John Lennon Walls And Bridges CD

WALLS AND BRIDGES was made during Lennon's marital separation, while carrying on a Yoko-approved dalliance with May Pang. Lennon addresses the awkward yet open triangle with songs to each of them. In "Bless You," he wistfully wonders how and where Yoko is during their time apart and proclaims an eternal love. "Surprise, Surprise (Sweet Bird Of Paradox)" finds him admitting to being jaded to the point of self-delusion only to find beauty, love and surprise in the form of a new lover right under his nose. "What You Got" affirms "You don't know what you got until you lose it"--clearly a man struggling with a personal situation through his art.

"Beef Jerky" sounds like an homage to that great '60s instrumental by The Barkays, "Soul Finger." "Ya Ya" is a true oddity: Lennon and 11-year-old son Julian, future rock star in his own right, in a short, bluesy piano/drum duet. Of course there is also his duet with Elton John on the partying, fun-loving "Whatever Gets You Through The Night." The gem of the bunch, though, is "#9 Dream," easily one of Lennon's best post-Beatles efforts, steering through myriad moods and grooves and adding up to a bona fide pop masterpiece.

Walls and Bridges was recorded during John Lennon's infamous "lost weekend," as he exiled himself in California during a separation from Yoko Ono. Lennon's personal life was scattered, so it isn't surprising that Walls and Bridges is a mess itself, containing equal amounts of brilliance and nonsense. Falling between the two extremes was the bouncy Elton John duet "Whatever Gets You Thru the Night," which was Lennon's first solo number one hit. Its bright, sunny surface was replicated throughout the record, particularly on middling rockers like "What You Got" but also on enjoyable pop songs like "Old Dirt Road." However, the best moments on Walls and Bridges come when Lennon is more open with his emotions, like on "Going Down on Love," "Steel and Glass," and the beautiful, soaring "#9 Dream." Even with such fine moments, the album is decidedly uneven, containing too much mediocre material like "Beef Jerky" and "Ya Ya," which are weighed down by weak melodies and heavy over-production. It wasn't a particularly graceful way to enter retirement. [The 2005 reissue of Walls and Bridges is remastered and remixed and contains three bonus tracks: a live version of "Whatever Gets You Thru the Night" recorded with the Elton John band at a Madison Square Garden concert in November 1974, a previously unreleased spare acoustic alternate version of "Nobody Loves You (When You're Down and Out)," and a brief (3:42) promotional interview for the album.] ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Recording information: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY (11/28/1974); The Record Plant, NY (11/28/1974).

Authors: Dr. Winston O'Boogie; Edward Maclysaght.

Photographer: Bob Gruen.

Unknown Contributor Roles: Steve Madaio; Ron Aprea; Frank Vicari; Joey Dambra; Lori Burton.

Arrangers: John Lennon; Philharmonic Orchestrange; John Lennon & the Plastic Ono Band; Little Big Horns.

Personnel: John Lennon (vocals, guitar, piano); Booker Table, Doctor Winston OGhurkin, Hon. John Saint John Johnson, Maitre D's, Kaptain Kundalini (guitar); Doctor Dream, Rev. Fred Ghurkin, Dwarf McDougal, Dr. Winston O'Reggae (acoustic guitar); Howard Johnson (baritone saxophone); Frank Vicario, Steve Madaio, Ron Aprea (horns); Elton John (piano, organ, background vocals); Rev. Thomas Ghurkin, Mel Torment (piano); Klaus Voormann (bass instrument); Julian Lennon (drums); Jesse Ed Davis (guitar); Eddie Mottau (acoustic guitar); Bobby Keys (tenor saxophone); Nicky Hopkins (piano); Kenny Ascher (electric piano, Clavinet, Mellotron); Jim Keltner (drums); Arthur Jenkins (percussion); Harry Nilsson (background vocals).

Audio Remixers: Peter Cobbin; Roy Cicala.

Uncut (p.88) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "The laddish duet with Elton John, 'Whatever Gets You Through The Night', remains one of Lennon's best post-Beatles achievements."