DU Album of the Day: "Double Fantasy" John Lennon/Yoko Ono
What a difference three weeks makes. Upon its release in November 1980, this album was derided as self-indulgent narcissism, navel-gazing of the worst sort. Then John Lennon was killed and critics took a second look, and decided it was a masterpiece, naming it Album of the Year in 1981. Which is it? Impossible to say, because any review of "Double Fantasy" is necessarily colored by the lens of Lennon's assassination.
In spite of many artists wanting to be judged solely on their output, their finished product, it's unavoidable to place a work in the context of the artist's life. Lennon, founding member of the greatest rock group ever, had gone into an artistic funk for nearly a decade after the Beatles broke up in 1970. There were occasional flashes of the old brilliance, tantalizing stranded fans like the sight of a ship on the horizon.
"Double Fantasy" was at once long-awaited and -anticipated, but at the same time disappointing. Why did John give over half the songs to that wife of his? Fans who still held a grudge against Yoko for breaking up the Beatles were dismayed at the prominence given to Yoko, as well as the rather pedestrian nature of the singles released from the album. After Lennon's death, the music acquired an instant poignancy and judgments against Ono softened considerably for a while (at least until Ono released another album featuring John's broken glasses on the cover) in light of Lennon's clear statements of love for his wife.
Judged on its merits, the album is actually rather good, mixing a lot of that self-indulgence with some straight ahead rock and roll. John's voice, never all that strong, was strangely well-suited to crooning love songs and ballads with soft touches and little nuances that draw the listener in and reveal a softness that never quite gets maudlin. The outstanding song for me is "Watching the Wheels," with what turned out to be Lennon's last take on fame and a remarkable life of dizzying turns and twists. In spite of the lyric, "Double Fantasy" augured a time when Lennon might just decide to take another ride on the merry-go-round, and what has the world missed?
Side one
1. "
Just Like) Starting Over" John Lennon 3:56
2. "Kiss Kiss Kiss" Yoko Ono 2:41
3. "Cleanup Time" Lennon 2:58
4. "Give Me Something" Ono 1:35
5. "I'm Losing You" Lennon 3:57
6. "I'm Moving On" Ono 2:20
7. "Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)" Lennon 4:02
Side two
No. Title Writer(s) Length
8. "Watching the Wheels" Lennon 3:35
9. "Yes, I'm Your Angel" Ono 3:08
10. "Woman" Lennon 3:22
11. "Beautiful Boys" Ono 2:55
12. "Dear Yoko" Lennon 2:34
13. "Every Man Has a Woman Who Loves Him" Ono 4:02
14. "Hard Times Are Over" Ono 3:22
