John Lennon - Live in New York City
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I took out this 1986 lp/cd again. I think it is an OK album (the only complete concert performance by John post-1970 I think). However, a reissue would be welcomed. I think the sound of the lp/cd is muddy. Perhaps a remix/remaster job can improve on this. Members from Elephant's Memory have argued that Yoko should have released the stronger evening performance rather than the now used afternoon show. Some of the evening show was released later, on Anthology. Why not choose the best performances for each song. And I hate to say it, but what I don't like on the album are John's insecure comments and lame jokes ('since I left The Rolling Stones') between the songs. Aargh. Please edit that one out. Any other thoughts?
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I never liked John's use of brass in his music from his 1972-1975 period. Way overproduced. IMO, John's music is better appreciated in sparse treatments, which is why I love POB & most of his Imagine album & find the rest of his 70's output hard to listen to. Take Meat City. His 1971 demo of the song was beautiful, but his Mind Games' version is way over-produced garbage. So, I'm not a fan of Live in NYC album just for that reason. Too bad "unplugged" didnt exist in the early 70s.
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Well it's nice to have since we don't have a lot of live material from John. But it's not my favorite. But I prefer side one of Live Peace in Toronto over this.
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JoeySmith:
I never liked John's use of brass in his music from his 1972-1975 period. Way overproduced. IMO, John's music is better appreciated in sparse treatments, which is why I love POB & most of his Imagine album & find the rest of his 70's output hard to listen to. Take Meat City. His 1971 demo of the song was beautiful, but his Mind Games' version is way over-produced garbage. So, I'm not a fan of Live in NYC album just for that reason. Too bad "unplugged" didnt exist in the early 70s.
Don't like The Elephants. All that sax, far too much sax (not enough foreplay) - pretty stodgy sounding outfit to my ears. His New York City and Instant Karma rock though!
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JoeySmith:
I never liked John's use of brass in his music from his 1972-1975 period. Way overproduced. IMO, John's music is better appreciated in sparse treatments, which is why I love POB & most of his Imagine album & find the rest of his 70's output hard to listen to. Take Meat City. His 1971 demo of the song was beautiful, but his Mind Games' version is way over-produced garbage. So, I'm not a fan of Live in NYC album just for that reason. Too bad "unplugged" didnt exist in the early 70s.
I'm with you on John's '70s work. It was basically all downhill after "Imagine," though there were certainly flashes of brilliance.
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Well, yesterday it was mentioned on Wog Blog that a new version might be under way! http://wogew.blogspot.nl/2014/06/lennons-one-to-one-concerts-due-soon.html
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I saw the performance of this on youtube yesterday for the first time- It was fantastic! For a musician who had only made sporadic live appearances since 1966, he really was on good form. His charisma really shone through and I thought the performance was brilliant. Such a pity he chose not to tour in the 70's, it really would have been something. Anyway, I'd like to see a dvd release of this, with extra goodies and also a remaster or improvement of the live album, too. I own the album on cd but it really could do with a remaster and extra tracks.
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Am I the only one who thinks that Imagine sounds PATHETIC in that concert?
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WingsOfMacca:
Am I the only one who thinks that Imagine sounds PATHETIC in that concert?
Agreed. I believe John played Imagine "live" 4 times: 1). Live in NYC 2). Mike Douglass Show 3). Benefit for Lew Grade 4). Live at the Apollo, 1971 The 1st 3 are horrible, with awkward horns, strings, Yoko bongos, etc. in the background. The 4th is a gem, with acoustic guitars & the best live vocal I've ever heard from Lennon.
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JoeySmith:
WingsOfMacca:
Am I the only one who thinks that Imagine sounds PATHETIC in that concert?
Agreed. I believe John played Imagine "live" 4 times: 1). Live in NYC 2). Mike Douglass Show 3). Benefit for Lew Grade 4). Live at the Apollo, 1971 The 1st 3 are horrible, with awkward horns, strings, Yoko bongos, etc. in the background. The 4th is a gem, with acoustic guitars.
He also played it at the 1972 Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Labor Day Telethon.
