Imagine

Bien.

Classic

Good album, just not a five.

Tres bon album jepe sais que c’etait un receuil de toune comme imagine mais c’est rock et tres stylise le reste de l’album. Je ne l’avais jamais ecoute au complet et je suis agreablement surpris. Je reecoute a coup sur. 4.75

Strong 4. It’s amazing how well this album holds up. I can definitely see myself coming back for more. The lyrics, the vocals, the production, it all sounds great, even today. Very strong project.

Such a tuneful beautiful album. A classic of course. I am so over Imagine as a song and don't massively like listening to it, but it probably is very good isn't it

Like it!

Really nice melodies and songs.

3.8

huge lennon vibes. slow but meaningful lyrics. 4/5

Some classics, bit preachy

Really beautiful, mix of like Beatles and Lennon. Mac millers later work reminds me of it

Imagine is a solid solo release.

Not a huge fan of the title track, and I prefer plastic ono band, but still a pretty good album. Closer to a 3.5

you may say IM A DREAAAAAMER

Nice! A chance to hear a solo album from one of the greats. I do love The Beatles, especially their last few albums, but have not been able to explore the vast catalogue of their solo albums. This album starts with one of the greatest songs of all time so it’s going to be hard to follow that. After that iconic song it does seem like the front half of the album is loaded with some so-so blues based numbers but it seems to even out in the back half with a series of good songs. By the end I did feel like it was a good listen and will hopefully have more time to explore all the other solo albums by the great musicians of The Beatles.

A good album with some notable tracks - the title track being perhaps his most famous post-Beatles. Nevertheless, I’ve always considered The Beatles a sum of their parts - members’ solo work never reaches the quality they produced even when nominally together - and this album cements that belief. Good, but not great.

I may be one of the few people left who's only heard the title track and nothing else from the lauded "Imagine" album, but now I can no longer say even this. I'm glad to have heard it at long last (and I can see I'll get to listen to his debut album eventually too), but I'll admit that I was a bit disappointed that it didn't really blow me away. "Imagine" (the song) is so ingrained as a cultural touchstone that it's impossible to really evaluate fairly, but the rest of the album doesn't really match "Imagine"'s style or reach. I like it that Lennon seems comfortable exploring his own directions as a post-Beatle (and fun that George Harrison played on so many tracks), but if I hadn't known that John Lennon was a former Beatles member, I'm not sure this album would even really register. I *did* enjoy "Gimme some truth", especially with the quasi-video of him singing the lyrics in a studio, and it has an almost "Subterranean homesick blues" feeling. And I appreciate Phil Spector's restraint in not overwhelming the album with strings and walls of sound. But aside from "Imagine" (the song) there's not a lot that pulled me in (and his anti-McCartney rant "How do you sleep?" is mildly off-putting, a 70s version of a diss track, albeit with a solid backing rhythm).

You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not.

shii idk

Should preface this by saying I’m a big Beatles fan, but have never really embraced much of their solo work (with the exception of George’s All Things Must Pass). Lennon’s solo stuff is pretty hit or miss for me. Obviously he can pen some great songs. A few are here: Imagine, Jealous Guy, and Oh Yoko. But there are songs that lack imagination (pardon the pun) here too, like Crippled Inside and It’s So Hard. I Don’t Wanna Be A Soldier sounds like an experimental track that doesn’t quite land. That said, there are some interesting tracks here too, like How? and How Do You Sleep? Overall, I guess what I’m saying is this album is very inconsistent, and I’m a bit surprised it’s so highly rated on these greatest album lists.

Being a good old Beatles hater, I wasn't looking forward to this, but it's pretty tolerable. The piano ballads (Imagine, Jealous Guy) stand out much more to me than the bluesier songs on there, they kind of pass by without much thought. Outside of the significance of the opening track i'm not really seeing why it was included in the list, there's nothing exceptional in the music here.

kind of bland. Huge start with Imagine and then lots of filler.

Sorry, is this it? All Things Must Pass came out a year earlier and this is the slop that Lennon served up? an extra point for phil spector's production

I still kinda like ‘Imagine’ even if it’s sappy and reductive. John might have been an ass but I think it’s good for humanity to have some utopian idealism. The Yoko songs are sappy and annoying. I don’t mind Yoko Ono personally, and I think she made John a better person in the end. Speaking of which, why the hell isn’t Double Fantasy on this list??? Anyways, he badmouths Paul on this album. 𝐖𝐞 𝐝𝐨 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐛𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐏𝐚𝐮𝐥 𝐌𝐜𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞!

I really didn't like this album. The first three songs were fine, I mean, Imagine is a classic for a reason. Jealous Guy had great instrumentation and was by far the highlight of the album for me. It was mostly downhill from there for me, excluding Oh My Love. One particular low light for me was I Don't Want To Be A Solider Mama. That song just dragged on and on and is the worst song I've heard in a while. The album felt like it was a lot longer than it actually was.

How? - This is definitely John Lennon. Some okay strings and stripped back production. The main motif is pretty annoying to me. This is about what I expect from this album Jealous Guy - whining about being an abusive fuck. boohoo. also produced by fucking Phil Spector lmao holy shit. Abuse abuse abuse for everyone! It's So Hard - some real booty ass rock n roll bluesy vibes. Not into it. Kinda like the lyrics though. Pretty standard blues stuff. Life is hard and sometimes I feel like giving up but eating out my girl makes me feel better. I Don't Wanna Be a Soldier Mama - A little bolder production, a little bluesy and rock n roll with a washy psychedelic reverb feel, kinda fun. Actually kinda like this one. More pretty standard stuff about fears of growing up and being a man in the world. Not bad at all. Nice little psych-rocky bridge solo thing. Oh My Love - I like the guitar intro, piano compliments it nicely. Somber little number about finally reaching some clarity amidst a probably pretty chaotic life. Can't really relate. Kinda bored tbh. I might like this one much later in life. Imagine - The big one, the classic, the meme. This song is fine. nothing really great to say, nothing really bad to say. It's catchy, it's inspirational, it's fantastical. Yeah, it is what it is, no real strong feelings after hearing it everywhere my whole life only for it to become a meme during covid. Crippled Inside - quirky little guitar intro with some buttass piano folksy shit. Kind of a fun bounce to it though. Criticism of keeping up appearances when you're actually a piece of shit. Ironic. Literally talks about being judged for the color of his skin what the fuck lmao. Meh. Oh Yoko! - The music is fun on this one. Nice vocal melodies. I do not like the lyrics though. extremely repetitive and just not saying much. "in the middle of ____ I call your name" "Oh Yoko" "My love will turn you on". That's the whole fucking thing. Fuck this song. Your harmonica solo can't save you now John. Gimme Some Truth - Musically this is more like what I can appreciate from the Beatles crew. I like the aggression coming from his vocals in this one. That slide guitar kinda rips. I can get into this one. Anger and distrust towards people in positions of power. Yeah this is more like it. How Do You Sleep? - oh this one has some groove okay. Guitar is great. Nice funky keys. Great pad of strings. This is just a fucking beef track against Paul though lmao. Not bad though, It sounds good, has at least one or two nice burns, the music backs up the feeling and the attitude of John feeling angry but also more cool and collected. Pretty good track despite just being a diss. Had some surprises in it honestly but overall was about what I expected. I just don't care about the Beatles or their individual solo endeavors. I respect it, but this shit gets so boring so fast. I recognize that that's mostly just on me but there's nothing I can do to change that. Probably won't even return to my favorites from the album because I largely enjoyed them as a novelty. Pretty overrated and mediocre album to my ears. 2 or 3 out of 5.

Call me a hater but this is the most performative, hypocritical, and vacuous album on this list so far, maybe ever. Pure appropriation of several genres with no respect to their progenitors. Never want to listen to this again.

this one is rated 1/5 out of PRINCIPLE john lennon if youre reading this, opps are being sent on your way locked and loaded, sleep with one eye open

Astonishingly bad to the point where the album put me to sleep.

I hate John Lennon. The only good thing he did without being carried by the Beatles is inspire Steely Dan's 1972 hit song "Only a Fool Would Say That"

4.5

Heard this whole thing a few months ago at a bar and now listened to it for real. Its very good and the sound and production is very well done.

All hit and miss with the Beatles post breakup. This one was probably Lennon's finest overall.

Great álbum

So good

The song Imagine is fantastic! The rest of the album could be songs of the Teletubbies and the song Imagine would still be good enough to earn the overall album five stars. As it is, the rest of the songs are pretty damn good too.

Outstanding

Look at all the peopleee Some may saaay im a dreamerr Admittedly i didnt really listen to the whole album i feel asleep but the piano on imagine is just the thing i crave, so special

It's John Lennon's most notable album. It's really good, combining rock and roll with contemporary. Oh Yoko! Is an extremely underrated track. It's one of the best on there. Truly masterful!

masterpeace

Favorite songs: Imagine, Crippled Inside, Jealous Guy, Gimme Some Truth, How Do You Sleep?, How?, Oh Yoko!

