Location: New York City
Country: USA
Genre: Agitpop
Box Set: Power to the People
Format: Deluxe Box Set, 9 CDs, 3 Blu-Ray discs; also Digital album, vinyl.
Label: Capitol/UMe
Release date: October 10, 2024
The John Lennon and Yoko Ono box set, “Power To The People,” is not just a remix of the 1972 album, “Sometime In New York City,” but of a period of time and a state of mind. It covers John and Yoko’s early New York City era, when the most non-violent political activism could only really be achieved through sonic bombardment. The Deluxe Box Set is a full-frontal attack at 123 tracks over 12 discs on the Super Deluxe Editions. It also contains many true surprises. One is a very clearly mixed jam between John and protest songwriter Phil Ochs.
No pop star had ever gone more activist than John Lennon did in his extremely busy post-Beatle years. Before leaving England, Lennon returned his MBE, spent time in bed for peace, defended the British underground magazine, Oz, and supported civil rights activist Michael X. Upon landing in New York, the Lennons performed at rallies and benefits, and continued to put often unpopular political issues to song, writing pieces defending the prisoners at Attica State, and Angela Davis. The Lennons were always finding new ways to condemn not only war, but the machinery that makes war, including very human manufacturers. John didn’t know he would pay the price of getting on the Nixon enemies list, but took on issues, in song and action, no artist would celebrate in full at the time. At the time of its release, “Sometime In New York City” was the least successful of any of Lennon’s albums.
Produced by Sean Ono Lennon, the collection does not include a full run of the original “Sometime In New York City.” The order of the songs has changed, and the album is a reimagining of Ultimate Mixes, called “New York City.” There is nothing of the Phil Spector production here. Sean knocks down the Wall of Sound, stripping tracks, isolating parts, and pushing the bare bones of the performances. One of the great things about this is Sean has a fetish for his father’s guitar playing, and John is at both his manic and controlled best in this period, finger-wise. Lennon was also stripped from having to play with the Beatles, and rips or soothes the strings. listen to the funky riffs in “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” the remix. In “Cold Turkey,” the live afternoon show, Lennon’s guitar playing is brilliantly impudent.
“Some Time in New York City” was recorded primarily at New York’s Record Plant Studios. The Lennons were backed by New York City band Elephant’s Memory, which consisted of Adam Ippolito (keyboards), Gary Van Scyoc (bass), Richard Frank Jr. (drums), Wayne “Tex” Gabriel (guitar), Stan Bronstein (saxophone), plus drummer Jim Keltner. This is also the lineup for the two August 30, 1972 shows.
The box set focuses heavily on the One To One Concert at Madison Square Garden benefitting the Willowbrook State School on Staten Island. The set includes not only the two performances, but rehearsals, and jams, along with the work on the 1972 album, “Sometime In New York City.” The album is secondary. Lennon didn’t have much time to rehearse the band for the show, so the performances are tightly arranged, by the musicians are very loose. The Lennons are particularly raw. John is at his most naked, singing deeply personal songs with a newly freed voice, and an aggressively propulsive guitar. Ono’s voice has always been compared to an instrument, and you can hear the similarities to amplified guitar runs in her delivery. The One To One concert was explored in Kevin MacDonald’s documentary “One To One: John & Yoko” that will hit HBO Max later this fall.
All of the collections are illuminating. The studio jam sessions capture the immediacy of the album and live show preparations, a peak into John’s 1975 album, “Rock ‘N’ Roll,” and insight into the music the band wanted to play for fun. Live Jam consists of two discs of remixed live performances, adding to what was available on the 1972 Live Jam LP from “Sometime In New York City.” “Cold Turkey” and “Don’t Worry Kyoko” from the 1969 Peace and Love for Christmas UNICEF Benefit at The Lyceum Ballroom features George Harrison, Eric Clapton, and Klaus Voormann among the band. The Lennons’ entire 1971 jam with Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention at The Fillmore East is included. The set is mixed very clearly, but not completely. Background vocals from Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan (Flo & Eddie) are dropped, which is a shame. Flo and Eddie complemented Ono’s performance well.
