Comments on: Mind Games (album)

By: David

David — Mon, 28 Jan 2019 17:31:40 +0000

It was inevitable that critics were going to measure Mind Games against his POB and Imagine albums expecting it to be on a par with them, which was a tall order for him. As with other arts music is borne out of the mood of the creator at the time not to mention the context and circumstance. The music while excellent in places does in general convey a lacklustre atmosphere

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 23 Jul 2018 00:34:28 +0000

I read somewhere many years ago that John Lennon heard the song Whiter Shade of Pale by Procol Harum on the radio in the backseat of a car and he liked the song very much. Then lateron, the Mind Games song came out and it’s basically the same chords and structure. Anyone else notice thator hear that story?

By: Mark Drummond Brady

Mark Drummond Brady — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 19:15:17 +0000

I agree mike50! I love this album and think the songs are strong, despite some production issues, which have more to do with the studio techniques and mores of the day (which John may have been inexperienced in, particularly as he was trying to “layer” instruments a la Spector). The remixes improve the aural experience immensely, espacially on Meat City!

I have been labouring under the misapprehension that Jesse Ed Davis played on this album, particularly the solo on Aiseumasen – hats off the David Spinozza for one of all-time favourite solos. You are Here is great, despite the Hawaiian guitars and the conceit of building ‘Rising Sun’ to ‘Surprising Sun’, to ‘Morning Star’ is just wonderful word play. Tight A$ has to be one of his most under-rated rockers and, agai, chapeau to Spinozza, although I am sure John takes at least two of the solos.

Roll on John!

Dark?

By: jeh

jeh — Tue, 19 Apr 2016 20:20:59 +0000

Tweeze you’re totally right, some good songs massacred in the production process. The background vocals are awful and there are too many layers making everything sound messy. Add to that some of the lyrics are embarrassing:”When I’m down, really Yin,” and “We don’t want no pig brother scene,” very New York, very pretentious. Now if he had done this album in England with George Martin and left Yoko in the US, it would have been a different story!

By: Noway Jose

Noway Jose — Mon, 14 Dec 2015 01:11:53 +0000

The songs ranged from aimless fillers :Intuition… hahaha…. stops reading

By: chuck e

chuck e — Sat, 20 Jun 2015 18:52:45 +0000

right mike50! i agree with what youve written…

By: Robert Spinello

Robert Spinello — Sat, 21 Mar 2015 21:39:16 +0000

Yes. The title track Mind Games is a wonderful song, and one of his best solo efforts. Tight As is a take off on Cripped Inside…Meat City a take off on New York City.

By: Graham Paterson

Graham Paterson — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 10:31:26 +0000

The song Mind Games is one of my favorite John Lennon songs, it has a soaring beauty. Like #9 Dream off Walls and Bridges ,which is magical, it is a song only John Lennon could have written. Out The Blue is a great song. Overall a underrated album during a transitional period in Lennons life.

By: Micha van Dam

Micha van Dam — Fri, 24 Oct 2014 14:11:40 +0000

Are there hidden faces in the clouds on the album cover?

By: Renee

Renee — Sun, 10 Aug 2014 04:55:58 +0000

You Are Here is one of his best songs. It is a beautiful love song to Yoko. I just listened to it 10 times on YouTube. The background singers are perfect! Who are the background singers? I haven’t gone to dig out my album to read who they are and I can’t seem to find it online.

By: Gilberto Serodio

Gilberto Serodio — Sun, 27 Jul 2014 21:43:49 +0000

For New York fans: Would like to know the exact place in Central Park where John appears walking in the beginning and end of the video clip “Mind Games”. Only a New Yorker who lived in the seventies would know. I think it should be close to the zoo or Naumberg bandshell. Please help me with that folks. 🙂

