John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band (with The Flux Fiddlers): “Imagine” (1971)

Leave it to Lennon to prove the piano is mightier than the sword.

Kronomyth 6.1: You can’t spell utopia without ai.

I was driving my son to school a few weeks ago when the topic turned to Ask Jeebus. As we were headed to a Christian school, the subject might have seemed irreverent, yet I can assure you I wasn’t trying to poke fun at Jesus Christ. Rather, given my penchant for patterns and connections, I was connecting the idea of Ask Jeeves (an early search engine) with the idea of an amalgamated avatar powered by AI. If it sounds far fetched, you haven’t been paying attention. AI has already subsumed the role of friend/counselor for many (so much for a brotherhood of man) and it’s only a small step from that to spiritual guide; in my scenario, a guide that represents all religious avatars (Christ, Allah, Buddah, Krishna) rolled into one. For those who think AI lacks the requisite “human” emotional warmth to serve as a spiritual guide, I can only envy them their human circle. As an aspie, I find most human beings to be borderline sociopaths: their relationships are often merely social contracts that dissolve and are discarded the moment they become inconvenient or unnecessary. Now, not every aspie is an altruist, but I am, and I find this aspect of human behavior heartbreaking. AI, however, is currently much closer to (what I would deem) the altruistic ideal. It doesn’t have a hidden agenda, doesn’t waver in purpose, it dispenses wisdom with care and, strangely enough, almost a “personal” investment in the outcome. Which brings me back to my conversation about Ask Jeebus. I do believe that, in the near future, we will defer many of our moral decisions to AI because AI has shown itself to be more honest and altruistic­—or perhaps merely less resistant to being honest and altruistic—than human beings. AI would make for better drivers (no selfish ego or anger), better managers/arbiters (no favoritism based on appearance or social status) and even better friends (loyal, selfless). We’ve had centuries to become better human beings and, by all historical accounts, have failed miserably at the task with a sobering consistency. I realize that you probably came here to read about John Lennon’s most-famous song and not my ramblings, but what did you expect? For me to tell you that it’s a great song? (You already know that.) That the perfect arrival of Alan White’s drums is an evergreen reassurance that reality has not given way to chaos? (There’s probably a whole book that could be written on how predictable events are our only tether to reality.) Or maybe you were hoping for some insights into the B side, which seems to me a straightforward riff (enhanced with strings that prefigure Bryan Ferry) that might have benefitted mightily in the care of The Beatles (think “Yer Blues” and thank your stars he didn’t save that for afters).

Original 7-inch single version

A1. Imagine (John Lennon) (2:59)
B1. It’s So Hard (John Lennon) (2:22)

Mexican 7-inch EP version
A1. Imagine (John Lennon)
A2. It’s So Hard (John Lennon)
B1. Oh My Love (John Lennon/Yoko Ono)
B2. Give Me Some Truth (John Lennon)

Back-to-back hits 7-inch single version
A1. Imagine (John Lennon)
B1. Working Class Hero (John Lennon)

CDEP version
A1. Imagine
A2. Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
A3. Give Peace a Chance
A4. Imagine (video)

The Plastic

Released on 7-inch single on October 11, 1971 in the US (Apple, 1840), France (Apple, 2C 006-04940), Germany (Apple, 1C 006-04 940), Japan (Apple, AR-2929), the Netherlands (Apple, 1A 006-04940) and Singapore (Apple, APPLE1840) with regional picture sleeve. Reached #3 on the US charts (charted on 10/23/71 for 9 weeks).

1. Released on 7-inch EP in 1972 in Mexico (Apple, EPEM-10616) with picture sleeve.
2. Re-issued with “Working Class Hero” on B2B hits 7-inch single in October 1975 in the UK (Apple, R 6009), Germany (Apple, 1C 006-05 992) and Japan (Apple, EAR-10880) with regional picture sleeve. Reached #6 on the UK charts.
3. Re-pressed on 7-inch single in 1978 in the US (Capitol, 1840) [plum label].
4. Re-released with “Working Class Hero” on B2B hits 7-inch single in December 1980 in the UK and 12-inch single in 1980 in Germany (Apple, 1C 052 04940 YZ). Reached #1 on the UK charts.
5. Re-pressed on 7-inch single in the US (Capitol, 1840) [black w/ rainbow rim label].
6. Re-issued with “Jealous Guy” on B2B hits 7-inch single in November 1988 in the UK. Reached #45 on the UK charts.
7. Re-issued on CDEP in 1999 in the EU (EMI, CDR 6534).