Walls And Bridges

Performer: John Lennon
Artist: Harry Nilsson; Julian Lennon; Elton John
Engineer: Shelly Yakus; Jim Iovine
Producer: John Lennon
Distributor: EMI Music Distribution

Notes: Personnel: John Lennon (vocals, guitar, piano); Jesse Ed Davis (guitar); Eddie Mottau (acoustic guitar); Bobby Keys (tenor saxophone); Howard Johnson (baritone saxophone); Frank Vicario, Steve Madaio, Ron Aprea (horns); Elton John (piano, organ, background vocals); Nicky Hopkins (piano); Kenny Ascher (Clavinet); Klaus Voormann (bass instrument); Jim Keltner, Julian Lennon (drums); Arthur Jenkins (percussion); Harry Nilsson (background vocals). WALLS AND BRIDGES was made during Lennon's marital separation, while carrying on a Yoko-approved dalliance with May Pang. Lennon addresses the awkward yet open triangle with songs to each of them. In "Bless You," he wistfully wonders how and where Yoko is during their time apart and proclaims an eternal love. "Surprise, Surprise (Sweet Bird Of Paradox)" finds him admitting to being jaded to the point of self-delusion only to find beauty, love and surprise in the form of a new lover right under his nose. "What You Got" affirms "You don't know what you got until you lose it"--clearly a man struggling with a personal situation through his art. "Beef Jerky" sounds like an homage to that great '60s instrumental by The Barkays, "Soul Finger." "Ya Ya" is a true oddity: Lennon and 11-year-old son Julian, future rock star in his own right, in a short, bluesy piano/drum duet. Of course there is also his duet with Elton John on the partying, fun-loving "Whatever Gets You Through The Night." The gem of the bunch, though, is "#9 Dream," easily one of Lennon's best post-Beatles efforts, steering through myriad moods and grooves and adding up to a bona fide pop masterpiece.

Uncut (p.88) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "The laddish duet with Elton John, 'Whatever Gets You Through The Night', remains one of Lennon's best post-Beatles achievements."

After exiting the Beatles, John Lennon cast off all artistic shackles and explored his muse fervently. Employing everything from primal screams to hard-rock minimalism, 1950s rock & roll, and plaintive balladry, Lennon simultaneously exorcised his personal demons and promoted a vision of utopian possibilities for the world's future. After a five-year retreat from the spotlight, during which he concentrated on raising his son Sean, John re-emerged with the striking comeback album DOUBLE FANTASY, on which he was aided, as ever, by his constant life/art companion Yoko Ono. Lennon's newly re-energized progress was tragically halted shortly after the album's release by the bullets of a crazed assassin's gun.

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