yoko-ono-plastic-ono-bandOne of my favorite labels, Secretly Canadian, along with Chimera Music, will be reissuing a series of Yoko Ono albums, and Yoko Ono-related collaborations with her late husband, John Lennon. With this news, it is great to recognize the fact that there are interested parties that enjoy what Yoko Ono has done on a solo basis, but also what she has done on an experimental basis with John Lennon.

Beginning on November 11, there will be newly remastered from original tapes titles that will include the infamous Unfinished Music No. 1: Two Virgins from 1968, Unfinished Music, No. 2: Life With The Lions from 1969, and Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band from 1970. These three albums were recorded with John Lennon although Yoko’s recognizable stamp is all over them. Nevertheless, all Unfinished Music albums were a part of Lennon’s engagement with the artistic influence of his wife.

Over the course of 2017, Secretly Canadian and Chimera Music will reissue eight more Yoko Ono solo works including the other John Lennon collaborated Unfinished Music No. 3: Wedding Album (1969), the all-star contributed Fly (1971), the 2LP Elephant’s Memory-assisted Approximately Infinite Universe (1973), Feeling The Space (1973), the 1981 Season of Glass, released after the death of John Lennon, It’s Alright (I See Rainbows) from 1982, her fascinating and intriguing New Wave-styled Starpeace (1985) with the MTV-aired video of  the album’s “Hell In Paradise” single, and the early recorded A Story (1997).

There are a few other releases not mentioned (likely due to their newness) and that include the Chimera Records issues, Between My Head And The Sky (2009), Yokokimthurston (2012) with Kim Gordon, and Thurston Moore, both of Sonic Youth, and Take Me To The Land Of Hell (2013). Capitol Records released Rising in 1996, also not a part of this restoration campaign.

All of the eleven albums within the Yoko Ono Reissue Project will be released on CD, DD, and vinyl LP. All will include bonus tracks (B-side track “Remember Love” for Two Virgins, “Song For John”, “Mulberry” for Life With the Lions). Those bonus tracks were included in the 1997 Rykodisc reissues. It’s likely that all the 1997 Rykodisc bonus tracks on reissues up to and including Starpeace will also find their way on the upcoming 2017 reissues. For the LP reissues, a download card will be packed in that will included the album plus bonus tracks.

The included booklets will be great showpieces with rare photos, credits, and liner notes.

 

By MARowe