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Double Fantasy

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Double Fantasy is the comeback album by John Lennon and Yoko Ono, released in 1980 initially on the newly-formed Geffen Records, and now through E.M.I., the distributor of all of Lennon's output. It is notable for being John Lennon's last authorised release, coming out just three weeks before his shocking death.

In 1975, with their birth of their son Sean, Lennon put his career on hold to raise the boy and rekindle his relationship with his first offspring Julian, while enjoying the leisure time he'd largely lost while in the music business. In the summer of 1980, both Lennon and Ono felt ready to return to their musical careers and began composing.

Acquiring Aerosmith producer Jack Douglas (with whom Lennon had worked before), Lennon, Ono and Douglas produced dozens of songs beginning that August, enough to fill Double Fantasy and beyond. A projected second album, Milk and Honey, was well into the rehearsal phase when work was halted following Lennon's assassination that December.

After five years of little musical activity, aside recording the occasional demo in his apartment at The Dakota, Lennon was absolutely bursting with creativity. He was also, he claimed, the most content he had ever felt in all his years, even writing a song called "Life Begins at 40" to commemorate that milestone in his life. His assuredness and love for his family came through on the retro "(Just Like) Starting Over", as well as "Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)" and "Woman".

Ono was currently being regarded with fresh perspective after the onslaught of the late 1970's punk movement which bore similarities to her earlier work. As such, with renewed confidence, she churned out many songs. Jack Douglas allegedly forced Ono to curtail her trademark shrieks and sing on pitch to give her songs a more commercial edge - reportedly to her chagrin.

Lennon and Ono made the decision to release their impending songs together on the same album, the first time they had done so since 1972's controversial Some Time in New York City. Subtitled "A Heart Play", Double Fantasy would be a collection of songs whereby John and Yoko would be singing to each other.

Signed by David Geffen, alongside Elton John and Donna Summer, for his new label, Geffen, Double Fantasy was preceded by Lennon's "(Just Like) Starting Over", which quickly became a US Top 5 hit. The album itself was received with much interest, coming after such an extended break. Double Fantasy was mildly criticized upon release for being slick, while Ono's songs were overlooked, but the musical community was glad to have Lennon back.

On the evening 8 December 1980, Mark David Chapman shot John Lennon five times as he was walking into The Dakota with Ono and died twenty minutes later. With worldwide grief for Lennon's death on an almost unparalled scale, Double Fantasy, as well as "(Just Like) Starting Over", shot to #1 everywhere, selling several million copies, with many of Lennon's past solo and Beatles releases re-charting as well. Subsequent singles, "Woman" and "Watching the Wheels" were also big successes.

To help her deal with her grief, Ono recorded and released Season of Glass in 1981 to positive critical and commercial reaction. Her dance single, "Walking on Thin Ice", which Lennon and Ono were mixing the night of his murder, also proved a hit.

On 24 February 1982, Double Fantasy won the Grammy award for "Album of the Year", amid emotional scenes as Yoko Ono and six-year-old Sean accepted the award.

In 1989, E.M.I. acquired the rights to Double Fantasy from Geffen.

In 2000, Yoko Ono supervised the remastering of Double Fantasy, adding three bonus tracks to its CD reissue, including "Walking on Thin Ice".

Personnel

Track listing

  1. "(Just Like) Starting Over" (John Lennon) – 3:56
  2. "Kiss Kiss Kiss" (Yoko Ono) – 2:41
  3. "Cleanup Time" (John Lennon) – 2:58
  4. "Give Me Something" (Yoko Ono) – 1:35
  5. "I'm Losing You" (John Lennon) – 3:57
  6. "I'm Moving On" (Yoko Ono) – 2:20
  7. "Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)" (John Lennon) – 4:02
  8. "Watching the Wheels" (John Lennon) – 4:00
  9. "I'm Your Angel" (Yoko Ono) – 3:08
  10. "Woman" (John Lennon) – 3:32
  11. "Beautiful Boys" (Yoko Ono) – 2:55
  12. "Dear Yoko" (John Lennon) – 2:34
  13. "Every Man Has A Woman Who Loves Him" (Yoko Ono) – 4:02
  14. "Hard Times Are Over" (Yoko Ono) – 3:20
  15. "Help Me to Help Myself" (John Lennon)*
  16. "Walking on Thin Ice" (Yoko Ono)*
  17. Central Park Stroll (Dialogue)*
(*Appear on the 2000 re-issue.)


John Lennon
Studio Albums
John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band | Imagine | Mind Games | Walls and Bridges | Rock 'n' Roll
With Yoko Ono
' | ' | Wedding Album |
Some Time in New York City | Double Fantasy | Milk and Honey
Live Albums
Live Peace in Toronto 1969 | Live in New York City |
Compilations
Shaved Fish | The John Lennon Collection | ' |
Peace, Love & Truth | '
Posthumous Albums
Menlove Ave. | Acoustic | Wonsaponatime
Soundtracks
Box sets
Lennon | John Lennon Anthology
Related Articles
The Beatles | Lennon-McCartney


Yoko Ono
Studio albums
Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band | Fly | Approximately Infinite Universe | Feeling the Space | A Story
Season of Glass | It's Alright (I See Rainbows) | Starpeace | Rising | Blueprint for a Sunrise
With John Lennon
' | '
Wedding Album | Live Peace in Toronto 1969 | Some Time in New York City
Double Fantasy | Milk and Honey
Compilations
Walking on Thin Ice | Onobox
Other Albums
New York Rock | Every Man Has a Woman

 

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