Happy Christmas Fun!!! :-)
Jokie X Wilson | San Francisco, California United States | 01/11/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This CD is perfect to keep around for a Christmas morning with three punchy tunes to start the day. You get the Imagine instrumental only if you load the disc into your PC and take a look at the picture gallery, but that is a nice addition to a small group of songs each with a simple message. I also couldn't help but note that the CD starts with Yoko wishing Kyoko and John wishing Julian a Happy Christmas. Think of it as a warm bit of music to help get you through the winter."
Nothing new, but who needs something new
Thomas Lapins | Orlando, Florida USA | 11/05/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This would make for a poignant holiday musical card. Cd cover always one of my favorite Lennon/Ono and group photos. The message and music remain as relevant today as yesterday. There's nothing one can write here that is new, just that this is a nice re-packaging of Lennon's music. Like the other reviewer said, nice music to play on Christmas morning, which I did since buying this cd (I often times would play 'Imagine' on Christmas morning before going to my family's house for Christmas long before this collection was released).
Why four stars? Because there are two more songs that I would have placed on this disc. First, and most obvious, 'Give Peace A Chance'. It would have been a perfect fit with the concept of this cd. And second, I would have included 'The Luck Of The Irish' from 'Sometime In New York City'. Why? Well, like 'Instant Karma' it digs a little deeper in a different way. Not as idealistic and peacenick (I use this word in a positive way) as 'Happy Xmas' and 'Imagine' and would bring a necessary dimension (especially since it would be so unexpected, and I think a pleasant surprise to those who hadn't heard it or appreciated it before), with its obvious political digs, it had an edge, again, like 'Instant Karma' brings in its directness and rawness. Also, I think 'Sometime In New York City' both a relevant and an important album/cd today.
'Luck Of The Irish' is perhaps the 'truest' duet that Lennon and Ono did. Lennon's lines are cutting while Ono's are quite poetic, a great coupling. Ono's 'We're All Water' and 'Born In A Prison' are as good as anything Dylan or Lennon wrote. Perhaps 'We're All Water' is of the same caliber as Dylan's 'Blowin' In The Wind'.
Anyhow, this is about this cd not 'Sometime In N. Y. C' and I'll only say it's a good collection to have. If nothing else, for just having it in the house and playing it on Christmas morning."
