John Lennon: Free As A Bird - The Dakota Beatle Demos

© 1996 Pegboy Records. Catalogue number 1001
Made In Australia
(Pegboy seems to belong to Vigotone)

Total Playing Time: 72:52

CD comes in a cardbox slipcase together with an excellent 24 page booklet.

Cardbox Notes

This collection features the best of John Lennon's original home demos
recorded at the Dakota between 1976 and 1980. John's original demos used for
the new beatle's songs: free as a bird & real love are here as well as the
talked about, but never heard, 3rd "beatle '95" demo now and then. Also
included are several never before heard Lennon compositions. In addition,
this package contains a 24 page booklet containing informative notes,
relevant photos and sketches from the pen of John Lennon.

Track listing

1. free as a bird 3:31 / 2. real love 4:10 / 3. now and then 5:06 / 4. grow
old with me 3:08
5. free as a bird 2:44 / 6. dear john 4:35 / 7. that's the way the world is
3:08
8. india 3:08 / 9. mirror, mirror (on the wall) 2:39 / 10. gone from this
place 3:28
11. across the river 2:45 / 12 don't be crazy 3:15 / 13. Illusions 2:46 /
14. baby make love
to you 2:20 / 15. life begins at 40 2:39 / 16. she's a friend of dorothy
4:11 / 17. you
saved my soul 1:37 / 18. sally and billy 3:32 / 19. whatever happened
to...4:44 / 20. one
of the boys 3:14 / 21. help me to help myself 2:11 / 22. real love 4:03

Liner Notes

intro

In 1980, John Lennon wanted his public to believe that his muse had deserted
him for five long years before miraculously returning with a fury. While the
story makes for good PR, this collection of home demos from the "Dakota
Years" evidences exactly the opposite.

Much talk of John's home demos surrounded the release of The Beatles'
Anthology, and rightfully so.
Over the last two years, Yoko presented Paul, George and Ringo with a
selection of four Lennon demos datin from the period 1977-1980. Three of
these compositions (Grow Old With Me, Real Love and Free As A Bird) were
available to the public for several years prior to their resurfacing, giving
us a unique insight to the recording process in reverse. Much speculation
has
surrounded the fourth recording. Scant, cryptic details from those "in the
know" sent us scouring through the Lennon archives in search of the elusive
track. After much searching, we are pleased to present the premiere
appearance of Now And Then. But the surprises don't end there. The majority
of this release is taken from unadulterated source tapes, some of them
possessing an ambiance so true, you'd think John was performing in your
living room.

Free As A Bird (3:27)/(2:40)
Free As A Bird no longer needs an introduction. Recorded in 1977, John ran
through a mere three passes at the Dakota upright before moving on.
Presented
here from a tape source is Take 1 which suffers from the early stages of
"demo-us interruptus" unlike the broadcast version which was artificially
extended. Take 3, whose vocal is now instantly recognizable, appears
elsewhere on this collection. Listening to these takes, it becomes apparent
that the backing track of the recordings was indeed a composite of John's
demos, rather than a single take.

Real Love (4:08)
Originally conceived as a part of "The Ballad Of John And Yoko", Real Love
has recently been immortalized as the latest Beatles' recording. We are
proud
to present from a tape source, Take 1 of John's Dakota piano damo which
premieres the joining of Real Life with Baby Make Love To You.

Now And Then (5:03)
Now And Then, the elusive third "Beatle track" which was never completed
during the Spring 1995 sessions, is introduced here in its original form,
replete with "the buzz" which plagued co-producer Jeff Lynne. A careful
listen reveals John's slip into She's A Friend Of Dorothy's during the
instrumental break.

Grow Old With Me (3:04)
What was once John's best known unfinished work due to its inclusing on Milk
And Honey, Grow Old With Me possesses all of the elements of the "standard"
treatment Yoko still envisions for it. The version appearing on this
compilation is the stark piano and Rhythm-Ace recording prior to being
tweaked for official release. You can actually discern both parts of John's
doubletracked vocal.

Dear John (4:33)
Dating from early November, 1980, Dear John is one of the last known Lennon
compositions to materialize. With trademark introspective lyrics still
unfinished, John backs himself rigidly on acoustic guitar, yet urges himself
to relax. John's vocal registers his embarrassment at being caught nicking a
melody for the chorus - September Song. The keen-eared amongst you will note
the longer fade, available here for the first time.

That's The Way The World Is (3:04)
That's The Way The World Is combines elements which would eventually unravel
into two disctinctly different styled songs, Real Love and I'm Stepping Out.
A Dakota piano demo with single-tracked vocal, it appears here with a
considerably longer introduction than its broadcast counterpart.