Excellent

Sick completist masochist that I am, I’ve been listening through the Fab Four solo albums. There are so many, and although all of them are competent, few of them are very good. The best of them tend to be from the early 70’s, right after the breakup. Then again, what rock, pop, or hip hop artists improve as they get older? It’s a weird phenomenon, how popular music-making seems to be for the very young. You hit your thirties, and suddenly you’re as interesting as empty aspic. In my opinion, this is the last truly interesting Lennon album. Imagine that. In my Beatles solo albums listening extravaganza, I’ve focused so far on G. Hari Krishna Son and Ringo, as I already am pretty well versed in the Lennon’s and the early McCartney’s. The 1001 generator forced Plastic Ono upon me last week, and Imagine on me this week, so it seems to be telling me something. It’s like it knows I’m tired of being preached at by Harrison. Returning to Imagine, I’ve got to say, swimming in the Beatles solos pool, love him or hate him, wife beater or Ono-pushover, Lennon was the best Beatle. You can bash his lyrics for being repetitive in I Don’t Want to be a Soldier, but the trancelike simplicity is the point, and he really caught a groove there. You can say he was an asshole. He was, you peasant. He also tells you the truth of how it is. All he wanted was the truth anyway, as declared loudly in How. He’s definitely a hypocrite. As everyone points out, imagine a world without possessions being posited by this guy. But, all in all, he had character. That’s what he brought to the Beatles. The other solo albums from the others lack this astringent personality, and that was a big part of the mix. Of course, Yoko broke him down into a gelatinous mush by the end of it all. This is why his later albums after this spiral down into blandsville. He wanted to be her slave, it seems. I also tortured myself by listening to a few Yoko Ono albums. It’s tough to say what John saw in her, but you know, love is love. I’m curious about how a force like her felt about these gushy love songs like Oh Yoko being sung for her. Listen to her cackle like a witch on her version of Plastic Ono, or moan in intense pain for an hour on Rising, and it’s so strange to think that this (this!) is who the twee anthem Oh Yoko was written for. This was most likely not written as an expression of their love for each other, but moreso acts as a suggestion of the happy go lucky romance that John was trying to cast into the world. This song says more to me about John than Yoko (but what do I know- I wasn’t there!). I just doubt Yoko would’ve written a similar type of song to John. Prove me wrong. It wasn’t her personality. It seems to me, that if wasn’t the mega famous force that he was, she’d be embarrassed by such cheese. So, people spend a lot of time pointing out Lennon’s many flaws. They focus less on his ideals. You may say he’s a dreamer, but he’s not the only one. I hope one day you’ll join us, if you don’t already. This is the best of the Beatles after the Beatles.

el mejor album

Unique

Jealous Guy is one of the greatest songs of all time

Fantastic record, his best work as a solo artist. Thematically variety of song and honesty passion of his delivery is remarkable….the man had his demons.

I love John Lennon, and this has many of his best songs.

I LOVE THIS ALBUM its such an important album and i think everyone should listen to it at least once

I love John Lennon! I better since I have him tattooed on my ankle. This album has a lot of my favorite John Lennon songs (Imagine, Jealous Guy, Oh My Love). I also really like the song Oh Yoko! I also knew Gimme Some Truth, How Do You Sleep?, and How? There were a couple songs I didn't particularly like, but overall, this was a really good album.

pretty good tbf

So so good. Particularly the title track (duh), Jealous Guy, How do you sleep, Oh Yoko. Probably my second favorite Lennon album to Plastic Ono Band

I’m at a 5. This is the first solo John Lennon album we’ve gotten, which is a bit surprising when you’re 846 deep, but given the success all of the other Beatles have had with their solo stuff on this list, I never had any doubt this would be good. For better or worse, there’s really not that much to say. “Imagine” as a title track is an all-timer, & it’s supplemented well by 9 other strong tracks that have some good variety to them. Some of them surprised me, like with “Crippled Inside” being a country track & “How Do You Sleep?” being a direct diss track at Paul McCartney, but that’s mostly because I’m largely unaware of John’s solo work outside of the title track here. I do have nitpicks, which mostly boil down to “John, please learn how to progress your instrumentals” on a few tracks, and a couple of rather obvious repetitive spots that feel just a bit stagnant (I am screaming right at “I Don't Wanna Be a Soldier Mama I Don’t Wanna Die”), but for the most part, this album paces itself well. When it’s not hitting those repetitive spots, it’s very well-written. "Oh Yoko" qualifies even with its repetition because it's just a delightfully sweet track. “Gimme Some Truth” might be my favorite one from just a writing standpoint, although the slower Dylan-esque pace of the track itself works really well with Lennon’s voice. The guitar & percussion throughout this album are both strong as well, with George Harrison’s rather obvious guest spots shining really nicely. It’s just a strong 40 minutes, really. I don’t really have that much to say, and listening to the album will make you understand why, since it’s just that straightforward & that easy to digest. It’s not an album that changed the world or anything (although the title track sure wanted to), but it is an album that just highlights John Lennon’s talents in a really potent way. If it’s too quaint, or if the nitpicks I have feel like bigger problems to other people, I could understand a 3 or a 4, but for my tastes, it’s just 10 consistently good tracks that earn a 5. If nothing else, it gave us “Only a Fool Would Say That”. Imagine if THAT track didn’t happen.

So I wound up with plenty of time to listen to this one, despite already knowing the album pretty well, as I spent 6 hours at A&E yesterday with not a lot to do. There was something quite cinematic about listening to Imagine whilst somebody throws up after having oramorph! Lennon's best solo record? Debateable depending on how produced you like him to sound I suppose. I think it is my favourite though. The title track is, despite decades of play, just something beautiful. Hopeful, rebellious, slightly cynical in that Lennon way. I think about all those really really overplayed songs in history, Bohemian Rhapsody, Smells Like Teen Spirit, My Brightside. I think this holds its weight over any of those, although Mr Brightside really might be just a hair behind. Jealous Guy is fantastic and a massive lyrical contributor to all the morally questionable emo music I listened to as a teenager. Gimme Some Truth a classic. How Do You Sleep? Oh boy. It's brutal, isn't it? There's no "bromance" in history that I enjoy more than John and Paul. Both genius', both so full of love, both at times a little angry and mean (although Lennon probably wins in that contest). I think McCartney gets off the hook a little and people forget that he also did some pretty shitty things to people around him, but as he stuck around and became such a treasure that kinda got lost. Still though, great song if a bit harsh.

Very, very good from many angles

Beetle

Unfortunately I fell victim to the John Lennon propaganda

"Imagine" as a song is overplayed, but this album is still really good. Probably Lennon's best. Some tracks haven't aged well (mainly "Crippled Inside") but there are a lot of standouts. "Jealous Guy" and "I Don't Wanna Be A Soldier" are some of the best tracks, as is "How Do You Sleep?" which despite being a self-proclaimed "Paul Girl" is an amazing diss track and probably the best song on the album. I'm hit or miss with Lennon's solo stuff most of the time, but this is truly a great album.

Elsker. Jealous Guy er min yndlings. Nicky Hopkins på klaver er smukt

Imagine there’s no heaven

Yes! 🙌 Jealous Guy!

A classic of course.

Amazing

Best Song: Imagine This isn't as strong as his last album as a whole but that shouldn't detract anyone from listening. A little bit on the mellow side which might turn me off but it is still John Lennon and a host of amazing musicians. How? and Imagine are highlights. 5/5.

Solid album, terrible person

Heaven!

I am not a real John Lennon fan and not even a huge Beatles fan, but I feel there is no denying the power of this album and the consistency throughout. It's solid song after song, from the opening Imagine that has become one of the most recognizable songs in the world, but even the smaller more straight-forward songs are extremely solid pop rock songs. I could see someone giving this a 4, 4.5, or 5, as I just think it is a masterclass of pop rock writing.

Perfección de principio a fin.

Having only heard the title track I was expecting this to be a lot more downtempo and dreary than it was. I think it’s the most overtly political Beatles solo album I’ve heard but it works in its favour with songs like How Do You Sleep? quickly becoming new favourites. It should definitely be on this list.

Very familiar with all Beatles albums, including their solo work. Been a while since I listened front to back, but several of these songs are regularly in my rotation on playlists. As great as Lennon and McCartney were together, they were also capable of creating great solo music. John Lennon is great here. Not sure if as a whole it’s his best, but it still holds up a lot. Jealous Guy is still one of my favorite John songs, and one of the best things he did after The Beatles. I feel like the first three songs of the first half are great then loses some momentum. It comes back strong for the second Gimme Som Truth is John doing better with political music. George Harrison’s guitar kinda makes the song though. Overall, there’s a distinct Lennon sound on all of this. That atmospheric piano like Oh My Love. That snarky attitude on How Do You Sleep? Crazy to have such a mean spirited song after starting an album with Imagine, but that’s all John for you. That song is a vibe and a jam. Oh Yoko is a perfect pop rock with Beatles-esque catchiness. Probably the second best on the album after Jealous Guy. Great album. Despite being a little up and down at times and wild tone shifts, it’s really good. I’ve been giving a lot of albums I like 5s, and think I have to start being a little selective with some 4s. This seems like a low 5, maybe a high 4. Really enjoy the highs of this album.

vive john lennon

A great reminder of fantastic music in a great era.

