Imagine John Yoko

Drawing on conversations with the photographers, musicians, and producers involved in the making of Lennon and Ono’s album Imagine in 1971, Ono (Memories of John Lennon) provides this beautifully illustrated chronicle with exclusive, never-before-seen photographs and artwork. The book follows the album song by song, providing rich details and intimate images not only of the recording process for each song, but also of Lennon and Ono’s evolving relationship. Of the title track, Lennon remarks that “the song was conceived in my head without melody; the first verse came very quickly in form of a childlike street chant.” An image of the lyrics Lennon jotted on stationery from the New York Hilton is reproduced on the page opposite the song’s lyrics. Ono includes a wonderful spread of the musicians who played on the album, including Nicky Hopkins on piano, Ted Turner on acoustic guitar, and Jim Keltner on drums. In discussing the song “Gimme Some Truth,” Lennon urges people to register to vote. Ono concludes with the message to “keep IMAGINE PEACE in your head; a dream you dream alone is only a dream; a dream you dream together is reality.” This lavishly illustrated chronicle offers an intimate and endearing portrait of this classic album. [em](Oct.) [/em]