Rock 'N' Roll (Remastered)

iTunes Review

Because John Lennon was one of the great songwriters of the 20th century, it's sometimes overlooked that he was also one of the great rock ‘n’ roll singers of the era as well. His steely, passionate tone, often couched in slapback echo, excessive reverb, and other complicated vocal effects, made him one of the era’s distinctive stylists. Throughout his career, with the Beatles, the Plastic Ono Band, and as a solo artist, he performed many of his old rock n’ roll favorites. Lennon began recording this collection of ‘50s rock standards with producer Phil Spector in 1973. Spector was involved in a serious car accident and couldn’t continue, so Lennon eventually finished the sessions a year later in four days. He's sometimes loose (“You Can’t Catch Me”), sometimes solemn (“Stand By Me”), often raucous (“Medley: Ready Teddy / Rip It Up,” “”Sweet Little Sixteen”) as he busts through the works of Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Gene Vincent, Buddy Holly and Fats Domino. This loving tribute to the music he grew up with was the last anyone heard from him for five years when he finally returned with a batch of new material in 1980, which became Double Fantasy.