John Lennon - Rock 'n' Roll

A disappointed fan

No one loved the Beatles more. I too watched the Ed Sullivan Show in '64 and it transformed my life (I became a starving professional rock musician in the 70s and finally found a real day job). The Beatles were magic and John was perhaps the most innovative of the Fab Four. So it hurts to write this review but I found this set of songs to be disappointing. The early Beatle performances were fresh, tight and powerful. Their renditions of 'Roll Over Beethoven', 'Long Tall Sally' and 'Twist and Shout', aside from their fine originals, were convincing proof that they had paid some dues listening to rock and roll. But John's offering in 'Rock an Roll' lacks that power. This is really a CD for hardcore John Lennon fans who may have never heard the original songs. Anyone who really goes back to listen to the originals knows that he does not deliver the goods. This is just a sampling, but for my money the 'Rip it up'/Ready Teddy' medley never really quite rocks. In 'You Can't Catch Me', John is almost over trying to demonstrate the likeness of 'Come Together' from Abbey Road and loses the real Chuck Berry energy. 'Do you want to dance' lacks that carefree, melodic feel and seems strained. 'Sweet Little Sixteen' and 'Boney Moronie' are too slow. 'Ya Ya' was better when recorded by the early Beatles with Tony Sheridan. The Latin congas in some of the intros I think are indulgent. There are some unexpected highlights though, like John's ability to mimic the voice-slipping style of Buddy Holly on 'Peggy Sue'. But John's sometimes straining voice reminds one that it was Paul McCartney who had the larger range and vocal style. While John was a great writer with an even greater imagination, he is really a vocal stylist and not a great singer. But do you remember 'Revolution' with tons of guitar overdrive and John's vocal hitting the Richter scale? That magic is missing here. I remember this CD from the mid-70s but never listened to it. It was a recent purchase, and I really wanted to like it but I think it will collect dust in the back of the rack.

August 6, 2008

OLD SONGS

If you like old rock and roll get this one. john is in top form soon after this yoko stepped in oh no !!!!!!!!!!!! March 19, 2008

poor spector production

ruined a great album with poor prodcuction by spector

old cassette version was better January 30, 2008

Very Good But Not His Best

This is John Lennon doing old time rock & roll and he does it great. It's a pleasure to hear his voice and style, doing what what was important to him in his youth and shaped the musician and performer he was to become. No one to date has really put together a fine compilation CD of the true John Lennon. It's unfortunate because there is so much material to choose from and it could be so fantastic. October 9, 2007

rock 'n roll

awesome album. he brings out the essence of each song and then maximizes on top of that bringing it to a whole new level. October 6, 2007

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