Rock 'n' Roll
Capitol - Capitol
John Lennon
Release date: 2004-11-02
Audio CD
Album Rock, Pop, Pop/Rock, Pop/Rock Music, Rock, Rock & Roll, Rock/Pop
1. Be-Bop-A-Lula - John Lennon, Davis
2. Stand by Me - John Lennon, Leiber, Jerry
3. Medley: A) Rip It Up/B) Ready Teddy - John Lennon, Blackwell
4. You Can't Catch Me - John Lennon, Berry
5. Ain't That a Shame - John Lennon, Domino
6. Do You Wanna Dance? - John Lennon, Freeman, Bobby
7. Sweet Little Sixteen - John Lennon, Berry, Chuck
8. Slippin' and Slidin' - John Lennon, Penniman, Richard W
9. Peggy Sue - John Lennon, Allison, Jerry
10. Medley: A) Bring It on Home to Me/B) Send Me Some Lovin' - John Lennon, Cooke
11. Boney Moronie - John Lennon, Williams
12. Ya Ya - John Lennon, Dorsey
13. Just Because - John Lennon, Price, Lloyd
14. Angel Baby - John Lennon, Hamlin, Rose
15. To Know Her Is to Love Her - John Lennon, Spector, Phil
16. Since My Baby Left Me - John Lennon, Crudup, Arthur
17. Just Because (Reprise) - John Lennon, Price
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Rock 'n' Roll
Date undefinedWhat's with all the negative reviews all of a sudden? Come on, this album doesn't deserve that! A Britney Spears album does though :)
This is one VERY different John Lennon album. He wanted to make an album with an entirely 50's rock and roll vibe, and I believe he succeeded. Many of these versions have been made better compared to the originals, in my opinion, because John *really* knew how to makae his voice soar to new heights and sound believable. The use of brass instruments really brings many of the songs to life as well.
Not crazy about the version of "Sweet Little Sixteen" on here, since it sounds pretty clumsy compared to the rest of the songs (is that one note that keep playing?). There's even a GREAT song that uses the verse melody from the Beatles "Come Together" and combines it with the 50's style of rock and roll. The amount of detail in each song is pretty cool as well.
Very unique, and recommended. Sure, the "main four" John Lennon albums are Plastic Ono Band, Imagine, Mind Games, and Walls and Bridges, but this is probably the fifth album you should buy from Lennon.
Rock 'n' Roll
Date undefinedWhy, I must have been 15 when John Lennon's ROCK 'N' ROLL came out. Or was it 14? It was the first John Lennon album I bought.
I base my review of this ROCK 'N' ROLL C.D. reissue on a borrowed public library copy. I got my money's worth on the 1975 L.P. version so, despite the bonus tracks, I don't want to buy it a second time. Sure, being able to play ROCK 'N' ROLL in my car rather than the vinyl-driven confines of my living room would make the occasional listen more convenient. But as it would only be once every few years that I even play ROCK 'N' ROLL, I'll live without the extra songs and user-friendly C.D. format.
Of the three ROCK 'N' ROLL C.D. bonus tracks, "Since My Baby Left Me" and "To Know Her Is To Love Her" already appeared on MENLOVE AVENUE, and "Angel Baby" was on the mail-order album ROOTS, which was re-titled/repackaged as ROCK 'N' ROLL in retail stores. It disappoints me that this C.D. reissue leaves off "Be My Baby," the other ROOTS-only song that didn't make it to ROCK 'N' ROLL in 1975, and the ROOTS-only mix of "You Can't Catch Me," which excludes the edited-in repeat opening of the ROCK 'N' ROLL version.
Besides the extra songs, the C.D. version of ROCK 'N' ROLL includes longer fade-outs on several tracks. The opening number, "Be Bop A Lula," starts with John counting down, something not on the vinyl version.
Both the original vinyl and C.D. reissue versions of ROCK 'N' ROLL omit musician credits. As I understand, the main band comprises Jim Keltner on drums, Klaus Voormann on bass, John Lennon and Jesse Ed Davis on guitars (Steve Cropper on some songs, too), Bobby Keys on horns, and on at least a few numbers, Leon Russell on piano. No wonder "Rip It Up/Ready Teddy," "Slippin' and Slidin,'" "Bony Maronie," "Peggy Sue," and "Be Bop A Lula" rock out so well. Then there's the challenge-the-audience side of John Lennon, hence vamped-up versions of "You Can't Catch Me," "Sweet Little Sixteen," and "Do You Wanna Dance."
The back cover of ROCK 'N' ROLL quotes John Lennon saying, "You should have been there." I was, and this remains a fun album 33 years later.
Rock 'n' Roll
Date undefinedJohn Lennon-Rock 'n' Roll ***
This is not one of John Lennon's finest hours. In fact it just might be his weakest solo album. Vocally Lennon could kill the best of them, and as a guitar player he actually had some impressive chops, and for my money the Beatles never got better than John Lennon. The man was an original and a genius, but here on Rock 'n' Roll his homage to the early days of the albums name sake, he runs stale.
Tracks like 'Be Bop A Lula' 'You Can't Catch Me' 'Aint That A Shame' and 'Ya Ya' are great little rockers that Lennon nails and even emulates into something different at times. His cover of Buddy Holly's & the Crickets 'Peggy Sue' is especially nice. He even manages to sound a little like Holly at times. Easily the albums highlight aside from the touching 'Stand By Me.' One of the best recordings of Lennon's fantastic career.
The rest of the album however falls flat. The ballads are performed boring and lose that little something special the original had. As previously stated Lennon's vocals kill, and on the ballads he is incredible vocal wise, but that is it. 'Sweet Little Sixteen' is ruined by the slow tempo. And whats more is the guitar is well almost not existent.
Now as for production, Phil Spector did about four of the albums tracks, so obviously that is a plus. The rest of the album was produced by John Lennon himself and it sounds fantastic. A true credit to the man.
Over all Rock 'n' Roll is worth the bread your gonna have to spend to get it. A few good songs here and there don't merritt the purchase of this. Skip it unless you are really hard headed about having it.