I don't care much for Oh Yoko as a closer, but if your record also has Gimme Some Truth, Oh My Love, How Do You Sleep?, Jealous Guy and Imagine on it, I don't mind cutting some slack. Not to mention you are literally a Beatle. Fuck you Gal Gadot (9/10, 5/5 on this scale)

This has always been a favorite. Love it. Can't count the number of times I've listened to it and never tire of it.

Had never listened to this album in full but have loved jealous guy for forever. Overall a great album. I love listening to the Beatles' solo stuff and noticing which aspects from their stuff as a band came from each of them.

🙁

Sensuality and sensitivity - that’s what this album is to me. The music reveals feelings you never knew existed, leaving you unable to describe them. It draws you in, beckoning, and before you know it, you’ve become a part of it. I feel like the essence of this album is that you are part of the music, rather than the music being part of you. It’s as if you’ve been invited to a dance, and John Lennon is the one setting the pace.

Excellent

Excellent

Despite every indication, this is not “Imagine: The Album,” this is a diverse, artistic masterpiece. John Lennon can tell a story without even speaking a word

The text is very important!! I love this song and I whish the same as John Lennon❤️

Soooooo good. Loved this album. Very Beatles-esque in places, naturally. But on the whole a very individual style with some moments of absolute genius. Perfect album. Front to back, gold.

molt xulo i molt graciós tenint en compte el beef que tenien amb el Paul

It’s John Lennon isn’t it. 5/5 14/2/26

After the beautifully unnerving intimacy of Plastic Ono Band, it’s easy to see why some were caught off guard or turned off by John’s approach to Imagine. The main difference is, of course, the grand production; members of the New York Philharmonic, dubbed The Flux Fiddlers for this album, contribute to six of its ten songs, and a couple of tracks emulate co-producer Phil Spector’s Wall of Sound technique. The justification for the dynamic shift between albums seems quite simple to me, though: the songs are incredible, and every single arrangement sticks its landing. Take the sleazy “It’s So Hard” for example, one of the six songs the Fiddlers appear on. There is no logical way their bluesy interjections should work as well as they do, but alas, they sound totally appropriate and awesome. “How?” is one of John’s most impressive displays of insecurity, which is no small feat given his propensity to talk so openly about them throughout his career; the rhythm section of Klaus Voormann and Alan White deliver strong bass and drum performances, and the Fiddlers interestingly seem to hint at “The Long And Winding Road.” This is especially fascinating given that the track is sequenced right after “How Do You Sleep?,” John’s infamous takedown of Paul McCartney in the initial aftermath of the Beatles’ breakup. To this day, it remains possibly the most compelling song in Lennon’s solo catalog, with listeners and fans still occasionally taking sides in the matter. Team John will point out that Paul appeared to take some of the first shots, both on Ram and otherwise in the press, and that none other than George Harrison was okay with performing slide guitar duties on the track. Team Paul will argue that no amount of ill will they felt towards each other at the time warranted the vitriol expelled in the lyrics, and that Ringo felt the need to tell John “that’s enough” upon hearing the song. For better or worse, his handling of the song was both typical and genuine, and given that the relationship between the two only suffered greatly for a short period of time, it holds up today as an uncomfortable-but-spellbinding time capsule. The music sufficiently sneers as much as the lyrics, from Harrison’s solo to the Fiddlers’ dramatic ostinatos, and like the rest of the album, John’s vocals are perfect. Speaking of perfection, this album also includes “Jealous Guy,” which for my money may be his greatest solo song. Every musical aspect is simply flawless, from Nicky Hopkins’ elegant piano to Klaus Voormann’s meticulously plucked bass to the wonderfully grand strings. I struggle to describe its greatness in ways that haven’t already been discussed, much like the record’s title track. Both songs are so miraculously and beautifully enduring, touching, and awe-inspiring. I can say the same for the stark “Oh My Love,” co-written with Yoko and featuring perfectly restrained guitar playing from George. The two former bandmates also collaborate on two of John’s premier political statements, the deliciously reverb-drenched “I Don’t Wanna Be A Soldier Mama” and the lyrical powerhouse “Gimme Some Truth” (“No short-haired, yellow-bellied son of Tricky Dicky’s gonna Mother Hubbard soft-soap me with just a pocketful of hope/It’s money for dope, money for rope”). And I’ll be damned if “Oh Yoko!” isn’t a superb way to end the album. After two records’ worth of brilliantly blunt introspection, it is delightful to hear this upbeat celebration of love, complete with a divine piano performance from Hopkins and the last ever appearance of John’s harmonica on record, wonderfully recalling “I Should Have Known Better.” There is an ongoing debate in my head whether I prefer this album over Plastic Ono Band, and I am convinced I will never truly be sure how I feel. On any given day, Imagine is my favorite solo Beatles record, let alone my favorite John Lennon album. Every single song has lasting merit, and sonically, it’s an absolute triumph and joy. 5/5

Excelente album. Joya

i was shocked i really loved this album. i felt a lot of the songs and it's just overall a pretty good album

Don't care about music, I want no countries and piece on earth. Hope I am not the only one!

Imagine for all its twee sentiments is a great song and is an obvious standout, but there is much outside of that track to like here. If you ignore crippled inside Jealous Guy and it’s so hard are great tracks. I dont want to be a soldier provides a trippy vibe that makes you float along the laid back groove. Gimme some truth is the real star here. It is pure Beatles Lennon mixing political rabble rousing with a great tune. Obviously assisted by that unmistakable guitar of George Harrison. Oh my love is a beautiful tune. It floats along on a cloud of simplicity, conjuring more classic Beatles. How do you sleep? Is a great dis track. Does it show Lennon as an insecure bitter individual? Absolutely but that doesn’t mean the song is a bad one. How maintains this standard. Oh Yoko even finds time to throw in references to A Day in the Life

i don't wanna be a soldier i loved it

This album is just a fun listen and stands the test of time as an inspiring work

With the exception of “Oh Yoko,” this is a phenomenal album. Yes, Lennon was an abusve dick, but the man was talented and this album showcases that. Favorites: Jealous Guy, I Don’t Wanna Be a Soldier, How Do You Sleep? 5

loved it!

I love this!

A classic with only a couple of C grade tracks.

Nearly flawless, although Imagine has been pretty much ruined by overplaying. Some gorgeous songwriting.

As five star as five star gets.

Pourquoi on m’a pas fais écouter ce banger avant ??? Dans les commentaires ytb de « How do you sleep » y a un mec qui a dis « Rip John you would’ve loved Kendrick’s disstracks » MDRR Sinon mes musiques pref (après 1er écoute): Imagine Oh M’y Love How do you sleep? How?

“Jealous Guy” is one of the saddest songs ever written IMHO!

Full disclosure I had listened to this full album before many times when I was younger. I was a huge Lennon fan and after listening to it again the album holds up to what I remember. It starts off amazing with Imagine and bought me back with amazing tracks like How Do You Sleep, How?, Jealous Guy…etc. It’s Lennon’s most well known album for a reason. A beautiful album, although I would say it needs another remaster soon. The vocals on some tracks are fainter than the instruments. Overall a wonderful album, 5/5!

All this time I thought I was a Paul guy.

Never been a John guy. Always preferred Paul. Still do, but c'mon. It's Imagine.

Wait do I like the Beatles now?

This record covers a lot ground in 40 minutes. It’s got an easy simplicity that masks a complicated bunch of songs. It sounds like someone with a lot of experience made it.

This is one of my favourite albums ever. Reminds me of my dad's house when I was in my teens. I love pretty much every song on this. Oh My Love and How? are beautiful, tender songs.

Truthfully, I’m not sure I’ve ever sat and listened to Imagine all the way through from beginning to end. There’s something about Lennon’s music that makes me sad. I was just six years old when he died, and I was quite sure I didn’t know who he was or even who the Beatles were. But maybe subconsciously, I kind of took on the feeling of that era. I’m not sure. As a digression, these days we have a conspiracy for everything, but I’ve never really heard anyone espouse a theory on Lennon’s assassination. It’s like, of all the assassinations, in this case, we’re sure it’s just one wacko who thought he was Holden Caufield. It’s well known that the FBI was keeping tabs on Lennon and was looking for ways to deport him, but no conspiracy theory? I mean, people are so nutty today that they can come up with “proof” that a shadow government run by the lizard people killed their dog and staged it to look like an accident. But, again, I digress. Imagine is a great album, but, as with most solo Beatles’ albums, it has its hits and misses… well, except All Things Must Pass. That’s a brilliant album and, for my money, the best solo output by any of the former Beatles for just pure quality. But I digress again. I'm listening to Jealous Guy right now, and I really love this song. He’s like, “Yeah, I flew off the handle and probably shouldn’t have called you a psycho hosebeast, but, baby, remember? I’m just a jealous guy.” I wonder, when we later get to the brutal How Do You Sleep, if maybe Lennon was a bit jealous of McCartney? He rips Paul to shreds in that song. It’s really another level to what Paul did when he took some veiled shots at Lennon in his song, Too Many People. Could Lennon have been feeling the pressure of having to be the voice, or leader, of a generation fighting for world peace, while all Paul had to do was write silly little love songs and be happy? Maybe Lennon secretly wished he could just write silly love songs and not be the face of a revolution? When Bob Dylan went electric, he just wanted to play rock and roll, not fight the man his whole career. Imagine sounds weird, but in a good way. Like the slide guitar played by Harrison on I Don’t Want To Be a Soldier Mama sounds like he played it in the loo while the rest of the band was in the studio. Quirky things like that make it seem like there’s an audio surprise around every corner on this album. Meanwhile, lyrically, I think this album speaks as much to today as it did to the '70s. Gimme Some Truth could be released today by someone like Jack White, and it would sound as new as it did in 1971. I'm sick and tired of hearing things From uptight, short-sighted, narrow-minded hypocrites All I want is the truth Just gimme some truth I've had enough of reading things By neurotic, psychotic, pig-headed politicians All I want is the truth Just gimme some truth See? After listening to Imagine a couple times in the last day, I agree it’s an important album for more than just the music. It was created by a genius and half of the songwriting team that essentially created modern rock and roll. of It has songs that still speak to us today, though it’s sad we haven’t seemed to make much headway from this album’s debut over 50 years ago. For a music geek, the production tickles your earholes constantly. Easily deserves to be on the 1,001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, so get busy listening.

Nearly gave it a 4 because of “Oh Yoko” but I’m feeling generous as he got shot

Come on

Best album of any Beatle solo or collectively. Incredible songwriting.

I like John lemon lol

He whistles! Great album I had never jammed in holistically before. What a shame we lost him so young.

Just a tad self indulgent at the end. But a real classic

As a huge Beatles fan, I really should’ve listened to this album before this year. I like the idea that both Lennon and McCartney had to get one album out of the way before creating masterpieces with their second albums. Imagine is a deeply personal album and, like many of his other works during his solo career, at times very uncomfortable and disorienting. Some of his songs may also focus a bit too much on his relationship with Yoko, which may distance himself from his audience. Though I still think there’s a lot of universality and accessibility in the very direct words of many of these songs that everyone can relate to. These songs may be less technically complex than what he was doing with The Beatles; however, he achieves very palpable feelings in them that I feel he hasn’t done before. The extreme honesty and anxiety in songs like Jealous Guy and How?, the strong affection in songs like Oh My Love and Oh Yoko!, and the anger and frustration in Gimme Some Truth and How Do You Sleep? are just some examples of his constantly developing songwriting ability. All of this to say without even mentioning the title track that continues to be his most identifiable and iconic song, more so than any of the ones he wrote while in the greatest band of all time. I believe this will remain as my favorite Lennon album.

Imagine a world without John Lennon. Next week will be the 45th anniversary of John Lennon's death. I will always remember Casey Kasem's AT40 show when Casey announced the death. I was just 13 years old at the time. This is a really great album. Standouts: Imagine, Jealous Guy, Oh My Love 5/5

John Lennon uno de mis artistas favoritos, el disco imagine es una serie de emociones expresadas como how?, un increible desahogo personal , imagine un discurso con mucha carga social , oh my love , de las mejores canciones de amor que escuche y favoritas o su beef con Mccartney en How do you sleep?, siendo canciones magnificas y cada una muy diferente emocionalmente a la otra -10-10

One of the seminal albums of all time.

People always argue over John vs Paul and I find myself going back and forth. I used to prefer John much more, and lately found myself going towards Paul. However after listening to this again I can’t deny that it’s an amazing album.

I may be biased because I’m a massive Beatles fan, however John isn’t necessarily high on my favourite Beatles list (he was last for a while). I went through a phase late 2024 of listening to John’s solo work because I’d only really listened to George’s (because he’s my favourite). I used to think it was a load of overly political crap but some of it grew on me. This album in particular became one of my favourite Beatles solo albums (its second only to ATMP). I love practically every song on here from its overly played title track to the lovely Oh My Love to the scathing How Do You Sleep. I think it’s post-Beatles John at his best. Oh My Love is probably my favourite solo John song as well which helps.

4.45

Great album. Well produced, a lot of rock n roll on this. Jealous Guy must be one of the greatest Lennon’s compositions. So beautiful.

I've had enough reading things by neurotic psychotic pig headed politicians. It seems like we did not make much progress in 60 yrs?

Не могу сказать что прямо обожаю эту пластинку, но оценка всё равно высшая.

Emotional and powerful

Song Titles are mildly problematic for what I know about him now but overall good album

It feels so personal. Almost none of these songs sound like pop, very far from the tightly crafted doses of dopamine the Beatles had been so good at. If I had been around to hear it at its time, I would have been super excited about the rest of his career.

I loved it

Awesome

I LOVEEE THIS ALBUM so good

Great album,

97/1001 :: John Lennon - Imagine Heard before? ✅ Would I revisit? ✅ Rating: 9 Listen before you die: Yes Fav Songs: Imagine, How Do You Sleep, Crippled Inside, Jealous Guy If you don’t listen to this album and go “holy shit John Lennon was a Fucking G!” I don’t know how to help you. This album is pretty much flawless. It’s a more realized Beatles sound with John contemplating life, relationships and tackling heavy issues in plain sight. The song that always gets me is “How Fo You Sleep?”, a seething shot at his old pal Sir Paul McCartney. Also interesting that George is on almost every track but no writing credits go. The only thing I don’t love about this album is the last song Oh Yoko!. Im not a huge Yoko fan but either way this song misses the mark and feels tacked on to the end of the album. Overall this a 5 star record.

I don’t think it’s a controversial statement to call John Lennon one of if not the greatest songwriter who ever lived. His body of work in and out of the Beatles is parallel only by his fellow Beatle Paul McCartney. Not just that he’s a profoundly inspiring and interesting figure. Imagine was John’s second album after the breakup of The Beatles and his first to be a proper pop/rock album after the raw, emotional, and beautiful John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band in 1970 and it almost meets that records highs. Opening title track is one of the most gorgeous lyrics in the history of music it’s poetry at its finest and the backing track is lush and beautiful to boot. “Crippled Inside” is a really interesting lyric and musical piece that finds an odd humor in its lyrics and is fantastic. “Jealous Guy” is arguably the greatest song of Lennon’s solo career, the lyrics touch on Lennon’s past behaviors and draw attention to the flawed man Lennon himself knew he was and tried to better himself from. “It’s So Hard” is another great lyric with great music (it’s hard to say praise over and over). “I Don’t Wanna Be A Soldier Mama” has a solid groove and great lyrics. “Gimme Some Truth” is one of the most scathing lyrics Lennon ever wrote and feels so relevant. You can hear his anger and it feels cathartic to listen to “Oh My Love” is really pretty. “How Do You Sleep?” is John’s diss track on Paul after “Too Many People” this song has one of the greatest grooves of all time the performances are amazing and that slide guitar solo from George is excellent. The lyrics do turn me off a bit though. “How?” is deeply profound and asks an amazing and important question of how John should be expected to love and be as good as he can be when he never learned how. The record ends on the pop sensed “Oh Yoko” a great fun track to end the album. Truly one of the greatest albums of the 70s which means one of the greatest of all time.

Not university brilliant and I could do without the self-indulgent Oh Yoko. But it contains Imagine, How, and the bitchy How do you Sleep? I think for that it scrapes a 5.

Stórkostleg plata! fékk geisladiskinn í jólagjöf frá mömmu fyrir lööööngu þannig hún er líka full af nostalgíu fyrir mig

Fantastic, but mostly melancholy.

Did john lennon ever make a 5 star album. This is as close to it. How is a lovely song full of longing. Gimme some truth is an evisceration of nixon and the culture of the time. Oh yoko is just on the right side of nauseating. Jealous guy is possibly the pick but for me it changes year on year. All of the beatles breakup albums are amazing (apart from ringo)

I’m trying to Imagine, John

Great album

# Album Name: Imagine # Artist: John Lennon # Rating: 5/5 # Comments: It didnt hit me in the face like i thought it would. Its a grower. However, It makes me realise that lennon was at his best in the beatles, mccartney was the best solo artist and harrison actually had the best solo album. Theres some 5/5 songs on here like imagine and jealous guy. Theres some good songs on here like its so hard and how do you sleep. These took a bit more time to grow on me. Either way a very good album. Especially when i compare it to some of the dross ive had on this list recently # Top Tunes: imagine / JG / its so hard / how do you sleep # Would I listen to it again? Yes

Amazing album.

