Lennon, John - Sweet Toronto

Year of Release: 2002
Label: Pioneer
Catalog Number: 11667
Format: DVD
Total Time: 56:00:00

Diehard Yes fans will be delighted to know about the existence of this DVD. When I interviewed Alan White a couple of years ago, Alan talked extensively about how he got involved with John Lennon as part of the Plastic Ono Band. In fact Alan and John never performed together, so whilst on the plane which took them to Toronto to perform during the Peace Festival in 1969, the various members jammed together for a while. In the end John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Alan White, Klaus Voorman and Eric Clapton delivered some rock 'n' roll classics, as well as some Lennon solo material. I never thought footage of this unique event existed, so I was very pleased to see it on sale even if we see very little of Alan all along.

The DVD begins with a short interview with Yoko Ono as she visited the John Lennon Exhibition in London. Here she tells us how the name Plastic Ono Band came to be. Then it's over to some classic cuts by the likes of Bo Diddley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry and Little Richard. Interesting to see how primitive these big names still worked. Filmed by D.A. Pennebaker, it is as far as I know the only film showing this unique event which opened a lot of opportunities for Alan White. For years this film has been locked away in a safe and only used for private viewing. During "Money" (which briefly shows a close-up of a very young Alan White), Yoko hides away under a large white cloth in the middle of the stage. Ono probably thinks that all of the people came to see her and is in fact raking in success on the strength of her husband's talent. With no sense for melody at all, Yoko Ono almost ruins "Yer Blues," which was massively welcomed by the audience with loud cheers. The way she sings (?) in the middle of John's singing sounds as if she suffers from "cold turkey." Strangely enough, the song with that title follows with Ono sounding like a sheep being slaughtered. Rumoured by Lennon never to have been performed before, John often has to look at the piece of paper containing the lyrics that Ono is holding. The entire band even goes to support Ono during her very own "Don't Worry Kyoto" and "John, John," the latter being more of a performance than a song. No wonder people hated Ono telling the world she was the one splitting up the Beatles. Before she came into the picture, The Beatles delivered fantastic music with incredible melodies and enthusiasm. Lennon was part of that incredible chemistry. Once she stepped into his life, it's as if melody was no longer an issue, as if LSD took over their lives. Just listen to and watch "John, John" and it's like a woman giving birth instead of a rock band performing. Meanwhile Lennon was experimenting with his guitar holding it against his Ibanez amplifier resulting in high pitched noise. Once Lennon stands behind Ono whilst she's shouting and crying her lungs out, I would like to know what John was thinking. The band leaves the stage with the resonance of the guitars going on and on endlessly. As I said. a performance rather than a concert, yet important for being the birth of the Plastic Ono Band (as you can witness the name of Lennon doesn't even appear in the band's name).

Tracklisting:
Bo Diddley / Hound Dog / Johnny B Goode / Lucille / Blue Suede Shoes / Money / You Make Me Dizzy Miss Lizzy / Yer Blues / Cold Turkey / Give Peace A Chance / Don't Worry Kyoto / John, John

Musicians:
John Lennon - guitar, vocals
Alan White - drums
Eric Clapton - guitar
Klaus Voorman - bass
Yoko Ono - vocals

Discography:
Two Virgins: Unfinished Music No. 1 (1968)
Life With The Lions: Unfinished Music No. 2 (1969)
Live Peace In Toronto 1969 (1969)
Wedding Album (1969)
John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band (1970)
Imagine (1971/2003)
Sometime In New York City (1972)
Mind Games (1973)
Walls And Bridges (1974)
Rock N' Roll (1975)
Shaved Fish (1975)
Double Fantasy (1980)
The John Lennon Collection (1982)
Milk & Honey (1984/2001)
Live In New York City (1986)
Menlove Ave (1986)
Imagine: John Lennon (Original Soundtrack) (1988)
Lennon (1990)
Legend (The Very Best Of John Lennon) (2003)

Sweet Toronto (2002)
Legend (The Very Best Of John Lennon) (DVD) (2003)

Genre: Rock

Origin UK

Added: March 8th 2005
Reviewer: John "Bobo" Bollenberg

Artist website: www.johnlennon.com
Hits: 2178
Language: english