John Lennon: Walls and Bridges

I recently got my hands on a 2005 re-issue of John Lennon's 1974 album "Walls and Bridges". This particular album is important to the Lennon Discography for a couple of reasons. First of all it was recorded during Lennon's infamous "Lost Weekend". According to close sources this was a time in Lennon's career where he was estranged from wife, Yoko Ono for a period of 18 months. During this time Lennon reportedly lived a life of excess going on essentially an 18 month bender of alcohol, drugs and sex. The album itself is a gem. It was originally intended to be a stripped down acoustic album but with time it morphed into a rather overall bluesy yet upbeat feeling endeavor. Although the album is rather upbeat sonically there are obvious lyrical evidence of Lennon's emotional pain at the time of recording. For instance the song "Scared" produces the following lyrics: "Hatred and jealousy go the best of me; I guess I knew it right from the start". "Walls and Bridges" was produced by Lennon but he received a lot of creative input by friends and collaborators such as Harry Nilsson, Elton John, Jim Keltner, Ken Asher and even 11-year old Julian Lennon. This album is really quite amazing and even though it was #1 upon it's release in the States its status seems to have been overshadowed by other post-Beatle Lennon albums like "Mind Games" and "Plastic Ono Band". I recommend this album to anyone who likes life or doesn't. *****/5

Old Dirt Road mp3