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.
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; Plastic Ono Band; Little Big Horns.
Personnel: John Lennon (vocals, guitar, piano); Booker Table, Dr. Winston O'Ghurkin, 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."
Amazing Album!!! Please ignore the flustered reviewer from Caldwell New Jersey who claims this album is awful and that Yoko cannot sing. Well Yoko is not my favorite either, however she does not appear on this album. AND THIS ALBUM IS SOLID FROM START TO FINISH. Actually one of the best albums of its era. Submitted by faust8577 (Lorraine, Que. Canada) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo 1 of 1 found this helpful.
Will the real john Lennon please stand up. This is the real John, as Yoko is out of the picture entirely, and that means John puts out an amazing and beautiful album of honest, reflective, and soul searching songs.
Easily his best solo effort, and in my opinion the best post Beatles album by any Beatle.
Do yourself a favor and buy it! Submitted by kevinlsweet (The West) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo 1 of 1 found this helpful.
Great album, poor packaging! This has always been my fav Lennon solo album. It's an album you can still listen to 30+ years later. The mixes sparkle without the Spector reverb wash. There are no songs that name drop Yoko or confess some half delusional profound devotion to her either. Did I also mention the album also rocks. Critics sometimes don't give this album the credit it deserves. A note about the packaging... Who do you blame for this mess? Why would you change the cover from the quite recognizable soccer(artist approved)water color-to a photo from the LP's back cover. The printed cd label is a disaster too! It depicts 5 morphing head shots into a single John/Yoko from seperates. First of all, Yoko is not on this album-at all. Second, this graphic is from the Sometimes in NY LP label (the sister remix release to this album). Seems like someone wants to get their (her) hands in the details that they (she) were (was) shut out of 30 years ago. Do something for the fans and get the details right-(Yoko), reinstate the original LP cover-complete with the fold over flaps, put the morphing label on the album it belongs to and stop rewriting rock history! Thankfully, the mixes sound good. Submitted by orson (Westchester, NY, USA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo 1 of 1 found this helpful.
Yoko can't sing eh? Yoko did not contribute to the recording of these songs in any way, shape or form. Her voice is not heard on any of the songs on this album.
Elton john's is however, and his touch to this album is quite nice. The songs are solid enough and the production is exactly what we've come to expect from John in this part of his career. Sounds like Phil Spector without the wall of sound, if that makes sense. Deliberate extraneous studio noise, banter, HUGE echo on the drums, makes them sound out of time (John Lennon's influence on Bowie's Youngs American's anyone? Bloody awful if you ask me) but hey.
I prefer George Harrison's squeaky clean production without resorting to Wings style sanitisation. But at any rate, the point is that this album provides no surprises. Solid enough, and John Lennon is a classy enough act for that to be relatively superb. Submitted by Calamity (Oslo, Norway) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
Great Reissue Great reissue from John Lenndelman. Submitted by Mark (Massachusetts) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
Amazing Album!!!
Yoko can't sing eh?
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