The Live Jam 2 disc continues the live mixes starting with John and Yoko’s The Plastic Ono Band including musician David Peel and The Lower East Side on December 10, 1971, at the John Sinclair Freedom Rally at Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor, Mich. It includes the first live performance of “Attica State,” along with “The Luck Of The Irish,” “Sisters, O Sisters,” and “John Sinclair.” It is followed by John and Yoko’s December 17, 1971 benefit at the Apollo Theatre for the families of victims of the riot at the Attica State Correction Facility. The disc also includes John and Yoko’s TV performances on “The David Frost Show” (with Plastic Ono Band) and at the “Jerry Lewis Muscular Telethon” (with Elephant’s Memory).
The Home Jam disc of 33 acoustic demos, and home recordings from 1971, are fascinating studies of Lennon’s relationship with the acoustic guitar. From the oldies John covers, to the experiments to be turned into song, Lennon’s guitar works is innovative and adventurous. The four tracks recorded with protest singer Phil Ochs are historically eye opening, and reveal Lennon as the eternal student. Being new to protest songwriting, Lennon invited Ochs over to learn the finer points of making a point. The audio captures Ochs’ explanations, and Lennon’s rapt interest, as well as the obvious fun he was having. Occasionally praising specific changes, Lennon uses his National steel guitar to bring tasteful slide runs and subtle respect to the accompaniment over Ochs’ performances.
The packaging is elegant. The lenticular cover of John and Yoko’s faces on the Deluxe Edition is marvelous art. The set comes with 9 CDs and 3 Blu-Ray audio discs. It contains a 204-page hardback book designed and edited by Simon Hilton, a newspaper print poster, sticker sheets and a VIP envelope containing replica concert tickets, backstage and after-show passes.
Arriving at an important political juncture, “Power to the People” could be a potent weapon for the musical left, but is incomplete. The discs are a wealth of never-before-heard, previously unreleased tracks, demos, home recordings, jam sessions, and live cuts. But, the most distressing thing about the box set is what is completely omitted from the set. At the Oct. 7 listening party, photographer Bob Gruen remembered the title on the boxed reels being labeled “’Woman is the of the World’, the word was left out, it was so offensive,” and thinking, “that will never get airplay.” The Lennon/Ono female oppression lament may very well be dated, offensive, and crude, but it is a necessary message becoming timelier by the minute. While the box set is entitled “Power to the People,” the song only appears as introductions to the One to One Concert performance. It’s still worth the listen, even without being left wanting more. All Power to the People. -Tony Sokol
POWER TO THE PEOPLE
SUPER DELUXE EDITION 9CD/3BR/BOOK BOXED SET
9 CDs ⋆ 3 HD AUDIO BLU-RAY DISCS ⋆ LENTICULAR COVER
103 TRACKS ⋆ HD STEREO ⋆ HD 5.1 SURROUND ⋆ DOLBY ATMOS
204-PAGE BOOK ⋆ NEWSPRINT POSTER ⋆ 2 POSTCARDS ⋆ 2 STICKER SHEETS ⋆ 2 REPLICA TICKETS, VIP BACKSTAGE PASS AND VIP AFTERSHOW INVITATION
THE ONE TO ONE CONCERT
John & Yoko/Plastic Ono Band with Elephant’s Memory and Special Guests
Live at Madison Square Garden, New York City
30 August 1972
CD1 / BR1
HYBRID ‘BEST OF’ SHOW
1. Power To The People< (intro)* †
2. New York City*
