Approximately Infinite Universe Songs Ranked

Approximately Infinite Universe is a double album by Yoko Ono, released in early 1973 on Apple Records. It represents a departure from the experimental avant-garde rock of her first two albums towards a more conventional pop/rock sound, while also dabbling in feminist rock. It peaked at number 193 in the United States. The 1997 CD reissue on Rykodisc added two acoustic demos of songs from this era, that was later released on 1981’s Season of Glass. It was released again by Rykodisc in 2007. The album was recorded at The Record Plant in New York City, except for the basic tracks for “Catman” and “Winter Song”, which were taped at Butterfly Studios. Ono produced the album with John Lennon, whose participation marked a rare music-related activity for him after the failure of the couple’s politically-themed 1972 double album Some Time in New York City. Lennon also sang the final verse of the song, “I Want My Love to Rest Tonight.” As on the latter album, Ono used the New York band Elephant’s Memory as her backing musicians. Mick Jagger dropped into the studio for some of the sessions. He recalled playing guitar very loudly with Lennon. Jagger also said that Ono “was really trying to sing properly. She’s not screaming, she’s really trying to sing.” Here are all of the Approximately Infinite Universe songs ranked.

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10. Looking Over From My Hotel Window

 “Looking Over from My Hotel Window” is another moving song that doesn’t go where you might expect. I love the varied instrumentation on this album, too: the saxes and horns that occasionally appear on it are great.”

9. Now or Never

“Better than a lot of solo Beatle records. All over the place, yesteryear’s feminist now sounds downright traditional. Most of the social commentary is ham-fisted, but still manages to be engaging. Some poorly constructed yet poignant songs.”

8. I Have a Woman Inside My Soul

“A lot of this is great. Occasionally shows it’s musical age. Well worth buying. Yoko only occasionally screams, most of this has both tunes and a message. Sometimes very moving.”

See more: John Lennon Albums Ranked

7. Shiranakatta

“For those not familiar with it, Yoko’s voice still takes some adjusting to, but only in the way that Bob Dylan’s or Tom Waits’ does. And on this album her unique voice serves to underline the emotional sincerity of the songs, without (in my opinion) detracting from the music.”

6. Kite Song

“Prime reason is the music. Yoko traded in her screeching and feedback-loving self for something far more primal and stripped down, and it worked. What also worked were the song selections and transitions.”

5. I Felt Like Smashing My Face in a Clear Glass Window

“If you are new to Yoko’s music, this is an excellent place to start. It combines her primal, almost painful, qualities from her early musical efforts with the acute pop sensibility she displayed in her later work.”

See more: John Lennon Songs Ranked

4. What a Bastard the World Is

“I take it that even if you’re not a feminist, you would enjoy the classic “What a Bastard the World is”, a sprawling epic track that shuffles between orchestral and punk-rock. Simply amazing.”

3. Song for John

“While a bit divided between femininity as a biological victimization or a source of strength? Yoko’s often anguished lyrics are made a search for hope by her and the instrumentalists understanding of funk/soul/jazz music (really the prominent genre showcases here) as the music of any human rights/liberation movement of the time.”

2. Approximately Infinite Universe

” I highly recommend this album for people who think they don’t like Ono’s music, because “Approximately Infinite Universe” is a more traditionally musical album. It has a lovely bluesy, generally meditative feel, with Elephant’s Memory (a band John and Yoko championed on Apple) providing a solid backing throughout.”

1. Death of Samantha

“Great rhythm section, in particular, understated when that’s appropriate to the song and rocking when that’s what’s needed. And while the music may be more accessible than that on some of her other records, the qualities that make Yoko Ono a songwriter worth attending to are here in force.”