Imagine Songs Ranked
Imagine is the second studio album by English musician John Lennon, released on 9 September 1971 by Apple Records. Co-produced by Lennon, his wife Yoko Ono, and Phil Spector, the album’s lush sound contrasts the basic, small-group arrangements of his first album, John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band (1970),[1] while the opening title track is widely considered to be his signature song. Imagine was a critical and commercial success, peaking at number one on both the UK Albums Chart and US Billboard 200. Along with John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band, it is considered one of Lennon’s finest solo albums. In 2012, the album was voted 80th on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. The album has been reissued multiple times, including in 2018 as The Ultimate Collection, a six-disc box set containing previously unreleased demos, rare studio outtakes, “evolution documentaries” for each track, and isolated track elements along with surround mixes. Here are all of Imagine songs ranked.
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10. Crippled Inside
“Lennon’s electric guitar opening to “Crippled Inside” is now even more otherworldly and I’m loving that superb Dobro solo from George Harrison – followed shortly after by Nicky Hopkins plinking away like a drunken sailor on the old Joanna in an East End pub at closing time.”
9. It’s So Hard
“The B-side is notable for being one of King Curtis’ last performances before his death, but he adds nothing to a rote horndog blues-rock number. The very definition of ‘filler’, it’s sub-Aykroydian in its dilettantish moan-by-numbers. Facile entendres can’t save this one, Johnny.”
8. Gimme Some Truth
“The one I love most is Gimme Some Truth,what a wonderful song!!!!.This isn’t just an ordinary album,it has the potential of a great composer and musician.With this album John Lennon really demostrated that he was one of the great musicians of the 20th century.”
See more: John Lennon Albums Ranked
7. I Don’t Wanna Be a Soldier Mama I Don’t Wanna Die
“I like this album a lot. I can’t honestly say that I like it as much as John’s work with the Beatles but still think that many singers would do anything for an album of this quality.”
6. Oh Yoko!
“Lennon took whatever it took, and began to briefly write and record some of the best tracks he would ever create. This single richly, and refreshingly, wades in the sounds that made Lennon an excessively talented artistic millionaire, if not an all time musical genius. There will be those who do not like it, and those who question its lyrical authenticity, but hard for anybody who loves rock music of the period not to appreciate its indisputable quality.”
5. How Do You Sleep
“Who knows what it took Lennon to sleep, probably not very much. Whether he finally slept peacefully & confidently, with his own artistic integrity intact, we will never know. His highly influential musical legacy, up to and including the year of this single release, must surely be beyond any dispute whatsoever.”
See more: John Lennon Songs Ranked
4. How?
“Still I’ll take this John Lennon over the washed up John Lennon of the mid-late 70s before his death when he became more focused on his silly peace movements than creating groundbreaking music.”
3. Oh My Love
“You’re then clobbered with beauty – “Oh My Love” – as gorgeous a song as he’s ever written. It’s also beautifully produced – no gimmickry – just great music played sweetly and taped as such.”
2. Jealous Guy
“In a strange way – it took his loss and Bryan Ferry’s cover version in 1980 for me to really love “Jealous Guy”. Jim Keltner on Drums, Klaus Voorman on Bass, Alan White providing Vibes – but its that Harmonium played by John Barham that leaps out of the new remastered mix.”
1. Imagine
“While Klaus Voorman (Bass) and Yes’ Alan White on Drums gently fill in the anthemic “Imagine” – it’s those ‘the world will live as one’ strings that now sound so sweet – tugging on your heart like never before – and those lyrics that make you cry.”