Album of the Day #173: IMAGINE - John Lennon

Artist: John Lennon

Title: Imagine

Year: 1971

Label: Apple/EMI

Songs: Imagine/Crippled Inside/Jealous Guy/It's So Hard/I Don't Wanna Be A Soldier/Gimmie Some Truth/Oh My Love*/How Do You Sleep?/How?/Oh Yoko!

Written by: John Lennon, except *by John Lennon & Yoko Ono

Produced by: John & Yoko and Phil Spector

Thoughts: Despite the fact that the world reveres the title track, the album itself is not perfect. Its ten tracks are heavily produced, with Spector's "Wall of Sound" being more intrusive than on any other solo Beatle record he produced. It truly is amazing, considering the stripped down approach that we are all so thankful he gave John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band.

To me, the number one transgression is the over-use of strings. Hard, dirty blues songs like "It's So Hard" does not need strings. It completely wrecks the song. The only good thing that John did with Elephant's Memory was the rocked-out version of the song on Live In New York.

The best part of the record, though, is George Harrison's incredible solos. His solo in "How Do You Sleep?" is just breathtaking. (Thankfully it overtakes Spector's strings.) Then there's his dobro playing on "Crippled Inside".

John's songwriting is also at a peak here. He matured from the straightforward, emotional "laying-it-all-out" style of Plastic Ono Band to a more commercial style. You might think this doesn't work, but it results in songs like "How?" where you don't know whether the singer is emotionally lost or just in love. "Imagine" is "Give Peace A Chance", but without the silly mantra and "Gimmie Some Truth" is, like the Plastic Ono Band songs, blatant and in your face (plus, it's a perfect side two opener). "I Don't Wanna Be A Soldier" overstays its welcome a bit (it's kind of like Imagine's "Well Well Well"), but then there's "Oh My Love", probably one of John's best love songs.

All in all, I think Imagine does deserve to up there with the greats. It's not as good as Plastic Ono Band, but it gets the job done, despite being a mixed bag (a very good, incredibly awesome mixed bag).

Top 5 Worst Beatles Solo Albums

It's true that the Beatles, especially after they broke up, are not immortal. They made some serious mistakes after they separated, so this list is to celebrate their worst of the worst!

1. BAD BOY - Ringo Starr, 1978 - Of course, Ringo was going to get the top spot. There is nothing rewarding about listening to this album. From the terror of his "Where Did Our Love Go?" to the freak-show "Monkey See - Monkey Do". Maybe "Old Time Relovin'" is good, but one song does not make an album good.
2. PIPES OF PEACE - Paul McCartney, 1982 - At some point of your career, you have to make a truly unlistenable album. Paul came close throughout the 1970's with Wings, but at least Wild Life came with a few rewards. Pipes Of Peace has nothing rewarding. The songs might seem enjoyable on the surface, but that's all they are. There's nothing here that goes beyond the surface. Sure, Paul isn't the Beatle we expect to be introspective, but things like "Sweetest Little Show" or "The Other Me" don't help fix Paul's reputation.
3. SOME TIME IN NEW YORK CITY/LIVE JAM - John & Yoko/Plastic Ono Band, 1972 - The year 1972 was the worst year for the Beatles in the 1970s. Aside from Paul's three bizarre singles and Ringo's "Back Off Boogaloo", Some Time In New York City was the only Beatles release of the year. This is truly a terrible record from start to finish. The fact that John only has three solo lead vocal jobs doesn't help. On top of that, none of them are his best. "Woman Is The Nigger Of The World" is easily the worst protest song he ever wrote. "John Sinclair" is good, only because of his steel guitar playing. "New York City" is a rambling, pointless sequel to "The Ballad Of John & Yoko". As for Yoko's songs....well, at least "Sisters O Sisters" has a good rhythm.
4. RINGO THE 4TH - Ringo Starr, 1977 - When I first got this, I thought this was the worst Beatles solo record...then I heard the above and figured out that it could get worse. Anyway, the thing abouth Ringo The 4th, aside from the fact that it's numerically incorrect, is that Ringo's voice is totally shot. The songs themselves are actually half-way decent ("Sneaking Sally Through The Alley" and "Can She Do It Like She Dances?" are actually two of my favorite Ringo songs), but Ringo just sounds drunk out of his mind for the majority of the record.
5. DRIVING RAIN - Paul McCartney, 2001 - The trouble with Driving Rain is that it's just too god-damned long. There's some fantastic material on it ("About You", "Lonely Road", "She's Given Up Talking", "Your Way" and "From A Lover To A Friend"), but there's so much crap hanging around it ("Riding To Jaipur", "Back In The Sunshine", "Driving Rain" and "Spinning On An Axis"). On top of that, Paul's voice, like Ringo's on Ringo The 4th, is shot. He strains it to the point where you can feel it hurt.

