Classic Albums – John Lennon: The Plastic Ono Band (Eagle DVD)

 

Picture: C+     Sound: C+     Extras: C+     Episode: B

 

 

Just before he left The Beatles, John Lennon made his big breakaway from the band but not quite solo.  Yes, Yoko Ono was there and in a big way, taking apart the idea of The Beatles, the 1960s and all of his previous work with the somewhat deconstructionist Plastic Ono Band album from 1970.  It is the latest of a series of new installments from the great Classic Albums documentary series, no won DVD from Eagle.

 

With classics like Give Peace A Chance, Mother, Instant Karma, God and Working Class Hero, the studio album was a Top Ten hit and spawned three hit singles.  The main program runs about 53 minutes and extras (37 more minutes) several addition interview and music performance clips.  One of the better shows of late in this long-running series, there were no major revelations, yet this was very thorough for its length and coming so many decades after so many other releases on Lennon alone, did a very good job.  The use of the original music and some great interviews are a plus.

 

The anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image is just fine for what is here, including the usual mix of old and new footage, including the usual playing of the master tapes of isolated tracks.  The audio is once again Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo with adequate sound, if not as good as the 24K Gold CDs the new Mobile Fidelity has been releasing.   This is definitely a strong, must-see chapter in this series.

 

 

For more on Lennon, try these links:

 

John Lennon - Imagine (1971/Limited Edition Gold CD)

http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/366/John+Lennon+-+Imagine+(Limited

 

Imagine: John Lennon (1988) DVD

http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/3085/Imagine+-+John+Lennon+(Deluxe

 

The U.S. vs. John Lennon DVD

http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/6419/The+U.S.+vs.+John+Lennon+(2007

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo