John Lennon Double Fantasy Yo ko O n o STRIPPED DOWN 2 (JUST LIK E) STA RTING OVER KISS K ISS K ISS CL EA NUP TIME GI VE ME SO METHING I’M L OSING YOU I’M M OVING ON BEAUTIFUL B OY (DARLING BOY) WATCHING THE WHEE LS YES, I’M YOUR A NGEL WOMAN BEAUTIFUL BOYS DEA R YOKO EVERY M AN HAS A WOMAN W HO L OVES HIM HARD TIMES ARE OVER ORIGINAL ALBUM (JUST LIK E) STA RTING OVER KISS K ISS K ISS CL EA NUP TIME GI VE ME SO METHING I’M L OSING YOU I’M M OVING ON BEAUTIFUL B OY (DARLING BOY) WATCHING THE WHEE LS YES, I’M YOUR A NGEL WOMAN BEAUTIFUL BOYS DEA R YOKO EVERY M AN HAS A WOMAN W HO L OVES HIM HARD TIMES ARE OVER 3 Since 1975, the year his fresh and unique idea. John was concerned that another singer/songwriter couple might son, Sean was born, John do an album of this format before us, and Lennon’s life had seen some thought it was important to do this album right away. But nobody did it, and nobody has unaccustomed tranquillity, done it since then. It was probably not a very later called the Dakota Days. easy record to make for any singer/songwriter couple. We were just very lucky that we didn't While John had devoted himself to fatherhood even have a fight between us while making it. and domesticity, he asked Yoko to supervise It was a miracle.” their business affairs. The exchange of roles which they excercised, gave food for thought “After the five-year hiatus, for John to come to all couples then and now. out and do his album, the whole of the music industry was totally, totally excited and they But at the time, the wider world could not all wanted John’s music and was not very comprehend what John was doing. John’s happy that I was there. So, while we were withdrawal as a recording artist was recording, John really had to protect me, in so unprecedented. many ways.” Suddenly, in 1980, a welcome surprise was Double Fantasy was a brave album on John’s heard. John went into the studio with Yoko to part, and not only for his loyalty to Yoko. Here make the next album. was a man whose image was frozen in rock’n’roll, with all its connotations of youth, From its inception, then, Double Fantasy was rebellion and extremity. Yet his goal this time a John and Yoko collaboration, just as their was to address middle age, and the early “avant garde” albums had been. And in generation who had grown up with him, and its “Heart Play” of alternating viewpoints, it to consider questions – of parenthood, of formalised a pattern they’d instinctively marriage, of mature relations between the adopted on Some Time In New York City . sexes – that pop music scarcely touches. Yoko: “We thought Double Fantasy was a The silvery tinkle of bells that introduces ‘(Just 4 Like) Starting Over’ was a deliberate contrast this album, it’s as if the arrival of a child has to the ominous tolling that opened John wrought a transformational magic. ‘Watching Lennon/Plastic Ono Band ten years earlier. The Wheels’ is the contented father’s defiance Double Fantasy was to embrace the future of a world so silly it thinks he could possibly with hope, and treat the past with affection. have any role more important. And in ‘Yes, I’m Two heroes of his youth, Elvis Presley and Your Angel’, the parents enjoy a little recuper- Roy Orbison, are playfully mimicked in John’s ative time together. We reach the album’s first track, a life-affirming celebration of the pivotal point, perhaps, in John’s outstanding new decade just dawning. Yoko responds ‘Woman’ – a song that is often compared with with ‘Kiss Kiss Kiss’, flagrantly sensuous; in his ‘Girl’ of 15 years earlier, as a measure of the Lennons’ mind, “double fantasy” had the man’s personal development. In Yoko’s definite erotic aspects. ‘Beautiful Boys’ we hear a stirring message of encouragement for any man on such a path. Yet this was not a one-dimensional depiction of bliss. ‘Cleanup Time’ tells of John’s resolve The remaining songs serve to consolidate to face the future in better shape, but Yoko’s this hard-won harmony. John’s ‘Dear Yoko’, ‘Give Me Something’ is a stinging challenge propelled by exuberant Buddy Holly gurgles, to show emotional engagement. ‘I’m Losing shines with the same pure joy as Imagine’s You’ and ‘I’m Moving On’ plunge still deeper ‘Oh Yoko!’