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JOHN
& YOKO |
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Soon
enough it will be 40 years since the assassination of John Lennon.
With 2020 hindsight, the 2019 DVD release of Above Us Only Sky
is a perfect companion piece to the 2018 Imagine
DVD. Somehow there was yet more footage that didnt make
it on to the first DVD. Not as involved as the Imagine DVD
that Eagle released together with the Gimme Some Truth documentary,
this second and presumed final episode of the Imagine era,
Above Us Only Sky makes an even more compelling and to the point
filmic statement. Above just about everything here, is we know that
had Johns murder never occurred, most of this footage would
never have stood a chance of coming out. Continuing his adventures
with his wife Yoko Ono, theres so many intimate moments
that its almost beyond belief that John would have wanted this
much of his private life filmed let alone released. Hes actually
filmed on the toilet, reading a newspaper, probably pissing and smoking
at the same time. Above Us Only Sky is an eventful movie filled
with insights into the era of the Imagine album. It's a splendid
choice for DVD buffs, but the best part is surely the filming of John
& Yoko in their home studio on their palatial estate. Above
Us Only Sky is filled with superb performances by Phil Spector
and especially George Harrison, who turns in some incredible
guitar performances on a pair of tracks. Alan YES Is The
Answer White is here too along with Klaus Voorman,
Nicky Hopkins, a coterie of journalists and photographers
and new interviews with L.A. PR legend Elliot Mintz, along
with John's first son Julian Lennon who looks about 9 in the
film. George Harrison seems quiet and introspective during what turned
out to be the filming during the making of Imagine. Ring On
indeed. (See the movie for that one!) From a documentary perspective,
Lennons dominance in the studio and his electric and acoustic
guitar work is also spotlighted here in all its glory. One downside
is that theres no footage here of Moody Blues founder Mike
Pinder, the legendary musician that turned the Beatles onto the
mellotron. Mike was the sonic perfectionist that basically spawned
the entire progressive rock movement of the second half of the 1960s
and in addition to the 'Tron, Pinder played all the tambourine parts
in the studio as they appeared on all the classic 7 Moodies albums
so, it makes sense that after finding that Johns melloton was
beyond repair, in a strange yet fitting turn of events, Mike played
a great tambourine part on I Dont Want To Be A Soldier.
But so glad to see in the movie-closing credits, Mike's name and that
of Stackridge founder Andy Davis, who also played acoustic
guitar on some Imagine tracks. There is also no filmed footage
of John with 1950's sax legend King Curtis either, but the
DVD features some studio banter over a cool b&w photo of John
and King that looks spectacular. Tastefully
and respectfully directed by Michael Epstein, Above Us Only
Sky
is the ultimate film of John's unique marriage to Yoko as well as
his musical chemistry with these legendary musicians during the Imagine
era. A 21st century tribute to the genius of John Lennon, Above
Us Only Sky
is essential
viewing. www.johnlennon.com
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