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Rock 'n' Roll

John Lennon - Rock 'n' Roll Audio CD

A fair review of the John Lennon "Rock 'n' Roll" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all John Lennon reviews here, or go back to the John Lennon tabs.

Band: John Lennon
Title: Rock 'n' Roll
Rating:

Release Date: 2004-11-02
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Be-Bop-A-Lula 2: Stand by Me 3: Medley: A) Rip It Up/B) Ready Teddy 4: You Can't Catch Me 5: Ain't That a Shame 6: Do You Wanna Dance? 7: Sweet Little Sixteen 8: Slippin' and Slidin' 9: Peggy Sue 10: Medley: A) Bring It on Home to Me/B) Send Me Some Lovin' 11: Boney Moronie 12: Ya Ya 13: Just Because 14: Angel Baby [*] 15: To Know Her Is to Love Her [*] 16: Since My Baby Left Me [*] 17: Just Because (Reprise) [*]

influential to the Quarrymen
This is some of the best "Rock and Roll" that I've heard him or anyone, for that matter, play. Reading John Lennon biographies, I feel this is the kind of music that he enjoyed listening to. This album is f****** great!.

He's the Greatest
So why then would anyone want an album of cover songs by him? Maybe to remind you that he was also one of the greatest singers and performers of the 20th century. John Lennon is arguably (try me) one of the best pop songwriters of the 20th century.

These songs were not written by Lennon, but on Rock 'n' Roll, he owns them. The swaying hipness of 'Be-Bop-A-Lula' and the driving plea of 'Stand By Me' start the album by infusing these classics with the signature sound that he pioneered on his previous solo albums. But things really take off when Lennon plows through Chuck Berry's 'You Can't Catch Me' like a protoversion of 'Come Together'. Try listening to this in the car with the windows down and see if your foot doesn't start to press a little harder on the accelerator.

These are the songs that Lennon grew up with and the ones that attracted him to music. Maybe I'm overly preoccupied with musical history, but I find this album to be a fascinating safari through the inspirations that went into making The Beatles the influential and ground-breaking force they were.

Lennon's voice shines on Rock 'n' Roll, and the dynamics of his singing prowess unleashes the full spectrum of human emotion; soaring highs, tender angst, and mostly, a joy for living and a love of his craft. .

great stuff!!
He wanted to make an album with an entirely 50's rock and roll vibe, and I believe he succeeded. What's with all the negative reviews all of a sudden? Come on, this album doesn't deserve that! A Britney Spears album does though :)

This is one VERY different John Lennon album. Many of these versions have been made better compared to the originals, in my opinion, because John *really* knew how to makae his voice soar to new heights and sound believable. The use of brass instruments really brings many of the songs to life as well.

Not crazy about the version of "Sweet Little Sixteen" on here, since it sounds pretty clumsy compared to the rest of the songs (is that one note that keep playing?). There's even a GREAT song that uses the verse melody from the Beatles "Come Together" and combines it with the 50's style of rock and roll. The amount of detail in each song is pretty cool as well.

Very unique, and recommended. Sure, the "main four" John Lennon albums are Plastic Ono Band, Imagine, Mind Games, and Walls and Bridges, but this is probably the fifth album you should buy from Lennon.
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Sentimental journey
Or was it 14? It was the first John Lennon album I bought. Why, I must have been 15 when John Lennon's ROCK 'N' ROLL came out.

I base my review of this ROCK 'N' ROLL C. D. reissue on a borrowed public library copy. I got my money's worth on the 1975 L. P. version so, despite the bonus tracks, I don't want to buy it a second time. Sure, being able to play ROCK 'N' ROLL in my car rather than the vinyl-driven confines of my living room would make the occasional listen more convenient. But as it would only be once every few years that I even play ROCK 'N' ROLL, I'll live without the extra songs and user-friendly C. D. format.

Of the three ROCK 'N' ROLL C. D. bonus tracks, "Since My Baby Left Me" and "To Know Her Is To Love Her" already appeared on MENLOVE AVENUE, and "Angel Baby" was on the mail-order album ROOTS, which was re-titled/repackaged as ROCK 'N' ROLL in retail stores. It disappoints me that this C. D. reissue leaves off "Be My Baby," the other ROOTS-only song that didn't make it to ROCK 'N' ROLL in 1975, and the ROOTS-only mix of "You Can't Catch Me," which excludes the edited-in repeat opening of the ROCK 'N' ROLL version.

Besides the extra songs, the C. D. version of ROCK 'N' ROLL includes longer fade-outs on several tracks. The opening number, "Be Bop A Lula," starts with John counting down, something not on the vinyl version.

Both the original vinyl and C. D. reissue versions of ROCK 'N' ROLL omit musician credits. As I understand, the main band comprises Jim Keltner on drums, Klaus Voormann on bass, John Lennon and Jesse Ed Davis on guitars (Steve Cropper on some songs, too), Bobby Keys on horns, and on at least a few numbers, Leon Russell on piano. No wonder "Rip It Up/Ready Teddy," "Slippin' and Slidin,'" "Bony Maronie," "Peggy Sue," and "Be Bop A Lula" rock out so well. Then there's the challenge-the-audience side of John Lennon, hence vamped-up versions of "You Can't Catch Me," "Sweet Little Sixteen," and "Do You Wanna Dance. "

The back cover of ROCK 'N' ROLL quotes John Lennon saying, "You should have been there. " I was, and this remains a fun album 33 years later.
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Rock 'n' Roll
In fact it just might be his weakest solo album. John Lennon-Rock 'n' Roll ***

This is not one of John Lennon's finest hours. Vocally Lennon could kill the best of them, and as a guitar player he actually had some impressive chops, and for my money the Beatles never got better than John Lennon. The man was an original and a genius, but here on Rock 'n' Roll his homage to the early days of the albums name sake, he runs stale.

Tracks like 'Be Bop A Lula' 'You Can't Catch Me' 'Aint That A Shame' and 'Ya Ya' are great little rockers that Lennon nails and even emulates into something different at times. His cover of Buddy Holly's & the Crickets 'Peggy Sue' is especially nice. He even manages to sound a little like Holly at times. Easily the albums highlight aside from the touching 'Stand By Me. ' One of the best recordings of Lennon's fantastic career.

The rest of the album however falls flat. The ballads are performed boring and lose that little something special the original had. As previously stated Lennon's vocals kill, and on the ballads he is incredible vocal wise, but that is it. 'Sweet Little Sixteen' is ruined by the slow tempo. And whats more is the guitar is well almost not existent.

Now as for production, Phil Spector did about four of the albums tracks, so obviously that is a plus. The rest of the album was produced by John Lennon himself and it sounds fantastic. A true credit to the man.

A few good songs here and there don't merritt the purchase of this. Skip it unless you are really hard headed about having it.

You can see a complete list of all John Lennon discography, or go back to the John Lennon tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.