By: GK

GK — Fri, 07 Feb 2014 18:17:25 +0000

I bought the vinyl in 1973 when it came out, then the cd, and thought ” Do I need another copy?” YES is the answer ! Much louder and clearer sound, especially Tracks such as MEAT CITY , you can HEAR the lyrics now , and the guitars sound loud and ROCK just as they should !
When Mind Games came out , alot had happened since the two years following Imagine . John and Yoko had left Britain for New York , ” Some Time in New York City ” had alienated alot of people ( not me , I thought it was honest , and good in parts) . John was living apart from Yoko. Had alot of women in England forgiven John for splitting up with Cynthia ? I felt, at the time, everyone was suddenly going to give John some back lash . A lot of friends thought Mind Games was okay , not great , and its sort of suffered from that ever since.
Mind games as a song and a single was excellent , it should have got a much better chart position than it did . The next track “Tight A$” is a Tex Mex Rocky track with great humour in the lyrics , and the famous Lennon laugh . Another highlight is Aisumasen , an apology to Yoko, sung superbly , with an excellent guitar solo. “Out Of The Blue” build from an acoustic start to a full blown band climax with excellent lyrics . ” Bring On The Lucie ” is a “lost gem ” , ” Right Boys, this is it, over the Hill!” Heart on the sleeve, as always , some one had to say something , great biting lyrics .
” You Are Here ” is a complete contrast with its lyrics on meeting a woman from Japan , cultural differences , and original . “Only People ” does sound a bit steeped in slogans these days, but does have its moments . ” Intuition” sounds quite bland, which is rare for JL . Never liked “One Day ( at a time )” sung in falsetto for Yoko, still sounds no better .
The new cd comes in a fine package now, with new photos and drawings . The bonus tracks are home versions for Aisumasen , Bring On The Lucie and Meat City .
Well worth buying !

By: bobby sav

bobby sav — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 10:58:02 +0000

i with mike50 on this one, i like this album. it’s says more than most. wilderness = the blues, alone = the blues. it’s john lennon,

By: mike50

mike50 — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 17:36:49 +0000

One of my fav’ albums. Songs like “You are here” “Out the Blue” “Aisumasen (I’m Sorry)” “Tight A$” “Bring on the Lucie” …. Incredible. The dynamics and colors. Spinozza’s guitar, Ascher’s keyboards. Edwards’ bass lines are so groovy and entwine beautifully with the harmonic elements. I’ve heard many people complaining about this album and i just don’t get it. Maybe it has some production issues, like some have mentioned, but the overall production I think suits the songs perfectly. It’s another side of Lennon. Upbeat and aggressive at moments, meditative and sublime at others, this album is full of surprises. It’s a very interesting journey … in my opinion, in the same level as Imagine and Plastic Ono Band.

By: docsmith

docsmith — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 05:13:09 +0000

Mind Games like Walls and Bridges were my two least favourite John lennon albums, certainly a few good songs but MG was under produced as WaB was over produced…docsmith

By: Joseph Brush

Joseph Brush — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 11:32:19 +0000

Since John produced most of his first solo album by himself, Lennon had to let Spector know that work had begun by posting an advert in Billboard, I am sceptical of anyone else producing or overseeing Mind Games.
May Pang and the musicians on the album have never mentioned another producer taking hand in the making of the album. I am looking forward to your update.
John was more focused for Walls and Bridges and spent more time on it, and had produced (Pussy Cats) as well in the interim between Mind Games and Walls And Bridges.

By: Tweeze

Tweeze — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 15:40:01 +0000

Unfortunately, this was not something I’d read. Back in the ’70s I was considered one of the regions ‘Beatle experts’ and almost landed a radio program. Naturally the general knowledge of the Beatles was limited, but some of us had access to music insiders, etc. Anyway, this alleged tale of producers on ‘Mind Games’ reared its head during a kind of round-table tete-a-tete. I tried to get confirmation from more reputable sources and was able to get one to reluctantly confirm the claim. I’ll see if I can land real confirmation. As I understood it then, this ‘other producer’ essentially cleaned it up somewhat like ‘Let It Be’ was cleaned, only there were no Phil Spector-like intrusions or embellishments. As for me, I am good with John being the only producer. But when I compare this collection with ‘Walls And Bridges’ I have to say that John really improved in the time between the two.
Meanwhile, I agree with your position. Despite John’s public persona, he really really was concerned with what people thought. ‘Mind Games’ was an attempt to be less offensive, but he ended up becoming lost and undistinguished amongst the other music of the time.

By: Joseph Brush

Joseph Brush — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 15:50:06 +0000

After the critics savaged Lennon for Sometime In New York City,it appears that John didn’t want to offend anyone with Mind Games. I would like to know where you read the story that someone else(?)cleaned up the album.

By: Tweeze

Tweeze — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 18:01:17 +0000

This is a good summation of this album. Everytime I listen to it I can still hear good songs performed without real spirit. The homogenous sound is perhaps the greatest drag. The background singers are, for lack of a better word, wrong. John’s affectation for using echo on his voice is abused and, frankly, unnecessary. When I first heard collection this I had a sneaking suspicion that John might be losing his voice or at the very least the ability to put ‘balls’ into his delivery. As I understand it, John produced this himself but another person had to follow and clean up John’s raggedness. Each song is quite good and given some energy and, yes, confidence along with a more skilled producer this could have been a really great set.

By: Joseph Brush

Joseph Brush — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 21:23:08 +0000

Yoko’s Approximately Infinite Universe was recorded in late 1972 and released in January 1973, which was several months before the move from Greenwich Village to the Dakota.