WALLS AND BRIDGES

WALLS AND BRIDGES : On this 1974 release, John was slightly back on track, after the disastrous "Sometime In New York City" and the rather weak "Mind Game". This was John on his own, free from the clutches of Yoko Ono albeit only for a brief while. I found this album depressing, self pitying and not totally happy or enjoyable at all. It does, however, contain his first solo chart topper in 'Whatever Gets You Through The Night'. As John himself have said this album sounds like it came from a semi sick craft man and it does show. Still any album from John is always welcome.

Going Down On Love ( Lennon ) : This was one of the better track on the album and a good starter for any albums. A favourite for me.

Whatever Gets You Through The Night ( Lennon ) : John's first chart topper during his life time. With backing from Elton John, this is John on disco mode. Hit it may be but it's not one of my favourite John's songs. Always his own worst critic, John have said it doesn't deserved to be No.1. I agreed with him.

Old Dirt Road ( Lennon / Nilsson ) : This soft number have the potential to be a classic have they worked harder on it but things being as it was, it is just a tolerable song.

What You Got ( Lennon ) : One of the loud one that impressed. John rocking like he was born to.

Bless You ( Lennon ) : Again, a classic that could have been. This is a nice enough song but somehow there was something missing that hindered it from being on the same mantle as his confirmed classics 'Love', 'Jealous Guy', 'Oh My Love', etc.

Scared ( Lennon ) : This one is a throw away. Must have been place in to fill up the space and it shows.

#9 Dream ( Lennon ) : The second single from here and this was the John that we were expecting. Experimental and innovative. A nice breath of fresh air amid the sad songs found here.

Surprise, Surprise [ Sweet Bird Of Paradox ] ( Lennon ) : Supposedly written about his then companion, May Phang, this was one of the uptempo number that's barely manage to lift itself from the mediocre materials here.

Steel And Glass ( Lennon ) ; This was written about his ex manager, the notorious Alan Klein, who have a hand in the breakup of The Beatles and whom he have just fallen out with. Melody wise, the song is nothing to crazy about but the musical backing is note for note, the exact duplicate of his earlier Paul McCartney's assassination tune 'How Do You Sleep'.

Beef Jerky ( Lennon ) : Instrumentals from John Lennon's catalogue is almost non existence so this one is a rarity indeed. Listenable.

Nobody Loves You [ When You're Down And Out ] ( Lennon ) : This is argubly the best tune on the album. It have John sounding weary and tired, you could almost feel his pain.

Yaya ( Robinson / Dorsey / Lewis ) : A novelty track with John goofing around with his son, Julian on drums. In was short and I like it. Just nice to fit into the end of a cassette tape. John was to record a more serious version of this track on his next album "Rock 'n' Roll".

DOP : 10th November 2003.