Released on Nov. 3, 1986, some six years after John Lennon was tragically killed, Menlove Ave contains unvarnished demos and other miscellaneous musings cut during mid-’70s sessions for the Walls and Bridges and Rock ‘n’ Roll albums.
The first side of the collection focuses on material from the Rock ‘n’ Roll debacle, a highly publicized affair with legendary producer Phil Spector twirling the knobs that descended into legal hogwash. Clothed in quasi-psychedelic wear, there’s the ethereal swirl of “Here We Go Again,” along with a cover of the sweet-and-saccharine “Angel Baby,” a 1961 hit for Rosie and the Originals.
Marked by a bright boogie tenor, “Rock and Roll People” never appeared on any of Lennon’s discs, but was offered to red-hot guitarist Johnny Winter, whose scorching version can be heard on his John Dawson Winter III album. His rendition of Arthur Crudup’s “My Baby Left Me,” called “Since My Baby Left Me” on Menlove Ave, brandishes a sing-around-the-campfire vibe.
Flipping the album over, we get raw takes on five songs from John Lennon’s often darkly emotional Walls and Bridges. The bluesy “Nobody Loves You (When You’re Down and Out),” the expressive despair of “Scared,” and the bristling “Steel and Glass” make the grade, while Lennon is joined by his friend, acclaimed singer-songwriter Harry Nilsson, for “Old Dirt Road.” The set closes with “Bless You,” a fragile and heartwarming ballad.
Pinching its title from the street the former Beatles star lived on as a youngster, Menlove Ave (Capitol Records) may not represent the brilliant man in his most inspiring moments, but still poses to be a pleasantly grainy snapshot. Lennon always preferred music raw and natural, and these tunes certainly capture him in a thoroughly bare-boned and human element.
Surprisingly, the album sank without a trace, and has since gone out of print. But those who just have to have everything John Lennon put to tape are sure to approve of Menlove Ave, and its charming warts-and-all quality.
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