John Lennon - Wonsaponatime

Released simultaneously with Anthology, Wonsaponatime condenses a four-disc box set into a digestible single disc that feels more revelatory than its parent. That's because the compilers did an excellent job of selecting the highlights from the long-winded box, spotlighting the best alternate takes and unreleased songs. Wonsaponatime has a similar feel to Anthology, since it is culled from the same rough takes and studio rambling, but it's simply more accessible, letting less dedicated fans appreciate everything from the Cheap Trick-backed "I'm Losing You" and "God Save Oz," to alternates of "Working Class Hero," "God," "I Found Out," and "How Do You Sleep?" Again, these outtakes are not revelatory in the manner of Dylan's Bootleg Series, or even the Beatles' own Anthology, but they humanize Lennon, who has often been viewed as something of a saint in the years since his assassination. For that alone, Wonsaponatime is as welcome an addition to his catalog as the exhaustive Anthology. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Name Credits Adam Ippolito Keyboards Alan White Drums Allan Tannenbaum Photography Andy Newmark Drums Andy Strange Engineer Anthony DeCurtis Liner Notes Ben Ross Photography Billy Preston Piano (Electric) Bob Gruen Photography Bobby Keys Saxophone Bun E. Carlos Drums Chris Clark Assistant Engineer Chris Habeck Assistant Engineer Crispin Murray Audio Restoration Dwarf McDougal Guitar (Acoustic) Earl Slick Guitar (Electric) Gary VanScyoc Bass George Harrison Slide Guitar George Marino Mastering George Martin Producer George Small Piano, Keyboards Giles Martin Assistant Producer Harry Nilsson Vocals (Background) Hugh McCracken Guitar (Electric) Ian MacMillan Photography Jack Douglas Producer Jesse Ed Davis Guitar (Electric) Jim Gordon Drums Jim Keltner Drums John Lennon Producer, Guitar (Electric), Piano, Guitar (Acoustic), Drawing, Liner Notes, Rhythm Box, Vocals John Ward Bass Karla Merrifield Photography, Production Coordination Kenny Ascher Piano (Electric) Klaus Voormann Bass Michael Phillips Production Coordination Mike Anzelowitz Assistant Engineer Mike Rew Assistant, Engineer Nicky Hopkins Piano (Electric) Nishi F Saimaru Photography Paul Goodrich Processing, Digital Editing Peter Cobbin Engineer Peter Fordham Photography Phil Spector Producer Rick Frank Drums Rick Nielsen Guitar Ricky Graham Assistant Engineer Ringo Starr Drums Rob Stevens Liner Notes, Engineer, Producer Stan Bronstein Saxophone Steve Orchard Engineer Tom Petersson Bass Tony Cousins Audio Restoration Tony Levin Bass Wayne "Tex" Gabriel Guitar Yoko Ono Photography, Executive Producer, Liner Notes, Art Direction, Producer, Piano (Electric)