Watch a clip from the AMERICAN MASTERS: LENNONYC, a new film that takes an intimate look at the time Lennon, Yoko Ono and their son, Sean, spent living in New York City during the 1970s. The film premieres nationally Monday, November 22 at 9pm on PBS (check local listings). In this clip see archival performance footage and interviews with the musicians and recording engineers who worked with Lennon – Jim Keltner, Jack Douglas, Roy Cicala, Andrew Newmark, Klaus Voorman, and Earl Slick – all discussing John Lennon’s particular genius.
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“I often wonder what our culture would be like today if we still has Lennon here to use his music to comment on the issues facing our country and planet. The songs he wrote during the Vietnam and Nixon years were scathing about those who abuse power. Just Imagine what he would have written about the Reagan/Bush era corruption and the BushII/Cheney run of lies”
Purleese. Lennon used his music to push his political views for three years – after Sometime in New York City bombed and he realised political activism didn’t sell records he dropped the whole idea like a hot potato and drifted into the world of middle aged muzak he once so ferociously (sp) attacked McCartney for. Mind Games, Walls and Bridges, Rock’n'Roll, Double Fantasy and Milk and Honey were about as threatening as a Carpenters release.
John is one for the ages…a Mozart or Beethoven of our time. 30 years after his passing, his music is no less powerful, no less beautiful, no less than the day he sang it. Musicians come and go and few stand the test of time, but Lennon and his cohort McCartney still draw new generations including my grown 20 something sons and my latest boy who is now as old as I was when I first heard the Beetles for the first time in’63. Regardless how you first hear John, once you do you don’t forget. His thoughts and feelings live through us as they should. For there has not been a more empathic musician in my live time.
Like millions, I Imagine everyday what our planet could be.
May John and his music Live forever!
to nathaniel wallis: john was not a poser – he ardently believed in his cause – but one cannot go on protesting forever; even joan baez went on to other topics in her songs, esp. once the war wound down. and i strongly disagree that his solo albums were ‘muzak’ – far from it, they were songs from the heart and good rock’n'roll, unlike mccartney’s pop slop. so don’t watch the show — but i sure will be watching!
hi heyjude. Not sure where you got “poser” from, and I agree, people can’t go on protesting forever. What irks me though is this notion that he dedicated his life to peace (when in reality he dedicated the years 1969 to 1972), or that he would still be threatening the establishment when nothing he recorded after that, or any statement he made, shows that this was likely. It’s just wishful thinking. I’m just interested in the truth.
And I can’t help suspect that the fact that his Great Political Opus SomeTime In New York City only reached #48 (it’s attendant singles doing little better) influenced him in his decision to abandon political activism in music for a return to his so recently (and much pubilcy rejected) “dreamweaver” personna.
One man’s muzak is another man’s “good rock and roll” so it’s an arguementy that’s quite hard to win. But Double Fantasy, to me at least, sounds like bland, slick, coffee table rock. Not too far removed from McCartneys alledged “pop slop.”
I hestitate to put one over the other, but would rather suggest that the self proclaimed genius John Lennon turned out to be not too different from his old mucka after all.
With John’s burtal whit & honesty, Imagine what a cameo appearance on the upcomming NYC season of Curb Your Enthusiasm might have been like!
I have never posted a reply to anything I have read online, but when the subject is John Lennon and Nathaniel Wallis’ comments about him, I will take the leap.
From everything I have recently read and based on several films which have been released about John Lennon’s life in the last few years, I don’t think it is fair or accurate to say, in essence, that he “sold out to pop.” “Double Fantasy” has to be put in perspective. Lennon had essentially become a private person when Sean was born in 1975 and spent most of his time being the father to him that John never had himself. When he released “Double Fantasy” I recall John describing the album as his effort to reconnect with the world using the best method of communication he possessed: his music. He said in an interview not long after the release of the album that “Double Fantasy” was his way of saying “Hey, I’m back. Weren’t the ’70’s a drag? Let’s push forward.”
The fact that John was murdered not long after he began recording again cannot be overlooked. No one will ever know what he would have done with his music or how he would have used his celebrity in response to the events of the day. That is the real tragedy for those of us who love and admire John Lennon and all that he stood for during his life. However, based upon what he did during the extremely limited time he was with us, one can only Imagine that he would have continued to actively promote the beliefs he professed: the need for peace and basic human dignity around the world.