. Her own ‘Every Man Has A into discord, the former like an echo of John’s Woman Who Loves Him’ is similarly sweet. “Lost Weekend” record Walls And Bridges , And her wistful ‘Hard Times Are Over’ draws the latter a second instance of Yoko as the the story to its graceful conclusion – though impatient realist. its message is subtly qualified, we note, by the cautious addition of “for awhile”… “It’s not a happy go lucky album,” she affirms. “John’s song ‘I’m Losing You’, even now There would, of course, be no further when I hear that, I get choked up. And ‘I’m recordings issued in John Lennon’s lifetime. Moving On’ Well... that was how we were.” It’s true there were still some unheard songs, most notably on Double Fantasy’s intended Tensions melt with wonderful suddenness in sequel Milk And Honey – but they were for ‘Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)’, John’s tender another day. On December 9th, 1980, song for Sean. Within the narrative flow of the world awoke to ponder what it had lost. 5 6 STRIPPED DOWN Jack Douglas in Avatar Studios in New York. Thirty years has passed. “I’m so glad I decided to do this.” says Yoko. “I never liked the way songs were mixed in And in 2010, the year of the 70s and the 80s, raising the tracks and Lennon’s 70th birthday, burying the voice. In this Stripdown, John’s voice comes across so powerfully. His voice, Yoko was happy to know his diction, are all very clear in these remixes. that EMI was planning a big His voice is going back to the days of John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band . His soul was tribute to John. She wanted talking to you directly then. Now it is in to do something very Stripped Down . In that sense, this is the first Double Fantasy you’ll be hearing... powerful to enhance the with John’s natural voice, and his lyrics clear project. ‘Stripdown,’ she as a bell. He is brilliant. No other rocker was ever able to come near him in his voice, his heard, was what musicians passion, and in his articulation. He is a were doing now. modern day Shakespeare in his diction. And Stripped Down shows this.” “That was right up John’s alley. So I asked Jack Douglas, the co-producer of the original John Lennon’s singing voice really Double Fantasy , to join me to make this deserves to be heard in a pure state. It’s edition. Both Jack and I were the closest Yoko’s belief that John’s thoughts and people to John when we were making the feelings – so timeless in their relevance original Double Fantasy . I’m sure John’s – should sound as immediate as he wished sudden passing was painful for Jack, too. his message to be. Experienced this way, So we hadn’t been in touch. But now I’m the songs have much the same immediacy glad I reached to him this time. We worked as his powerful solo debut John Lennon/ well... and fast, since we were both there for Plastic Ono Band . Freed from the legacy the original recording.” of sometimes dated technology, these are now recordings for today, and of course, for Stripped Down was re-mixed by Yoko and the future. 7 (Just Like) Starting Over Kiss kiss kiss kiss me love Absolutely free And a bit of tear and flesh by John Lennon I’m bleeding inside No rats aboard the magic ship It’s not very much but while it’s there Of (perfect) harmony You can have it, you can have it Our Life together is so precious It’s a long, long story to tell together And I can only show you my hell Now it begins I’m Losing You We have grown – we have grown Cleanup Time by John Lennon Although our love is still special Touch touch touch touch me love (Show those mothers how to do it) Let’s take a chance and fly away Just one touch, touch will do Here in some stranger’s room somewhere alone Touch touch touch touch me love However far we travel Late in the afternoon Just one touch, touch will do Wherever we may roam What am I doing here at all? It’s been too long since we The center of the circle Ain’t no doubt about it took the time Why me Will always be our home I’m losing you No-one’s to blame, I know time flies Why you so quickly Broken mirror The gods are in the heavens Somehow the wires have crossed But when I see you darling White terror The angels treat us well Communication’s lost It’s like we both are falling in love again The oracle has spoken Can’t even get you on the telephone It’ll be just like starting over Touch touch touch touch me love We cast the (perfect) spell Just got to shout about it Starting over I’m shaking inside I’m losing you Give Me Something Everyday we used to make it love It’s that faint faint sound of the by Yoko Ono Here in the valley of indecision Why can’t we be making love childhood bell I don’t know what to do nice and easy Ringing in my soul The food is cold I feel you slipping away It’s time to spread our wings and fly Your eyes are cold I feel you slipping away Don’t let another day go by my love Kiss kiss kiss kiss me love The window’s cold I’m losing you It’ll be just like starting over Just one kiss, kiss will do The bed’s cold I’m losing you Starting over Cleanup Time Give me something that’s not cold, You say you’re not getting enough Why don’t we take off alone by John Lennon come on, come on But I remind you of all that bad stuff Take a trip somewhere far, far away Give me something that’s not cold, So what the hell am I supposed to do? We’ll be together on our own again Moonlight on the water come