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Rating: The end of a cycle. By recording the old rock'n'roll classics that had greatly influenced him when, barely more than a teenager, he picked up a guitar, John concluded the journey he began back in 1957 as a member of the Black Jacks (later Querry Men), before entering history and being overwhelmed by fame.
The album had a rather long gestation: in '73, after the release of the LP "Mind Games," John began recording a selection of covers of some of his favorite musicians, aided in the control booth by Phil Spector, who had already served him well in the excellent "Plastic Ono Band" and "Imagine." Fate had it that after the sessions, Spector himself disappeared with the recordings, later having an accident that put him in a coma. Considering the tapes lost, Lennon focused on another solo album, "Walls And Bridges," refusing to include the (later) found covers played a year before. After "Walls And Bridges" was released, the former Beatle's attention returned to the "Rock'n'roll" project, his last album before retiring to dedicate himself to his family and personal life.
The album was published in its official version (there exists a second one, named "Roots: John Lennon Sings The Great Rock & Roll Hits" and available only for three days before being pulled from the market) in February 1975, shortly followed by the single "Stand By Me", a classic rhythm & blues by Ben E. King played here with a more distinctly rock orientation. From the sessions two years prior with Spector, only four tracks remain, while the remaining nine tracks were arranged and produced by the English singer. The album, which pays tribute among others to Fats Domino, Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, Sam Cooke, and Little Richard, turns out to be quite homogeneous despite the variety of sources, reaching its highest moments in "Ya Ya," the medley "Bring It On Home To Me/Send Me Some Lovin'," the non-single "Slippin' And Slidin'," and the concluding "Just Because." Still good music is found in "You Can't Catch Me," which bears the unmistakable touch of Phil Spector, while the Caribbean melodies of "Do You Wanna Dance" and the repetitiveness of "Bony Moronie" don't entirely convince, making for an LP that is undoubtedly fun but leaves little room for creativity and inventiveness.
Five years later, the British artist's retirement would be contradicted by the release of the controversial "Double Fantasy," but this "Rock'n'roll," thirty-five years after its release, remains a sizzling album, perfect for listening at parties, and is closely related to the almost contemporary "Rigor Mortis Sets In" by John Entwistle.
To be played at high volume.
Tracklist and Lyrics
04 You Can't Catch Me (04:52)
I bought a brand new airmobile,
'twas a custom made, 'twas a flightning deal
With a powerful motor and a hide away wing,
Push in on the button, you will hear her sing
Now you can't catch me,
Baby, you can't catch me
'cause if you get too close,
You know I'm goin' like cool breeze
Hey! Hey!
Well, you walk!
You walk!
New Jersey turnpike in the wee wee hours,
I was rollin' slowly 'cause of drizzlin showers
Here come a flat-top, he was movin' up with me,
Then come waving goodbye in a little old souped up jitney
I put my foot in the tank, I began to roll,
Moanin' siren, 'twas the state patrol
I let out my wings, then I blew my horn,
Bye-bye, New Jersey, I become airborn
Now you can't catch me,
Baby, you can't catch me
'cause if you get too close,
You know I'm goin' like cool breeze
Hey!
Well, you walk!
Yeah, walk!
I bought a brand new airmobile,
'twas a custom made, 'twas a flightning deal
With a powerful motor and a hide away wing,
Push in on the button, you will hear her sing
Now you can't catch me,
Baby, you can't catch me
'cause if you get too close,
You know I'm goin' like cool breeze
Hey! Hey!
Well, you walk!
You walk!
Flying with my baby last Saturday night,
Wasn't a grey cloud floatin' in sight
Big, full moon, shinin' up above,
Cuddle up, honey, be my love
Sweetest little thing that I ever seen,
I'm gonna name you Maybellene
Flying on the beam, set on flight control,
Radio tuned to rock and roll
Two, three hours passed us by,
Altitude dropped into five-o-five
Fuel consumption, way too fast,
Let's get on home before we run out of gas
Now you can't catch me,
Baby, you can't catch me
'cause if you get too close,
You know I'm goin' like cool breeze
Git it on!
Yeah, walk!
Git it on, git it on, git it on, do it!
Git it on, git it on!
You know you can't catch me!
05 Ain't That a Shame (02:31)
You made me cry
When you said goodbye
Ain't that a shame?
My tears fell like rain
Ain't that a shame?
You're the one to blame
You broke my heart
when you said we're part
Ain't that a shame?
My tears fell like rain
Ain't that a shame?
You're the one to blame
Boogie, babe!
Ain't that a shame?
Ain't that a shame?
Look out!
Farewell, goodbye, although I 'll cry
Ain't that a shame?
My tears fell like rain
Ain't that a shame?
You're the one to blame
Boggie, babe!
Ain't that a shame?
Ain't that a shame?
You made me cry
When you said goodbye
Ain't that a shame?
My tears fell like rain
Ain't that a shame?
You're the one to blame
08 Slippin' and Slidin' (02:17)
(Penniman, Bocage, Collins, Smith)
Slippin' and a slidin', peepin' and a hidin', been told long time ago,
Slippin' and a slidin', peepin' and a hidin', been told long time ago,
I been told, baby, you been bold, I won't be your fool no more.
Oh, big conniver, nothing but a jiver, done got hip to your jive,
Oh, big conniver, nothing but a jiver, done got hip to your jive,
Slippin' and a slidin', peepin' and a hidin', won't be your fool no more.
Oh Malinda, she's a solid sender, you know you better surrender,
Oh Malinda, she's a solid sender, you know you better surrender,
Slippin' and a slidin', peepin' and a hidin', won't be your fool no more.
09 Peggy Sue (02:04)
John speaking...
"Ok,Ok.Ready? Ok,dynamics with tension, fun and laughter for all. Honkey rock."
1, 2, 1 2 3 4,
If you knew, Peggy Sue
Then you'd know why I feel blue,
about Peggy, my Peggy Sue
Oh well I love you girl, yes I love you Peggy Sue
Peggy Sue, Peggy Sue, pretty pretty pretty pretty Peggy Sue
Oh Peggy, my Peggy Sue
Oh well I love you girl and I need you Peggy Sue
I love you, Peggy Sue, with a love so rare and true
Oh Peggy, my Peggy Sue
Oh well I love you girl, and I want you Peggy Sue
"Look out"
11 Bony Moronie (03:46)
I got a girl named Bony Moronie,
She's as skinny as a stick of macaroni,
Ought to see her rock 'n' roll with her blue jeans on,
She's not very fat just skin and bone.
But I love her, she loves me,
All are happy now we can be,
Making love underneath the apple tree.
I told her mama and her papa too,
Just exactly what I want to do,
I want to get married on a night in June,
And rock and roll by the light of a silvery moon,
And I love her, she loves me,
All are happy now we can be,
Making love underneath the apple tree.
She's my one and only, she's my heart's desire,
She's a real upsetter, she's a real live wire,
Everybody turns when my baby walks by,
She's something to see, she really catches the eye.
That's why I love her, she loves me,
All are happy now we can be,
Making love underneath the apple tree.
That's why I love her, she loves me,
All are happy now we can be,
Making love underneath the apple tree.
12 Ya Ya (02:18)
Sitting in the La La
Waiting for the Ya Ya, uh huh
Sitting in the La La
Waiting for the Ya Ya, uh huh
It may sound funny
But it's alright honey, uh huh
Hey baby worry, don't make worry, uh huh
Hey baby hurry, don't make worry, uh huh
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