3. It's So Hard*
4. Move On Fast* †
5. Well Well Well †
6. Born In A Prison* †
7. Instant Karma! (We All Shine On)*
8. Mother*
9. We're All Water †
10. Come Together †
11. Imagine*
12. Open Your Box* †
13. Cold Turkey* †
14. Don’t Worry Kyoko* †
15. Hound Dog
16. Law And Order
17. Give Peace A Chance
* denotes afternoon show, otherwise the performance is from the evening show
CD2 / BR1
AFTERNOON SHOW
1. Power To The People (intro) †
2. New York City
3. It's So Hard
4. Move On Fast †
5. Well Well Well
6. Born In A Prison †
7. Instant Karma! (We All Shine On)
8. Mother
9. We're All Water †
10. Come Together
11. Imagine
12. Open Your Box †
13. Cold Turkey †
14. Don’t Worry Kyoko †
15. Hound Dog †
CD3 / BR1
EVENING SHOW
1. Power To The People (intro) †
2. New York City †
3. It's So Hard †
4. Move On Fast †
5. Well Well Well †
6. Instant Karma! (We All Shine On) †
7. Mother †
8. We're All Water †
9. Born In A Prison †
10. Come Together †
11. Imagine †
12. Open Your Box †
13. Cold Turkey
14. Hound Dog
15. Law And Order
16. Give Peace A Chance
CD4 / BR2
NEW YORK CITY (THE ULTIMATE MIXES)
John & Yoko/Plastic Ono Band with Elephant’s Memory plus Invisible Strings
1. New York City (Ultimate Mix)
2. Sisters, O Sisters (Ultimate Mix)
3. Attica State (Ultimate Mix)
4. Born In A Prison (Ultimate Mix)
5. Sunday Bloody Sunday (Ultimate Mix, extended)
6. The Luck Of The Irish (Ultimate Mix)
7. John Sinclair (Ultimate Mix, extended)
8. Angela (Ultimate Mix)
9. We're All Water (Ultimate Mix)
CD5 / BR2
NEW YORK CITY (THE EVOLUTION DOCUMENTARY)
John & Yoko/Plastic Ono Band with Elephant’s Memory plus Invisible Strings
1. New York City (Evolution Documentary) †
2. Sisters, O Sisters (Evolution Documentary) †
3. Attica State (Evolution Documentary) †
4. Born In A Prison (Evolution Documentary) †
5. Sunday Bloody Sunday (Evolution Documentary) †
6. The Luck Of The Irish (Evolution Documentary) †
7. John Sinclair (Evolution Documentary) †
8. Angela (Evolution Documentary) †
9. We're All Water (Evolution Documentary) †
CD6 / BR2
NEW YORK CITY (STUDIO JAM)
John & Yoko/Plastic Ono Band with Elephant’s Memory
1. Jazz Freakout †
2. You Can't Sit Down †
3. Roll Over Beethoven †
4. Honey, Don't †
5. Ain't That A Shame †
6. My Babe †
7. Send Me Some Lovin' †
8. Fools Like Me †
9. Down In The Caribbean †
10. Happy Birthday Yoko Ono †
11. That's Right †
12. Don't Be Cruel / Hound Dog †
13. Yoko's Rhythm †
14. Whole Lotta Shakin' / It'll Be Me †
15. Yakety Yak †
16. Road Runner †
John & Yoko/Plastic Ono Band with Invisible Strings
17. Sisters, O Sisters (Elements Mix) †
18. Born In A Prison (Elements Mix) †
19. The Luck Of The Irish (Elements Mix) †
20. Angela (Elements Mix) †
CD7 / BR3
LIVE JAM 1
John & Yoko / Plastic Ono Band and A Star Studded Cast of Thousands
Peace and Love for Christmas, in aid of UNICEF
Live at the Lyceum Ballroom, The Strand, London
15 December 1969
1. Cold Turkey (live)
2. Don’t Worry Kyoko (live)
John & Yoko / Plastic Ono Band with Frank Zappa and The Mothers
Fillmore East, New York
6 June 1971
3. Well (Baby Please Don't Go) (live)
4. Jamrag [Say Please / King Kong / Aawk] (live)
5. Scumbag (live)
6. Aü (live)
CD8 / BR3
LIVE JAM 2
John & Yoko / Plastic Ono Band with David Peel and The Lower East Side
Live at the John Sinclair Freedom Rally, Crisler Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan
10 December 1971
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