John Lennon – Double Fantasy
This is the second album that had an impact on my life. It did not start that way. At first, it was simply just a long and awaited return of one of the Beatles in a solo project. It had been a while since we had heard from Lennon. As a fan of the Beatles, I was just happy to hear anything new, from any of them.
Like many Beatles fans, I did take issue with having to buy an album with Yoko Ono, his wife, on it. In today’s tech world, I would have loved to have the option of just purchasing his songs from the album. My aversion to Ono was not just the historic role she is assumed to have played in the break up of the Fab 4. I really do not feel she had any talent. It as not unlikely to hear her vocals compared to a cat in heat sitting on a fence in the middle of the night howling.
I was immediately drawn to “Starting Over,” which many fans took to think Lennon was looking to regain his activity level in the music industry. Other great songs on the album included “Woman,” “Watching The Wheels,” and “Beautiful Boy” (a song perfectly placed in the movie “Mr. Holland’s Opus”). The album was pretty much half Lennon, half Ono. So as soon as I could pull the songs off of the record onto a cassette tape, I could enjoy his great songs off that album.
But then on the evening of December 8, 1980, John Lennon was assassinated by a deranged fan in New York City.
This album (at the time), was going to be the last new music we believed that we would ever hear from John Lennon ever again. And even more definite, there would never be the opportunity for a Beatles reunion.
In spite of Ono’s role on the album, this is still one of the most influential albums in my life.
Paul's Heart 
I loved the Beatle’s music, too, and still do. I remember watching the Ed Sullivan show when I was around 14 and seeing them the first time. I acted like a teenager and was dancing and cheering after each song. I remember my father saying what the hell is this crap! I have never stopped enjoying their music. Thanks for writing about them, Paul.
Glad you enjoyed this one. I don’t generally like to do the “tag and post” stuff. But this was actually a fun distraction for me. Just not making anyone else do it.