Wow, that was actually harder than I thought it was going to be. Why no George? Well, I honestly don't think he ever made a truly bad record. Dark Horse and EXTRA TEXTURE have some pretty bad moments, but overall, I find them enjoyable records. Also, the avant garde John & Yoko albums don't count, simply because I don't have them. Because of that, I think it would have been unfair to consider George's Electronic Sound. Archival releases also had to be thrown out (which really just means that I couldn't consider John's Anthology, since that's the only real 'archival' release by any of them). Finally, Give My Regards To Broad Street could have been thrown in, but that's a soundtrack with only three new songs and the majority of those re-recorded were Beatles songs.

Album of the Day #172: PRIVATE EYES - Daryl Hall & John Oates

Artist: Daryl Hall & John Oates

Title: Private Eyes

Year: 1981

Label: RCA

Songs: Private Eyes [Sara Allen, Janna Allen, Daryl Hall & Warren Pash]/Looking For A Good Sign [Daryl Hall]/I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)/Mano A Mano [John Oates]/Did It In A Minute [Sara Allen, Janna Allen & Daryl Hall]/Head Above Water/Tell Me What You Want [Sara Allen & Daryl Hall]/Friday Let Me Down/Unguarded Minute/You Imagination [Daryl Hall]/Some Men [Daryl Hall]

Written by: Sara Allen, Daryl Hall & John Oates, except where noted

Produced by: Daryl Hall, John Oates & Neil Kernon

Thoughts: If there's one album by Hall & Oates that should be in everyone's collection, it is easily Private Eyes. Seriously, the three singles on this album are probably the best of the early 1980s and 28 years later, they're just as powerful.

The fact that there's no filler here also helps. None of these songs feel like throwaways, although the fact that Daryl is the more prolific of the two is annoyingly evident. John gets just one solo credit, "Mano A Mano", which is the silliest track on the record, but also a pretty good one. It, along with "Friday Let Me Down", is his only lead vocal, meaning that his role in the duo is rather questionable. He doesn't provide a unique sound to the backing vocals, which turn out to sound like the most robotic, dated parts of the album, behind Daryl.

To me, this is the one annoying piece of Hall & Oates. Based on the six albums that I have, they don't consistently create a unique harmony, like the ones that we associate with some of the classic duos (The Everly Brothers and The Righteous Brothers come to mind). It always feels like they simply take turns singing lead on a song. Thankfully, the two have such distinct vocals that it makes the songs vary from one to the next, but the beautiful harmonies we hear on "Sara Smile", "She's Gone" and "Rich Girl" don't creep up to much on this album or the next.

The singles on Private Eyes are as good as anything else. "I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)" is one of the most haunting singles ever and probably the only time a drum machine was put to good use. "Private Eyes" is a fantastic opener and "Did It In A Minute" has a fantastic hook ("Ya did it, ya did it, ya did it in a minute!"). Although there are no songs on here that could have also been singles, the album tracks are still great pop gems. "Looking For A Good Sign", "Tell Me What You Want" and "Your Imagination" are definitely highlights.

It is also interesting that the overall album does have a very dark tone, with songs about rejected love and stalkers, but isn't that what all '80s songs are about?

