Plastic Ono Band (The Ultimate Mixes) 2CD

ジョン・レノンのファースト・ソロ・アルバム『ジョンの魂』が 発売50周年を記念して初のマルチ・フォーマットで発売!
発売50周年を記念した『ジョンの魂』アルティメイト・コレクションの2CDエディション。

●スリップ・ケース入り限定盤
●20ページのブックレット付
●「WAR IS OVER (IF YOU WANT IT)」ポスター付

ジョン・レノンの『ジョンの魂』は1970年12月11日に発売。ビートルズ解散後、初となるソロ・アルバムで、リンゴ・スターやクラウス・フォアマンなどをバックに、ジョンが思いの丈をすべて曝し出した内省的な作品。「ゴッド(神)」での"ビートルズへの決別宣言"にファンは度肝を抜かれた。ロック名盤中の名盤。

The cliche about singer/songwriters is that they sing confessionals direct from their heart, but John Lennon exploded the myth behind that cliche, as well as many others, on his first official solo record, John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band. Inspired by his primal scream therapy with Dr. Arthur Janov, Lennon created a harrowing set of unflinchingly personal songs, laying out all of his fears and angers for everyone to hear. It was a revolutionary record -- never before had a record been so explicitly introspective, and very few records made absolutely no concession to the audience's expectations, daring the listeners to meet all the artist's demands. Which isn't to say that the record is unlistenable. Lennon's songs range from tough rock & rollers to piano-based ballads and spare folk songs, and his melodies remain strong and memorable, which actually intensifies the pain and rage of the songs. Not much about Plastic Ono Band is hidden. Lennon presents everything on the surface, and the song titles -- "Mother," "I Found Out," "Working Class Hero," "Isolation," "God," "My Mummy's Dead" -- illustrate what each song is about, and chart his loss of faith in his parents, country, friends, fans, and idols. It's an unflinching document of bare-bones despair and pain, but for all its nihilism, it is ultimately life-affirming; it is unique not only in Lennon's catalog, but in all of popular music. Few albums are ever as harrowing, difficult, and rewarding as John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine