WALLS AND BRIDGES
01 Going Down On LoveI think it is a slow start for an album that might be Johns best. It’s not the best song on the album. Still, there are enough signs in this song that show us that John is really putting effort in this album. The brass-section for instance is spot on and not overwhelming, like it can be sometimes. The harmonies are great as well. Plus John is showing that his voice is as good as ever.
02 Whatever Gets You Thru The NightOverplayed. Nevertheless it is a great uplifting song. The opening saxophone by Bobby Keys is simply wonderful and remember I am not a saxophone fan. But here it is really right on the spot. Elton and John sound somewhat like John and Paul in the good old days and I’m pretty sure that was a major thing in getting John to #1 with this song. The honky tonk piano is a great addition to the song as well and Elton is responsible for this. The story goes that Elton’s participation had not been planned. John was in the process of finetuning when Elton was brought in by Apple’s Tony King. Eton asked if he could ‘put a little piano on it’. When rerecording the lead vocal, Elton put a harmony on it. John remarked that ‘it was like having George or Paul there again. It was the same good feeling.’
Is that a bad edit at 1.45? Seems slightly out of rhythm. Love the high notes on 1.52. And I have always wondered about Elton’s notes on 3.07. Is it out of tune or not? Don’t know really, but I have always found that a markpoint in the song.
03 Old Dirt RoadWith the strings and dobro or slideguitar, this song sounds a bit as if it is a Mind Games left over. But then, it has the tension that many on the former album has not. Nice building up to a climax from 2.30 onwards. One would expect the song finishes there, but John uses another solo and a very long fade out to really finish it. Not a spectacular song, which is by the way co-credited to Harry Nilsson, but good enough.
04 What You GotFirm funky rocker, What You Got is reminiscent of Me And My Monkey somewhat. John is really singing with a voice that would absolutely kill it live. but he’s doing it really well. Listen to 0.52.. Horns are spot on throughout the song. Top song.
05 Bless YouBluesy ballad. An oasis after What You Got. Sung with lots of feelings and it’s hearable. Nice trumpet solo. I think Nick Hopkins on the keyboards doing a wonderful job. Great song.
06 ScaredInspiration for Michael Jackson’s Thriller at the start. Howling wolves. John repeating I’m Scared in the beginning of the first verse. Great atmosphere. John’s voice is in top form once again. Fully in control and not at all sounding like the alcoholic he was said to be in this lost weekend. After listening to side A it is pretty obvious to me that John was knowing exactly what he wanted and was perfectly able to get his band doing what he intended. Building this song layer upon layer towards the end. Well done.
07 #9 DreamAbsolutely John’s best solo effort. I adore this song. The dreamy atmosphere, the way John is singing it, the strings and the melody they make, repeating after John’s sung melody, the acoustic guitar licks, May Pang’s whispering ‘John’ after ‘someone’s calling my name’ and the Awapokana pousse pousse or whatever he sings. Everything adds to the greatness of this song.
08 Surprise Surprise (Sweet Bird Of Paradox)A song for May Pang. Nice twist with the rhythm right at the start. A light hearted song, although John sounds somewhat heartbroken. The song sounds alright productionwise, but it drags on a little bit. The ears open up again with the little nod towards Drive My Car at 2.30.
09 Steel And GlassJohn redoing How Do You Sleep, but this time attacking Allen Klein. Acoustic guitar sounds great. Strings coming in and adding to John’s voice. Brass section is playing the lick from How Do You Sleep. In fact, I like this version of the same song better to be honest. Like in #9 Dream, the orchestration is completely adding something to the song. Nothing too much, nothing too little. Another great song.
10 Beef JerkyAlmost instrumental. Could well be used in documentaries or b-movies. Brass is very tight. Guitar is simple but very well played. The little chance in melody at 3.00 minutes is a welcome tho late variation.
11 Nobody Loves You (When You’re Down And Out)Now this sounds as if John came right out of the pub, but then it is intentional. A massive ballad with a lot of orchestra behind him. Once again, John’s voice simply sounds better than he has in years. Listen to the ‘middle eight’ starting at 3.27. And the prophetical ‘Everybody loves you when you’re six feet in the ground’. Wonderful.
12 Ya YaWith Julian Lennon (11 years old) on drums. John end this album like he did on Plastic Ono Band with My Mummy’s Dad. While that song was painful, this is completely the opposite. It’s light and full of hope and love.
OverallLike I said, this is not an album from a man who went from one drink to another, like John was said to do in the Lost Weekend. On the whole album, it is pretty clear that John is sober, ready to work and knowing exactly what he’s doing. This is a great album that has survived to tooth of time. To me, it’s John’s best solo effort. But that, my friends, is food for discussion of course. Have a look here by the way:
http://www.dmbeatles.com/forums/index.php?topic=16156.0