Album of the Day #171: TAPESTRY - Carole King

Artist: Carole King

Title: Tapestry

Year: 1971

Label: Ode

Songs: I Feel The Earth Move/So Far Away/It's Too Late*/Home Again/Beautiful/Way Over Yonder/You've Got A Friend/Where You Lead*/Will You Love Me Tomorrow**/Smackwater Jack**/Tapestry/(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman+

Written by: Carole King, except *Carole King & Toni Stern, **Gerry Goffin & Carole King and +Gerry Goffin, Carole King & Jerry Wexler

Produced by: Lou Adler

Thoughts: Carole King was the writer of so many amazing hits throughout the sixties with her then-husband, Gerry Goffin, but she had never had any success as a performer herself until Tapestry.

The album has since proven to be a cultural phenomenon that has survived over the years simply because it's pretty hard for such beautiful songs to age. This twelve song platter is really a kind of 'greatest hits' for King and it features many of the songs that were already familiar hits for others ("Will You Love Me Tomorrow" and "...Natural Woman" were standards by 1971 and James Taylor just had a hit with "You've Got A Friend"). It was kind of like her Freewheelin' album.

To try to pick a favorite from this album is a really tough thing to do, but if you really wanted me to chose, I would have to say "It's Too Late". It's such an amazing song about pain and heartbreak and, for some reason, those are the kind of songs I like. Of the obscure songs on the album, which in reality are those that weren't released as singles, "Home Again" is pretty good and the title track is really something else.

The truth about Tapestry is that it is literally a Murderer's Row of songs. I really love King's voice and would like to pick up a few more of her records, but she never reached the heights of Tapestry again. You have to admit, it certainly doesn't help when you unload all of your best songs on one album. Still, that's what makes Tapestry so great...song after song you already know. Plus, it means that there's no filler...all killer and in this case, the killer is a little Jewish girl from Brooklyn.

Top 10 Solo Beatles Records

While it is very difficult to make a list of the top 5 Beatles albums, since they are all of fantastic quality, it isn't too hard to do a list of the top 10 solo Beatles records. So, without further ado, here are my personal (note the emphasis on personal) top 10 solo Beatles records:

1. • Walls And Bridges - John Lennon (1974) - I have always felt that this is the one album that comes bizarrely close to what John had accomplished with The Beatles. If you can assign song 'types' to John's Beatles songs, there is one of everything on Walls And Bridges. There is the fantastic pop single ("Whatever Gets You Thru The Night"), the avant-garde nonsense ("#9 Dream"), the attack song ("Steel And Glass") and the insecure autobiographical climax ("Nobody Loves You...").
2. • RAM - Paul & Linda McCartney (1971) - RAM works on so many ridiculous levels that it's amazing. Paul's whimsical side is given a steady dose of rock, accentuated by the staggering lead guitar of David Spinozza. The amount of musical styles Paul covers may make one think of the album as inconsistent, but if you can separate the songs, you realize each one has its' rewards.
3. • John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band - John Lennon (1970) – This album is in a league of its own. Sure, it might be the most emotional album any Beatle, or perhaps, musician has ever made, but the album lacks accessibility and is very hard to listen to on a regular basis. But, that’s what makes it so great – it tells the truths no one wanted to hear.
4. • All Things Must Pass - George Harrison (1970) – George truly broke out with this album, pouring his heart and soul into it. The trouble is its length – a few songs could have been cut, like the second version of “Isn’t It A Pity” or the unremarkable jam disc.
5. • Brainwashed - George Harrison (2002) – If you compare this to Double Fantasy, Brainwashed is the clear winner. Every song is fantastic and it makes you realize that George was taken from us far too early.
6. • Back To The Egg - Wings (1979) – This is probably the dark horse of this list, but I think the album does have a decent amount of fantastic songs that allows it to hang around with the best of the Beatles’ solo records. Its trouble is the lack of completeness in some of the songs – imagine how great a fully developed “Love Awake” would sound? Or if “Spin It On” was more than just an awesome guitar riff?
7. • Imagine - John Lennon (1971) – The one problem I have with Imagine as an album is that Spector went to town on it. If you thought “The Long And Winding Road” was saturated to the point of sappy, then you’re a person who probably doesn’t care for Imagine too much. (There is NO EXCUSE for “It’s So Hard” to have strings! NONE!) What saves it, though, is the fact that John’s songwriting is top-notch and the fact that the “Wall of Sound” is absent in both the title track and “Oh My Love” (one of John’s most beautiful songs).
8. • RINGO - Ringo Starr (1973) – I had to get Ringo on the list. The truth is that he made some great albums, but only RINGO deserves to mingle with the best of the best. It’s filled with great singles, wonderful appearances from just about every important rock star in 1973 and you can’t forget Paul’s kazoo.
9. • Band On The Run - Paul McCartney & Wings (1973) – Band On The Run is a classic to the point of cliché, but you have to admit that it’s great. There are a few bumps in the road (“No Words” anyone? I’ve never been a fan of “Let Me Roll It”, either), but there’s just too much good stuff on this.
10. • Cloud Nine - George Harrison (1985) – George really swung for the fences on this one. Sure, it’s a Jeff Lynne production, which makes it sound very Jeff Lynne-y, but again, George wrote some great songs that are just so good that Lynne’s production doesn’t get in the way. (I limited myself to just two Jeff Lynne Beatle albums, both by George, because, let’s face it, they're both better than Flaming Pie.) Plus, it’s got “Got My Mind Set On You,” the last solo Beatle #1.

