John Lennon, one of the most influential and iconic musicians of the 20th century, would have turned 83 on Monday. To celebrate his legacy and his timeless message of peace and love, the 2018 deluxe reissue of his ‘Imagine’ album, ‘Imagine (The Ultimate Collection),’ has been expanded and made available to stream and download.
The reissue features the entire set on Hi-Res Stereo and Spatial Audio/Dolby Atmos, with each of the five sets of songs – Ultimate, Elements, Evolution, Raw Studio and Out-Takes – available as separate albums. The reissue also includes rare demos, outtakes, studio conversations, interviews, and documentary films that offer an unprecedented insight into Lennon's creative process and vision.
Lennon's former Beatles bandmate and friend, Paul McCartney, also remembered his birthday, posting a greeting with a photo of Paul in concert with Lennon on the screen behind them as they did a virtual duet on "I've Got a Feeling." McCartney wrote: "Happy Birthday John! Love Paul". McCartney also posted a photo of him and his third wife, Nancy, as Monday was their 12th wedding anniversary.
Lennon's Imagine album was released in 1971 and is widely regarded as one of his best solo works. The title track, "Imagine", is a global anthem of hope and harmony that has been covered by countless artists and performed at various events. The album also features other classics such as "Jealous Guy", "Gimme Some Truth", "How Do You Sleep?", and "Oh Yoko!".
Lennon was tragically murdered on December 8th, 1980, outside his apartment in New York City by a deranged fan. He was 40 years old.
[Source: Classic Hits Today]