MIND GAMES Album Review with JOHN HEATON |

[@jeanpepin6497]

I always enjoy an album review with Matt and John

[@erniericardo8140]

Cant wait for The review on George's Living In The Material World and Paul's Red Rose Speedway👍

[@jeffreyroedel9804]

Mind Games, Aisumasen, I Know (I Know), Bring on the Lucie, You are Here and Out the Blue are top tier Lennon for me, and that's more than half the album. Meat City, Tight A$ and Only People are flat-out fun tracks with great energy and singing. I like this record a lot, and am very much looking forward to the remixes and outtakes!

[@TTFMjock]

Mind Games is criminally under appreciated It is consistently tuneful. I Know I Know is frankly the 2nd single. All the tunes are at least close to single quality.

[@ricardo_miguel13]

Out The Blue is another single

[@denniswood1437]

In my humble opinion, after Plastic Ono Band & Imagine, Mind Games is my favorite Lennon solo. John rediscovered melody on this album. The new box set will give this album a reappraisal that is needed.

[@martinmcgrath1985]

Given he only has two good albums it’s not a big statement..compared this album to other albums in 73 dark side..or the Beatles albums..wow it’s bad.

[@denniswood1437]

@@martinmcgrath1985 You said that Martin, many people besides myself would tell you Lennon had 4 excellent solo albums. Check them out!

[@denniswood1437]

@@martinmcgrath1985 I respectfully disagree Martin. Many would claim that Lennon had at least 4 good albums. Dark Side is good but overrated. Piper at the Gates is better. You should relisten to the Lennon albums with fresh ears

[@martinmcgrath1985]

@@denniswood1437 dark side is overrated lol I’m the biggest Beatles fan there is..the solo is so average it’s terrifying..respectfully disagree

[@drummer78]

I honestly don’t think this box set will really change opinions on “Mind Games” as it will be bought by only the most ardent fans and any publicity it generates will be fleeting in this fast paced social media environment. I do think though it is good to bring the album back for discussion and debate as it is always fun to dig into albums that might have been slightly dismissed, overlooked or under-appreciated (The Band’s 50th anniversary remastered delux addition of Cahoots brought that album back to life for me.

[@benmeltzer]

I love this discussion, because you two have such different views on the album.

[@kend1964]

Can't expect John to write what he'd done in the past. He tended to write what he was going through at any given time, which would often change. He purposefully put himself in different situations; sometimes being rebellious, and eventually settled into a calmer/simpler life.

[@popgoesthe60s52]

I never expect for John to "write what he'd done in the past" which is completely different that realizing when an artist goes through a drop off in quality, like Lennon experience in 1972-73 after a very strong 1970-71.

[@Joe67343]

@@popgoesthe60s52 Matt, I know quality of song-writing is of course very subjective, but it does seem true that most pop/rock artists do write their "best" and most impactful songs in they're 20s. IMO Paul just had more gas left in the tank during the 70s than John and George, but of course he hit the wall eventually also. All artists hit that wall, some sooner than others. Cheers!

[@nicknikipediacaulkin5943]

Great, considered review, guys, very enjoyable. Your conversations are always worth watching!

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Thank you, Nick!

[@jamesfinn8186]

Great job on this Matt and John. Excellent discussion on the ''Mind Games'' album.

[@jacketjim1]

Interesting point, counterpoint discussion. Of all the solo Beatles albums, the most played, loved and worn vinyl album in my collection is Mind Games from 1973. I read the Rolling Stone reviews back in the day and, as a fan, bought and listened to what I wanted. FYI, the album never sounded poorly mixed, at least to my ears. It was a welcome return after 1972 Some Time in New York City. I think the album art was cool. I only wish Lennon had used an in-focus photo of himself. I have ordered the vinyl set and look forward to hearing the new mixes.

[@recordrabbit]

Always enjoy the episodes with John Heaton. Looking forward to the Living In The Material World discussion.

[@750drums]

Great discussion guys! Glad to see you guys together discussing any Beatle related product. Never been a fan of this album, however; always found it very bland, but at least it wasn't as dreadful as his previous one. Just re-listened to it again, along with the bootleg out-takes, and my opinion didn't change. Hope you guys do more of these in the future.

[@robertzastrow4648]

Mind Games was the first solo album of John's that I bought, in the mid 1980s. Always liked the song "Mind Games", later on finding out it was an earlier Lennon song titled "Make Love, Not War", with new, revised lyrics. Also like the songs "Out The Blue", "I Know I Know" and "Meat City." Think Mind Games is John's most underrated solo album. Both sound and style-wise, it could be considered a companion to 1974's Walls & Bridges album. Can see the artistic criticism, Matt, that you made about the album's cover/packaging. You mentioned that John's solo career could be considered the least commercially successful of the four ex-Beatles. Can see that. Think a mistake John made was thinking people would be interested in his feelings toward his wife, that he put front and center in his songs. Though not mentioned by name, a person always knew who John was singing about in his solo love songs, unlike his Beatles love songs. One thing that I don't like about the Mind Games album are the lack of Rockers, until the very last song, when "Meat City" is about a 180 degree turn from what had been before.

[@jamesmanon3000]

I've been listening to Mind Games since it was first released.I've always enjoyed it.I think the production and arrangements were some of John's best.

[@drummer78]

I like Matt’s takes because he isn’t reverential about all things Lennon. Obviously he is a major fan and extremely knowledgeable but he doesn’t pull punches either. Regarding Mind Games, I love the title track and like John Heaton, I consider it one of the greatest Lennon songs. That said, I do think with “Mind Games”, Lennon could have built on “Sometime in NYC” in the sense of keeping the edginess and “street” qualities (he was in NYC in 1973…so much going on music wise) but making it more exciting/commercial than “Sometime”. I suppose this gets to what Matt and John were discussing in the sense that John (like Paul) couldn’t seem to satisfy anyone at this point because everyone (especially critics) had such different expectations of them.

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Thanks for the comments, drummer! Much appreciated.

[@peterm.fitzpatrick7735]

Mind Games was based on a book on self-hypnosis titled "Mind Games" by psychologists Masters and Houston.

[@Jugi_boy]

I guess I’m the only im the only one who really enjoys one day (at a time) haha. I agree though, lyrics aren’t very great but musically I quite enjoy it

[@UnderTheCovers1]

maybe the Rosmary's Baby-inspired album cover design for Mind Games was intended with Yoko on the cover. Yes, I'm a Witch.

[@continentalgin]

Nice video, excellent comments! Me personally, I've always liked the album. I had a portable record player when I was a freshman in college and played Mind Games over and over. I really never compared it to Imagine or Beatles albums, nor did I take it very seriously. It was just recreation and stress relief. I vaguely remember that smoking a joint made the album sound better, but that was usually the case, in general, with records. The gospel background vocals didn't really bother me too much, but I can relate to your criticism of that. I recall that there was a time (Mad Dogs & Englishmen, also Delaney and Bonnie) when the female gospel thing was hip. I do remember it being a banner year for solo albums. I enjoyed them all and my friends and I loved the RINGO album featuring I'm The Greatest, which was a big favorite back then.

[@continentalgin]

In context, the other albums we listened to in my freshman year were Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Nilsson Schmilsson, which I know was a 1971 release but we loved pairing it with Lennon records, Dark Side of the Moon, Houses of the Holy, Red Rose Speedway, Living in the Material World, and A Passion Play. Great year for music, but out of all those I guess Elton John topped our album playlist. Other memories of 1973: my friends and I still preferred the vinyl lp format, although most of us had custom installed 8-track players in our cars. I didn't get a compact cassette deck until around 1977.

[@jejmoss11]

Love both you guys. Thanks for the videos. I’ve heard a few KZbinrs talk about this album and they all seem to dislike One Day (At A Time). I don’t understand it. I think it’s great. It’s a little freaky, granted, but melodically interesting and still sounds fresh in 2024. Maybe I’m wrong, but it never stood out to me as a particularly weak song.

[@matthewgiffin9305]

I've never been taken with this album much. I like the title song a lot, but overall I find the writing to be alienating and overly obsessed with 'Yoko'. It's a long way from the universally applicable writing he brought forth when PM was his writing partner. 'Aisumasen' and 'Out The Blue' are nowhere near in the same league as 'In My Life' or even 'Don't Let Me Down'. The new mix sounds great though, I'll give it that.

[@4-dman464]

Good catch to spot the album cover resemblance to 'Rosemary's Baby' film poster from 5 years prior. Wonder if Lennon was aware of the Dakota Building connection. Always good when you 2 guys team up: you don't just echo the other's pov, & this broadens a discussion so viewers can find their own pov in the space between. I settled for a free cd of 9 tracks from the new MIND GAMES release, which came with this August's edition of UNCUT, a UK music mag. That's enough for me: 9 free tracks worth the £7.99 cost of the magazine as the journalism inside is not. One thing - 54:00 "The cost of the book alone is worth £40 or £50..." This is now standard justification for the cost of deluxe box sets, & I'm glad John mentioned it so I can refute it. I do sometimes spend £40 or £50 for a book, but rarely, even for an oversize art book. I know book prices have escalated since the population stopped reading books, but for £40 or £50 I'm expecting fab writing/ journalism & a terrific layout. Tyhe kind of quality you find in the Dutch magazine FURORE. None of The Beatles superdeluxe books meet either of those benchmarks -- & the bias imposed by Apple & Beatle estates cap the research & observations of Kevin Howlett & anyone else commissioned by Apple to tell "definitive" versions of an album. "Definitive" slips by most ppl's awareness as a synonym for 'Authorised.' I'd say anything authorised guarantees it's not definitive. The Lennon estate is especially front-loaded with propaganda in any product launch. UNCUT mag I mentioned had several Lennon articles in it along with the free cd by arrangement with the Lennon estate. One UNCUT article was especially dismissive of May Pang, entitled 'Temporary Secretary' - - it didn't come out & say John/May was a weekend fling, but my word it implied it. And while that might please Yoko Ono, the donor if you will of the magazine's free cd, this kind of bias makes me more antagonistic to the Lennon estate paying for 'historical' narratives in "books worth £40 or £50" that screw History the way 'Authorised' screws 'Definitive.' Over to you, John.

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Hey 4-D. I would imagine Ono had some knowledge of the Dakota's history but that is only a guess. That cd sampler is a great way to test the waters of this release. Thanks for the comments on the bias against Pang, which seems so petty coming from the Lennon estate, giving that Ono was the instigator of the entire affair.

[@paulsurelynotsmith8179]

Great stuff Matt

[@namesameasu]

Jon Landau was the guy who sanitized MC5 and influenced Clapton to leave Cream. Like most Rolling Stone critics, Landau here was trying to influence the record buying public because of his own personal tastes, not by being objective. Talk about gargantuan ego! Rolling Stone criticized anything about peace and love. Aisumesen is one of my favortes. I see it as Lennon influenced by Ray Charles. One Day At a Time, I originally couldn't stand but the melody grew on me.

[@1rwjwith]

Landau probably started Springsteen down the wrong path too. The albums before Landau took control were much more musically adventurous.

[@750drums]

Never been a fan of Rolling Stones' music critics. Gargantuan egos plus!

[@thejoyofthemusicinmylife7897]

Sometime In New York City and Mind Games were two albums that was not so well received by the public and critics. Except for the title song, I was dismissive of Mind Games although with some recent revisit listens I have warmed up to it more. Still I think Wall and Bridges was a more focused album with better musicianship.

[@philipcone357]

I really like the single. But he had been working on this since 🎁1969. I think John had found, right off the bat, a successful formula. Put Ringo on drums use other old friends ( Billy Preston, Klaus Voorman) and then on Imagine he brought in George. I would have loved to hear him go back to work with George Martin. I really enjoyed the remix from the early 2000’s that Sean and Yoko did.

[@walrusonion]

always preferred Walls and Bridges to Mind Games, both albums have their charm though.

[@LtdNulty]

Before people buy 6 (?) versions of mindgames, they should probably buy the two Claypool Lennon Delirium albums ;-)

[@Henry-z1y1c]

Nutopian international anthem is a kick ass song

[@Townshend90125]

Greatest guitar solo on any song

[@erniericardo8140]

Fun review Matt of Mind Games, always enjoy the discussions with Sir John Heaton, For me Mind Games is one of my favorite albums by John Lennon, in some ways I like it better than Walls and Bridges (Which is also a fine album by Lennon) When I was about 13 or 14 years old, I bought the cassette of Mind Games along with Lennon's Rock and Roll album at a discount price at a Payless Drug Store, Rock and Roll was just okay, I didnt expect much from Mind Games but to my surprise I really liked it at first listen, and to this day its one of those albums I still go back to time after time,I feel this album gets overlooked, it has some great songs, some good songs and a couple of just okay songs. Although the production wasnt at all great and the female back up singers take away from the songs and at times its just awful IMO. I think that the outtakes from The Lennon Anthology of Mind Games are by far superior.-Another observation with Mind Games is it feels rushed, Lennon had the habit of not really spending alot of time on take after take on songs, which McCartney is kind of the opposite.- Im looking forward in getting the 6 CD set of Mind Games, I always feel that the Lennon Estate always give you your money's worth with the box sets (Plastic Ono Band and Imagine) - Now lets hope we get at the end of the year a box set of Rubber Soul or Magical Mystery Tour👍

[@rogerlunde8668]

Lennon was the only Beatle i bought albums of after the breackup. I loved the to first, Somtimes in ..., I diden't buy, but i was dissatified when i bought this in autum 73, when it came out. It was " dated" in a way, but i still got it.

[@benedictweisser3086]

Has anyone noticed the similarity between "Tight A$" and Dylan's "From a Buick 6" from Highway 61 Revisited? "Uptight's alright, but if you can't stand the heat/You better get back in the shade"...."Well, if I go down dyin', you know/She's bound to put a blanket on my bed."

[@timsinnott386]

Hello there, I really think the Lennon camp create really good box sets, this is also given a thoughtful set of support features which i am looking forward to such as treasure hunts etc ! This was the first Lennon album I bought with my pocket money 💰 lol It’s a beautiful set of songs, i never understood why people don’t hear this The 2002 remix was a big production step up ? It’s not a mediocre album ! Mind Games is a strong song surely ? People just as now judged Lennon negatively, all these songs are stronger than Ms Swift ? Who I admire ! Remixes I have heard just sound awesome ! Who are these critics, lennon also revisited unfinished ideas ! One after 909 etc etc People judge him and his music from a dislike of yoko and daft politically misunderstanding ! I am hoping people listen with unbiased ears 👂 Nice conversation I agree 100% with John Heaton Merci 🙏

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Speaking for myself, I don't judge him on a dislike of Ono. I judge him on taking inspiration from Ono and abandoning his pre-Ono style of writing. I will be doing a video on this topic in the future so stay tuned!

[@timsinnott386]

@@popgoesthe60s52 thank you for your reply, I look forward to the episode you mention. I like the way you and John interact, does create an interesting juxtaposition. The whole new Mind Games project is delightful, taking fans on lots of journeys, Sean is making a real effort to engage with us, it’s not just a money grab as lots on social media say. Uncut magazine have a brilliant feature and a free CD with 9 tracks from across the set, which are rewarding and generous ? Mat I like your honest considered reflections, the truth is probably between you and John. I admit I am a little sentimental towards This album. Lennon’s song writing on here is varied and melodic, I think 🤔 listening to the studio recording it’s well recorded but production originally wasn’t quite right, but agree better than Spector. I am an artist and find the album art fine, it’s almost a precursor for the collage art found in The Punk era ! Lennon at art school produced a number of collages, I feel it’s symbolism was it’s intention rather than technical prowess. Lennon is a contradiction, artists often are. Enjoy your day. I find your channel very entertaining, keep on keeping on !

[@init4fun]

In Thames TV producer David Whelan’s 2023 book, ironically titled ‘Mind Games: The Assassination of John Lennon,’ he spent three years researching John’s murder and spoke to the lead investigator and the doctors and nurses who worked on John’s body at Roosevelt Hospital on the night of December 8, 1980. All of them confirmed John was shot four times in the front left chest just above the heart in a tight, professional grouping from no more than three feet away in the vestibule of the Dakota, which renders Mark Chapman a patsy (a confirmed MKULTRA victim w/CIA-linked handlers) incapable of the murder. I would recommend the book to any Lennon fan, as Whelan has devoted a good chunk of his time to this investigation after hearing discussion on NPR during the COVID pandemic about the Dakota doorman, Jose Podermo, possibly involved with the CIA at the failed 'Bay of Pigs' op. Why wouldn’t his family want make this investigation public and why has Yoko’s testimony changed each time she’s told it (five times)? Lennon was to march with activists in California. He was about to become politically active again. Someone wanted Lennon dead, and Chapman couldn’t have done it. Doesn’t it bother you?

[@aminahmed2220]

What a fantastic video have a wonderful day Matt also happy first week of summer ❤❤❤❤❤❤😊😊😊😊😊😊

[@thomaswery3087]

I saw Yes several years ago.They had Buford on drums and Tony Kaye on keyboards.A critic was disappointed that the original band wasn't there meaning Alan White and Wakeman.I thought this guy needed to do his homework because this was the closest to the original band as you could get with Pete Banks the only one missing.