Honorable mentions: Tug Of War (Paul McCartney; 1982)/Mind Games (John Lennon; 1973)/Living In The Material World (George Harrison; 1973)/Flowers in the Dirt (Paul McCartney; 1989)/RingoRama (Ringo Starr; 2002)/Chaos And Creation In The Backyard (Paul McCartney; 2005)/Goodnight Vienna (Ringo Starr; 1974)/Somewhere In England (George Harrison; 1981)/Run Devil Run (Paul McCartney; 1999)/London Town (Wings; 1977)

Album of the Day #170: CHRISTMAS IN THE HEART - Bob Dylan

Artist: Bob Dylan

Title: Christmas In The Heart

Year: 2009

Label: Columbia

Songs: Here Comes Santa Claus [Gene Autry & Oakley Haldeman]/Do You Hear What I Hear? [Gloria Shayne Baker & Noel Regney]/Winter Wonderland [Felix Bernard & Richard Smith]/Hark The Herald Angels Sing [Trad./Arr. by Bob Dylan]/I'll Be Home For Christmas [Walter Kent, Kim Gannon & Buck Ram]/Little Drummber Boy [Kathrine Davis, Henry Onorati & Harry Simeone]/The Christmas Blues [Sammy Cahn & David Jack Holt]/O' Come All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fideles) [Trad./Arr. by Bob Dylan]/Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas [Ralph Blane & High Martin]/Must Be Santa [William Fredericks & Hal Moore]/Silver Bells [Raymond Evans & Jay Livingston]/The First Noel [Trad./Arr. by Bob Dylan]/Christmas Island [Lyle Moraine]/The Christmas Song [Mel Torme & Bob Wells]/O' Little Town Of Bethlehem [Trad./Arr. by Bob Dylan]

Produced by Jack Frost

Thoughts: When rumors of a Bob Dylan Christmas record started, I quickly thought it was a joke and didn't think it was possible. Then, it happened and I figured I would laugh through all 45 minutes of it and completely ignore the fact that it might just not be that good.

Simply put, it's not that good. The record is certainly entertaining, though. I don't think Dylan himself is probably thinking of it as a serious studio album that should be put in the same category as Blonde on Blonde, Blood On The Tracks or "Love And Theft". In fact, I don't think it should be allowed within a ten-mile radius of those albums...it's better off hanging out with Dylan And The Dead.

