Lennon Legend: The Very Best of John Lennon (CD - 1997)

Producers: John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Phil Spector, Jack Douglas.

Personnel: John Lennon (vocals, guitar); Yoko Ono (vocals); Elton John (background vocals).

Lennon Legend was released in the fall of 1997 in England to replace the deleted John Lennon Collection, and the 20-track collection is remarkably similar to its predecessor, replicating a full 16 tracks and deleting the relatively nonessential "I'm Losing You," "Dear Yoko," and "Move Over Ms. L" in favor of "Borrowed Time," "Mother," "Nobody Told Me," and "Working Class Hero." Even if the disc isn't sequenced in strict chronological order, the end result is the strongest single-disc Lennon collection yet. It might not offer everything of worth that Lennon recorded -- the Plastic Ono Band and Imagine albums remain essentials, and there are great-to-good songs scattered among his later solo records -- but it does function as an excellent sampler and introduction to his solo career. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Imagine a place where the personal, political, and emotional elements of John Lennon's music converge together seamlessly in one cohesive production. An assortment of his finest solo work, LENNON LEGEND: THE VERY BEST OF JOHN LENNON is of great interest to anyone who's ever been a fan of the Beatles, the Plastic Ono Band, Yoko Ono, or simply the genius himself. Ranging from a rendition of Ben E. King's "Stand By Me" to the sounds of the Plastic Ono Band and the Harlem Community Choir on "Happy Xmas" and the classic anti-war anthem "Give Peace A Chance," the recordings assembled here stand as a testament to one of rock's most complex and influential musical talents. If you believe that Lennon's greatest period of creativity came to an end with the Beatles, you owe yourself a listen to this album. minimize