Unfinished Music No. 1 Two Virgins by Yoko Ono, John Lennon

Unfinished Music No. 1 Two Virgins

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Unfinished Music No. 1 Two Virgins

Features

Audio CD (June 3, 1997)

Original Release Date: 1968

Number of Discs: 1

Label: Rykodisc

Catalog Number: 10411

Reader Reviews
Beatle John's first solo album was a collaboration with soon-to-be-wife Yoko Ono (an avant-garde, conceptional artist whom he met while attending one of her exhibits in 1966). Obviously, she must have re-kindled Lennon's art-school passions as he would eventually divorce then-wife Cynthia in November of '68, subsequently marry Yoko, and thus carry on a solo career that would play off her influence just as Yoko's solo career would play of his influence. Their love for each other, for art, and for their unique musical vision complimented each other perfectly (or, at the very least, inspired their various interests). The initial indication of this "new partnership" was found on The Beatles' "WHITE ALBUM" with the track "Revolution 9": a bizarre but intriguing sound collage that is in itself as apocalyptic as "SGT. PEPPER'S" own climatic "A Day In The Life" (though coming from an entirely different direction). "TWO VIRGINS" builds upon "Revolution 9"'s audio explorations. It is simply a half-hour piece of "non-music" music: a weird yet humorous (at one point, after Yoko chortles a scream, you can hear John comment: "That's right, dear. Spit it out!") pastiche of sound that gives an aural portrait of the couple at that time. Surprisingly, it has aged better than expected, and doesn't seem so "strange" nearly forty years later. The first half is undoubtedly better conceived than the second: with a neat sounding bird call motif, unusual instrumental touches, and silly exchanges between John and Yoko. The second side is relatively bland except for the mock Gregorian chant coda. But the real test of a work like this (since it isn't a genuine "musical" piece in the conventional sense) must be based on its own terms as a document of sound art (i.e. "Is it engaging? Does it hold your interest? Does it stand up to repeated listenings? Does it achieve what the author's intended? etc.) Regardless of public opinion, "TWO VIRGINS" does not hold up as a collage. It is only intermittingly interesting, and doesn't engage the listener or make one want to hear it over and over again. But the measure of its worth is easy to assimilate by comparison (i.e. all thirty minutes of "TWO VIRGINS" isn't even half as good as all eight-plus minutes of Beatle John's "Revolution 9"). By far, the best thing about the whole project is the technical brilliance of the lo-fi production. The splicing, editing, and sound effects remains the strongest aspect of the LP; and one wishes that John has continued to apply such techniques in a REAL musical setting. He could have rivaled Frank Zappa in that department. As for the cover photo: the furor it caused upon release is legendary, but I think largely unwarranted. Lennon's whole mindset at the time was to "strip away" all pretense in his music, art, and life. The sleeve only makes that visually clear (whereas John and Yoko's "PLASTIC ONO BAND" albums makes it aurally clear). But, as a whole, "TWO VIRGINS" isn't a success. I didn't find it worthless, but I also didn't find it to be worthwhile. The beautiful CD bonus track "Remember Love" certainly helps. HIGHEST POP ALBUM CHART POSITION: Number 124. NOTES FROM A CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE: Christians may be appalled at the nude photos of John and Yoko, but I think less so if it weren't for the fact that 1. They weren't married at the time it was recorded. 2. They were still married to their respective spouses at the time it was recorded. 3. They were committing adultery. The offense is compounded (not alleviated) by quoting Genesis Chapter 2 on the album cover. Yeah, it says "And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed", but Adam and Eve WERE man and wife, not adulterous lovers! The point is: if you're going to quote The Bible to back up your moral position, then for goodness sakes at least play by the rules according to the verses you're quoting or your argument will end up being made redundant and without merit. But because of the photo, the personal history behind it, and for one garbled f-word Lennon spouts off toward the end of part one: from a Christian moral perspective the album would rate *** (CAUTIONARY).

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