I can’t think of a world without Imagine. This is John’s best solo album

No longer doing 0-10/10, only 0-5/5! Anyways 5/5

A masterpiece. A perfect album. 10/10. Nothing more needs to be said. Fav track- i don't wanna be a soldier mama

probably underrated compared to beatles work, super classic

Not my favorite Lennon album but the fact that Jealous Guy and Imagine are on here makes it a classic must listen.

Dumb abuser music

Very good - a singer/writer working through post Beatles fall out.

Not the easiest album to love as it's tinged with a fair amount of bitterness, both at the people in Lennon's Life (e.g. How Do You Sleep) and the wider world (Gimme Some Truth). It is a great set of songs though and reins in the experimental nature of his writing to be a little more traditional rock. Thankfully he got that out of his system with the Two Virgins rubbish! Not super immediate but great

Absolute masterpiece

Favourites besides Imagine: Oh My Love, Jealous Guy,How?, How Do You Sleep?, Oh Yoko! . The slow melodic songs are the best parts of the album

Perfect listening for my beautiful Sunday

Instant karma, instant 5 The juxtaposition of “Oh My Love” against “How Do You Sleep?” is 😳

Yes

No notes. 👩‍🍳😘

Only 2 songs were not 4/5 stars: Crippled Inside and How? The rest were 4 or 5 stars with most of these 5 stars. I could and will listen to this going forward....

The Beatles are probably my favourite band but apart from George Harrison I’ve never been that fussed on checking out their solo work. That being said I don’t think I’ve ever listened to this all the way through until today. I bloody LOVED it. I kinda expected the title track to stand above everything else but there are great tracks right there way through. At some point I’m going to have to do a Beatles solo binge and see what else I’ve missed. Top Track - Jealous Guy

Unparalleled excellence

Un classique.

Un maître de la mélodie J'ai tout aimé de cet album, des jam blues aux ballades et aux grosses tounes de buzzés (oh my love). Crippled inside est cool même si c'est un country un peu convenu. Mais franchement il aurait pu se retenir de rentrer dans la guéguerre avec McCartney (how do you sleep)

Legendary album. Get listening to it.

♫ Listening to "Imagine" by John Lennon (Imagine, 1971) ♫ One of the greatest songs of all time!

10/10

Classic! Opening track hits like nothing else

Lennon keeps things simple on this, and it works so well. The title track has been so widely covered and used in so many campaigns that its become almost trite, but its message really is radical and powerful at its core, even if John never lived up to his activism. Love the countryish vibes of crippled inside, with its ragtime keys. Jealous guy is confessional and raw. Gimme Some Truth is a snarling, fantastic rock song. Oh Yoko is one of my favorite love songs, such minimalist lyrics with the jangly, melodic instrumentals doing the heavy lifting in conveying so much emotion. One of the best solo Beatles releases

Easy to sing along with. There is a simplicity to the tunes, yet they cover the emotional gamut, with some repetitive mantra in most. 4.5

Hit after spectacular hit!

In the aftermath of the Bestles' breakup. Excellent album.

Beautiful. Right up my alley. Rock and the 70s. I like the existence crisis-y lyrics and tunes. Specifically the upbeat-y tone of singing about being crippled inside

ME ENCANTÓ! Nunca escuché el proyecto solista de John Lennon y me encantó lo diferente que se sintió a The Beatles. Fuera de Imagine, que la verdad no entiendo por qué es la canción más famosa cuando existe "I don't want to be a soldier mamma", disfruté todo el disco completamente.

o john é meu fav serei clubista fodase 5 estrelas

Great album by one of the legends, "I don't believe in the Beatles, I just believe In me" is a profound line. 9.1/10

Stunning melodies and instrumentations. Cheeky lyrics. Amazing music.

This is a great album. 4.5/5 This is peak Lennon songwriting. There are no filler tracks for me, although I don't wanna be a soldier, Mama drags a little too long. The only thing stopping this being a 5/5 is the fact that I always find something missing when I listen to solo Beatles albums. I guess it needs a McCartney song on it, or a Harrison song on it to be completely perfect for me (though Harrison played lead guitar on it). Other than that, this is probably Lennon's best solo record.

I think this is John Lennon’s best solo album. It’s got the title song of course, but such personal writing as well such as my favorite of his, “Jealous Guy.” What a great mix of styles too. I don’t love “How Do You Sleep” but it doesn’t hurt the album for me.

Excellent album.

More soul than I expected, a lot of interesting ideas and some mundane ideas interestingly expressed, love it

Always rooting for the underdog, I chose George as my favorite Beatle in high school, as he seemed underappreciated and needed his deserved flowers too. But as I fully delved into the whole of the Beatles discography, b-sides, demos, and deep cuts, John's genius became undeniable, a giant amongst giants. It wasn't a choice; I was forced to love Lennon. Though I have the Lennon box set of demos, a greatest hits, and even an acoustic demo of John's solo stuff, I never purchased or listened to a proper Lennon solo album. It's been on my radar, but I purposefully slow-roll the listening to prolong the magic; there is only a finite amount of material after all, and I'm almost out. I was going to start with Double Fantasy, but I guess I'll go with Imagine. I love the warm sounds of the album. It's not just the analog or the production of it, but the complex chords and the voicings that really fill the frequencies well. I love the loose playing with time in "How?" and "I Don't Want To Be A Soldier, Mama." "Jealous Guy" was originally "Child of Nature" (with different lyrics) that was going to be on The White Album. It was determined to be too similar in theme to Paul's "Mother Nature's Son," both of which were based on the same lecture by the Maharishi during their time in India. I prefer the existential nature of the original lyrics, but "Jealous Guy" is still a great song; same amazing melody and progression. "Crippled Inside" sounds more like the 'granny shit' that John complained that Paul wrote at times. Still, songs like this and "It's So Hard" remind us of the older songs he grew up on that the early Beatles idolized and replicated. For all the Yoko love and "brotherhood of man" on the album, John chooses to end the album on a snide note with the rebellious "Gimme Some Truth" and the scathing "How Do You Sleep?" What an album! Peace, Love, Imagine . . . and fuck you, Paul.

Album 790 of 1089 John Lennon - Imagine (1971) Rating : 5 / 5 I like the songs. Without any consideration to the idealism, personal reflection & social commentary, I like this album. Enjoy every track.

own

this holds up. great instruments and composition

Bin allg. großer Beatles Fan. Hab aber die Solo Sachen kaum gehört. Lennon hab ich bisher besonders gemieden weil ich damit gerechnet hab, dass das viel Yoko Ono bussi bussi experimental weirdness sein muss. Aber bin positiv überrascht von dem Album. Der Titelsong gefällt mir aber tatsächlich nicht. Vielleicht einfach schon zu oft irgendwo gehört. Und der Cringe Auftritt von den Promis zu Covid mit dem Song hats nich besser gemacht

Lennon w/ the Phil Spector treatment is hard to beat. Highlights for me: Crippled Inside, I Don’t Wanna Be a Soldier Mama, Gimme Some Truth

Unapologetic Beatles fan. That biting song about Paul tho …. How Can You Sleep?

what an album, this is fantastic

C'est aussi méchant que c'est beau. C'est comme rencontrer John seul pour une premiere fois pis se rendre compte qu'il est dark pour vrai. Vraiment un bon album.

Fav song: oh yoko!

oh, john... the controversial figure that you are, i would be lying if i said that you didn't have any form of musical talent. compared to his last album, which i reviewed last year, this one is a lot fuller in sound. this album is personal, peace-advocating and moody, equal bits of hope and bitterness, including more dissing against his time working with fellow beatle paul mccartney. one can't help but admire how honest john feels when he sings, and with a wide, dreamy soundscape to match... it's a historical album.

Nice album, I like Imagine and How Do You Sleep.

Jon Lemon

Hey guys, Steve’s back. It’s sad to see no passwords on this website but I have to say this album is one of my favorites. I remember being a child while my parents used to sing this album in entirety on the piano. They were the biggest John Lennon fans in the world and they still are. Love you mom and pop. 5 stars.

So Imagine is a perfect song. Jealous Guy is a perfect song. Was expecting to say the rest was rubbish but that was not the case.

I love a bit of John Lennon, Imagine is just my ultimate favorite! I also really liked Jealous Guy and Oh My Love. Overall a very good album.

4.5

Niet echt een lennon fan, maar toch 5 sterren.

Just a great album apart from just the obvious

I hope some day you will join us.

