Tomorrow, December 8, marks 30 years since the death of John Lennon. Yoko Ono remembers the quiet hours in this piece from the NYTimes.
December 4th, 2010
‘Hey Jude’ in Trafalgar Square (via T-Mobile)
Next week will mark 30 years since the death of John Lennon, so it’s worth reflecting on the lasting goodness of his legacy as an artist and the endurance of The Beatles’ music. T-Mobile in April 2009 organized a meet-up/flash mob in Trafalgar Square, London, for a “Hey Jude” sing-along. People were told it would be a dance event, but were surprised when they arrived. Here’s the video, forwarded to us by one of our regular readers, John Wooding.
(web photo courtesy of saatchikevin.com)
November 7th, 2010
John Lennon ‘Honoured’ With Commemorative UK Coin
John Lennon’s image will appear on a commemorative coin issued in England thanks to a popular vote conducted by the Royal Mint. He joins other notable persons who have received this “honour,” including Shakespeare, Churchill, Darwin, and Florence Nightingale.
If England can manage this kind of tribute for John Lennon, we should be able to get a Jack Kerouac commemorative stamp in the U.S. before the centennial of his birth in 2022, right Dean?
Read the news here courtesy of NPR and the Associated Press.
October 9th, 2010
All-John All Day
Here’s the link for the Paul McCartney fan-site that today is playing John Lennon songs on its “Macca Radio” feature all day. On the right side of the page select the music listening tool that you prefer.
Also, www.beatles.com has lots of info today.
Boston.com has a round-up article about Lennon tributes today and this week.
October 8th, 2010
John Lennon’s Birthday Gifts
Tomorrow would have been John Lennon’s 70th birthday if his life had not been taken away in December 1980. Recently, there’s been some talk in our community about Lowell and Liverpool, Kerouac and The Beatles, with similarities being pointed out. Lennon’s life and artistic legacy continue to generate interest and be the subject of new recordings, films, and books. In today’s NYTimes, reporter Allan Kozinn describes several new music and film projects. Here’s the link; get the NYT if you appreciate the content. The photo below shows the Lennon tribute in New York City’s Central Park, a small area called Strawberry Fields. People visit and leave items expressing affection and messages of remembrance in the same way that pilgrims do at Kerouac’s grave in Edson Cemetery in Lowell.
July 2nd, 2010
Lennon Catalog to be Reissued: News from www.beatles.com
Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band played on the Boston waterfront Tuesday night to a large crowd, including many young people, according to a colleague of mine who attended the concert. She said it was an excellent concert, but Ringo did not come out for an encore. What’s the old show biz line? Always leave them wanting more? Now there’s news that Yoko Ono has overseen the re-mastering of all John Lennon’s post-Beatles music and will reissue the songs in a variety of formats in October. Read the details from www.beatles.com:
“London, England – June 29, 2010 – Eight of John Lennon’s classic solo albums and other standout recordings have been digitally remastered from his original mixes for a global catalogue initiative commemorating the music legend’s 70th birthday, which falls on October 9.
“Overseen by Yoko Ono, John Lennon’s “Gimme Some Truth” campaign will launch on 4 October (5 October in North America) with the worldwide release of eight remastered studio albums and several newly-compiled titles.
“Double Fantasy, 1980’s GRAMMY Award winner for Album of the Year, will be presented in a newly remixed ‘Stripped Down’ version remixed and produced by Yoko Ono and Jack Douglas, co-producers of the original mix with John Lennon. The new stripped down version of the album comes in an expanded 2CD and digital edition pairing the new version with Lennon’s original mix, remastered.
“The campaign’s other new collections include:
· A hits compilation in two editions titled Power To The People: The Hits
· A 4CD set of themed discs titled Gimme Some Truth
· A deluxe 11CD collectors box with the remastered albums, rarities, and non-album singles, titled the John Lennon Signature Box
“All of the remastered albums and collections will be available on CD and for download purchase from all major digital service providers
“YOKO ONO said: “In this very special year, which would have seen my husband and life partner John reach the age of 70, I hope that this remastering / reissue programme will help bring his incredible music to a whole new audience. By remastering 121 tracks spanning his solo career, I hope also that those who are already familiar with John’s work will find renewed inspiration from his incredible gifts as a songwriter, musician and vocalist and from his power as a commentator on the human condition. His lyrics are as relevant today as they were when they were first written and I can think of no more apposite title for this campaign than those simple yet direct words ‘Gimme Some Truth’.”
“The albums have been digitally remastered from Lennon’s original mixes by Yoko Ono and a team of engineers led by Allan Rouse at EMI Music’s Abbey Road Studios in London and by George Marino at Avatar Studios in New York. All of the remastered titles will be packaged in digisleeves with replicated original album art and booklets with photos and new liner notes by noted British music journalist Paul Du Noyer. The albums to be reissued are:
· John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band (1970)
· Imagine (1971)
· Some Time In New York City (1972)
· Mind Games (1973)
· Walls and Bridges (1974)
· Rock ‘n’ Roll (1975)
· Double Fantasy Stripped Down (2010) / Double Fantasy (1980)
· Milk and Honey (1984)
. . .
“One of the world’s most celebrated songwriters and performers of all time, John Lennon was killed at the age of 40 on December 8, 1980. Lennon has been posthumously honoured with a Lifetime Achievement GRAMMY Award and two special BRIT Awards for Outstanding Contribution to Music, and he has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. In 2008, Rolling Stone ranked him in the Top 5 of the magazine’s “100 Greatest Singers Of All Time” list.
“In celebration of his 70th birthday on 9 October, 2010, John Lennon’s life and music will be specially feted with a variety of commemorative releases and events around the world. Please visit www.johnlennon.com for official announcements and updates.”
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