JOHN LENNON - "Imagine"

John Lennon
"Imagine"
Single / Bside: "It's so Hard" (US), "Working Class Hero" (UK)
Released: 11 October 1971
Album: Imagine (Released September/October 1971)
Writer: John Lennon
Label: Apple

"Imagine" is a song written and performed by the English musician John Lennon. The best-selling single of his solo career, its lyrics encourage the listener to imagine a world at peace without the barriers of borders or the divisions of religion and nationality, and to consider the possibility that the focus of humanity should be living a life unattached to material possessions. This song is a strong political message that Lennon realized that the softer approach would bring the song to a wider audience, who hopefully would listen to his message.
John Lennon's single: "Imagine" (1971)

John Lennon - "Imagine" (vinyl)


Several poems from Yoko Ono's 1964 book Grapefruit inspired Lennon to write the lyrics for "Imagine" —in particular, one which Capitol Records reproduced on the back cover of the original Imagine LP titled "Cloud Piece", reads: "Imagine the clouds dripping, dig a hole in your garden to put them in."  Lennon later said the composition "should be credited as a Lennon/Ono song. A lot of it—the lyric and the concept—came from Yoko, but in those days I was a bit more selfish, a bit more macho, and I sort of omitted her contribution, but it was right out of Grapefruit."  When asked about the song's meaning during a December 1980 interview with David Sheff for Playboy magazine, Lennon told Sheff that Dick Gregory had given Ono and him a Christian prayer book, which inspired him the concept behind "Imagine". 

 Lennon composed "Imagine" one morning in early 1971, on a Steinway piano, in a bedroom at his Tittenhurst Park estate in Ascot, Berkshire, England. Ono watched as he composed the melody, chord structure and almost all the lyrics, nearly completing the song in one brief writing session.
John Lennon' single: "Imagine" (Apple)


John Lennon: "Imagine" (music video)
BMI named "Imagine" one of the 100 most-performed songs of the 20th century. The song ranked number 30 on the Recording Industry Association of America's list of the 365 Songs of the Century bearing the most historical significance. It earned a Grammy Hall of Fame Award and an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. A UK survey conducted by the Guinness World Records British Hit Singles Book named it the second best single of all time, while Rolling Stone ranked it number three in their list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Since 2005, event organisers have played it just before the New Year's Times Square Ball drops in New York City. Dozens of artists have performed or recorded versions of "Imagine", including Madonna, Stevie Wonder, Joan Baez, Elton John and Diana Ross. Emeli Sandé recorded a cover for the BBC to use during the end credits montage at the close of the 2012 Summer Olympics coverage in August 2012. "Imagine" subsequently re-entered the UK Top 40, reaching number 18.
John Lennon' single: Imagine/It's so Hard
John Lennon - "Imagine" (live 1973)


The song was released as a single that just missed going to number one in America; it was not initially released on 45 in the U.K. It was quickly taken up by mainstream performers, appearing on chart albums by Ray Conniff, Andy Williams, and Joan Baez within a year. Baez, whose outspoken left-wing views would have seemed to make her particularly sympathetic to the song's message, seemed to be one of the few who paid close attention to the words. When she sang it in concert, she sometimes added qualifying remarks to the line "Imagine no possessions," suggesting that she wasn't sure she could imagine that. "Imagine" continued to attract cover versions over the years, eventually being recorded by dozens of artists including Diana Ross, the Average White Band & Ben E. King, Roger Whittaker, Gerry & the Pacemakers, Randy Crawford & the Yellowjackets, Chet Atkins, Henry Mancini, Richie Havens, Liza Minnelli, and Blues Traveler.
"Imagine" - The World Version
In 1975, the original John Lennon recording was belatedly released as a single in England in connection with its appearance on Lennon's Shaved Fish hits compilation, and it reached the Top Ten. Following Lennon's assassination in 1980, it was released a second time as a U.K. single and hit number one. The song was covered at an increased pace after Lennon's death, as it now served as a memorial tribute to him. In 1988, Tracie Spencer revived it for a pop singles chart entry. It has also been featured on compilations and archival releases by Lennon, including a 1972 concert version issued on 1986's Live in New York City. A 1988 documentary film on Lennon was titled Imagine: John Lennon, and the original recording was used on the soundtrack of the 1995 film Mr. Holland's Opus. In December 1999, it was released for a third time in England as a holiday single and entered the charts in the Top Five.

Line-up / Musicians:
John Lennon – vocals, piano
Klaus Voormann – bass
Alan White – drums
The Flux Fiddlers – strings

Link / Review:

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JEFFERSON AIRPLANE - "Somebody to Love"

Jefferson Airplane
"Somebody to Love"
Single / B-side: "She Has Funny Cars"
Released: 1 April 1967
Album: Surrealistic Pillows (Released: 1 February 1967)
Writer: Darby Slick
Label: RCA Victor

"Somebody to Love", originally titled "Someone to Love", is a rock song that was written by Darby Slick. It was originally recorded by The Great Society, and later by Jefferson Airplane. 
Great Society - "Someone to Love"
Jefferson Airplane's single: "Somebody To Love" (1967)
Jefferson Airplane - "Somebody To Love"