John Lennon’s Imagine is a timeless masterpiece, blending raw emotion, political commentary, and melodic beauty. Released in 1971, during a turbulent time in Lennon’s life and a strained relationship with former Beatles bandmate Paul McCartney, the album reflects both personal and public battles. Tracks like “How Do You Sleep?” take pointed shots at McCartney, revealing the bitterness of their post-breakup rift, yet the music remains compelling. The title track, “Imagine,” stands out as one of the most daring and visionary songs of its era. With the provocative line “imagine there’s no heaven,” Lennon challenges listeners to envision a world united beyond religion, borders, and materialism—a bold stance that continues to spark dialogue to this day. Lennon doesn’t hold back, pouring his soul into every note, whether he’s preaching peace, love, or pointed criticism. Imagine is a brave, beautiful, and deeply human album that captures Lennon’s idealism and complexity, earning its place as one of the greatest records of all time.

I bought his first three solo studio albums as they were released. I would place Imagine slightly ahead of Plastic Ono Band because of two songs, How Do You Sleep and Gimme Me Some Truth which I consider his best solo efforts.

I'm sick and tired of hearing things From uptight, short-sighted, narrow-minded hypocritics All I want is the truth Just gimme some truth Ive had enough of reading things By neurotic, psychotic, pig-headed politicians All I want is the truth Just gimme some truth

Famtastic. An all time fav "imagine"

The great thing about the solo careers of The Beatles is each of them expressed different aspects of their artistry and personalities than what they provided in the group. In John’s case we get his vitriol towards the world (and his BFF Paul), as well as his raw vulnerability and sensitivity in equal measures. This album is a gem; every song (except “It’s So Hard”) an amazing track, and several attaining classic status. No matter how many times I hear it, “Imagine” never gets old.

There are no words to describe the sheer magnificence of this superb album. John Lennon was and always will be the God of contemporary music. There are some brilliant artists and bands that have produced some stunning stuff over the years but Lennon is the gaint of them.all. Just phenomenal

I saw a video the other day of John recording 'Gimme Some Truth', and I think he hears someone in the studio missing a note or something, and then he turns to the camera and says "Oh C'mom you Cunts!". And the facial expression he makes is exactly the same as the one on the cover of this album, and I can't look at it without laughing! That aside, Imagine is definitely an iconic album. It's not the best solo Beatle album. Or even Lennon's best. But it's a good album. The production is very well done and some of John's best compositions are present here, like Crippled Inside, Gimme Some Truth, Jealous Guy, the infamous How do You Sleep, and of course, the classic Imagine, which I spent years believing was a Beatles song. It certainly could be. It is in fact the greatest song released after the Beatles in terms of relevance (it is not one of my favorites, but there is no denying that) Over the years, I have learned to appreciate songs like Don't Wanna Be a Soldier and even Oh Yoko more, which makes me leave this review today giving it 5 stars.

Classic!

My favorite John Lennon solo album

I’ve long thought I was over finding the song, “Imagine” listenable, let alone the all-timer it’s been hailed as for seemingly its entire existence. Overplayed in general, over-representative of Lennon’s solo legacy, and over-utilized for self-serious celebrity sing-alongs. That being said, my annoyance with that song skewed my feelings of this album in full, it is the Imagine LP after all. Well, after this listen-thru I softened on the song in question a tad (it’s good, just not something I want or need to hear), but more importantly realized the greatness of the other tracks even more. “Gimme Some Truth”, “It’s So Hard” and “How Do You Sleep?” are undeniable 70s mid-rock bangers. “Jealous Guy”, “Oh My Love” and “How?” are genuinely gentle gems. “Oh Yoko” is maybe my favorite Lennon song ever. Imagine I gave it 5 stars on the strength of the other material lol?

This is a really good album. I always had Lennon down as a single’s solo artist. I take it back. this is a great album. Taking away the big hits of Imagine and Jealous guy there are some great hidden gems like How? and crippled inside. Favourite song: Jealous guy. I have always loved that song. Least favourite: There isn’t a bad song on the album Album artwork: Iconic cover

Imagine not listening to this album because John Lennon is a bad guy and then listening to Sabrina Carpenter

An impressive album, very soothing

Impeccable album. John Lennon and a slide guitar will never be a wrong feeling

Instead of devoting this section to the review of Imagine the album (arguably Lennon's solo high point, about as close he came to post-Beatles perfection), I'd like to focus on the tradition of the song "Imagine" being peformed in Times Square every New Year's Eve. By performing it at 11:48PM every 12/31, it feels that we have lost the message of the song (a utopian ideal that we seem to be further from as time goes on). For the love of a higher power or the world we live in, can we PLEASE preserve the beauty of this subtle anthem and retire this tradition? OK I'll get off my soapbox now. The Imagine album contains Lennon's greatest solo moment. Not the title track but "Jealous Guy", a song of excuisite beauty and vulnerability.

Some great songs on here

Great

★★★★½

Genius record. The atmosphere is just incredible, the songwriting is amazing. I can't think of anything else to say, this album left me speechless

While not perfect this is an eclectic album with a truly memorable opening song.

Actually much more beautiful than I expected! Great work by John Lennon!

Obviously awesome

The best Beatle.

4.5/5

Validates my opinion that John was the most essential Beatle and I won't heard otherwise. Lots of greatness here including the title track, "Jealous Guy", "Crippled Inside", "Gimme Some Truth" and the charmingly goofy "Oh Yoko". I don't think it's quite as fantastic as Plastic Ono Band, but it's still awesome. 5 stars.

I only knew imagine, so I expected more boring hippie piano so I was surprised

I think it’s great. The song “How do you Sleep” hits so hard especially

truly an excellent record. heartbreaking to listen to, given what happened to john (obviously). but even disregarding that, it’s such an emotionally fraught album on its own because you can hear that he was trying so, so hard. people forget that the beatles really did come from dirt in a way that feels impossible today—john had the most economically-privileged background and the most formal education, but growing up in postwar liverpool with a broken family certainly didn’t do wonders for his mental health and emotional intelligence. the songs were the only way that he could poke any air holes in that suffocating layer of repression. to me this album is about someone who is desperately lost and unsure of himself and his place in the world and is trying to grapple with who he wants to be now that he isn’t a beatle. i think he was deeply and sincerely troubled by war, inequality, etc. and was frustrated by his inability to do anything meaningful about it, and he was trying very hard to articulate all of that. i like the sound of that effort. i think that’s what places him in opposition to paul tonally, because paul’s music has always been so effortless. not that paul didn’t try very hard—i think he did, and often tried too hard—but he rarely allowed that vulnerability to be reflected in the music itself. his ‘vulnerabilities’ were calculated and careful and affected, whereas john’s were laid bare and plain especially on this record. it’s sometimes a little uncomfortable or even embarrassing to hear, but i think it’s worth hearing! if i were paul mccartney i would have simply killed myself after “how do you sleep?” got released. fav tracks: jealous guy; i don’t wanna be a soldier mama; gimme some truth; oh my love; how do you sleep?; how?; oh yoko!

ummm john lennon is actually kinda good….. I’m realizing that I’ve never actually listened to a full solo album of any of the Beatles besides All Things Must Pass until now. It’s so interesting because this does not sound like another Beatles album at all of course, but it has such a distinct Beatles influence. Every song on here was beautiful or groovy or cutting (How Do You Sleep is straight up diabolical…) and it ended with such a beautiful ode to Yoko. I love that he talks about her so much despite being released during peak “yoko broke up the beatles” era. And Imagine IS A GOOD SONG. It’s so overplayed so in most contexts it’s hard to actually hear it for what it is, but it IS really beautiful. And in this context, I think it’s quite an effective opener for an album full of tender ballads and political messaging because it’s sort of a balance of both and sets the tone well. Fav tracks: I Don’t Wanna Be A Soldier Mama, How Do You Sleep?, Oh My Love

5 stars

ewbeh

Imagine alone makes this a 5-star album but there is so much more: Jealous Guy, Gimme Some Truth, How Do You Sleep? and Oh Yoko. Crippled Inside really grabbed me this time. Underrated song that spoke to me differently than on previous listens. Also, How Do You Sleep? is a dis track at Paul McCartney. Go listen again. I'll wait... Damn! John goes hard on Paul. That is a blistering track. I know there were some regrets from John for putting out that track. But that track is still a great song. Last random thought, I watched a documentary about John Lennon and he wished he had given writing credit to Yoko for Imagine as she was integral in the lyrics of that song. I thought that was so cool and admirable of him to admit later on. He was still a growing person and it is too bad to have lost a revolutionary like him at such a young age. I would love to hear what he would say about the world today.

Was soll ich schreiben? Ich habe es einfach nur genossen. Danke, John Lennon.

Ich weiß nicht, ich bin fasziniert und begeistert und im nächsten Moment auch bisschen gelangweilt. Gebe jetzt 5 Sterne, damit es in meiner bib bleibt. Muss ich mir in Ruhe noch mal anhöre.

Never been a huge Beatles fan. Yes, I get hate for it. John Lennon on the other hand, I can listen to with ease. Great voice and a stellar record.

Легенда, что тут говорить, Imagine и ещё несколько культовых песен.

Enjoyed listening to the album start to finish. Some really great music in the shadow of one of the best album opening songs in the history of music.

