I think the reason Sometime In NYC bombed at the time on the Billboard album charts if you follow it is because it was so unlike John as an artist & a former Beatle especially after his solo masterpieces John Lennon Plastic Ono Band & Imagine despite the music itself being great even though his radical left lyrics are too extreme.  Its similiar New York Times album cover with Nixon & Mao dancing naked which was possibly too offensive besides hanging out with Yippie leader Jerry Rubin which probably turned off some fans at the time but Sometime In NYC is one of Lennon's most underrated classic rock albums which shouldn't be ignored. 

John's politics rule

Quoted from The_End, posted April 13, 2004, 8:26pm at here

It was probably TOO radical for most people - especially in Britain! The British tend not to buy albums which contain pro-IRA songs!

Ignoring the overly political lyrics, it's actually a damn fine album!

Among young people (I mean up to early 30s, the market for Lennon stuff in those days), the political attitudes expressed in SINYC were pretty well accepted. So I don't agree that the album was too radical.

I think there were a two or three of severe problems with SINYC:

*Yoko was much in evidence. This album was the first mainstream attempt by the two of them to present as a double act on record.

*The lyrics were frequently slogans strung together. After a couple of listens, you get tired of that. The songs lacked subtlety. There was little room for listener interpretation. John and/or Yoko are telling you how it is, no argument. It is a hectoring, bullying album.

*John Lennon was being increasingly seen as having nothing to say. Or, at the least, he was no longer a "spokesman". In other words, his credibility was shot. It's interesting to speculate on why Lennon so quickly became "passe", but surely Yoko has to accept part of the blame.

I'm sorry, The, but many many under-30s (inlcuding Englishman) thought then that the British Govt was behaving disgracefully in Northern Ireland. The "young" view at the time was that the British should get out of Northern Ireland.


You quote from "Sunday Bloody Sunday". Most thinking people were appalled at the soldiers' behavior on that terrible day: and did not believe the lies in the susequent cover up. To further quote that song: "Not a soldier boy was bleeding when they nailed the coffin lids".

I called you "The" because that is the first word in your name! I wasn't trying to bait you.

I'm not trying to make you out as if you are anti the album, or anti John. I can't see how you could think that, honestly.

I simply think your judgment of feeling among many young people at the time is wrong.

And I don't mind in the least if you don't continue with this "conversation".

I can see how you are. 

it failed because it sucked.................still does and always will...sisters o sisters is the high point lol
john was hanging with some of the chicago 7 then wasn't he?and a few black panthers too....there was the one guy that killed a few people malcom m or whatever letter the guy used.face it john was in a position where the gorernments were scared he could sway the youth into rebellion against their authorities.but he never had that much power anyway so that was the wrong tree.
alot of people hated john for protesting war.considered him a non conformist.a hippie.i have met lennon haters of this sort.
the album sucked in any era.maybe a single album would have sold it better.

Quoted from Maria, posted April 13, 2004, 9:23pm at here

*Yoko was much in evidence. This album was the first mainstream attempt by the two of them to present as a double act on record.

*The lyrics were frequently slogans strung together. After a couple of listens, you get tired of that. The songs lacked subtlety. There was little room for listener interpretation. John and/or Yoko are telling you how it is, no argument. It is a hectoring, bullying album.

*John Lennon was being increasingly seen as having nothing to say. Or, at the least, he was no longer a "spokesman". In other words, his credibility was shot. It's interesting to speculate on why Lennon so quickly became "passe", but surely Yoko has to accept part of the blame.

I agree with those statements, as far up to John being Passe. I think it was just he was just at a musical stalemate perhaps. And this album didn't have much to do with his talent, just points to get across. Alos I think yoko's influence was dramatically evident in EVERYTHING that he did after and some during the beatles. But it wasn't always bad.  Just mostly in this album

"Stalemate" is a good word.

He wasn't helped by Elephant's Memory. They seem to have been hired by the Lennons because (A) they were fairly competent and (B) their name, combined with Plastic Ono, formed the word POEM. That was Yoko's contribution, deep as usual!

Dear Lord. See I learn something new every day. Yeah I never particularly liked anything related to yoko. I liked Most of Johns contributions on Double fantasy, but nothing could really save that album from her either..

I don't think it was Yoko who broke them up and I think she was good for John.

Quoted from Ssarah, posted April 14, 2004, 2:27pm at here

... and I think she was good for John.

Yes a lot of people think that. She certainly provided the mother/wife figure he was looking for.

However, ultimately I think she was a negative influence on him. She had not the intelligence, musical sensitivity or creativity of John.

I agree very much. I respect the decisions she's made (most of them) since his death in releasing certain things. I though the John Lennon Anthologies were great. I bought Wonsaponatime, and its very ...  Graceful? I guess you could say.  Its just shows him in the form he should be remembered for, but her musical influence in John can be summed up in one mature word... PTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTHHHHHHHHHHHHHPPPPPPPPPPPPTTTTT!

Here's something controversial (coming from a HUGE Lennon fan)... at the time of John's death, I actually think Yoko's musical direction showed great promise, and for me, one of the most memorable stand-out tracks on Double Fantasy is Kiss Kiss Kiss (and not because of the "orgasm" bit!!!).

I also love Walking On Thin Ice; the song which John and Yoko were mixing the night of his murder. Yoko seemed to be the one with the hard cutting edge, whereas John seemed to be... I dunno... still sleepy. It seemed to me all the wheels weren't yet turning... and then...

We'll never know what turn John's music would have taken, although the scraps of songs released as "Milk And Honey" showed great promise. I would have loved to have heard how Grow Old With Me would have sounded in its finished form.

Oh well... enough dreaming for one day....

Quoted from Maria, posted April 14, 2004, 9:23pm at here

Yes a lot of people think that. She certainly provided the mother/wife figure he was looking for.

However, ultimately I think she was a negative influence on him. She had not the intelligence, musical sensitivity or creativity of John.

So? She didn't have to write the songs?  And in a way that is a good thing. If she had been a big shot as well, then there would have been competition.  Also, opposits attract.