This album can just have a one line review – The title track overshadows everything else that John Lennon ever did in his entire career, becoming one of the top-most icons of world peace. But then there is a lot more to this album than Imagine.

Having cleansed his soul with the visceral, confessional and brilliant first solo album (‘Plastic Ono Band’), Lennon, in this second album comes back with an eclectic collection of gems aided by Phil Spector and George Harrison. In the 10 tracks here, he presents himself as an adoring husband, a bitchy ex band-mate, an activist and of course, a peacenik.

Side One opens up with the title track and well, enough has been said and written about it and I shall come to it at the end of this piece. Next up is Crippled Inside, a country rock melody with inside-out lyrics (a forte of Lennon). The third track is a mushy but beautiful confession of male neediness which Lennon sings in his classic dreamy voice along with the piano. Jealous Guy is one of the several (and most of them beautiful) Ono inspired Lennon tracks.

Next track, It’s So Hard is one of those unnoticed good work from Lennon. Set to the blues rock structure, the song narrates Lennon’s struggles with the problems of life. Klaus Voormann, a long-time friend of the Beatles and designer of the ‘Revolver’ album cover, plays bass on the song. The last track on this side is a Lennon protesting against being many things, including a soldier.

Side Two starts with Gimme Some Truth, a lyrical gem wherein the protester in Lennon writes about the lies that have taken over the world. Oh My Love, the next track, is once again for wifey dear (Ono) and happens to be one of my all-time favourite love songs.

Paul McCartney and John Lennon had a strange love-hate relationship for obvious reasons and the next song has Lennon’s hatred (more like anger) poured into it. Exaggerated, heartfelt, but fun. Check out these lines:

“The Only Thing You Done Was Yesterday And Since You’ve Gone It’s Just Another Day How Do You Sleep Ah How Do You Sleep At Night?” How, is another inside-out track with lyrics like, “How can I go forward when I don’t know which way I’m facing?” The album ends with perhaps the most catchy and yet another tribute to wifey dear, ‘Oh Yoko’. Ah…this love.”

Coming back to the title track, Imagine is one of those tracks (like Sultans Of Swing by Dire Straits) that helped me understand the beauty of vinyl sound. Having heard it some 5,198 times earlier (in CD and magnetic tape format), when I put the needle on it, the song was like waking up to anew day in a beautiful foreign land with a cup of perfect Darjeeling.

Year: 1971

Genre: Rock / Pop

Duration: 39:29

Label: Apple

Producer: John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Phil Spector

Rating: 4.5/5

Reviewed by Meraj Hasan

Meraj Hasan is a Mumbai based communication professional (and an amateur poet/musician) with a passion for listening to music the vinyl way. His 25 year old Technics turntable along with a humble collection of LPs across genres like Classic rock, Classical, Blues and Jazz (amongst others) are his prized possessions.

He can be reached at +91 9833410791 or email: meraj.hasan@gmail.com