Imagine Another Lennon
Posted by MarkHagen on 8 September 2008 - 9:28pm.
Reading the John Lennon cover story in the new issue I was reminded of something that's caused me to raise a metaphorical eyebrow over the years.
Back in 1965, John's estranged father Alf released a single called "That's My Life"; John allegedly hated it & tried to have it suppressed.
Here's the thing though: it sounds just like "Imagine", well the intro anyway.
What kind of psychological hell is this?
Bookmark/Search this post with:
- More from MarkHagen.
- Login or register to post comments
Yes...
it really does...quick, storm the embassy!
Well...
it's better than some of the gunk on 'Walls and Bridges'!
Absolutely...
Thanks Mark, been curious to hear this since I read about it in a much treasured copy of Roy Carr's The Beatles: An Illustrated Record as a wee lad. Conclusion: Alf's lyrics are marginally less excruciating than Ringo's recent 'Liverpool' clunker or indeed George's 'All Those years Ago' but it's hardly 'In My Life' is it? And are you suggesting that John nicked the chords for Imagine from his Dad - if so, what with Yoko's lyrical input, the hallowed song should surely be credited to Alf / Ono.
Paging Dr Freud...
I'm not sure if "nicked" is quite right but it's a pretty weird turn of events isn't it? You never know your Dad, hate him to the extent of apparently wishing him dead on several occasions. He pops up when you get to be famous & tries to make a quick buck of your fame via a record which you take some trouble to suppress. Then 5 or so years later, arguably your own most famous song turns out to bear at the least a fairly strong resemblance to your father's one...
Field day for Dr Melfi...
Indeed...
...the intro is very like Imagine. Have never even heard about this before so thanks for posting it. Yes it's sentimental but as it's sung by what sounds like an old man on his death bed, it seems sincere. But in 1965, the father on a 25 year old must only have been, what, c50-55?
Hideous
The intro is very like "Imagine" but it is hardly an original chord change in any case. The remarkable thing about this song is that it is even more finger nail on blackboard cringe inducing than "Imagine", which is going some.
Well
How strange!! and if you play it backwards he sings "Efil ym staht" Weird man!!!