John and Yoko: True Patriot Loves

Posted by Kendall Defoe Oct 1, 2006

I just wrote my article on Lennon in the early seventies while listening to Paul McCartney`s "London Town" (1978). That may seem a little odd, but it is appropriate to compare careers and consider what could have been. I don`t mean another Beatles reunion in the seventies - that would have been a huge mistake - but a mixing of Paul`s gift for melody with Lennon`s political and sociological understanding. I have tried to enjoy Paul`s work in the seventies and must admit to failure. Most of it is the worst kind of self-indulgent nonsense unbefitting to a former Beatle.

Quote: "If he were a lot more threatening, he`d be Elton John" (Lester Bangs)

I will also recommend two key books on Lennon: "all we are saying: The Last Major Interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono," conducted by David Sheff and edited by G. Barryl Golson (2000 edition) which contains good examples of Lennon`s acid wit, reminiscences, and feelings about his music and life. Then there is "John Lennon & The FBI Files" (2003), a fascinating book by Phil Strongman and Alan Parker which contains details on the extent of the agency`s investigation of Lennon, the discography of his solo work, his Beatle songs, his "Number Nine List" (a numeral which clearly dominated his life), and his final will and testament, completed 12th November 1979. There are plenty of other books on Lennon, including the recent Bob Gruen photo book, but you should try to look for the above in order to gain some real insight into the early seventies and its counterculture.