India (3:04)
Forsaken by the "Lost Lennon Tapes" radio series, India makes its world
premiere on this collection. Featuring an unheard set of lyrics atop a
polished guitar backing, the melody marries an upbeat version of Tennesse
with the chorus of Serve Yourself. Talk about potential!

Mirror, Mirror (On The Wall) (2:36)
John recorded 5 takes of Mirror, Mirror (On The Wall) on the Dakota piano in
the fall of 1977 for inclusion in "The Ballad Of John And Yoko". Take 1 is
present here, excerpted from a rambling composing sequence.

Gone From This Place (3:24)
Unfortunately, John's acoustic guitar accompaniment obstructs his prophetic
lyrics on this take of the unreleased Gone From This Place. Slightly longer
than the broadcast verstion, this take couples the catchy melody with
another
original, She Runs Them Round In Circles.

Across The River (2:42)
Across The River appeared previously on "The Lost Lennon Tapes" as a part of
what has come to be known as the J-9 Medley. The take appearing here was
never aired as a part of the radio series, and features John accompanied by
acoustic guitar and Rhythm-Ace.

Don't Be Crazy (3:12)
Don't Be Crazy was one of many compositions incorporated into (Just Like)
Starting Over. On John's piano demo we hear the bridge/middle-eight portion
taking shape, albeit with alternate lyrics.

Illusions (2:42)
Another title overlooked by the radio series is Illusions (A.K.A. Not For
Love Nor Money), a close miked acoustic guitar demo reminiscent of Serve
Yourself and I'm Stepping Out. Once again we have an unknown set of lyrics
dealing with disillusion.

Baby Make Love To You (2:16)
Part of a lengthy composing sequence, Baby Make Love To You offers the
fascinating experience of hearing John discover the chord progression which
would eventually develop into the verse of Real Love.

Life Begins At 40 (2:36)
Recorded at the "Dakota Country And Western Club" on acoustic guitar and
Rhythm-Ace, Life Begins At 40 makes its most complete appearance to date.
This demo was given to Ringo when he met with John at The Plaza hotel in
late
November, 1980 for inclusion on what was to become Stop And Smell The Roses.

She's A Friend Of Dorothy's (4:07)
Take 7 of She's A Friend Of Dorothy's dates from 1977 (it was first demoed
the preceding year) and was also slated for "The Ballad Of John And Yoko".
Lyrically, it's one of John's more intriguing works.

You Saved My Soul (1:34)
You Saved My Soul is most likely John Lennon's last home recording to
surface. Taken from a tape dated November 14, 1980, this electric guitar
based demo is an excerpt of a longer "stream of conciousness" composing
sequence which, among the false starts, also includes the well known Serve
Yourself and interupting vocalization Pop Is The Name Of The Game.

Sally And Billy (3:28)
From the early house husband years is Sally And Billy. Dating from 1976,
this
piano/drum machine based demo updates the Tittenhurst Park version which was
recorded towards the end of 1970. Note that the chorus still retains the
melody used several years earlier on the Mind Games track Only People.

Whatever Happened To... (4:39)
Taken from the same cassette as Free As A Bird, Whatever Happened To... was
another of the several tracks composed for the unrealized stage play "The
Ballad Of John And Yoko". John punctuates his vocal with a staccato acoustic
guitar on this demo which dates from 1977.

One Of The Boys (3:10)
One Of The Boys is another unreleased original committed to tape shortly
after the Lennon's returned from their Japanese holiday towards the end of
1977. Recorded at the Dakota, two takes have surfaced, both with a spirited
acoustic guitar accompaniment. The last of these known takes is presented
here. The slightly familiar melody (and lyrics!) which appear towards the
end
of take 2 belong to a tune entitled Caribbean - popularized nearly twenty
years earlier by Mitchell Torok and also revisited by the Plastic Ono
Elephant's Memory Band during their 1972 Record Plant breakfast jam.

Help Me To Help Myself (2:08)
Help Me To Help Myself is an original piano based demo, presented in a
gospel
style. It was recorded prior to the Dylanesque guitar/drum machine demo also
heard on "The Lost Lennon Tapes".

Real Love (4:00)
This is take 4 of a series of acoustic demos John recorded of Real Love (AKA
Boys And Girls) in early 1980. Take 6 appeared previously on the Imagine:
John Lennon soundtrack. Interestingly enough, the lyrics to both takes are
"Real Life" rather than "Real Love".

outro