Menlove Ave.
This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(July 2011) |
Menlove Ave. | ||||
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![]() Artwork byAndy Warhol[1] | ||||
Compilation albumby | ||||
Released | 27 October 1986 (US), 5 November 1986 (UK) | |||
Recorded | Late 1973, July–August 1974, October 1974 | |||
Genre | Rock | |||
Length | 42:20 | |||
Label | Parlophone/EMI | |||
Producer | John Lennon,Phil Spector | |||
John Lennonchronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Blender | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Robert Christgau | B+[4] |
MusicHound | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Q | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Menlove Ave.is a 1986compilation albumby Englishrock musicianJohn Lennon.It is the second posthumous release of Lennon's music (afterMilk and Honey), having been recorded during the sessions for his albumsWalls and BridgesandRock 'n' Roll.Menlove Ave.was released under the supervision ofYoko Ono,Lennon's widow.
Background
[edit]The first side of the LP comprises session outtakes from theRock 'n' Rollsessions withPhil Spectorin late 1973, apart from "Rock and Roll People", which is from theMind Gamessessions.[8]The remainder features rehearsal recordings in mid-1974 forWalls and Bridges.
The song "Rock and Roll People" was originally recorded and released onJohnny Winter's seventh studio albumJohn Dawson Winter III.
The title refers to Lennon's childhood home,251 Menlove Avenue,inLiverpool.Menlove Avenue is a long road in South Liverpool, part of the Liverpool ring road. While it is mainly residential, it is also a primary route: theA562.It also passes Woolton Village where Lennon andPaul McCartneyfirst met.
Yoko Ono's liner notes mention that "John's American rock roots –Elvis Presley,Fats DominoandPhil Spector– are evident in these tracks. But what I hear in John's voice are the other roots of the boy who grew up in Liverpool, listening to 'Greensleeves,' BBC Radio andTessie O'Shea."
Album cover
[edit]The artwork for the release was effected by artistAndy Warhol,just months beforeLennon's death in 1980.[1]It was later used as the cover for the 2005 compilation albumWorking Class Hero: The Definitive Lennon.
Reception and aftermath
[edit]ThoughMenlove Ave.included previously unreleased material of John Lennon, it failed to chart in the United Kingdom. It did manage to reach number 127 in the United States, making it Lennon's least-successful album.Menlove Ave.was issued on CD in 1987, and remains available from Capitol Records in that format.[9]
Side 1, tracks 3–5 appeared as bonus tracks on the 2004 remastered version ofRock 'n' Roll.The song "Here We Go Again" was included on the 2006 soundtrack albumThe U.S. vs. John Lennonand 2010 box setGimme Some Truth.
The album is the only one of Lennon's not available on music streaming platforms.
Track listing
[edit]No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Here We Go Again" | John Lennon,Phil Spector | 4:50 |
2. | "Rock 'n' Roll People" | Lennon | 4:21 |
3. | "Angel Baby" | Rosie Hamlin | 3:42 |
4. | "Since My Baby Left Me" | Arthur Crudup | 3:48 |
5. | "To Know Her Is to Love Her" | Spector | 4:37 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Steel and Glass" | Lennon | 4:10 |
2. | "Scared" | Lennon | 4:17 |
3. | "Old Dirt Road" | Harry Nilsson,Lennon | 3:53 |
4. | "Nobody Loves You (When You're Down and Out)" | Lennon | 4:29 |
5. | "Bless You" | Lennon | 4:05 |
Notes
- Side 1, tracks 1 and 3–5 were recorded in late 1973.
- Side 1, track 2 was recorded mid-1973 for, but left off ofMind Games.
- Side 2, tracks 1–5 are mid-1974 rehearsal recordings forWalls and Bridges.
Personnel
[edit]- John Lennon:vocals, guitar, piano (side 2),producer(side 1, track 2; side 2)
- Jesse Ed Davis:guitar (side 2)
- Klaus Voormann:bass (side 2)
- Jim Keltner:drums (side 2)
- Phil Spector:producer (side 1, tracks 1, 3–5)
References
[edit]- ^ab"10 Album Covers Designed by Andy Warhol".Complex Networks.28 January 2013.Retrieved1 January2015.
- ^Menlove Ave.atAllMusic
- ^"Blender – All Things Blender, All in One Place".Blender.Archived fromthe originalon 10 September 2005.
- ^Christgau, Robert(31 March 1987)."Christgau's Consumer Guide".The Village Voice.New York.Retrieved28 April2013.
- ^Gary Graff & Daniel Durcholz (eds),MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide,Visible Ink Press (Farmington Hills, MI, 1999;ISBN1-57859-061-2), p. 667.
- ^Murray, Charles Shaar(December 1986). "John Lennon:Menlove Ave".Q.No. 3. p. 108.
- ^"John Lennon: Album Guide | Rolling Stone Music".Rolling Stone.Archived fromthe originalon 9 February 2014.Retrieved16 August2014.
- ^Calkin, Graham."Mind Games".Jpgr.co.uk.Retrieved27 January2013.
- ^"Menlove Ave".Amazon.Retrieved15 February2018.