Just read your comments Robert Carver, it was exciting to read. Imagine in our future more Lennons’ that seek and speak the truth for humanity…. it will happen, time is answer, love is the healer, and there are those like yourself speaking as John did, looking for a better safer future…
In an interview from Guitar Legends magazine they talk about a different version of two Beatle songs that Lennon wanted to play in an up in coming tour, which never happen because he died. Have you heard these songs and which one’s were they.
Ouch! I never said that he “sold out to pop.” After the failure of Some Time In New York City it is undisputable that Lennon returned to the dreamy look-at-the-face-in-the-clouds imagery of Imagine and Pepper. It’s all #9 Dream and Mind Games rather than Power To The People or Woman is The Nigger of The World. THIS IS NOT NECESSARILY A BAD THING. Many people think the former is what he does best. He wasn’t selling out, he was returning a more successful style.
My point is that maybe that change was prompted by his desire to produce music that actually sold. That’s not selling out.
Finally – my original point is that many people here seem to assume that Lennon would still be writing biting satires about todays poltical situation, WHEN ALL THE EVIDENCE POINTS TO THE CONTRARY (sorry for shouting.)
I like John Lennon. A Day In The Life and Walrus are my two top songs of all time. But somehow a very short period of his life is coming to dominate every aspect of his legacy.
I like the irony of the fact that Lennon left the UK for New York because he truly believed that was where he belonged and where he could shed his old Beatle image of “the dreamy one”. But the US public largely rejected this New Lennon, while his political material did much better in the UK (STINYC making an almost respectable – for an ex-Beatle- #11 in the charts.) Lennons return to his more whimsical, less direct style (Mind Games – basically Son-Of-Imagine-but-without-the-great-tunes) did quite well in America but not so in the place he’d built that image in the first place. Until his death Lennon’s singles were to never bother the UK top 10 again. Go figure.
John was so great!! We need him back today to fight all the injustice in the WORLD!!
Dream. Dream away. Magic’s in the air….
http://tomdegan.blogspot.com/2010/10/its-johnnys-birthday.html
Tom Degan
Goshen, NY
Thank you so much for presenting this wonderful film about the late, great John Lennon. His music and his legend will live forever.
I believe the world is a better place because of John Lennon’s music. We will miss him but never forget him.
Could you IMAGINE, if John were alive today; what an Inspiration he would have been; even more so. God Bless You, John, Peace.
When I heard that Lennon was killed, I was 21 years old and instantly became an old man. I was in the U.S. Navy at the time and a new father.
I’ll never forget where I was and what I felt when I learned of John Lennon’s death. My entire winter winter was affected. John and George were the most amazingly talented people and a gift to the Beatles. Without John Lennon, there is no one brave enough to speak out on world issues in an inspiring and creative manner. I still miss you John!
John Lennon was someone who meant alot to many. To me, he was my idol and I wanted to be just like him: A creative genious!
And yes, he was an American by choice! He loved this country. This man could have lived wherever he wanted and he chose the USA, NYC to be exact. He loved it here and raised his son here. He was a great, caring man who let us all IMAGINE PEACE!
Mr. Wallis-son:
What and where is All this Evidence that you speak of in vague terms? Can you lay it out for us instead of making such strong assertions in overly loud language? And why are you so fixated upon commercial success as a measurement tool of quality rock and roll music? Seems just a tad superficial to many of us.
If only we all could imagine.
Lennon STILL rules!
I just love him.. always have…always will!!
I can’t wait to see it as John Lennon is and always will be an inspiration to me through his Music, but also through his LOVE of Humanity and his thought’s of a BETTER WORLD. TO ME HE WILL ALWAYS BE A WONDERFUL HUMAN BEING.
The fact that we are all here discussing John and his might have beens…..shows the power of who he was, and that power came from telling the truth, whether it be unpopular or even embarrasingly personal. Mother. Help. Beautiful Boy. Oh Yoko. Gimme Some Truth. Woman. It is very rare for an artist to bare his soul on such a large scale and with a combination of honesty, raw emotion and lyrical beauty. And, I doubt very much that he wrote Give Peace a Chance because it would be a hit. Miss you John.
If only we could carry on his desires we would live in peace. I loved him in life and love him now. Thank you John.
Let’s NEVER forget the other half, Sir Paul. It was never the same, one without the other. The “genius” is from the two of them together.
