John Lennon Anthology
John Lennon · 1998
267 min · 94 tracks · hard rock
A kaleidoscopic journey through John's unfiltered creativity, merging raw demos and live performances that reveal his artistic evolution.
Top tracks — play these first
-
→
Working Class Hero Start here — The track's stark honesty about class struggles captures Lennon's profound socio-political commentary, making it a defining anthem of its era.
-
→
Imagine (take 1) — This raw version emphasizes the song's emotional vulnerability, showcasing Lennon's straightforward melodic style before it became a global anthem for peace.
-
→
Mother — An exploration of personal trauma, this track reveals Lennon’s intimate side, illustrating how his early experiences shaped his artistic voice.
-
→
Jealous Guy — This poignant ballad reflects vulnerability and regret in love, showcasing Lennon's ability to convey deep emotions through simple yet powerful lyrics.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- raw introspection in every track
- dynamic exploration with interludes
- wave-like pacing throughout sessions
- live performances capturing spontaneity
- thought-provoking socio-political commentary
Maybe skip if you
- prefer concise, standalone tracks
- seek polished studio productions
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Deep Cut — A comprehensive retrospective that appeals to dedicated fans, but not a primary entry point.
- Themes
- anti-war activism· raw emotional vulnerability· working-class critique
- Career context
- Released in 1998, 'John Lennon Anthology' arrived nearly two decades after Lennon's tragic death and serves as a retrospective of his solo career. At this point, the public had only begun to grasp the depth of Lennon's contributions beyond The Beatles, with many seeing him as a cultural icon advocating for peace and love. This compilation was a significant moment in re-establishing his legacy and allowing fans to connect with his creative process.
- Stylistic neighbors
- David Bowie· Paul McCartney· George Harrison
Tracklist
Disc 1
- 1 Working Class Hero Start here 4:21
- 2 God 3:33
- 3 I Found Out 3:48
- 4 Hold On 0:44
- 5 Isolation 3:47
- 6 Love 2:45
- 7 Mother 3:49
- 8 Remember 2:46
- 9 Imagine (take 1) 3:23
- 10 “Fortunately” 0:19
- 11 Baby Please Don’t Go 4:05
- 12 Oh My Love 2:56
- 13 Jealous Guy 4:11
- 14 Maggie Mae 0:53
- 15 How Do You Sleep? 5:22
- 16 God Save Oz 3:28
- 17 Do the Oz 3:11
- 18 I Don’t Want to Be a Soldier 5:20
- 19 Give Peace a Chance 1:53
- 20 Look at Me 2:52
- 21 Long Lost John 2:15
Disc 2
- 1 New York City 0:56
- 2 Attica State (live) 4:28
- 3 Imagine (live) 3:09
- 4 Bring On the Lucie 4:08
- 5 Woman Is the Nigger of the World 0:39
- 6 Geraldo Rivera – One to One Concert 0:40
- 7 Woman Is the Nigger of the World (live) 5:15
- 8 It’s So Hard (live) 3:09
- 9 Come Together (live) 4:20
- 10 Happy Xmas 3:32
- 11 Luck of the Irish (live) 3:41
- 12 John Sinclair (live) 3:43
- 13 The David Frost Show 0:54
- 14 Mind Games (I Promise) 1:02
- 15 Mind Games (Make Love, Not War) 1:15
- 16 One Day at a Time 3:14
- 17 I Know 3:13
- 18 I’m the Greatest 3:37
- 19 Goodnight Vienna 2:45
- 20 Jerry Lewis Telethon 2:00
- 21 “A Kiss Is Just a Kiss” 0:12
- 22 Real Love 4:14
- 23 You Are Here 4:56
Disc 3
- 1 What You Got 1:16
- 2 Nobody Loves You When You’re Down and Out 5:39
- 3 Whatever Gets You Through the Night (home) 0:38
- 4 Whatever Gets You Through the Night (studio) 3:34
- 5 Yesterday (parody) 0:34
- 6 Be Bop a Lula 2:53
- 7 Rip It Up / Ready Teddy 2:32
- 8 Scared 5:04
- 9 Steel and Glass 4:47
- 10 Surprise, Surprise (Sweet Bird of Paradox) 2:59
- 11 Bless You 4:15
- 12 Going Down on Love 0:54
- 13 Move Over Ms. L 3:10
- 14 Ain’t She Sweet 0:28
- 15 Slippin’ and Slidin’ 2:27
- 16 Peggy Sue 1:19
- 17 Bring It On Home to Me / Send Me Some Lovin’ 3:51
- 18 Phil and John 1 2:14
- 19 Phil and John 2 2:01
- 20 Phil and John 3 0:55
- 21 “When in Doubt, Fuck It” 0:10
- 22 Be My Baby 4:33
- 23 Stranger’s Room 3:18
- 24 Old Dirt Road 3:54
Disc 4
- 1 I’m Losing You 4:06
- 2 Sean’s “Little Help” 0:58
- 3 Serve Yourself 3:49
- 4 My Life 2:35
- 5 Nobody Told Me 3:32
- 6 Life Begins at 40 2:24
- 7 I Don’t Wanna Face It 3:31
- 8 Woman 4:02
- 9 Dear Yoko 2:35
- 10 Watching the Wheels 3:05
- 11 I’m Stepping Out 4:19
- 12 Borrowed Time 3:58
- 13 The Rishi Kesh Song 2:27
- 14 Sean’s “Loud” 0:34
- 15 Beautiful Boy 4:12
- 16 Mr. Hyde’s Gone (Don’t Be Afraid) 2:41
- 17 Only You 3:25
- 18 Grow Old With Me 3:19
- 19 Dear John 2:14
- 20 The Great Wok 3:14
- 21 Mucho Mungo 1:25
- 22 Satire 1 2:21
- 23 Satire 2 4:35
- 24 Satire 3 0:47
- 25 Sean’s “In the Sky” 1:22
- 26 It’s Real 1:05
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
The Bootleg Series Vol. 6: Bob Dylan Live 1964, Concert at Philharmonic Hall
Bob Dylan
Shares raw emotional vulnerability and socio-political commentary in a live context.
Songs of Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Both feature introspective lyrics and a focus on the human experience through a poetic lens.
The Buddha of Suburbia
David Bowie
Explores themes of identity and societal critique with an experimental approach in production.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
Sync your library
Everything you track here works immediately — no account needed. Create one when you want to sync across devices.