[@john_milner]

Perhaps putting aside 'Mind Games' ... the rest of this album to me is OK at best ... 'John Lennon / Plastic Ono Band' was in my opinion Lennon's finest solo album by far .... harrowing, unsettling, difficult .... it is a emotional reawakening. I always come back to this album and it is always a rewarding experience ... 'Imagine' to me was next best ... as for Lennon's output after including 'Mind Games' ... it's ho hum at best ...

[@Slydeil]

Completely agree. Mind Games is average and he'd produced his finest work with POB and imagine.

[@SeltaebEht]

20:45 is it true that John used to waste a lot of time in the studio, but pretended everyone else to be ready at any point for recording; who wasn't ready didn't appear in the record. As a musician I can hear a sort of pressure in the backing music.

[@alesi257]

I'm confused about the separation timeline. Wikipedia says they separated not in September but in June, 'just as the sessions were to get under way" (the sessions were July-August). This would mean the compositions were written before the separation but recorded immediately after, with the emotional turmoil that came with it. Is this right?

[@popgoesthe60s52]

That citation on Wiki is from Adrian Ernesto Cepeda's article, "Bring on the Lucie": Lennon's Last Overtly Political Stand" which is a digital mag/blog called PopMatters. Yoko was there during the basic tracks and you can hear her on the stripped down recordings so that article is false.

[@johnnytheg]

I've had Mind Games in my collection since the early 80s and I just realized that Tight A$ is based on Baby, Let's Play House by Elvis.

[@willgirling4038]

It seems to me that Lennon had run out of things to say at this point. There comes a time when big rich rock stars have been on the treadmill too long, lose touch with common reality, and get self indulgent. He needed a break to cultivate and communicate a new perspective, which is what the songs on Double Fantasy (love them or loath them) eventually did.

[@ChromeDestiny]

Mind Games is middle tier for me, I am looking forward to checking out some of the new mixes. Standout tracks for me are Out of The Blue, the title track, Aisumasen which makes me think of early 70's Pink Floyd a bit, the rocker Meat City and the Lennon Anthology version of One Day at a Time without the falsetto which I hear this box set has a few more variations of.

[@connoromalley4004]

This might just be because when I first bothered to listen to solo John, I just marathoned the album songs in a row on KZbin, and Mind Games came after the absolute drag that was Sometime in NYC, but I personally enjoyed it.

[@adrianmist6681]

Thanks for this review, I mostly àgree with both of your views, if that's possible. Mind Games to me isn't a great but it is a good album. It suffers in some ways due to too many instruments sharing the same space, where sometimes it would be better to have some clarity, it will be interesting to see how the new mix sorts this out. One track in particular is Tight Ass, there are too many guitars, although I like what each guitar is playing but it's impossible to follow, Meat City is similar in this respect. I've always thought that the track sequencing follows a similar format to Imagine, the title track is followed by a rockabilly track, then there's a confession song, Jealous Guy/I'm Sorry and so on. Looking forward to your next review.

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Thank you for the comments, Adrian. John has talked of how good some of the new mixes sound so I can see how that would elevate the overall quality of the album.

[@johnheaton5667]

I hear the comparison…interesting…though I prefer tight as to crippled inside though it’s marginal!

[@tyronerodgers]

Wow! Hyped for this 😮

[@MaximMuir]

My favorite track on this album (that I barely listen to anymore) is "Intuition". This idea came to me a couple of weeks ago when the new box set was being hyped. "Intuition" is also a granny music track. You have to use your "mind's ear" to imagine this, but hear this: imagine this song was in 1938 by The Jimmy Dorsey Band. I can Hera the introduction of the main melody with a cadre of sweet saxophones playing the melody for a minute, followed by a trumpets denoumenting the melody leading to Helen Forrest singing the melody and chorus, then back to a final minute of main melody by the entire band (very typical arrangements on late 30's swing-big band recordings). It's as if Lennon was thinking of English music halls when he composed the meoldy. All nicely released on RCA Victor in the US, and His Master's Voice in the U.K. on 78 shellac. If I knew how to have AI construct such a scenario, I'd do it to show what my mind is hearing. So, this is my Lennon "Granny Music" track!

[@johnheaton5667]

Good Granny music then :- )

[@gordonteats298]

HAYMANS GREEN by PETE BEST, would be great album to review, also,a great solo album by an ex Beatle

[@benmeltzer]

42:18: He should have said, "Picture yourself in a boat on a river."

[@benmeltzer]

Here's an issue my brother raised with remixes. What then is considered the actual piece of art? The original? The remix? It's not like the Mona Lisa gets alterations from time to time. It's a set piece of work. Maybe they are separate pieces of work (the original and a given remix). But he doesn't like the idea of going back because, at least in part, in confuses the issue of what constitutes the actual work of art.

[@cliftonstewart9557]

Hi I hate to be a pain but the Mona Lisa most certainly has had a number of 'restorations' over the years Da Vinci was notorious for using experimental painting techniques - and the paint surface suffered, there is little if anything left of the Last Supper....(original Star Wars is another valid example) anyway I kinda agree with your statement probably the original vinyl release

[@benmeltzer]

@@cliftonstewart9557 thanks

[@benmeltzer]

@@cliftonstewart9557 thanks

[@MrYannape]

Hi Matt & John, thank you for this review, great as always... Well, I don't share your opinion on One day at a time, yes the lyrics are not hip but fit with the style (reminds me of Macca I am your singer) and the melody is good (especially after the 2 prior tracks which do nothing to me). I have lots of regrets for what Freeda People could have been, great chorus especially the part « well, you were caught.. » but the verses are too flat and the whole production shitty and overloaded. I like better the Lennon boxset version (from 90s) which is a lotta fun. Intuition is a great gem (I used it for a fake 70s beatles album). Fully agree with your judgement on Out the blue. I like Only People for the energy, the populistic stance and the good melody but arrangements suck. I Know (I know) is good but again I much prefer the stripped down version from the old boxset. You are here is beautiful. Meat City is good but suffers from bad production (i don't have the new mix) and from being a closer when by then one might have dropped from the album (I must admit I rediscover this song). Well, greetings from France and looking forward to your next one.

