Along with his debut Plastic Ono Band, Imagine paints a vivid picture of John Lennon, healing from his hectic Beatles era. Where Plastic Ono Band was a direct and noisy reckoning with repressed feelings about his youth and stardom, Lennon has found a certainty on Imagine: his love for Yoko Ono. Jealous Guy with his noble vocals and sweet strings reproduces this sublime. Oh My Love is all delicacy.
Oh Yoko is the almost festive finale in which all self-obsessions are released for the benefit of love. On other songs where Ono is not the subject, she is unexpectedly recalled with an “oh no, oh no” chorus. Expressions of love cover only a part of the album that regularly returns to themes from Plastic Ono Band. But this time the frustrations are more saturated with hope and even lightheartedness. George Harrison plays a dobro part on the country-themed Crippled Inside and is also present on Gimme Some Truth and How Do You Sleep (a vicious attack on Paul McCartney). Imagine, along with Plastic Ono Band, is one of Lennon's best work.more
