Saludos
ElectronicSounds
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John Lennon's Spring 1981 Tour
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Maintained by Jeroen Dekker
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When John Lennon broke his househusband silence with a new single in October 1980, the press was quick to ask if he would perform live again. "We probably will," he told Playboy at the time. "I wouldn't have believed it a month ago. But then I thought, What the hell, why not?"
While working on his last album, Double Fantasy (1980), he had told his studio musicians to set aside some time in the Spring for a possible tour - which would include Europe, Japan, and The United States. One of these American concerts would, according to music critic John Robertson in his The Art & Music of John Lennon (Citadel Press, 1993), be broadcast live via satellite around the world, echoing the All You Need Is Love broadcast from 1967.
"John pictured a big production tour," Jack Douglas, producer of Double Fantasy, recalls, "including performances of Beatles numbers featured with a new arrangement." And: "He planned a tremendous production. Including his new arrangements of songs he never got right, like She Loves You and I Want To Hold Your Hand.
Lennon: "If it's enjoyable and if it doesn't become something that one doesn't want to do, 'cause it's nice to get up and sing sometimes, like it's nice to make music. I don't want to get mixed up in deals and business and spin-offs and pressures, though, because I don't need THAT anymore. Once was enough. But sure, I'd like to get up on stage with Yoko and a good band and play these songs [laughs] and really DO 'em, because the band's hot as shit. They just come off the album and they were all good - we've got the good feeling among ourselves. So it would be great. I'm just a little nervous about all that goes on around it. But I think we can probably handle it a bit better this time."
On October 9, John's birthday, the Lennons let out a press release in which they state that "next Spring, John and Yoko will be touring Japan, USA and Europe." Their assistant Fred Seaman announces it to the press.
What follows is the set list for that tour as it might have been. Though She Loves You has not been included, I Want To Hold Your Hand (1964) and Help! (1965) have - the latter because Lennon expressed the urge to re-record that song several times throughout his lifetime. Imagine (1971) and Instant Karma! (1970) are obvious choices: both would have captured the atmosphere and message Lennon pictured for the tour, and both were big audience favourites.
His fondness for reggae, a style that dominated much of the Eighties (he envisioned it for Milk And Honey (1984)) is reflected in the inclusion of Borrowed Time. Woman, a love ballad, would have been a hit during or shortly before the tour. His 1974 #9 Dream provides the obligatory restful spot. The 1967 Beatles song I Am The Walrus was one he grew more fondly of as time went by, often singing it during recording sessions or mentioning it in interviews. It was THE Beatles song he associated himself with. Apart from that, it would have worked well live, as Oasis have demonstrated.
For the last number, the One World, One People chant, he asked his studio band to sing at the end of the Double Fantasy sessions for possible inclusion on the album, as an encore of sorts. Although that never materialized, the text did feature on the album's sleeve. It was something that was clearly on Lennon's mind at the time - as it, in a way, always was.
The Set List:
I Want To Hold Your Hand
Help!
Kiss Kiss Kiss
Woman
I Am The Walrus
Instant Karma!
#9 Dream
Borrowed Time
Ticket To Ride
Walking On Thin Ice
Imagine
Nobody Told Me
Across The Universe
One World, One People
John Lennon Gira Primavera de 1981
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Por Jeroen Dekker
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Cuando John Lennon rompió su periodo de silencio de amo de casa con un nuevo single en Octubre de 1980, la prensa rápidamente empezo a preguntarle si iba a volver a tocar en vivo. “Probablemente si” le dijo a la revista Playboy en aquella época. “No lo hubiera creído un mes atrás. Pero pensé, que diablos ¿porque no?”
Mientras trabajaba en su ultimo álbum Double Fantasy (Doble Fantasía) de 1980, el les habia dicho a sus músicos de estudio para una posible gira para primavera que incluiría Europa, Japón y Estados Unidos. Uno de estos conciertos para Estados Unidos de acuerdo con el critico John Robertson en su libro “The Art & Music of John Lennon” (“El Arte y la Musica de John Lennon”) (Citadel Press, 1993) seria transmitido via satelite haciendo recordar la transmisión de All You Need Is Love de 1967.
“John pensaba en una producción gigante para la gira” Jack Douglas productor del Double Fantasy recuerda “incluiría canciones de Los Beatles con nuevos arreglos” Y: “ El planeaba una producción enorme. Incluido sus nuevos arreglos de canciones que no estaban bien como “She Loves You” y “I Want To Hold Your Hand”.
Lennon: “Si es divertido y si no lo fuera entonces seria algo que no quisiera hacer porque es agradable estar alli y cantar a veces, es agradable hacer música. No quiero estar mezclado en problemas de negocios y presiones porque ya no necesito eso mas. Una vez fue suficiente, Pero seguro que me gustaría estar en el escenario con Yoko y una buena banda y tocar todas estas canciones (risas) y realmente hacerlas porque la banda es caliente como mier.... Ellos vinieron para el álbum y realmente son muy buenos, nosotros tenemos muy buenos sentimientos. Por eso será grandioso. Estoy un poco nervioso por todo lo que ocurre alrededor. Pero se que lo podemos controlar un poco mejor para esta ocasión.”
El 09 de Octubre cumpleaños de John, los Lennon dan un comunicado a la prensa en el que mencionan “próxima primavera John y Yoko van a realizar una gira por Japón, Estados Unidos y Europa.” Su asistente Fred Seaman lo anuncia a la prensa.
Lo que sigue a continuación es el listado de canciones para la gira si hubiera ocurrido. She Loves You no seria incluida, I Want To Hold Your Hand (1964) y Help! (1965) si las incluiría Lennon expreso la urgencia de regrabar la segunda canción a lo largo de su vida. Imagine (1971) e Instant Karma! (1970) estaban escogidas: ambas hubieran capturado la atmósfera y el mensaje que Lennon imaginaba para la gira y ambas eran grandes favoritas del publico.
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Su amor por el reggae, un estilo que domino mucho los ochentas (el lo proyecto para Milk And Honey (1984)) esta reflejado en la inclusión de Borrowed Time. Woman, una balada de amor, hubiera sido un éxito durante o antes de la gira. La canción de 1974 #9 Dream daba la parte tranquila al programa.
La canción Beatle de 1967 I Am The Walrus era una que le gustaba, frecuentemente la cantaba durante las sesiones de grabación o la mencionaba durante las entrevistas. Era la canción con la que se identificaba con Los Beatles. Aparte hubiera funcionado en vivo, como Oasis lo demostró.
Para el ultimo numero “the One world, One people” (Un mundo, una persona”) cántico
El les pidió a sus músicos de estudio cantar al final de las sesiones del Double Fantasy para inclusión en el álbum como cierre. Esto jamás se materializo el texto debió aparecer en la portada del álbum. Era algo que estaba claramente en la mente de Lennon por aquella época de alguna manera siempre estuvo.
El listado:
I Want To Hold Your Hand
Help!
Kiss Kiss Kiss
Woman
I Am The Walrus
Instant Karma!
#9 Dream
Borrowed Time
Ticket To Ride
Walking On Thin Ice
Imagine
Nobody Told Me
Across The Universe
One World, One People
