Yoko Ono - Plastic Ono Band (Apple 1970) 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

Universally, Yoko's Plastic Ono Band album was seen as an extreme affront against propriety and possibly civilization! Something so revolutionary should have been applauded by the free-thinking radicals, but they were not as free as they pretended to be. There is a cultural context to Yoko's vocal style on songs like "Why" and "Why Not," that was derived from the operas of Alban Berg as well as from hetai, a style of straining your voice for a Kabuki performance, and just plain anguish. Her use of composing songs through improvisation was picked up from her jazz friends, Ornette Coleman and others. Originally released to almost universal disdain in 1970, critics now declare this album as laying the groundwork for the punk revolution of 1976. Amazon


Note: When this came out I was the only one in my social circle who liked it. I liked it then and I still like it! “Why” and “Why Not” always make me chuckle and “Greenfield Morning I Pushed An Empty Baby Carriage All Over The City” must be one of the creepiest pieces of music ever committed to vinyl – the perfect post-apocalypse soundtrack - especially coming after the train sounds at the end of “Why Not”. But beware: this record is dangerous! It really upset my dog when I was recording it, and gave me tinnitus during the manual de-click with headphones. You have been warned!!

Track listing:

A1. Why
A2. Why Not
A3. Greenfield Morning I Pushed An Empty Baby Carriage All Over The City

B1. Aos*
B2. Touch Me
B3. Paper Shoes

Personnel:

Yoko Ono: Vocals
John Lennon: Guitar
Ringo Starr: Drums
Klaus Voormann: Bass

*Rehearsal tape for show at Albert Hall with Ornette Coleman, February 1968:
Ornette Coleman: Trumpet
Edward Blackwell: Drums
David Izenzon: Bass
Charles Haddon: Bass

Produced by John & Yoko