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CLASSIC ALBUMS: PLASTIC ONO BAND John Lennon (Eagle Vision) ****
Here is a peek behind the wizard’s curtain at what many believe to be one of the most important records in rock & roll. Certainly its historical significance cannot be overestimated, not only as John’s first record away from The Beatles, but as one man’s statement of truth.

Created as a fictitious entity The Plastic Ono Band, at least in the studio in 1970, was Lennon on vocals and guitar, old friend Klaus Voorman on bass, Ringo Starr on drums, plus John’s muse- Yoko. As his first step away from the creative safety net of The Beatles, Plastic Ono Band is bold, confident and (most importantly) free.

Two words come to mind in listening to this music, and in watching the DVD- simplicity and honesty. Many of Lennon’s most endearing (and enduring) post Beatles songs come from this album- “Mother”, “Instant Karma”, “Give Peace A Chance” and my favorite, “Working Class Hero”. The story is filled in with archive interviews from John Lennon, plus more current stuff from people that were there- the musicians, the engineers and, of course, Yoko.

I suppose what scares people most about POB is the naked emotion, not only unusual in pop music, but in music of the day. As John laments the loss of his parents, questions his belief in the concept of God and writes tellingly about class struggle in “Working Class Hero”, there are no metaphors or lyrical tricks- what you hear is what he is feeling, and that can be hard to take. It’s impressive, scary, enlightening, freeing and inspiring, all at the same time.

I’m no John Lennon fan boy, preferring The Beatles’ music over almost anything any of the band members have done since- that’s who I am. If it was just about the money he could’ve stayed with the band, but his search for truth (about himself and the world) up to his death in 1980 led him elsewhere, and this DVD is a worthwhile look at that terrifying first step for fans and the casually curious too.