[@popgoesthe60s52]

I appreciate the comments, MrYannape! Plenty more to come from Mr. Heaton and I.

[@randykirby2866]

I remember buying this when it came out and was hugely disappointed and quickly disregarded it.. A few good songs with a bunch of mediocre ones and a couple of really bad ones. The public and the critics didn't think much of it for a reason. Now as the years have gone by and unfortunately not a lot Lennon solo material, it keeps getting remastered and remixed, they put it out and everybody tells you how great it is. Sound quality may be better but still the same album. I have a lot of respect for your opinion and channel. You should very proud not to be a member of the "send me a free album crowd" instead of a paid spokesman for the Lennon or Harrison estate.

[@popgoesthe60s52]

It's a badge of honor! Thanks for the kind words.

[@bme1553]

I have always thought this was an album of great material that suffered from poor arrangement, instrumentation, and mixing. So I'm excited to hear the different mixes in this release. There's the last gasp of the counter culture with Free the People and Lonely People which are fun to listen to. Free the People has that anthemic Power to the People or Give Peace a Chance energy. The Lennon Box Set from years ago is a superior version. Most of the other songs are contemplative and laid back and its nice to hear Lennon settling into middle adulthood and the 70s in this introspective way..I Know is a stand out in this way, as is Out the Blue. From today's standpoint i think the song Mind Games is one of John's classics and i rank it right up there with Imagine. Aside from the title track it would have been VERY interesting to see what this album could have been in the hands of a good producer. John really needed that to being out his best in the studio. Matt, glad you mentioned the bass slides, i hate those as well and always have. They don't fit the songs, stand out like a sore thumb and make those tracks sound more like a jam session. Probably the wrong musicians for this music. Some tracks honestly sound like a sonic mess, like everyone grabbed a random instrument to play five minutes before the song was recorded. I always knew there were fantastic songs here dying to be heard, but were restrained by their production.

[@popgoesthe60s52]

A good producer (not Spector who had his chances with Lennon) would have made a huge difference with the arrangements and overall sound. What if McCartney had produced?

[@Joe67343]

Matt, always entertaining you two, you are always very diplomatic (haha). So, I went back and gave it a listen. Mind Games is a good sounding song, I have always liked it. For me the other songs are so much weaker. Lennon's vocals are buried in the mix and the songs lack dynamics and sound bland to my ears. Nothing stands out with any kind of wow factor! One thing you can say about Paul during this period is he could always write banger radio hits that had a musical sophisication, even though many of his album tracks are weak. Lennon, with a few exceptions, could no longer write radio hits. Anyhoo, just my two-cents. Cheers!

[@johnheaton5667]

Think think (and the 2002 mix) are a vast improvement on the original production wise (sorry John!)

[@pts5217]

45:19 an eerie coincidence…Rosemary’s Baby takes place at the Dakota in NYC and involves someone being murdered there

[@pts5217]

Ah I see you guys ended up covering that

[@eatmanyzoos]

just listened to mind games the song and it immediately made me think of hunky dory. had he been listening to the bewlay brothers?

[@ttoille765]

I always thought Lennon's albums sounded too American (or too New York City). Kind of like he was being backed up by the Saturday Night Live band. They are great musicians but I don't think they fit with what I want Lennon to sound like. I wish he had overruled Yoko and gotten the Cheap Trick guys to do Double Fantasy. I'm interested to see you and John review Red Rose Speedway - 'cuz that record is dreadful!

[@popgoesthe60s52]

I agree with the Saturday Night band comment. Well said.

[@delmofritz3964]

I agree with what John Heaton said: "Why did Lennon have to continue to lead? He was passed his point of influence and was just churning out good music. " Mind Games" is not great like "Imagine" or "Plastic Ono " but it's still a good album. And as for it just being pop the end track " Meat City" sounds like Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac and that's not pop.

[@popgoesthe60s52]

He didn't have to continue to lead. And it was obvious by this time that he WASN'T leading, which is perfectly appropriate to point out because his fans expected it. Bastards.

[@EricSchultz-zs8hz]

"Intuition" would have been good as a single. Also "Bring On the Lucie" is a nice, catchy song. Those songs would have done better than what he released from "Some Time In NY." What you described as laughing in "Intuition" always sounded like a rapid "na-na-na-na-na-na" to me.

[@johnheaton5667]

Yes but still no wiser as to what’s supposed to mean…amusing nonetheless

[@eliasmodernell3348]

I am the only one who hears a connection between Sexie Sadie and Out of the Blue in backing vocals and guitar riff

[@blurredlenzpictures3251]

Matt's assessment of Only People: It sounds like the partridge family. I'm actually really surprised he put it on here. 😅😂 lmao

[@mikahattunen4502]

Mind Games song has synthetizised string sound playin a one long note beneath the guitar notes being played.

[@mikahattunen4502]

John Heaton have been claiming there is no strings.

[@Cpayne30]

Hard disagree on Jim Keltner - his feel and time are unlike all the other session drummers of his day (like Hal, Jim Gordon, Rick Marotta, Andy Newmark, Ed Greene, Jeff Porcaro, etc). He lags extremely behind the beat and has a knack for uncommon rhythms. Check out his work with Neil Young on his 1993 and 2000 tours - a great example of why he stands out. And for what it's worth, he isn't my favorite session guy per se (that'd be Jim Gordon) but he is very different from all the other guys.

[@erniericardo8140]

Add Steve Gadd to this list of Great session drummers👍

[@Cpayne30]

@@erniericardo8140 Absolutely. He's never been a personal favorite of mine but I know he's loved by many.

[@sebastianbattaglia6330]

Matt!, can you tall us the story of The Cryan' shames"?

[@bonzodog6872]

In late 70's early 80's UK. Mind Games was an ever present staple of every record store bargain bin. Released on EMI's budget Music For Pleasure label and retailing for the grand sum of £1.99 they still couldn't shift them.

