John Lennon fans may be a bit surprised to see an interview in the new documentary, Beatles Stories, with Lennon’s long time friend Fred Seaman. Seaman says that Lennon had moved away from his early radicalism and became a fan of . . . wait for it . . . Ronald Reagan.
By the time of his death in 1980, Seaman say that Lennon was supportive of Ronald Reagan over Jimmy Carter.
Just imagine the following lyrics being used as a call to a Reagan fundraiser:
You may say that I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will be as one
It is enough to put even the most stalwart liberal into a fetal position.
Source: Toronto Sun
Mike S. I remember fully the Leonard Cohen concert I saw two years ago.
First, as the late great Ray Charles once said, “I never saw the point of the Beattes.” I was too caught up groovin’ to the Temptations, the Jackson Five, The Dells, Delfonics, Chi-Lites and Stylistics whose musical artistry soared light years over anything these guys ever put out. I am not hatin; I’m just saying. In fact, I liked the solo acts far more than I did the group act. Lennon and McCartney rocked as solo artists.
As for Lennon’s alleged later conversion as a conservative, why should we care? Do you really think this information is really going to steal votes away from the Democrats? Those who vote based on this information are crazy anyway. Lennon is dead and not here to say no way or the other. This assertion is similar to Palin’s assertion last year when she stated that we should honor Dr. King by supporting the troops. Icons are always being recreated to score political points. Who gives a rat’s ass what Lennon thought? What a waste of time. How about talking about how Congress plans to deal with the issue of job creation and truly fixing the economy. The rest is a distraction as it was intended to be. So move along people. There is nothing to see here.
Bob,
I should have mentioned Abbey Road. Once a Deadhead always a Deadhead. I go through cycles of who i listen to the most and right now its’ those I mentioned. So much music, so little time to listen.
SWM,
“Blood on the Tracks” is my favorite Dylan album, except for the live one he did at MSG with the Band. I was there, with great seats and it was the best concert I ever attended, though memories are blurred from what I injested.
Bob,
Regarding Howlin’ Wolf, I’ve got a rare genetic disorder, I’d rather not talk about it. Do you have “The London Sessions?” I pull it out every couple of weeks (which is pretty frequent for me).
Haven’t heard the test press.
Well he was from Minnesota after all…to the Zimmermans…..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hk3mAX5xdxo My friend grew up with Dylan in Hibbing. Saw him in concert with her.
Bob,
I saw Dylan when he has just released it….Flat, Black and Round one….unfortunately he teamed up with Petty and that kinda ruined the concert for me….but I paid a shit load for the ticket and stayed for the whole thing…if I can block Petty out of it…it was a fairly good concert….lol
And speaking of hearing something new re Dylan, ever listen to the test pressing of Blood On The Tracks?
“Howlin’ Wolf never gave me Goosebumps,”
With that voice, how couldn’t he?
“Mingus has never drawn a tear”
But he probably made you laugh with ditties like
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEIx4kSSeVg
And Zappa’s lyrics are almost prophetic; for example, predicting the coming of the likes of Palin and Bachman…
“Can’t escape the conclusion
It’s probably God’s Will
That civilization
Will grind to a standstill
And [they] are the people
Who will make it all happen
While yer children is sleepin’,
Yer puppy is crappin”
Gyges:
“Just because someone is a great showman, doesn’t mean his views on anything else are worth listening to.”
****************
I assume you mean Lennon but note the hand-in-glove application to kderosa. Clown, clairvoyant (note his premonition of Pepe’s piece), and clod all rolled into one very flamboyant package. I do love good show. Maybe he can front for Lady Gaga.
“Nonascerbic” kderosa reply coming in three … two … one ….
Ginger,
I guess the question is, were\are any of those things a goal of Zappa or Dylan? You can’t call someone a failure who didn’t accomplish something he never wanted to do. Stravinsky has never made me want to dance, Howlin’ Wolf never gave me Goosebumps, Mingus has never drawn a tear.
To a large degree this is a matter of taste, which is why I preface my comment with “I’d say.” Almost every time I listen to a Dylan lyric or a recording of Zappa and his band, I hear something new; the craft involved is astounding.
Saying “they’re good at X, but better at Y” is not the same as saying “The succeeded at Y despite X.”
“…but compare Lennon Or McCartney’s songwriting to Dylan, Zappa, or any number of other folks at the time, and they fall a bit short. …”
There is not a single Dylan or Zappa song I have ever heard that has a chord change in it that gave me goose bumps. Only one or two Dylan songs ever inspired me to dance. I don’t recall ever hearing a single Zappa song that drew a tear.
The Beatles were a success because of their songs, not despite them. Were they marketed well? Sure. But it was their musical genius which made them overnight sensations, kept them there for many years, and which allowed them to change the world with their message.
I have been in bands and have played some of their music – it still amazes me to this day how deceptively simple their compositions appear, how difficult it is to play their stuff really well, how unique were their chord choices and changes, and the stamina of their legacy.
@mespo727272
In light of Pepe’s excellent link, you must feel more moronic than usual about now. (And I’m glad he posted it because, I was certainly not about to put any effort into proving the trolls, like Mespo, are as idiotic as their blather you suggest. The idiotic blather speaks for itself.)
You know what they say about making assumptions, don’t you, Mespo?
That’s well-deserved acrimony.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2008/oct/11/john-lennon-philip-norman
It should be possible to enjoy the music without admiring the musician.
How about a Woody Guthrie song sung by “The Boss?”
I concur with just about everything Mike S. just said, although I’m still a deadhead and think that Abbey Road comes in just a hair above Rubber Soul.
But not even Dylan or Zappa ever came close to the genius and talent that was Derek & The Dominoes.