John Lennon - September 1979
Disc 3 (click to download)
1. Audio Diary 1
1. Audio Diary 1
This is an audio diary that John recorded on September 5th, 1979. It is pretty infamous for its subject matter. John talks about a lot of things such as his childhood, Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger, and his mother. Most Lennon fans feel really uncomfortable listening to this, but in a way I find it admirable. True, some of the stuff he says about Julia (his mother) is more than a little weird, but this was never meant for release. John recorded audio diaries with great frequency and he was being completely honest about his true feelings and thoughts. Most people lie to themselves, even in private, but John was being open and honest with himself and that's a lot more than any of us can say.
2. Serve Yourself
This was possibly, although not definitively confirmed, recorded immediately following the audio diary. This song was inspired by, among other things, Bob Dylan and Jerry Lee Lewis and their conversion to Christianity. John had dabbled in Christianity during 1977, but it is unknown if he continued with the faith. Some sources would suggest that he did, but songs like this seem to contradict the idea. John initially planned for this to be a song influenced by gospel music as is evident in these demos. In total, he would record over two hours of Serve Yourself demos from 1979 and until the end of his life. It is obvious that John was planning to eventually release this if and when he resumed his career.
3. That's the Way the World Is
This song was the initial idea for songs such as Real Life/Girls and Boys/Real Love and I'm Stepping Out. A lot of the lyrics would later end up in the demo(s) Real Life, but the middle eight "if it don't feel right..." would later be on the officially released version of I'm Stepping Out.
4. Don't Be Crazy
This song was recorded in the same sitting as That's the Way the World Is and Serve Yourself. It appears like John is going back to the 50's with this take. John's first single upon resuming his career, (Just Like) Starting Over, would borrow heavily from this song.
5. Baby Make Love to You / Girls and Boys
This particular take is fairly important when studying John's demos because these takes (and subsequent takes of the same songs) inspired the song Real Love more than any other demos. Girls and Boys particularly.
6. Real Life
All the takes of Real Life found on this disc were all recorded in the same sitting. The demos from September 1979 always weigh heavily on me because while the official story is one of John retiring to take care of Sean is true, it is also apparent through demos such as Real Life, That's the Way the World Is, and others that John was feeling very wistful and at times completely isolated. That's the Way the World Is particularly makes me empathize with John. It is apparent to me that John is perhaps not exactly content with the current state of his life.
7. Serve Yourself / Girls and Boys
These takes were all recorded in the same sitting.
--
Until next time...
- September 5th, 1979
- John's bedroom at The Dakota
- Unknown take
- September 1979
- Steinway & Sons piano
- The Dakota
- Unknown take
- September 1979
- Steinway & Sons piano
- The Dakota
- Unknown take
- September 1979
- Steinway & Sons piano
- The Dakota
- Take 1
- September 1979
- Steinway & Sons piano
- The Dakota
- Take 2
- September 1979
- Steinway & Sons piano
- The Dakota
- Unknown take
- September 1979
- Steinway & Sons piano
- The Dakota
- Unknown take
- September 1979
- Steinway & Sons piano
- The Dakota
- Unknown take
- September 1979
- Steinway & Sons piano
- The Dakota
- Take 1
- September 1979
- Steinway & Sons piano
- The Dakota
- Take 2
- September 1979
- Steinway & Sons piano
- The Dakota
- Take 3
- September 1979
- Steinway & Sons piano
- The Dakota
- Unknown take
- September 1979
- Steinway & Sons piano
- The Dakota
- Unknown take
- September 1979
- Steinway & Sons piano
- The Dakota
- Unknown take
- September 1979
- Steinway & Sons piano
- The Dakota
- Unknown take
- September 1979
- Steinway & Sons piano
- The Dakota
- Unknown take
- September 1979
- Steinway & Sons piano
- The Dakota
- Unknown take
- September 1979
- Steinway & Sons piano
- The Dakota
- Unknown take
- September 1979
- Steinway & Sons piano
- The Dakota
- Unknown take
- September 1979
- Steinway & Sons piano
- The Dakota
1. Audio Diary 1
This is an audio diary that John recorded on September 5th, 1979. It is pretty infamous for its subject matter. John talks about a lot of things such as his childhood, Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger, and his mother. Most Lennon fans feel really uncomfortable listening to this, but in a way I find it admirable. True, some of the stuff he says about Julia (his mother) is more than a little weird, but this was never meant for release. John recorded audio diaries with great frequency and he was being completely honest about his true feelings and thoughts. Most people lie to themselves, even in private, but John was being open and honest with himself and that's a lot more than any of us can say.
2. Serve Yourself
This was possibly, although not definitively confirmed, recorded immediately following the audio diary. This song was inspired by, among other things, Bob Dylan and Jerry Lee Lewis and their conversion to Christianity. John had dabbled in Christianity during 1977, but it is unknown if he continued with the faith. Some sources would suggest that he did, but songs like this seem to contradict the idea. John initially planned for this to be a song influenced by gospel music as is evident in these demos. In total, he would record over two hours of Serve Yourself demos from 1979 and until the end of his life. It is obvious that John was planning to eventually release this if and when he resumed his career.
3. That's the Way the World Is
This song was the initial idea for songs such as Real Life/Girls and Boys/Real Love and I'm Stepping Out. A lot of the lyrics would later end up in the demo(s) Real Life, but the middle eight "if it don't feel right..." would later be on the officially released version of I'm Stepping Out.
4. Don't Be Crazy
This song was recorded in the same sitting as That's the Way the World Is and Serve Yourself. It appears like John is going back to the 50's with this take. John's first single upon resuming his career, (Just Like) Starting Over, would borrow heavily from this song.
5. Baby Make Love to You / Girls and Boys
This particular take is fairly important when studying John's demos because these takes (and subsequent takes of the same songs) inspired the song Real Love more than any other demos. Girls and Boys particularly.
6. Real Life
All the takes of Real Life found on this disc were all recorded in the same sitting. The demos from September 1979 always weigh heavily on me because while the official story is one of John retiring to take care of Sean is true, it is also apparent through demos such as Real Life, That's the Way the World Is, and others that John was feeling very wistful and at times completely isolated. That's the Way the World Is particularly makes me empathize with John. It is apparent to me that John is perhaps not exactly content with the current state of his life.
7. Serve Yourself / Girls and Boys
These takes were all recorded in the same sitting.
--
Until next time...
Once again, thank you Chris.
ReplyDeleteI've been awaiting this post, and I'm particularly fond of 'Don't be crazy' - very catchy early version of Starting Over!
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Enjoy...
Squeaking turds of whisky
ReplyDeleteover me, over me.
Wow great information! I love this artist and always wondered about this.
ReplyDeleteThanks again