John Lennon @ 70

The Jazz Bus: John Lennon @ 70
Yoko Ono recently granted permission for EMI Records to re-issue (October 5) eight solo recordings of her late husband John Lennon to coincide with what would have been his 70th birthday (October 9). This newer batch, as per her wishes, includes a stripped down version of DOUBLE FANTASY. Void of additional instrumentation and overdubs the listener can focus on the poetry and voice of John Lennon. A single disc GREATEST HITS collection, a four disc anthology GIMME SOME TRUTH, and an 11-disc JOHN LENNON SIGNATURE BOX will also be available. Yoko and son Sean are also planning a commemorative concert in Los Angeles (similar to the one held a few months ago at the Brooklyn Academy of Music) with THE PLASTIC ONO BAND. Thinking back I truly miss the genius that was John Lennon’s ... I cannot “imagine” what would have been if John had lived.
During the past few months’ I have read a few books written about the Fab Four. One book of particular note is Peter Doggett’s YOU NEVER GIVE YOU YOUR MONEY; an exhausting look into the empire known as “THE BEATLES”, from their breakup onward. The Beatles as a business was and still is in a sorry state of affairs. A corporation known as Apple Corps developed from The Beatles, Ltd. and quickly spiraled out of control. Tangled by the involvement of multiple egotists and thousands of lawyers deals were made collectively, individually, overtly, covertly, and sometimes on their behalf without their consent or knowledge, most which landed them in court to resolve their finances. At one point George Harrison was declaring bankruptcy due to poor cash flow. A major example of this wheeling and dealing was uncovered in the Apple, Ltd. (The Beatles) lawsuit against Apple Computers (the iTunes guys) for their use of the name “Apple” as it applies to a music business. Full settlement of this legal mess is what is halting The Beatles from allowing their catalogue to be released digitally on iTunes. During the course of this Apple lawsuit it was found that Paul McCartney, without the other’s knowledge, had been receiving a “preferential royalty” from Capitol Records for his re- signing as a solo artist. The other “3” had not. When this fact which was worth millions to Sir Paul was uncovered the representatives of “the other three” went nuts, of course with another lawsuit developed against Capitol and Sir Paul.
In 1987 Yoko Ono acting as a Director of Apple, a role she inherited from the estate of John Lennon, allowed Nike to use REVOLUTION #1 in a television commercial. This particular song was penned solely by Mr. Lennon but attributed to Lennon/McCartney. Yoko believed she did not need to notify the “others” of this deal because it was “John’s song”. The “other three” who had no idea about the contract considered this an assault on The Beatles legacy. The “3” lost the lawsuit against Yoko as “she was acting as a Director”, and well within her rights. Paul questioned the logic of Yoko as a surrogate for The Beatles and their image when she was never a part of the group. As the 2013 deadline for EMI’s copyright of their material begins to run out those close to the situation have said that “McCartney dreaded what would happen if Yoko outlived him” (p.341). The belief is Yoko rewrites Beatles history to include herself and her “interference” has become “the battle for the soul of The Beatles”.
While only John (Yoko) and Paul benefit from what is left of the Lennon/McCartney songwriting catalogue, all four Beatles (Yoko for John, Olivia Harrison for George) share equally in Apple Corps, the total mother ship if you will. Many times over The Beatles landed up suing themselves, individually or collectively, all very costly, financially and in their relationships.
John Lennon, taken away from us at age 40, a collaborator in The Beatles catalogue of over 200 of the greatest pop records of all time, an accomplished solo artist, would have been 70 on October 9.His musical legacy is immeasurable. “All I want is some truth”.
Nov 12 LENNON TRIBUTE @ Beacon Theater with Jackson Browne, Patti Smith, Cyndi Lauper, etc
PBS Special Nov 22 LENNONYC-John’s life in NYC 1971-1980 jazzbus@gmail.com (jazzbus.blogspot.com)