Being a big John Lennon fan and a photogragher back in 1974 I was fortunate to photograph John at various NY locatations including his office ,central park, 5th ave, beacon theater ….. both in color and black and white for 4 hours (very personal and museum quality photos,from the May Pang period).These photgraphs have never been published, I am looking to put together a show of these photo,so these photos can be shared with all who loved him.If you know of a quality gallery that might be interested in doing a show or a part of a show using these pictures please contact me at chippy239@gmail.com. I really enjoyed the show tonight, and really am looking forward to tomorrows show. May the words of Imagine come true.
Gary Lane
Nov 21, 2010
I have considered John Lennon a hero of mine since 1967. The night he was taken from us is still a raw nerve for me. I was playing poker with friends, the football game on the TV in the background. We heard the commentator deliver the news and the next 2 hours are a blank. I was found by my friends under a stairwell, in shock, and taken to the hospital. I cried for a month, every day, hard sobs that are reserved for family members. Yea, it was and is an unhealthy attachment to someone I never met. At 57 years old I still can’t watch a John video without collapsing into a puddle of tears. My grown children think its rather sad, but I would rather suffer the pain than not to have known Lennon’s presence in realtime.
If I could have I would have happily given my life in exchange for his, which I often wonder about. “Why do I get, so far, 17 more years on this planet than John? Surely he is more worthy of life than me.” Than I become hopeful that in an infinite number of alternate universes John is 70, happy, and productive.
BUT… People like Robert Carver drive me nuts. John Lennon was NOT a bleeding heart liberal. He was a caring man, yes, and he believed in the power of love. But he was also a capitalist, and he believed in personal liberty, personal responsibility, and he trashed ALL politicians during his political days (because they are ALL corrupt), not just Republicans. I can’t believe people who claim to know Lennon would think otherwise. Would Lennon support Glen Beck? No, I’m sure he wouldn’t, but he should as hell would support Beck’s RIGHT to do what does. People say John was a pacifist, but he really wasn’t. He would fight for what he believed in, and he believed WWII was a just war, so please spare us the liberal slant because you want to claim John as your own. Yoko should be more responsible for John’s image too, since she’s been selling his image as a leftist since the explosion of the internet (John would have LOVED the internet).
Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m no conservative. I believe in gay marriage, abortion before brain waves, legalize pot, and a whole lot more, but I’m no liberal and neither was John. I understand Yoko wanting to position John as a leftist, because Yoko was always more left leaning than John, and Yoko has controlled his image for 30 fricking years. You want the real truth about John, the greatest man that ever lived? (Yea, I’m not religious either), then read HIS words. In those 5 years he was raising Sean he was more “family values”, more “financially conservative” than at any point in his life. In fact, Esquire (the NOW LIBERAL magazine) did a HIT piece on John as a Cover feature, just a few months before he died. As he would have, should have, gotten older he would not have supported much of the progressive agenda, and to twist history, even by Yoko herself, is wrong. Truth has a funny way of disappearing when you leave the truth in the hands of someone with an agenda.
I won’t be watching this tonight, but I will read several reviews to see how they slant it. If it is a true representation of John’s NYC years than I’ll buy the DVD and try and watch it, and if not, than I will sadly realize that as the years move forward Lennon’s legacy will continue to be framed by others, not John, and no one will learn the truth about him. That is a tragedy, but I suppose it has happened to every great, and not-so-great, hero through the ages.
I would give my life in exchange for John Lennon’s, in a New York Minute, he was a truly great man who was wise beyond measure, a man that wore his heart on his sleeve, and touched all of us in deep and meaningful ways through his songs about love, loss, and much more.. We need to teach others the truth about Lennon, not gloss it over by people who weren’t born yet, or were babies the day he died. When you talk about John, please speak the truth, or someday (today?) no one will be left to remember the REAL John Lennon.
I hope that this film is not a propaganda piece by the progressives of today. But I have a feeling it is.
The day we went to war in Iraq and I saw protesters on the Tv all I could think is I wish John was here. He would have given us the inspiration we needed to go to the streets and stay there until the gov’t had no other choice but to listen. We miss you John.
Robert Carver, too bad no one is singing about the atrocities happening to this country and government now. Back in the USSR definitely reflects today’s standards of American government.
John Lennon was an artist who did about as much as anyone could to express himself honestly and to make the world a better place. He was never primarily a political activist, nor did he need to be. Nathaniel, I agree with you that Walrus and A Day in the Life were two of the greatest songs ever recorded… certainly among the very best of the Beatles. I would add a vote for Nowhere Man. Of course Paul did a lot of great songs too.