Before the official collapse of The Beatles, John Lennon put out three albums that contained virtually no music at all, at least not in the sense that an average Beatle fan considers to be music.

All three were wildly experimental and virtually unlistenable, and sold accordingly. Lennon was making an oblique statement with these albums, providing a rather clear indication that he needed to move away from the constraints of being a Beatle.

These were harsh times, especially for Lennon, who saw the British police hounding him regarding his drug use (and arresting him for it), and the general public turning against him in rather dramatic fashion. The press made his relationship with Yoko Ono appear to be a joke of sorts, and their rudeness further alienated Lennon from public appearance. When the band broke up, Yoko took the blame, and John was made to look like fool who allowed it to happen. Times were bad, and Lennon retreated both mentally and physically, entering therapy in an attempt to overcome the overwhelming negativity that surrounded him.

“Plastic Ono Band” is the byproduct of those therapy sessions, containing some of the most directly honest music ever made by a Beatle, or perhaps anybody. The album is full of pain, grief, dismissal, and on occasion, love. It remains the most honest and bold artistic statement ever made by a superstar.

Tracks include:

Mother

Hold On

I Found Out

Working Class Hero

Isolation

Remember

Love

Well Well Well

Look at Me

God

My Mummy’s Dead

December 1970  - Billboard Charted #6