50 Years Later: John Lennon’s Plastic Ono Band Turns 50 Years Old
December 1970. As this whirlwind of a year winds down, the music continues. Records will go on to be remembered and praised half a century later in 2020. Earlier in the year, The Fab Four Let It Be with their final project, and 10 years later, the world lost a legend we will never forget. We’ve been looking at albums that are withstanding the test of time, and that continues today. 50 years ago, today, December 11, 1970, John Lennon released his first solo studio album alongside his wife, Yoko Ono, leaving his mop top past behind for a new musical chapter in his life.
“I think it’s realistic and it’s true to me that has been developing over the years from ‘In My Life’, ‘I’m a Loser’, ‘Help!’, ‘Strawberry Fields’. They’re all personal records. I didn’t really enjoy writing third person songs. But, because of my hang-ups, and other things, I would only now and then specifically write about me. Now I wrote all about me and that’s why I like it. It’s me!” – John Lennon, Rolling Stone 1970
A messy break-up and some intense, unconventional healing resulted in John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band, and the pain of John is audible throughout. After the Beatles disbanded, Lennon went through primal (screaming) therapy with his wife, Yoko Ono. There, he relived trauma and brought his personal experience and growth into the music. “I was the walrus, but now I’m John,” this line, from “God,” perfectly shows John’s readiness to approach the difficult subjects prevalent in this album. With heavy deep lyrics about John’s past accompanied by raw production, this album shows the, understandably, disturbed side of John Lennon.
“He was almost completely nonfunctional, he could hardly leave his room. At the center of all that fame and wealth and adulation was just a lonely little kid.” – Arthur Janov, Lennon’s primal therapist
Songs like “Well Well Well” and the opening track “Mother” are two songs where the listener can hear the agony in Lennon’s screams. The record is balanced with songs like the previously stated, with others continuing personal and political messaging important to Lennon such as “Working Class Hero.” The artwork of the record features Lennon laying back with his head in Yoko’s lap underneath a tree. It is nearly identical to Yoko’s album with the only differences being Yoko’s head in Lennon’s lap and a brighter picture from the sunlight. The infamous couple also recorded their separate albums at the same studio.
Abbey Road Studios
Legendary Abbey Road Records was the setting for both John and Yoko’s album recordings in 1970. Produced mainly by Lennon and Ono, Phil Spector also contributed to John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band by mixing the record towards the end of production. While in the studio, Lennon received help from fellow Beatle, Ringo Starr, and Klaus Voormann, a designer for album artwork who previously worked with the Beatles, Bee Gees, and more. These three men played the majority of the music on the album. During their time together recording, stories of John breaking down into tears or yelling in sessions came about. Starr made comments about this time suggesting this was not the John he once knew. Was John overcoming and accepting his past or Yoko’s influence that sparked this change in John?
John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band received mixed reviews at release, but still reached six and eight on the US Billboard and UK Albums Chart, respectively. The legacy of this album has endured however, as it was ranked 23 by Rolling Stone in their 500 Greatest Albums of All-Time list in 2012. Considered to be the best solo album Lennon recorded, John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band achieved Gold Certification, and was remastered in 2002. The remastering added tracks “Power to the People” and “Do the Oz.” A necessary listen for any Beatles fan, this record gives the listener a glimpse into the mind of John Lennon immediately following the breakup of the greatest band of all time.
Track List
1. Mother
2. Hold On
3. I Found Out
4. Working Class Hero
5. Isolation
6. Remember
7. Love
8. Well Well Well
9. Look at Me
10. God
11. My Mummy’s Dead