[@davidjackson5449]

Well said good point. Its John's worst solo album as at least Sometime in New York had energy ,passion and the great New York City and Woman is the N****

[@TheEeliciousOne]

My, my John Heaton, it sometimes seems like you've got a pepper up your urethra. Such a strong perspective on the RAM cover, yikes! An enjoyable back and forth. Look forward to both of your perspectives on Material World.

[@johnheaton5667]

You mean the two beetles? Well yes…

[@tonysienzant6717]

The title of the album is "Mind Games." That phrase has negative connotations in the public discourse. That should give the listener a clue to Lennon's state of mind at the time. If the 'mind games' are in unison with your partner, all is bliss. If the 'mind games' are at odds with your partner, it is a confusing time of questioning the future. This album shows Lennon at his confused worst: everything seems half-hearted or 'ironic' in some way, whether it's the love songs or the more 'socially conscious' ones, like pale imitations of former definitive statements. His lyrics are not very good "my intentions are good, I use my intuition..." Compare THAT to any opening line he penned in one of his Beatle songs. That said, the song "Mind Games" itself is one of his best songs. It sounds 'progressive' to my ears, at times channeling the bombastic heavenly glories of the band YES.

[@riogorgos]

I bought Mind Games and Walls & Bridges when they were released. Most of my contemporaries thought they were awful. Lennon’s music wasn’t highly regarded at this stage and neither were these two albums. Indeed he, together with Yoko Ono, were largely consider joke figures and irrelevant. Like many previous artists, Lennon acquired a misguided reverence and reputation after his death which was not based on his music but solely because of his demise. Having said that, the song Imagine was and still is wonderful.

[@brucehazen8982]

Every bit as good an album as Imagine; more consistent at least! By all means though, get one of the remixes (2002 or the upcoming 2024).

[@frugalseverin2282]

Regarding "Red Rose Speedway" I made my own CD of the double album version with 'Live and Let Die (Group only)' as a bonus track.

[@robeustace6881]

I “like” the album, always have, but it’s not a release that’s ever going to win any new fans surely? and no amount of remixing/re-packaging, especially at these prices!!! is going to help. It’s inevitably hard to be truly objective when you’ve been gifted a complimentary box, not if you want to receive the next release anyway!!! There’s no end of You Tubers who seem to have received one this time, but in reviewing terms, I suggest there are advantages in not being one of them. Still, I respect John for at least confessing that he probably wouldn’t have bought it!!! Enjoyed the discussion, looking forward to more.

[@jamesholland8057]

1973 is when I thought rock died and returned in a new form in 1977.

[@delmofritz3964]

Valid point. The Clash and British Punk in general revitalised it. For a short but signigicant period. Then rok died again in the corpoarate 80s.

[@Henry-z1y1c]

Hey ho, let’s go!

[@robertzastrow4648]

Don't know if either of you, Matt or John, will read or reply back to this (Because it's been a month since you covered JL's new Mind Games box set), but I'll write it anyway, and hope for the best. Came across this morning a KZbin video posted by a guy who is a big Waylon Jennings fan. He talked of how Waylan and John Lennon met at the 1975 Grammy Awards show, and hit it off. He also showed a short letter John had written to Waylan (Which Waylan kept) talking about how John wished he had released "Tight As $" as a single, and thought Waylan should do a cover of the song (John thinking the song would have been a hit for either himself or Waylan). I'm wondering if either of you knew about this letter of John's to Waylan? Also, just thought of this, but think a much better "Final" song for the Beatles to release would have been "Watching Rainbows", rather than "Now And Then". Paul and Ringo could have added some final touches to the song, but its lyrics are quirky and very Lennonesque.

[@popgoesthe60s52]

I was not aware of such a letter! That is very cool to hear and Jennings probably would have done justice to that song.

[@robertzastrow4648]

@@popgoesthe60s52 Forget if the guy who posted the Waylon/John Lennon video mentioned this, or if it came up as a second video, but Waylon did record "Norwegian Wood" and released it on a 1965 album. Listened to it and was surprised at how good it was!

[@robertzastrow4648]

@@popgoesthe60s52 Matt, this has nothing to do with the John/Waylon connection. But just came across a KZbin video by a guy who posts stuff on YT as the Beatles Bible. In his video, he talks about a 1995 interview Paul McCartney did, claiming he had gotten a phone call from John Lennon, who (according to Paul) wanted to reunite the Beatles. Paul said that he told John "No". Wonder if either you or John Heaton are aware of this 1995 interview of Paul's, where he talked about this phone call from John Lennon. Several years ago, read a telling comment which George Harrison made about Paul. George said that he thought whenever Paul found his/Paul's solo career in trouble, he would bring up the possibility of the Beatles either reuniting or of them collaborating with each other in some form or fashion.

[@alesi257]

"One Day at a Time" has one of the most creative and effective chord progressions of John's solo career, and the melody weaves in and out of it very nicely (especially on the verse). I know it's tepid, has questionable backup vocals and trite lyrics, but the song strikes me as huge wasted potential. Interestingly, this was the song Elton John chose to cover as the B-side of Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.

[@Mack-the-Knight]

If I bought the super deluxe box set, I would have to reappraise the content of my wallet 😮.

[@dalehoustman4737]

Nice discussion with the usual honest opinions given. Besides the usual rah-rah-sis-boom-pa I would like to say that it was refreshing to hear someone finally note how cheap and rushed the album art is. And this isn’t a thought leaking from the mind of an adolescent - I was there to purchase the original recording the day it “dropped” as they say. John’s solo career is problematic for this old codger, a mixture of 1950s retro, a diminishment of Lennon’s once brilliant wordplay, a bit of his own “granny music” (I find “Grow Old Along with Me” to be wretched) and a fistful of un-nuanced politics… and the good stuff. But that album cover art… oof! Some scissors and some Elmer’s glue and voila! Art? Anyway… great video.