Written by The Great Society guitarist Darby Slick after realizing his girlfriend had left him, and first performed by that band, which included his then-sister-in-law Grace Slick on vocals, the song made little impact outside of the club circuit in the Bay Area. The song was released in 1966 as a single with the B-side another Darby Slick composition titled "Free Advice" on the North Beach subsidiary of Autumn Records, and received minimal circulation outside of San Francisco. San Francisco in the mid-'60s was the epicenter of free love, but Darby Slick saw a downside to this ethos, as it could lead to jealousy and disconnect. This song champions loyalty and monogamy, as the singer implores us to find that one true love that will nurture us and get us through the tough times.
Jefferson Airplane's single: "Somebody To Love" (RCA Victor, 1967)
Jefferson Airplane - "Somebody To Love" (43rpm RCA Victor, 1967)

When Grace Slick departed to join Jefferson Airplane, she took this song with her, bringing it to the Surrealistic Pillow sessions, along with her own composition "White Rabbit". Subsequently, the Airplane's more ferocious rock and roll version became the band's first and biggest success; the single byJefferson Airplane scored at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. Jefferson Airplane's first hit song, "Somebody To Love" was also one of the first big hits to come out of the US West Coast counterculture scene. Over the next few years, musicians flocked to the San Francisco Bay area to be part of this scene. The original version of this song that Grace Slick sang with The Great Society is more subdued. With Jefferson Airplane she sounds far more accusatory and menacing when she belts out lines like "Your mind is so full of red" and "Your friends, baby, they treat you like a guest."
Jefferson Airplane's single: "Somebody To Love" (1967)
Jefferson Airplane - "Somebody to Love" (Woodstock, 1969)

Jefferson Airplane - "Somebody to Love" (American Bandstand, 1967)

"Somebody to Love" was also a track on their influential album released in February 1967, Surrealistic Pillow. Like the album on which it appeared, this song was instrumental in publicizing the existence of the Haight-Ashbury counterculture to the rest of the United States.

Line-up / Musicians:
Grace Slick – lead vocals
Marty Balin – tambourine, backing vocals
Jorma Kaukonen – lead guitar (Gibson ES-335)
Paul Kantner – rhythm guitar (Rickenbacker 360)
Jack Casady – bass (Fender Precision Bass)
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R.E.M. - "Everybody Hurts"

R.E.M.
"Everybody Hurts"
Single / B-side: "Mandolin Strum"
Released: 15 April 1993
Album: Automatic for the People (Released: 5 October 1992)
Writers: Bill Berry
Label: Warner Bros.
"Everybody Hurts" is a song by R.E.M., originally released on the band's 1992 album Automatic for the People and was also released as a single in 1993. In 2012, The Telegraph voted this song as "the most depressing song of all time". In 2013, Rolling Stone magazine Readers' Poll selected this song #3 of 10 Saddest Songs of All Time. 
R.E.M. single: "Everybody Hurts", 1993

R.E.M. - "Everybody Hurts" (1993 single)

Much of the song was written by drummer Bill Berry, although as R.E.M. shares songwriting credits among its members.  This is an anti-suicide song. Berry wanted to reach out to people who felt they had no hope. While Berry wrote this, he did not actually play on it. A Univox drum machine took care of that for him.

The string arrangement was written by Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones.

 In the liner notes of the album In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988–2003, Buck writes that "the reason the lyrics are so atypically straightforward is because it was aimed at teenagers", and "I've never watched Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but the idea that high school is a portal to hell seems pretty realistic to me." Incidentally, the song was used in the 1992 film of the same name that preceded the show.
R.E.M. single: "Everybody Hurts" (CD cover)

R.E.M. - "Everybody Hurts" (Glastonbury Festival, 2003)


Peter Buck likens the vibe of this song to Otis Redding's "Pain in My Heart." He wrote in the liner notes for Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage 1982-2011: "I'm not sure if Michael would have copped that reference, but to a lot of our fans it was a Staxxy-type thing."

 The music video was directed by Jake Scott, son of movie director Ridley Scott, famous for movies like Blade Runner (1982) and Gladiator (2000). Filmed on Interstate 10 in San Antonio, Texas, the clip is set during a traffic jam where people's thoughts are revealed through subtitles.
R.E.M. - "Everybody Hurts" (music video)

R.E.M. album: Automatic for the People (1992)


In an attempt to raise money for victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown asked Simon Cowell to arrange a charity single. Cowell chose "Everybody Hurts", Brown agreed to waive VAT on the single and R.E.M. agreed to waive all royalties. The release was under the name Helping Haiti. The song was premiered on radio stations nationally on 2 February 2010. The single was released both physically and digitally on 7 February 2010, with the physical release being brought forward by one day due to demand.

 Line-up / Musicians:
Bill Berry – drums, percussion, backing vocals
Peter Buck – guitars
Mike Mills – bass guitar, piano, keyboards, backing vocals
Michael Stipe – lead vocals
with
Scott Litt – Strings and oboe 
John Paul Jones – orchestral arrangements

 Link / Review:
wikipedia: Everybody Hurts
songfacts: Everybody Hurts by R.E.M.
telegraph.co.uk: REM's Everybody Hurts voted most depressing song of all time
rollingstone: 10 Saddest Songs of All Time
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