JOHN LENNON: "Walls And Bridges"

Original released on LP Apple PCTC 253

(UK 1974, September 26)

"Walls and Bridges" is one of my favourite John Lennon albums. Although it's not quite as good as "Plastic Ono Band" or "Imagine" there are still lots of excellent songs here and only two that I don't like very much. The album was written and recorded during John's separation from Yoko Ono, which he referred to as his 'lost weekend', and this is reflected in the lyrics of several of the songs. "Going Down On Love" is a good song, though not as strong as the opening tracks on some of his other albums. "Whatever Gets You Thru The Night", a disco-style upbeat pop song was a duet with Elton John and was Lennon's first #1 hit in the US. "Old Dirt Road" is a gentle and relaxing ballad co-written with Harry Nilsson and features some great imagery and a pretty melody. 

"What You Got", a heavy punk style song, is my least favourite track on the album. I never used to like "Bless You" either, but I'm starting to appreciate it more and more. It's a beautiful, emotional ballad written as a message to Yoko during their time apart. The lyrics alone make this song one of my favourites.  "Scared" is another outstanding track, a wonderfully moody and atmospheric song which tells us what John's state of mind was like at that time. I love his vocals on this song too.  The 'ah bowakawa pousse pousse' chorus of the next song came to John in a dream, and "#9 Dream" is itself magical and dream-like.  An absolutely beautiful song. "Surprise, Surprise (Sweet Bird of Paradox)" was written for May Pang, John's girlfriend during the lost weekend, and although it is often dismissed as filler, personally I like it. 

"Steel and Glass" is a menacing, venomous ode to the former Beatles manager Allen Klein, deliberately written to be reminiscent of "How Do You Sleep?" from "Imagine".  "Beef Jerky" is a rare instrumental.  It's not bad, but I think it's slightly out of place here. "Nobody Loves You (When You're Down and Out)" is a truly fantastic song and one of my top 10 John Lennon songs. I just wish more people loved it as much as I do. One of the most powerful songs he wrote during this period. Finally, "Ya Ya" is really just a little novelty recording added to the end of the album. It was a nice idea for John to include his song Julian playing drums on this track and credit it as 'Starring Julian Lennon on drums and Dad on piano and vocals'. I love "Walls and Bridges".  Take away "What You Got" and "Beef Jerky" and it would have been a perfect album. (in RateYourMusic)

"Walls and Bridges" was recorded during John Lennon's infamous "lost weekend," as he exiled himself in California during a separation from Yoko Ono. Lennon's personal life was scattered, so it isn't surprising that "Walls and Bridges" is a mess itself, containing equal amounts of brilliance and nonsense. Falling between the two extremes was the bouncy Elton John duet "Whatever Gets You Thru the Night," which was Lennon's first solo number one hit. Its bright, sunny surface was replicated throughout the record, particularly on middling rockers like "What You Got" but also on enjoyable pop songs like "Old Dirt Road." However, the best moments on "Walls and Bridges" come when Lennon is more open with his emotions, like on "Going Down on Love," "Steel and Glass," and the beautiful, soaring "# 9 Dream." Even with such fine moments, the album is decidedly uneven, containing too much mediocre material like "Beef Jerky" and "Ya Ya," which are weighed down by weak melodies and heavy over-production. It wasn't a particularly graceful way to enter retirement. (Stephen Erlewine in AllMusic)