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Thank you, Dale. Yeah that artwork is pathetic. I couldn't keep that in!

[@Slydeil]

It's an average album with a few highlights, much like most of his solo career after Imagine. No amount of reissue and repackaging will change that. And i agree with Matt that Mind Games was the 4th best of the solo albums in 1973. As for Johns comment of Mind Games (song) being better than Live and Let Die...omg. It's the best song on the album and i really love it, but Live and Let Die has so much dynamics and energy compared to it, and atill sounds great today. And the George Martin production is superb. Although Living in the Material World is a good album, the critics were generally right about the rest of George's albums, they were average at best.

[@juliosanchez95]

Pop Goes the 60s is a real downer on this album. At least John Heaton appreciates it. It is not greatest album but it is very enjoyable and has some great moments. There is not a lot of Lennon solo material for obvious reasons, so I try to enjoy what little we do have. Also, I actually like the goofy album cover.

[@popgoesthe60s52]

I try to enjoy it too!

[@classicrockriffsandotherbi7737]

Imagine and Double Fantasy were his best.

[@invisibleray6987]

52:40 REDEMPTION

[@popgoesthe60s52]

That's our boy, Heaton!

[@jeffw.england]

I like the mind games album i.m interested in outakes and unreleased stuff. I only like the original albums from artist because they worked on them and its there mix the real thing. I don't need a remix from someone else fiddling with it.

[@keddw]

Surprised that the album cover was given the green light by the record company, John Lennon himself, and even Yoko, It looks ridiculous: humiliating in its execution as well as its message. Maybe it was a kind of joke that John had got himself into this terrible situation and was making light of it. But you would have thought with his Art school background he would know about light and subtlety. It reminds me of one of those transfer sets, we used to have as kids, in the early 70's in England.

[@johnheaton5667]

A harsh comment in my opinion though I respect your opinion!

[@RickM01]

Well Matt, my guess is that you may not have gotten the Mind Games Box Set from Sean, Yoko and Co. because you interviewed May Pang. You've endorsed the "dark side" - I just met May today at her photo exhibition - superb! Or you just haven't received it yet. Mind Games is totally watered down compared to previous Lennon recordings in my opinion. I suppose that's why I find it easier to listen to than his best works that came earlier (sans Some Time In New York City). The song Mind Games is a watered down Imagine. Imagine is a watered down version of hmmm - Love? What do you think? I think Lennon recycles himself in a way, trying to keep up with the other former Beatles and to market himself better to the pop world with Mind Games. That's why he uses back up singers and session musicians instead of the friends from Plastic Ono Band and Imagine. Stephen Thomas Erlewine a reviewer on All Music Guide rates Mind Games with 4 Stars. Plastic Ono Band and Imagine were given 5 Stars by him. I don't know what criteria he uses to do ratings. I agree the cover art is abysmal. What cover art by John Lennon do you like? Would you do a ranking of cover art? I would be interested in your ranking of Rolling Stones album cover art because I think some of it is horrid. I know I'm off topic but I appreciate your graphic design eye for stuff like that. Take care!

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Yes, I cannot be counted upon to deliver a 'thumbs up' review of many of these re-appraising box sets. I take it as a badge of honor.

[@michaelholycross2633]

​@popgoesthe60s52 keep being your own man, Matt. That's why I respect you so much!

[@juliosanchez95]

@@popgoesthe60s52 Pop Goes the 60s is a real downer on this album. At least John Heaton appreciates it. It is not greatest album but it is very enjoyable and has some great moments. There is not a lot of Lennon solo material for obvious reasons, so I try to enjoy what little we do have. Also, I actually like the goofy album cover.

[@johnheaton5667]

I also interviewed May Pang recently on the Beatles Words of Wisdom channel with my mate Colin

[@RickM01]

@@johnheaton5667 Well, my guess was way off base then. It happens a lot.

[@cajunqueen5125]

👍👍👍

[@jedikiah1541]

I think there is a problem with this album. John isn't as focused as on his earlier albums, Plastic Ono Band and Imagine, and the album lacks some of the grit of Sometime In New York City, despite those New York songs struggling through being written as slogans primarily. Mind Games mood has more in common with Imagine, but with more of a 1973 aor feel, and a suggestion John wasn't often quite so committed. Stripping the songs down may reveal promise that doesn't make it through to the final versions. The title track, though, is definitely one of John's best.

[@andrewmacdonald3667]

With ‘Mind Games’ Lennon exemplified the ‘Muzak’ that he accused Paul of making.

[@graniterhythm53]

I see what you mean - 'Mind Games' v ' One More Kiss', 'Meat City' v 'Loup, 1st Indian On The Moon', 'Bring On The Lucie' v 'Single Pigeon' etc,etc.Yep, I see what you mean!

[@andrewmacdonald3667]

@@graniterhythm53 I understand, but Lennon’s lyric was in reference to McCartney’s earlier work. He couldn’t foresee that he’d eventually be producing work in a similar vein. Despite the tracks you mention, my overall impression of MG remains ‘Muzak to my ears’.

[@GuyGadbois-e4e]

I was thinking the same thing when I was listening to it a few days ago

[@ChaunceyGardener]

Funny to have two competing products from Paul and John at the same time. Their rivalry never ends. One Hand Clapping is really strong while Mind Games is trying to reinvent itself to stand another chance. Too bad John never had a proper live album.

[@job1778]

I think the original album was a bit muddy etc. great album.

[@1rwjwith]

Critics of the day in particular just review LYRICS, they ignore musical melody, harmony and improvisation and competence entirely. Mr. Heaton hit it on the head…if an artist was not raving politically in a certain direction they are negative about it. To me when you get into partisan politics you are walking on thin ice as an artist…it usually does not work. I love MIND GAMES , the song one of Lennons best solo. That is by far the best song here. I do like Tight A$ and Meat City, after that there is a lot of dross.