Now, I don't think it's as horrid or as unlistenable as that disgusting record, especially since Christmas In The Heart at least has some charm to it. There's the fantastic "Here Comes Santa Claus" opening, the terrific "Little Drummer Boy" (which definitely is the best track here) and the beauty in "I'll Be Home For Christmas" and "Silver Bells".

Christmas In The Heart is definitely the first album since Under The Red Sky to not receive unanimous critical acclaim. The press seems divided into two camps: there's the people that think it's a complete joke or the people that think it's another example of Dylan exploring 'America's roots' and gave the album five stars. Personally, I'm a little half-and-half on it. As I said, there's some absolutely hilarious tracks ("Must Be Santa" is especially side-splitting, as Dylan name-checks every President since Nixon in the final verse) and then you have the religious Christmas tracks that Dylan appears to take completely seriously ("O' Little Town Of Bethlehem" is one of Dylan's great closing moments).

If you really like Christmas records, I say there's no reason not to get this, just so you can hear what a craggy old man sounds like singing Christmas carols (and you won't have to go to a retirement home to do it!). For those Uncle Scrooges of the world, you certainly won't want this. Oh, and if you are actually having trouble deciding if you should get the deluxe or the regular editions, get the regular. The deluxe just comes in a sleeve like Together Through Life, but the lone extra is a pack of five greeting cards with the album cover and envelopes!

#169: NILSSON SINGS NEWMAN - Harry Nilsson

Artist: Harry Nilsson

Title: Nilsson Sings Newman

Year: 1970

Label: RCA

Songs: Vine St./Love Story/Yellow Man/Caroline/Cowboy/The Beehive State/I'll Be Home/Living Without You/Dayton, Ohio 1903/So Long Dad

Written by: Randy Newman

A Nilsson House Production

Thoughts: While Nilsson's first three albums seem to build on top of each other, Nilsson Sings Newman, his fourth, features an entirely different sound. Gone is the Spector-esque Wall Of Sound, as is the whimsical originality of Nilsson's own songs. Instead, it is replaced by the cynical songwriting and sly piano playing of a young Randy Newman.

The stark contrast makes the album seem, at least at first, like a disappointment. Nilsson was at the forefront of the pop world at the time, writing numerous songs that became hits for other people. Now, he was the one taking someone else's songs and making them accessible to the average buyer. However, if you forget that Nilsson is a songwriter himself, and you just think of him as a beautiful singer, you realize quickly that this album is a hallmark of 1970. The fact of the matter is that no one else was making a record like this in 1970. While it lead to a chart flop, it was a critical success in its time (it was actually named 1970's "Record of the Year" by Stereo Magazine).

For Nilsson, who doesn't play a single instrument on the record, these songs prove to be fantastic vocal exercises, from the harsh power of "Cowboy" to the heartbreaking command in "I'll Be Home". The remarkable thing is that the only voice you hear on this record is Harry's. The choir in "I'll Be Home" is all Harry and the backups in "Living Without You" is all Harry.

For Randy Newman, this record gave him a chance to get his name to a wider audience. He had been making records for a few years before this (in fact, only "Caroline" was specifically written for Nilsson), but never had any of the success that Nilsson was having. His piano-playing on the record also proves that this really should be billed as a "Harry Nilsson & Randy Newman" album. If Nilsson is the mouth, Newman is the heart. The best example of this is in "Living Without You", easily the best track here. As Nilsson belts out this ridiculous vocal performance, Newman's piano follows along, pumping like a heartbeat as Nilsson brings his vocal up. "Cowboy" also features some fantastic playing and so does the rest of the record.

There is also this really unique feature with this album. If you listen to it with headphones, you get the effect of hearing Newman's piano the way Nilsson did as he was singing in the studio. The piano is mixed so far behind the vocal that it sounds like it's in another room. Also, in a typically bizarre Nilsson way, some of Newman's talking was left in the master, so, for example, during the fade-out of "So Long Dad", you hear Newman instructing Nilsson on how to sing the end.

Simply put, this album is just an incredible listening experience. The only bad part - it lasts just over 25 minutes.