The first 'proper' show of the Lost Lennon Tapes aired in late January 1988. It commenced with Yoko explaining that the impetus behind the new radio series was to circulate the spirit of what John was about.
The theme of todays show was a look back at what was happening in John's life from previous Januarys. First up for a retrospective was the story behind the origin of Instant Karma. Elliot informs us that on 26 January 1970, John wrote, recorded, and mixed with Phil Spector the classic track. An excerpt discussing Instant Karma from the Peebles 1980 interview is followed by two versions of the song: an excerpt from the rehearsal for the 30 August August 1972 One to One benefit concert at Madison Square Garden, followed by the actual concert version.
The second segment of the show begins with a clip of Harry Nilsson singing Save The Last Dance For Me, a track from Nilsson's Pussycats album, produced by John in March-May 1974. This, we are informed, is when John's 'Lost Weekend' commenced, with John, Ringo, Keith Moon, and Nilsson all sharing a beach house in Santa Monica, California. The incident when John was ejected from the Troubadour is mentioned, followed by a clip from John's 1975 interview on the BBCs Old Grey Whistle Test with Bob Harris. In it he is discussing his life during this time. The Nilsson-related part of the show finishes with a brief airing of Nilsson's version of Mucho Mungo from Pussycats. Elliot informs us that John wrote, but never himself released this song. We do get to hear, though, the late 75/early 76 home demo of John accompanied by his acoustic guitar, complete with the noise of an infant Sean in the background distinctly audible.
Next up from John's career is late January 1971. The event is the publication in Rolling Stone magazine of the first of the two-part 'Lennon Remembers' interview with Jann Wenner. On todays show we are treated to several clips discussing John's love of rock n roll, the formation of The Beatles, Brian Epstein's death, John's view of the 'myth' of The Beatles, and how the dream is over. The recorded version of Working Class Hero follows.
Almost to the day ten years later Rolling Stone issues the interview in a Lennon commemorative issue, which went on to become the book 'The Ballad of John and Yoko' consisting of this main interview, and other pieces. The Beatle track of the same name follows.
We are next briefly given the information that John purchased a mansion in Palm Beach, Florida in January 1980, before moving onto a major event in The Beatles history - the final rooftop concert, in January 1969 in central London. This kicks off with Don't Let Me Down. Next a track from the archives is played - a Quarrymen rehearsal of One After 909 from the spring of 1960. The rooftop version plays after it. A segment from a 1976 interview of John by Elliot finds John saying how, behind the scenes, he believed the band to be over from January 1969. The look back over the rooftop concert ends on the show with an airing of Get Back.
The final section of the first show of The Lost Lennon Tapes begins with the news that the first major solo album release of John, John Lennon Plastic Ono Band, went gold in January 1971. We are informed that this was recorded following John's Primal Therapy therapy, where he tried to address the distressing periods in his life, notably his separation from his father at an early age, and the death of his mother. A clip of I Found Out plays, and the whole of Well Well Well. This is followed with the 1976 John/Elliott interview. John speaks of his regret at freezing his father out of his life in subsequent years, followed by an excerpt of Isolation. My Mummy's Dead follows, before the show ends with an early demo of God, before seamlessly morphing into the final recorded version.
And that was the first show of The Lost Lennon Tapes, running at its normal time of one hour (with ads).
No comments:
Post a Comment