[@garettjeff]

The song Mind Games should have been number 1. A really great song! The album is good not great IMO

[@jonvought700]

I remember hearing and enjoying it on the radio. But it wasn't one I chose to buy the 45 of. (I bought Hellen Wheels, but I guess that was about a year later.)

[@shyman99]

There was a lot of uncomfortable silence in the video and also in the message board crowd when John stated "Mind Games" was much better than "Live And Let Die". I think his relationship with the Lennon's is playing some mind games.

[@popgoesthe60s52]

I was a bit taken aback by that statement as I feel Live and Let Die is a McCartney powerhouse song. One of his best and perhaps slightly underrated because it is not associated with an album.

[@shyman99]

@@popgoesthe60s52 - Oh yeah, powerhouse without a doubt. Guns N Roses even remade it and scored a hit. It is on the soundtrack album along with the George Martin score. But since it is the only rock song on that album, most of us waited for the Wings Greatest Hits later in the 70s to finally own it on LP.

[@Henry-z1y1c]

@@popgoesthe60s52sort of like Dylan’s knockin on heaven’s door. Both written for a movie, but each song is long remembered well after the movie they were written for are forgotten.

[@johnheaton5667]

Well to be honest both songs have been played to death but if I had to pick…

[@bobburroughs6241]

Wait! What goes on? I want to tell you I'm only sleeping.

[@annakermode6646]

Also, I usually hate covers but Sinead O’Connor did Mind Games really well ❤

[@PhilJS67]

John is very defensive of this album. Might relate to boxset gift.

[@marcyfan-tz4wj]

it might relate to the fact that he's a major fan of lennon and of the album. good for him that he's a you tube personality and that lennon's estate gave a copy of this set to him!

[@johnheaton5667]

I’ve always loved the album save for some production misgivings…some of which have been rectified though not all

[@PhilJS67]

@@johnheaton5667 I’ve watched your John Lennon ranking video and ‘love’ didn’t come across when you were talking about Mind Games. An album with only 7 John songs you rank as better.

[@johnheaton5667]

@@PhilJS67your point being? Not sure which ranking video you’re referring to…my JL album ranking from ten years ago? Certainly in the last five years (or more) this album I’ve loved…ever since I bought the 2002 mix

[@jeffreyroedel9804]

One Day at a Time is the weakest clearly, but its lyrics are no worse than I Don't Wanna Be a Soldier, or even Oh Yoko, which is the climax of Imagine. The Imagine album has some kind of glow about it, because of the prevalence of the title track, but other than Jealous Guy, Oh My Love, and the just music groove of How Do You Sleep, I don't really get into any of the rest of that record. I don't get the hype. I much prefer Mind Games as a full listening experience. I love all of it but One Day at a Time.

[@popgoesthe60s52]

I think your assessment of Imagine is very good. If you took Imagine off that album, you are not left with much.

[@johnheaton5667]

I think Gimme Some Truth is the stronger rocker from either album

[@jeffreyroedel9804]

@@johnheaton5667 I think GST is a fine song, but it feels unfinished to me, like it needs a shift or change somewhere. I think it needed McCartney honestly. Clearly John brought it to Paul in early '69 as we hear on the Get Back sessions, and I wish they had finished it off for Abbey Road, but as is on Imagine, I like George's solo, but I don't think John sings it particularly well (compared to his potential as a vocalist) or fully-developed it, really.

[@erniericardo8140]

One Day At A Time on The Lennon Anthology is by far a better version.

[@chrismcgovern1647]

Two Minutes Silence is much better than NNA, just saying...😁

[@johnheaton5667]

Ha! Very good Chris!

[@jamesholland8057]

For a man who complained about Paul’s granny music, this album is not rocking like it should.

[@popgoesthe60s52]

It doesn't rock because of too much granny music.

[@tonyfox7510]

Mind Games is just an okay album and certainly not a classic. Its quite greedy that Universal is pricing this set at $250 Cdn on Amazon, much more than the POB and Imagine sets which are superior albums. I'll just download it for free off usenet.

[@johnheaton5667]

Yes that’s the beauty…you choose the format you want and how much you want to spend!

[@GuyGadbois-e4e]

I bought the vinyl and you are right, it's just okay

[@vbassone]

Mind Games is a good record with some very good moments, but Walls and Bridges is better.

[@martinmcgrath1985]

This album is 5/10 with a great single. Not sending Pop goes 60s a complimentary copy. Sad times.

[@popgoesthe60s52]

This proves I am not a member of the so-called vinyl community. 🙂

[@martinmcgrath1985]

@@popgoesthe60s52 kzbin.infofvpzr_5iHVU?si=welMTkft_cryLTqb not to rub it in but Sean sent me a copy!!

[@shyman99]

@@popgoesthe60s52 - I think it proves you have integrity and cannot be bought.

[@martinmcgrath1985]

@@popgoesthe60s52 out the blue fans go MAD for..it’s nice enough..I’ll tell you why they go nuts for a song like this..bcus the songs around it are so bloody bad.. Dark side of the moon came out this year and MANY other greats albums.. Take the Beatles that year..BOTR, Ringo, material world..as well as red and blue..where does mind game rank amongst all this?

[@invisibleray6987]

SCANDALOUS! Heaton has been BROUGHT by the Lennon estate .....NEXT!

[@popgoesthe60s52]

I'm still batting 1.000 - no presents from ex-Beatle estates yet! I would refuse them if offered.

[@invisibleray6987]

@@popgoesthe60s52 that's the spirit, I began to watch about 4-5 of these 'Halloween III' gifts and it always ends up as a cheap advert detailing all the crap inside the album!

[@johnheaton5667]

Give me a break mate! I can’t help it if I’m sent it!

[@GuyGadbois-e4e]

@@johnheaton5667 All You Need is Love

[@pts5217]

I haven’t disagree on Intuition. To me, it sounds like a cheesy 70s sitcom theme song.