Working Class Hero

凶弾に倒れてから25年という節目の年（2005年）にリリースされたジョン初の2枚組ベスト盤。98年以降のリマスター音源を使用し、現在のテクノロジー（高音質）でその魅力を最大限に引き出された全38曲は音楽を愛する人、そして平和を願うすべての人に贈る永久保存盤。

Released to coincide with what would have been Lennon's 65th birthday, this definitive collection spans two CD's and features no less that thirty eight tracks. Featuring songs taken from his various studio and live albums, 'Working Class Hero' includes the classics 'Imagine', 'Woman', and 'Happy Xmas (War Is Over)'.|

There sure hasn't been a shortage of John Lennon compilations over the years, but there hasn't been a new collection since 1997's Lennon Legend and there haven't been any two-CD sets covering his entire career -- until 2005's Working Class Hero: The Definitive Lennon, that is. Released on October 4, 2005, this surely was intended as a tie-in to the Broadway show Lennon: The Musical, but it wound up appearing ten days after the musical concluded its disastrous run. Even if the show did tank, it provided the occasion for this strong collection. Working Class Hero may tread familiar territory -- not only does it have all the usual suspects, from "Instant Karma" to "(Just Like) Starting Over," it has them in a sequencing that feels familiar, even it doesn't correspond to any specific previous release -- but that's fine, because it provides a rather thorough overview of Lennon's best-known solo songs. In many cases, these are often his best, but there are surely some great songs missing here, particularly because the comp emphasizes material with a slight romantic bent or songs that play into the myth of St. John (meaning, mixed alongside the hits there are plenty of songs about Yoko and being a father, and rockers are given short shrift). But these are minor complaints: anybody who wants a succinct yet comprehensive compilation of most of Lennon's solo best should be satisfied with this. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine