ASPHYXIUM ZINE

Thursday, July 11, 2024

Full Length Review: John Lennon and the Plastic U.F. Ono Band "Mind Games – The Ultimate Collection" (UMe) by Tony Sokol

Band: John Lennon and the Plastic U.F. Ono Band
Location: New York
Country: United States
Genre: Rock
Full length: Mind Games – The Ultimate Collection
Format: Remixed and Expanded Collection
Label: UMe
Release date: July 12, 2024
“Mind Games” (1973), John Lennon’s fourth solo album after the breakup of The Beatles, celebrated unity. The latest remixed expansion, “Mind Games – The Ultimate Collection” due to come out on July 12, is marvel of separation. This is especially true when heard in the immersive surround sound of New York City’s Dolby Screening Room, where an electric rhythm guitar on “Tight A$” seems to meander around the seats under their Dolby Atmos aural presentation. No visuals are needed. Only the album cover is projected. Lennon recorded the album in five days, sitting in on guitar and guide vocals with Record Plant’s top studio musicians. Dubbing the lineup The Plastic U.F.Ono Band, the basic tracks were laid down by Lennon, guitarist David Spinozza, pianist Ken Ascher, drummer Rick Marotta, and bassist Gordon Edwards, all of whom were in attendance for the Q&A. Jim Keltner discussed his fills via satellite.
Besides instruments which had been previously buried in the mix, the first sonic shock is the fullness of the bottom. Edwards commands every fret, lovingly and playfully cushioning the groove, and propelling the motion. After hearing the playback, Spinozza was reminded of the endless diversity of the chord changes. This rendered any blues riff borrowings impossible for the solo on “Aisumasen (I'm Sorry),” which the guitarist still considers his best.
Marotta told the audience the playback reminded him how Lennon’s lavish time signature changes often left him grasping “to find the one.” In the documentary, “John Lennon Mind Games (The Evolution Documentary),” Lennon shows he does this “for no reason other than my insanity.”
“Mind Games’” original engineer, Daniel Barbiero, came to work straight after setting the dials on the album “Innervisions.” Lennon introduced himself, saying “’I’m no Stevie Wonder, just a dammed good rhythm guitar player.” Lennon’s opening to “Out the Blue” is among his best acoustic guitar work, but he can still fuzz and funk out with the best on songs like “Bring On the Lucie (Freda People)” and “Meat City.” Barbiero confirmed that Lennon drenched his vocals in effects while he was singing, but said they were unnecessary. Lennon’s vocals are up front and unencumbered by the original production’s excessive echo, reverb, and flange. Powerful even on the softest of songs, they are just as effective naked.
The new mixes were produced by Sean Ono Lennon, off the original tapes. His father might have considered scolding him for stripping the veneer from the vocals, but it is a joy to hear the voice so clean. Sean pares the songs down to highlight each instrument chosen from the original players. Bass and drums are high in the mix. We hear a lot of individual parts which were buried, but we lose much of the saxophone Michael Brecker supplied the original album. Paul Hicks also produced and engineered along with Sam Gannon.
Of the deep cuts selected for previews, one of the greatest revelations is the pedal-steel work of “Sneaky” Pete Kleinow on “You Are Here.” A very good case could be made, after hearing the isolated performance, that the song could have gone out with no other instrumentation. It fulfills the promise Santo and Johnny’s “Sleepwalk” made so many years ago. Another surprise is the work of backing vocalists Jocelyn Brown, Christine Wiltshire, Angel Coakely and Kathy Mull, which is crystal clear in the new mix.
The cover photographer, Bob Gruen, put the album in historical context. The 1973 recording sessions at the Record Plant corresponded with Lennon’s fight to stay in the United States, specifically in New York City. He’d been getting heavy heat from the American government after his public opposition to the Vietnam War, and his “Some Time in New York City” album didn’t win him any points with President Richard Nixon. Fighting to keep his green card and followed by the FBI, the pressure caused the separation with Yoko Ono. After recording Mind Games, Lennon would move to California to form the Hollywood Vampires for his Lost Weekend period. He also made music.
There are many iterations of the Ultimate Collection, but this is the full list of purchasable tracks. -Tony Sokol

CD1 • The Ultimate Mixes
1. Mind Games
2. Tight A$
3. Aisumasen (I’m Sorry)
4. One Day (At A Time)
5. Bring On The Lucie (Freeda Peeple)
6. Nutopian International Anthem
7. Intuition
8. Out The Blue
9. Only People
10. I Know (I Know)
11. You Are Here
12. Meat City

CD2 • The Elemental Mixes
1. Mind Games (Elemental Mix)
2. Tight A$ (Elemental Mix)
3. Aisumasen (I’m Sorry) (Elemental Mix)
4. One Day (At A Time) (Elemental Mix)
5. Bring On The Lucie (Freeda Peeple) (Elemental Mix)
6. Nutopian International Anthem (Elemental Mix)
7. Intuition (Elemental Mix)
8. Out The Blue (Elemental Mix)
9. Only People (Elemental Mix)
10. I Know (I Know) (Elemental Mix)
11. You Are Here (Elemental Mix)
12. Meat City (Elemental Mix)

CD3 • The Elements Mixes
1. Mind Games (Elements Mixes)
2. Tight A$ (Elements Mixes)
3. Aisumasen (I’m Sorry) (Elements Mixes)
4. One Day (At A Time) (Elements Mixes)
5. Bring On The Lucie (Freeda Peeple) (Elements Mixes)
6. Nutopian International Anthem (Elements Mixes)
7. Intuition (Elements Mixes)
8. Out The Blue (Elements Mixes)
9. Only People (Elements Mixes)
10. I Know (I Know) (Elements Mixes)
11. You Are Here (Elements Mixes)
12. Meat City (Elements Mixes)

CD4 • The Evolution Documentary
1. Mind Games (Evolution Documentary)
2. Tight A$ (Evolution Documentary)
3. Aisumasen (I’m Sorry) (Evolution Documentary)
4. One Day (At A Time) (Evolution Documentary)
5. Bring On The Lucie (Freeda Peeple) (Evolution Documentary)
6. Nutopian International Anthem (Evolution Documentary)
7. Intuition (Evolution Documentary)
8. Out The Blue (Evolution Documentary)
9. Only People (Evolution Documentary)
10. I Know (I Know) (Evolution Documentary)
11. You Are Here (Evolution Documentary)
12. Meat City (Evolution Documentary)

CD5 • The Raw Studio Mixes
1. Mind Games (Raw Studio Mix)
2. Tight A$ (Raw Studio Mix)
3. Aisumasen (I’m Sorry) (Raw Studio Mix)
4. One Day (At A Time) (Raw Studio Mix)
5. Bring On The Lucie (Freeda Peeple) (Raw Studio Mix)
6. Nutopian International Anthem (Raw Studio Mix)
7. Intuition (Raw Studio Mix)
8. Out The Blue (Raw Studio Mix)
9. Only People (Raw Studio Mix)
10. I Know (I Know) (Raw Studio Mix)
11. You Are Here (Raw Studio Mix)
12. Meat City (Raw Studio Mix)

CD6 • The Out-takes
1. Mind Games (Out-take, Take 7)
2. Tight A$ (Out-take, Take 6)
3. Aisumasen (I’m Sorry) (Out-take, Take 2)
4. One Day (At A Time) (Out-take, Take 18)
5. Bring On The Lucie (Freeda Peeple) (Out-take, Take 15)
6. Declaration Of Nutopia (Out-take, Take 1)
7. Intuition (Out-take, Take 12)
8. Out The Blue (Out-take, Take 15)
9. Only People (Out-take, Take 12)
10. I Know (I Know) (Out-take, Take 22)
11. You Are Here (Out-take, Take 5)
12. Meat City (Out-take, Take 16)

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