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ALBUM REVIEW

MIND GAMES

Released - Nov. 2, 1973  (US),  Nov. 16, 1973 (UK) on Apple Records. Produced by John Lennon

John Lennon - Vocals,  Electric, Acoustic & Slide Guitars, Clavinet, Percussion

With:

Ken Ascher - Organ, Piano, Mellotron
David Spinozza - Guitar
Gordon Edwards - Bass
Jim Keltner - Drums

Additional Personnel:

Rick Marotta - Drums on "Meat City and "Bring On The Lucie"
Michael Brecker - Saxophone
Sneaky Pete Kleinow - Pedal Steel on "You Are Here"
Something Different: Background Vocals

All lyrics written by John Lennon

(Click on song for lyrics)

REVIEW

Mind Games has got to be John Lennon's most underrated album. I say that since you hear so little of it being played on the radio. It has the same kind of politically charged songs that his other solo albums released before this one had, yet for some reason, many don't look at this album as being as much of a political statement - but this is Lennon and, well, there is a bunch of that fond here.

The best song on the album is "Bring On The Lucie (Freda Peeple)", as true a Lennon song as you can get, which deals with human rights, and like the album itself, very underrated. I think if he had released this song in the late '60s it would have left more of an impact then it did, as by 1973 some people were starting to turn away from this kind of music, which was too bad and kinda sad, as things were still a mess as far as issues like this went (and still go today). The next best song on this album is the title cut, "Mind Games", which is it's lead off song, too. With the old mellotron used a bunch in this number, it's feel isn't a lot like the rest of the album, but it's still a great strong song.

There are several songs that do flow very nicely with this album: "Tight A$", "One Day (At A Time)", "Bring On The Lucie (Freda Peeple)", "Only People" and "Meat City". They all got the same kind of good feel to them, and the other slower tunes fit in well too.

Like most CDs today,  you now get a few bonus cuts to go with the album, which are home versions of three of the tracks including a short one minute demo of   "Bring On The Lucie (Freda Peeple)", which is interesting to hear the original lyrics being sang, which include the line: "Free the people, now, kill the judges, now!", no wonder he changed them when the song was released!

- - Keno 2004

To listen to some soundclips from  Mind Games or to purchase, click on: Mind Games

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