Willard's Wormholes

Winston (1961-1969)
John Lennon In The ’60s

There are at least two reasons to hear this “complete” collection of John Lennon’s Beatles output. The first is to study just how much ingenuity Paul McCartney routinely brings to Lennon’s material, from melody-rich harmonies to quietly revolutionary bass lines – defining songs like “Come Together” in the process. The second reason is to hear Lennon in a new context. We put together this 4CD set, which draws attention to a most curious Lennon arranging technique – his habit of repeatedly bringing the band to a complete halt… with only a drumbeat, a riff, a voice, or just silence to fill the void. And he does it a lot, from “Please Please Me” to “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds” to “The Ballad Of John & Yoko” (where he and Paul just stop cold, mid-song). You won’t believe how many times in “Dig A Pony” alone. It’s a Lennon go-to device, like his sudden falsetto shifts or his dour/soul-searching lyrical battles. But, when Lennon sounds confident, he’s magnetic, and these first 3 discs feature nearly all of Lennon’s released compositions as a Beatle, when singing lead. Disc 4 covers John’s covers and odds & ends weirdness, ending with “Revolution 9″ and “Goodnight.” All re-sequenced to make you think twice about what you already know. Winston boasts 2009 source files and is nearly complete – as there are grey areas in the L&M catalog (we ignored some of Anthology, vetoed “I’ve Got A Feeling,” split the difference on “I Want To Hold Your Hand”… does “Flying” belong?). A full listen, however, should remind you just how statistically low Lennon’s dud-factor was. Beyond all that… isn’t it great to hear “Glass Onion” without the looming dread of “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” coming up next? We pulled this same compilation stunt with George Harrison.

ONE
Revolution
I’m So Tired
I’m Only Sleeping
Hey Bulldog
Yer Blues
Tomorrow Never Knows
Girl
Rain
And Your Bird Can Sing
Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite
It’s Only Love
Don’t Let Me Down
Sexy Sadie
Ticket To Ride
Strawberry Fields Forever
In My Life
You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away
Good Morning, Good Morning
Cry Baby Cry
She Said She Said
Everybody’s Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey
Sun King
Julia
I Want You (She’s So Heavy)

TWO
Revolution I
I’m A Loser
Dig A Pony
Happiness Is A Warm Gun
I’ll Be Back
Glass Onion
If I Fell
Come Together
Because
No Reply
Dig It (Lennon/McCartney/Harrison/Starr)
Help!
Norwegian Wood (The Bird Has Flown)
Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds
Yes It Is
I Should Have Known Better
Mean Mr. Mustard
Polythene Pam
A Hard Day’s Night
Baby You’re A Rich Man
Doctor Robert
You’re Going To Lose That Girl
Wait
Dear Prudence
I Am The Walrus
A Day In The Life

THREE
I Feel Fine
This Boy
The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill
Eight Days A Week
Any Time At All
Run For Your Life
It Won’t Be Long
I’ll Cry Instead
Ask Me Why
Baby’s In Black
All I’ve Got To Do
The Ballad of John and Yoko
I Call Your Name
I’ll Get You
I Don’t Want To Spoil the Party
Misery
Not A Second Time
Please Please Me
Across The Universe
Every Little Thing
Tell Me Why
Thank You Girl
The Word
There’s A Place
One After 909
When I Get Home
Nowhere Man
From Me To You
Little Child
You Can’t Do That
All You Need Is Love

FOUR – The Covers
Bad Boy
Dizzy Miss Lizzy
Money (That’s What I Want)
Rock and Roll Music
Slow Down
Leave My Kitten Alone
Twist and Shout
How Do You Do It
Baby It’s You
Please Mister Postman
You Really Got A Hold On Me
Ain’t She Sweet
Anna
Mr. Moonlight
Words of Love
And… The Others
Free As A Bird
Real Love
Cry For A Shadow (Lennon/Harrison)
Hello Little Girl
Komm, Gib Mir Deine Hand
What’s The New Mary Jane
Flying (Lennon/McCartney/Harrison/Starr)
You Know My Name (Look Up The Number)
Maggie Mae (Trad Arr. Lennon/McCartney/Harrison/Starr)
Revolution 9
Good Night