4.5/5 There are some amazing tracks here. Just imagine Imagine, Jealous Guy, Oh My Love, How Do You Sleep? and How? all on the same album. But there are definitely filler songs that just are not interesting melodically. Overall the inconsistency doesn't hurt the experience too much however. Imagine 5/5 Crippled Inside 3/5 Jealous Guy 5/5 It's So Hard 4/5 I Don't Wanna Be A Soldier Mama 2/5 (LEAST FAV) Gimme Some Truth 2.5/5 Oh My Love 5/5 How Do You Sleep? 5/5 How? 5/5 (FAV) Oh Yoko! 4.5/5

Not as good as Plastic Ono Band but still feels like easily his second best solo album. All the reasons I love this album are better on his earlier album. Jealous guy makes me almost cry no matter when I hear it. Rating: 4.7

9.5/10 Great work of art. There's nothing to add.

Such a great album. Starting an album with a Ballad is a weird way to set the tone of a record. Especially when this record is a lot more rockin and experimental. Kind of has a Sgt. Peppers vibe in some songs. I thought the final track was a bit weak. A love song to Yoko. Not just because it is a song written for her... It just lacked a lot of substance lyrically. Lennon is a fantastic lyricist, so I was a bit underwhelmed. But it still had some hooks and great music. It didn't tarnish the album for me. I thoroughly enjoyed this.

Such a good album Imagine is an all time favourite song. Beautiful 5 ⭐️

I don't know why I wasn't looking forward to this one that much, but there was lots to love about this album. Jealous Guy has been a favourite for a long time. While Imagine is a bit cheesy to me these days, there's no denying it's a masterpiece. And Oh Yoko! was just so cute and charming. A fair few here I'll pop back to visit.

One of my Uncles favourite albums, I love Lennon and had listened to this a good few times before but was cool to give it the time it deserves start to end

Simply amazing.

10/10 Such varied genres, a very beautiful album. Will certainly add it to the collection. MIND BLOWN that 'Jealous Guy' was a cover. Lyrically, I wouldn't have guessed it.

Awesome

Just beautiful

My kids have gotten into The Beatles lately, so it’s been kind of fun to show them that the members had lives outside of the band. They loved this album, as do I.

Imagine is John Lennon at his sharpest — tender, bitter, playful, and unapologetically honest. While the title track often gets all the attention, the real magic of the album lies in its depth and contrast. Lennon swings from vulnerable ballads to scathing takedowns with ease, crafting a record that feels deeply personal yet universally resonant. “Crippled Inside” stands out as the highlight — a wry, rollicking tune that pairs biting lyrics with a bouncy, almost country-folk arrangement. George Harrison’s slide guitar and dobro work throughout the album is nothing short of masterful, adding texture and emotional weight in all the right places. Tracks like “Jealous Guy,” “Gimme Some Truth,” and “How Do You Sleep?” showcase Lennon’s full range — from self-reflection to pointed rage — while “I Don’t Wanna Be a Soldier” drowns you in its hypnotic, anti-war groove. Imagine*isn’t just a peaceful plea — it’s an artist laying himself bare, flaws and all. And it still sounds just as vital today. Favorite song: "Crippled Inside"

Lot of haters on this 'album a day' thing. Imagine is huge! And there are some other great songs here. Not on my daily must listen to list, but come on ...

Good, very melodic music. But “Imagine” song is pretentious and patronising as shit.

**Album Review: "Imagine" by John Lennon** *Released:* September 9, 1971 *Producer:* John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Phil Spector *Genre:* Rock, Pop, Progressive Rock ### Introduction "Imagine" is John Lennon's second solo studio album after the breakup of The Beatles. Often heralded as his magnum opus, it reflects his artistic maturity and encapsulates his vision of peace and unity. The album juxtaposes themes of utopia and personal pain, wrapped in lush production and sincere lyricism. ### Lyrics #### **Themes and Messages** 1. **Peace and Unity**: - The title track, "Imagine," is a powerful anthem of hope and peace. Its lyrics envision a world without war, possessions, or religious divisions, promoting universal harmony. - Lyrics like "Imagine there's no heaven / It's easy if you try" challenge listeners to consider a world free from the constructs that often divide humanity. 2. **Personal Reflections**: - Tracks such as "Jealous Guy" delve into Lennon's vulnerabilities, showcasing his ability to blend personal confessions with universal emotions. - "How?" questions self-worth and existential purpose, reflecting Lennon's internal struggles. 3. **Social Commentary**: - "Gimme Some Truth" is a biting critique of political corruption and hypocrisy, displaying Lennon's frustration with societal injustices. - "Crippled Inside" addresses the theme of inner turmoil masked by outward appearances. ### Music #### **Composition and Arrangement** 1. **Diverse Musical Styles**: - The album explores a variety of musical genres, from the rock and roll vibe of "It's So Hard" to the gospel-inspired "I Don't Wanna Be A Soldier Mama I Don't Wanna Die." - This eclectic mix showcases Lennon's versatility and willingness to experiment. 2. **Instrumentation**: - The use of piano in "Imagine" is both simple and profound, underscoring the song's meditative quality. - "Jealous Guy" features delicate piano and strings, enhancing the emotional depth of the song. 3. **Vocal Delivery**: - Lennon's vocals range from the gentle, soothing delivery on "Imagine" to the raw, impassioned intensity on "Gimme Some Truth." - His voice acts as an instrument, effectively conveying the emotional landscape of each song. ### Production #### **Phil Spector's Influence** 1. **Wall of Sound**: - Spector's "Wall of Sound" technique is evident in the dense, layered arrangements of songs like "I Don't Wanna Be A Soldier Mama I Don't Wanna Die." - This approach creates a rich, immersive listening experience, though it sometimes borders on overwhelming. 2. **Simplicity and Clarity**: - In contrast, tracks like "Imagine" and "Oh My Love" are produced with a minimalist touch, allowing the lyrics and melodies to shine through. - This balance between lush production and simplicity highlights the album's dynamic range. 3. **Collaborative Effort**: - Yoko Ono's influence is subtly woven throughout the album, particularly in the avant-garde touches on tracks like "Oh Yoko!" - The collaborative nature of the production enhances the album's eclectic feel, merging different artistic visions. ### Themes #### **Utopian Vision** 1. **Idealism vs. Reality**: - The album juxtaposes utopian ideals with harsh realities. While "Imagine" dreams of a perfect world, songs like "Gimme Some Truth" confront the listener with the gritty reality of political deceit. - This contrast creates a nuanced narrative, reflecting Lennon's complex worldview. 2. **Personal and Political**: - The intertwining of personal introspection and broader social commentary gives the album a multifaceted character. - Tracks like "How?" and "Oh My Love" delve into Lennon's psyche, while "I Don't Wanna Be A Soldier Mama I Don't Wanna Die" comments on the futility of war. ### Influence #### **Cultural Impact** 1. **Enduring Legacy**: - "Imagine" has become an enduring symbol of peace and hope, often performed at significant cultural and political events. - Its influence extends beyond music, resonating with movements for social change and global unity. 2. **Influence on Artists**: - The album has inspired countless artists across genres, from rock to pop to folk. Its themes and musical innovation continue to be a touchstone for musicians and songwriters. - The introspective nature of songs like "Jealous Guy" paved the way for a more confessional style in popular music. ### Pros and Cons #### **Pros** 1. **Timeless Lyrics**: - The album's lyrics are poignant and relevant, addressing themes that resonate across generations. - Lennon's ability to articulate complex emotions and ideas in simple, relatable terms is a significant strength. 2. **Musical Diversity**: - The variety of musical styles keeps the album engaging from start to finish. - The interplay between different genres showcases Lennon's creative range and willingness to push boundaries. 3. **Emotional Depth**: - The emotional honesty of songs like "Jealous Guy" and "How?" adds a layer of authenticity and relatability. - Lennon's vulnerability invites listeners to connect with his personal journey. 4. **Production Quality**: - The collaboration with Phil Spector results in a polished, sophisticated sound. - The balance between lush arrangements and minimalist production highlights the album's dynamic range. #### **Cons** 1. **Overproduction**: - At times, Spector's "Wall of Sound" can feel excessive, overshadowing the simplicity and purity of Lennon's songwriting. - Some listeners might find the dense arrangements detract from the album's lyrical and melodic clarity. 2. **Pacing Issues**: - The album's pacing can feel uneven, with the transition between introspective ballads and more aggressive tracks sometimes jarring. - This inconsistency can disrupt the overall flow, making the listening experience less cohesive. 3. **Lyrical Repetition**: - Some tracks, such as "I Don't Wanna Be A Soldier Mama I Don't Wanna Die," suffer from repetitive lyrics, which can diminish their impact. - The reliance on simple refrains in certain songs might be seen as a lack of lyrical development. ### Conclusion "Imagine" stands as a testament to John Lennon's artistic vision and his enduring quest for peace and understanding. Its blend of poignant lyrics, diverse musical styles, and sophisticated production creates an album that is both a product of its time and timeless. While it has its flaws, the album's strengths far outweigh its weaknesses, making it a cornerstone of rock music and a lasting symbol of hope and unity. Lennon's ability to intertwine personal vulnerability with broader social commentary gives "Imagine" a unique and powerful voice. The album's influence on subsequent generations of musicians and its role in cultural and political movements underscore its significance in the annals of music history. Despite the occasional overproduction and pacing issues, "Imagine" remains a compelling and evocative work, embodying Lennon's legacy as a visionary artist and advocate for peace.

Excellent! Contemplative, angry, loving and cheerful. Covers a wide range of topics and emotions. Representative of John's life up to that point in time. Well worth repeated listening sessions. Highly recommended!

Couldn’t locate the entire album - only the individual song.

Amazing

This one really takes me back to when I was a huge Beatles nut in the 70’s and 80’s. So many great songs here. Later on in life I found John to be a little hypocritical, even a bit on this album. But as a whole this was an easy listen all the way through.

I’ve already listened to it

5 stars

Classic

Such beautiful piano arrangements.

Classic album. Not quite HoF.

A five. five stars. On my top 10 albums list.

Pretty chill

Wonderful album by the "smart" Beatle!

John Lennons best solo work. I'm a bigger fan of Paul and George's solo work and even though I hate the idea behind "How do you sleep" it just gets stuck in my head.

Classic album. Already knew half the songs but gave the rest a listen and I love it. Love me some Lennon!

Incedible

Wanted to hate it but actually good

Great message <3

I love the range of emotions on this album, at turns hopeful in the face of war and sadness, vitrolic and conflicted. Lennon proves he is the philisphical one who would rather weave his mind through the music unlike Paul who is more fascinated with the music itself... A great post Beatles album.

Honestly, probably a 4, but it hit tonight. I feel a lot of solo work from the Beatles is missing the magic of the quartet, but this is good. There is a lot of heart in this, I get why it’s his most famous album

HEATER

Brilliant

Love

Imagine Imagine is again one of those overfamiliar songs, but I haven’t reached acceptance with it just yet in the way I have with some others. As a teenager I loved it but I’m just not sure I like it all that much. Nothing to do with the lyric which I think is good, and all the criticism and accusations of hypocrisy miss the point I feel, but something about the melody and piano I’m not sure about. I’ve always enjoyed Crippled Inside’s honky tonk tick tack country style, even though it probably leans a bit too far into pastiche at times and diffuses the directness of the lyrics a bit. Jealous Guy really is great, always been a favourite. Arrangement wise its similar to Imagine but works as a kind of antidote. It’s so Hard - I’ve never quite been sure about the sax on this, kind of feels a bit out of place, even though I do like the bluesy groove and that string part is excellent. Definitely a grower of a song over time. I Don’t Want to be a Soldier - Love George’s slide on this. Great groove and nice bass sound on the descending bits between verses, but George’s guitar really elevates this. Can hear quite a bit of the Stones version of Sister Morphine, which was recorded before this but not released until this was being recorded. It must have been an influence in some way. Gimme Some Truth - superb, superb superb, great song. Again George’s slide is fantastic. Probably the song that suffers most from Spector’s ‘muddy’ production. Oh My Love - a very nice song and another grower over time. How Do You Sleep - I really do love this, up there with Lennon’s best solo songs. The groove, riff and the historical interest of the lyrics. How? - Never noticed until today the echoes and similarities to The Long and Winding Road. In general I think this one has always passed me by a bit, but I really really liked it listening to it today. Superb vocal and some great little melodic hooks and moments. Oh Yoko! - another one of my fav Lennon songs. Immediately infectious and joyous but with a slightly melancholy undertow. There’s an simultaneous directness and indirectness, closeness distance to it that I love, like he’s singing to her but she’s not there, as though he can’t find her. 
This is a great album with some great songs, but it just sits that one rung below POB for me, somewhere between a 4 and a 5. It’s maybe more of a 4 than a 5 in reality, but as there is limited amounts of Lennon music and some the tracks on here are among his very best its very tricky, but the fact that it’s Lennon means a casting vote to take it to 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

After exorcising his demons, John Lennon set about conjuring his #9 dream. Moving to New York, his unlikely legend as firebrand, iconoclast, idealist and loyal devotee began to take shape. Imagine is the pinnacle of Lennon's career, the album where everything coalesces into a potent package where love, contemplation, self-reflection and politics co-exist without a sense of unease. No wonder Tricky Dicky got all paranoid and looked to get him out of the United States as fast as he entered. For better or for worse, these descriptions of John Lennon has lingered on and defined his status as it would carry his legacy for him, long after his untimely demise. Plenty to ponder, plenty to take comfort in, plenty to wonder. The world may never live as one but, as long as he says so, there's still hope.

When this came out I did not like it much, would have given it a 2 maybe a 3. After 40+ years, I understand and appreciate the feelings behind the song. Experience is a great teacher.

It’s Lennon. It’s Imagine.

Excellent second solo album! So much good sound mixing and power. I do have to say that "Oh Yoko!" is pretty bad overall. The honky tonk melody was good but the lyrics are like something written by a lovesick teen. I'm not saying he wasn't in love with Yoko, just, considering his songwriting abilities, that's a poor effort to get his point across.

Not the best Beatles solo release (see George), but pretty amazing.

This album is the closest thing I can find to looking inside of John Lennon's mind because of the raw honesty on it. Imagine and Gimme Some Truth show his thoughts on politics, culture, and society with Imagine being the most iconic Lennon song. Oh Yoko is a pure love song to his true lover. How do you sleep is a great look into the Beatles post breakup, specifically with Paul. George playing guitar on that track adds more weight to the bitterness. How is such a beautiful and relatable song about not knowing anything and feeling lost. Finally, Jealous Guy feels like such an honest look into John's self perception where he is honest about his faults as he sees them. Very good album

so once again, i am totally biased as a life-long beatles fan. last year i listened to every officially released solo beatles album, and this one is definitely near the top of that list. although i am definitely more of a paul guy than a john guy, i still really love this album. to be honest, i find the title track very overplayed and a bit overrated - i don't think it's miles better than anything else on this album. highlights for me include 'jealous guy,' 'gimme some truth,' and 'how do you sleep' to me, this album is an exercise in growth for john. his previous album is very raw, very emotional, very bitter. that bitterness still seeps through on this one at points (especially in the paul diss track 'how do you sleep'), but this album is overall a lot more thought out, at peace. he was a complex person, both good and bad, and i think this album highlights that conflict pretty decently. overall, i think this crop of songs is pretty consistently good. as i said, i am a bit biased, but this is one of my favorites!

Obviously

First 5 of the campaign A masterpiece in it's own right Does leave me slightly worried what would be today's answer if war was to break out, no doubt Coldplay or Taylor swift would be all over it.

Such a good listen

imagen

Iconic album featuring Imagine & Jealous Guy & Yoko. Also has the infamous & scathing indictment of Paul McCartney in How Do You Sleep? I owned this album at some point! Nice trip down memory lane

Beautiful

My parents owned this CD which at some point, I stole for my own CD collection. I’m sure a lot of the reviews are going to say this is only included because of “Imagine,” but I think the whole album is solid. I never listen to it anymore but it was fun to revisit this album today. “Crippled Inside” is still a jam.

Above the many many memories I have about this album and the title track was it being played at my childhood best friend's funeral. It's hard to listen to it without thinking of Frank. I choose to love the album and John Lennon.

The title track alone might be enough to warrant a five. But the rest of the album is just as important of a musical statement from one of our greatest poets and songwriters. Sublime

Better than I remember, TBH. GimmeSomeTruth is a personal highlight.

Incredible. Songs, sounds, an insight into his soul. Forward thinking production

It's the late 80s and I'm playing the song "Imagine" (recorded from the radio) on repeat. My Dad tells me to listen to the album. He has it on cassette. It's in a case full of cassettes (which is where a lot of my early influences came from). He probably had it on LP too, but we weren't allowed to touch those and he couldn't play them a lot because the kids made the albums skip while they were running around the house. 😏 So I scurry off to my bedroom. I pop in that cassette and listen. "Jealous Guy" becomes my new obsession and is ceremoniously played on repeat for the next several weeks. 🤣 I'm pretty sure that's not what my Dad was trying to accomplish, but core memory activated so it's a win. 😂😏 Yep, this album brought out a lot of memories for me. Classic. Iconic.

5/5

Imagine is an album I never would have listened to had I not got it from this generator. This is an amazing Day 4 album and I loved every song. Imagine is obviously the highlight here, but I also loved Hey Yoko!. 9/10

Good, imagine might be one of the weakest songs on it

Fantastic. Better than Plastic Ono Band

John hitting different styles on this album and it’s good. Only negative is his love song to Ono, it’s great song but fuq her.

Fantastic!

Love John Lennon

Great. Classic.

Not my favorite of the post-Beatles solo albums (looking at you George), but still totally earns itself a five.