John and Yoko didn’t get out of bed to record it, and you don’t need to get out of bed to buy it.
Kronomyth 3.0: The princess and the peace.
Bootlegs from the bedbugs at the Amsterdam hotel. The first “song” (you’ll understand why it’s in quotes later) features John calling Yoko’s name and Yoko calling John’s name and that’s it. The tone and intent change, from coo to cajole to command (koo koo kajoob), but at no point could this be considered music. In fact, I only made it about ten minutes into the track before turning it off. It’s that awful.
The second side of music, entitled “Amsterdam,” begins with Yoko and John singing (okay, that word should have quotes around it too) about peace. Actually, just the word Peace. Then it segues into the interviews during the Bed-In at the Hilton Hotel in Amsterdam, with John and Yoko talking about peace and war. Listen to Yoko Ono extemporize on war, and you’ll pray for her to sing. Not that John Lennon comes off any brighter, but at least English is his native tongue.
Of the three experimental albums the pair recorded, this is the worst. So what did I do but buy the digital remaster. Not only do you not need to own the digital remaster of this album, you don’t need to own this album period. There must be interview discs out there with more to offer. The only snippet of music comes at the tail end of “Amsterdam,” which sounds like Yoko revisiting “Because.” If that’s a carrot, you know where it can go.
The digital remaster does include three B sides from Yoko that should be heard at least once. “Who Has Seen The Wind?” appeared on the flip side of “Instant Karma!” and is a lovely little acoustic ballad. “Listen, The Snow Is Falling” is Yoko’s bookend to “Happy Xmas (War Is Over),” beginning like a children’s song before scaling Phil Spector’s wall of sound for a credible Christmas rock track. “Don’t Worry Kyoko” is a demo version dating from 1968 and not the version that appeared as the B side to “Cold Turkey.” Even the inclusion of the Yoko tracks at the end isn’t likely to entice all but the most ardent John Lennon collectors. Which still doesn’t explain my lapse in judgment. Oh well, time for a little well-earned peace…
Original LP Version
A1. John & Yoko (John Ono Lennon/Yoko Ono Lennon) (22:41)
B1. Amsterdam (John Ono Lennon/Yoko Ono Lennon) (24:54)
CD reissue bonus tracks
3. Who Has Seen The Wind? (Yoko Ono) (2:03)
4. Listen, The Snow Is Falling (Yoko Ono) (3:22)
5. Don’t Worry Kyoko (Mummy’s Only Looking For Her Hand In The Snow) (2:14)
Original 8-track version
A1. Amsterdam (part 1)
B1. Amsterdam (conlcusion)
C1. Amstgerdam (conclusion)
C2. John & Yoko (part 1)
D1. John & Yoko (conclusion)
The Players
John Ono Lennon (instruments and vocals), Yoko Ono Lennon (instruments and vocals). Produced by John and Yoko.
The Pictures
Photographs by John, Yoko, Mlle. Daniau, Richard Di Lello, John Kelley, Nico Koster, David Nutter, Ivor Sharp, Lenono Photo Archive. Original package design by John Kosh.
The Plastic
Released on boxed elpee and 8-track on October 20, 1969 in the US (Apple, SMAX/8XM-3361). Reached #178 on the US charts. 8-track features different cover artwork.
- Re-issued on boxed elpee in 1977 in Japan (EMI Odeon, EAS-80702).
- Re-released on expanded, remastered compact disc on June 3, 1997 in the US (Rykodisc, RCD 10413) with 3 bonus tracks.
