I had always wanted to pick up a copy of
this album, but I didn't. Not because I didn't like John Lennon, it's
because I didn't want to hear the Yoko Ono songs. Yeah, I know it's a
shitty reason, but it is what it is. We all know the history here, and
that's what makes this so sad. I remember when this came out, and "Watching the Wheels" and "(Just Like) Starting Over" were getting some airplay and I really liked those songs - still do. I also remember reading there was disappointment in how John's "come back" wasn't doing as well as some had expected, and a lot of the early reviews pretty much shit on it. Everything changed December 8, 1980.
Let's address the elephant in the room right off. The Yoko songs. I guess in terms of being artistic and taking chances and playing against the conventions of crafting listenable pop she was a master. Heck, I'll even grant that "Give Me Something" has a certain charm, but it's not something I would subject myself to willingly. At least Paul mixed Linda farther back in the mix so she wasn't too distracting. So I'm going to try and park my prejudice to her contributions and listen to John's final work and appreciate it for what it was: Songs by a guy who was living his best life. A man who loved being a dad and a husband, and who just happened to write some amazing pop songs, and a guy who's life was cut short.
Good lord, I know I said I was going to focus on John here, but those Yoko songs are flow killers.
I'll start again, and this time try really hard to not let her get under my skin. Full disclosure to those who may be far bigger fan's of John's music - I'm a casual fan at best. I liked most of his hits, but I never got any of his albums, so everything I'm jotting down is from the perspective of a casual fan who liked what he heard on the radio.
When John is good, he's really good. I am still very much a fan of "(Just Like) Starting Over" I think it's a brilliant piece of music, and I often bookend it with "Watching the Wheels" two songs I feel are nearly perfect in how they're delivered. Over the years songs like "I'm Losing You" and "Woman" would all be nicely fitted into the John Lennon's best work. For me the song I'd not heard before and liked was his love letter to fatherhood, and the simple joy found in being a dad. "Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)" pretty much sums up how it feels to hold your child's hand to cross the street, or be the one to check under the bed for monsters.
The band assembled for Double Fantasy was simply amazing. Jack Douglas who had a long association with John Lennon co-produced the album, and the musicians were all among the best in the business. From Hugh McCracken and Earl Slick on guitar, to Tony Levin on bass, Andy Newmark on drums and George Small on keys, as well as Ed Walsh who played and likely programmed the oberheim synthesizer.
Double Fantasy is a melancholy album to listen to, but as the credits say this is "A Heart Play" and if you can listen for what it is, it's a life affirming journey. I read the lyric insert in the order presented, and I can say that as a written work Yoko's contributions are quite good, and I'll admit that "Every Man Has a Woman Who Loves Him" was a surprisingly good song - there, I said something nice about her.
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