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John & Yoko/Plastic Ono Band: In Their Own Words & with Contributions from the People Who Were There

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A definitive, in-depth, revelatory exploration of John Lennon's intensely personal first major solo album after the breakup of the Beatles.

Described by Lennon as "the best thing I've ever done," and widely regarded as his best solo album, John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band was released on 11 December 1970. With first-hand commentary by Lennon, Ono, and other members of the band, and packed with previously unseen photographs by those who documented their lives, this incisive volume offers new insights into the raw emotions and open mindset of Lennon after marriage to Ono and the breakup of the Beatles, to the making of the album and revealing interview with Jann Wenner in December 1970.

Primal therapy had a huge impact on Lennon's songwriting, resulting in the creation of intensely personal, soul-baring tracks. This book takes his lyrics as a starting point and explores Lennon's life, career, and self-perception, from "performing flea" with the Beatles to authenticity as a solo artist.

288 pages, Hardcover

Published November 17, 2020

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About the author

John Lennon

756 books1,984 followers
John Winston Ono Lennon, MBE, was an English singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, and together with Paul McCartney formed one of the most successful songwriting partnerships of the 20th century.

Born and raised in Liverpool, Lennon became involved in the skiffle craze as a teenager, his first band, The Quarrymen, evolving into The Beatles in 1960. As the group began to undergo the disintegration that led to their break-up towards the end of that decade, Lennon launched a solo career that would span the next decade, punctuated by critically acclaimed albums, including John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band and Imagine, and iconic songs such as "Give Peace a Chance" and "Imagine".

Lennon revealed a rebellious nature and acerbic wit in his music, his writing, on film, and in interviews, and became controversial through his work as a peace activist. He moved to New York City in 1971, where his criticism of the Vietnam War resulted in a lengthy attempt by Richard Nixon's administration to deport him, while his songs were adapted as anthems by the anti-war movement. Disengaging himself from the music business in 1975 to devote time to his family, Lennon reemerged in October 1980 with a new single and a comeback album, Double Fantasy, but was murdered weeks after their release on the sidewalk outside his home in the Dakota. Ironically, "Imagine" (imagine all the people, living life in peace) was a featured cut from this album.

Lennon's album sales in the United States alone stand at 14 million units, and as performer, writer, or co-writer he is responsible for 27 number one singles on the US Hot 100 chart. In 2002, a BBC poll on the 100 Greatest Britons voted him eighth, and in 2008 Rolling Stone ranked him the fifth greatest singer of all time. He was posthumously inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1987 and into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.

--Wikipedia the Free Encyclopedia --

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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
Profile Image for Jamie.
84 reviews1 follower
January 1, 2021
A magnificnet book. An account of the evolution of the Plastic Ono Band.
John Lennon's first solo album which is raw and emotional - John's own words describe his life, pain, and growth in this period of time. A wonderful read.
Profile Image for alivia.
72 reviews
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January 31, 2026
to be honest i didn’t really know much about the plastic ono band, but after reading this i know a lot more about how the band formed and a little bit about the meaning of the songs. i thought this was very interesting and i really liked the pictures in it.
Profile Image for Rob Adams.
86 reviews2 followers
January 3, 2021
Amazing read. Loved every page. Beautiful pictures and detailed interviews. It feels like being there and talking with John & Yoko. Gained really new insights about this specific period in John's life and the brilliant and honest record he made.
716 reviews5 followers
January 31, 2021
Thorough, enjoyable and I learned a great deal from the people who were there!
Excellent.
111 reviews3 followers
May 20, 2021
Very comprehensive account of recording POB and all the social background along with it.
22 reviews
May 14, 2021
I found the book a tremendous insightful inspiring read
It reinforced everything that I have read and feel about John Lennon
Highly recommend the book glad that purchased it
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews