Search - John Lennon :: Menlove Ave.

Menlove Ave.
John Lennon
Menlove Ave.
Genres: Folk, Pop, Rock, Classic Rock
 
  •  Track Listings (10) - Disc #1

Roundly pilloried at the time of its 1986 release as a posthumous barrel-scraping, Menlove Avenue is actually a much more complicated proposition. While it's true that the album's 10 tracks are merely outtakes from Lennon'...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: John Lennon
Title: Menlove Ave.
Members Wishing: 7
Total Copies: 0
Label: EMI/Capitol
Album Type: Limited Edition, Import
Genres: Folk, Pop, Rock, Classic Rock
Styles: Singer-Songwriters, Singer-Songwriters, Album-Oriented Rock (AOR)
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1

Synopsis

Amazon.com
Roundly pilloried at the time of its 1986 release as a posthumous barrel-scraping, Menlove Avenue is actually a much more complicated proposition. While it's true that the album's 10 tracks are merely outtakes from Lennon's troubled 1974-1975 studio sessions, the music here is fairly enlightening and occasionally even excellent. The five songs originally recorded for Rock 'N' Roll are admittedly pretty awful; it's no wonder that these soggy versions of "Angel Baby" and "To Know Her Is to Love Her" didn't make it onto the album, or that John fobbed "Rock and Roll People" off on Johnny Winter instead of releasing it himself. But the second half rescues five great Walls and Bridges cuts from the over-produced murk of their "official" versions, and the results are nothing less than sublime. Recommended to hardcore Lennonists with a soft spot for Walls and Bridges; everyone else should probably avoid it. --Dan Epstein

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CD Reviews

C'mon people get some menLOVE
JASON | COLORADO | 10/09/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)

"John Lennon could scream and moan and it would be better than any crap out now. I think you can get some of that on unfinished music, but on to this. The slower quiet "live" versions starting with steel and glass are perfect. I always picture John like some struggling musician playing old smokey west side bar, no one listening, he's just feelin' down in it some night. Mostly just John's voice dominating over the backing music, sometimes just piano. Oh how I wish there were more/any artists like this still around who could sing and song write, play the instruments. More than just a face dancing around to some stolen music they call there own, please. Rock and roll people and since my baby left me are just fun, and you want to love her when you hear John singing to know her is to love her you really have to think of your own special love and you know its from the heart."
For collectors only
Evan K. Mutter | Calgary, AB | 04/06/2007
(2 out of 5 stars)

"John Lennon is a genius, but even geniuses have slow days. This is a disc released after his untimely death. If you want to know what John is all about don't start with this disc. Start with Imagine or the Beatles stuff."
If you bought this album without listening to it first, put
George D. Anderson | 07/06/2008
(3 out of 5 stars)

"You really should hear at least a major position af any release before you buy something. If you buy on spec, expect the possiblity to be disappointed, if not outright burned.



Y'all had to know up front that if Lennon hadn't released these recordings in his life, not even as single B sides, that he had dissatisfaction with them. Read that as they were rejected by JL quality control.



Taking potshots at Lennon or Yoko isn't yours, there are some people who literally want everything they can get their hands, illegally (bootlegs) if need be, might as well make these available on those grounds.

This is better quality and cheaper than most boots.



It is not a John Lennon album as much as collection of rough drafts that are a hit and miss proposition. Buy with the expectation of small treasures and bright moments amongst the the misfires and not yet focused rehearsals, and there is enjoyment to be derived.



I do like much of this but don't regard it as a major release. Major releases are those albums Lennon assembled and okay'd for release in his lifetime, all else is a bonus."