partnered with the consciousness-expanding psychedelic meditation phone app, Lumenate, to exclusively release nine reimagined Meditation Mixes of “Mind Games.” The newly transformed mixes have been designed (in combination with the frequencies of light from the Lumenate app) to put the listener in a relaxed, meditative state, to help guide your mind into deeper states of consciousness.Various sound design techniques and processes have been applied to the original 1973 two-inch multitrack recordings, and in some cases have been enhanced with additional instrumentation from producer Sean Ono Lennon.
The Lumenate app uses the flashlight on the back of one’s smartphone strobed at research-driven frequencies onto a person’s closed eyes to neurologically guide them into a state of consciousness between that of deep meditation and psychedelics.
Each of the nine Meditation Mixes has been paired with a unique, deeply immersive light sequence, using carefully selected flicker frequencies to accompany the mind-and-mood-altering sound. These singular, mind-altering sequences elevate the musical journey, deepen the sense of relaxation, and allow users to see, hear and feel the music like never before.
The “Mind Games” Meditation Mixes launched May 1st, as part of Mental Health Awareness Month. The experience is available for free, exclusively via the Lumenate app.
You might say meditation is the ultimate mind game. These very abstract interpretations will hopefully assist you in exploring your ‘Innerverse’. I was both thrilled and surprised when UMG said they wanted to make a vinyl edition. This part of the Mind Games project evolved spontaneously and feels like it is sprinkled with just the right amount of good vibes and fairy dust. (Effects may vary).
To create MIND GAMES (Meditation Mixes), various sound design techniques and processes have been applied to the original 1973 two-inch multitrack recordings, and in some cases have been enhanced with additional instrumentation from Sean Ono Lennon, son of John Lennon and Yoko Ono Lennon. They were mixed and engineered by Sam Gannon with additional recording engineered by Scott Holingsworth.MIND GAMES (Meditation Mixes) create their own space while maintaining firm, authentic roots in John Lennon’s original recording of the original song. Each of the nine mixes has been radically altered, slowed down and extended, ranging from 5 to 10 to upwards of 23 minutes, allowing for the musical soundtrack to wash over the listener and provide a relaxing, immersive, deep listening and meditative experience. Four of the tracks are presented as Binaural versions that each focus on different types of brain waves: Beta, Delta, Gamma, and Theta.
Dubbed ‘Mind’, ‘Space’, ‘Spirit’, and ‘Love’, these tracks feature a Binaural Beat, an auditory illusion created within the brain when the left and right ears hear two slightly different frequencies whose difference is perceived as a new frequency which can activate different brain patterns for scientifically proven therapeutic effects. Beta waves occur when thinking, Delta waves are produced when completely relaxed in deep sleep, Gamma waves are associated with high levels of thought and focus, and Theta waves are produced while sleeping or daydreaming.
The vinyl version had three crystal-clear discs. Side six contained nine mantras which were on locked grooves, meaning they played indefinitely when the needle hit the groove.
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.
When I first listened to MIND GAMES 45 years ago when I was 17 I felt the only 2 tracks that were decent were MIND GAMES & TIGHT A$. I LOVE 6 SONGS on the album it is not as good as Plastic ono band, Imagine or even Walls & BRIDGES. It’s the melodies I find very good. Examples are IM SORRY YOKO, ONE DAY AT A TIME, OUT OF BLUE, YOU ARE HERE MIND GAMES & TIGHT A$.
So it has 6 tracks that I can enjoy over and over the rest I just can’t listen to.