IMAGINE: JOHN LENNON – MUSIC FROM THE MOTION PICTURE
Parlophone PSCO 791320
Released 14 November 1988
Original recommended retail price: $19.99
A double-album soundtrack to the documentary tracing John Lennon’s life, featuring nine Beatles recordings alongside solo material, an unreleased 'Real Love' demo and a clean introduction to 'A Day in the Life'.
Labels & Related Material
AULP791320SBB
November 1988
Tracks
Same tracks as UK release
Pressing & Mastering

First Issued

Side 1

Side 2

Side 3

Side 4

Parts

14-Nov--88

✎PCSO 791321 A

PB EMIDISC DMM

✎PCSO 791321 B

PB EMIDISC DMM

✎PCSO 791322 A

PB EMIDISC DMM

✎PCSO 791322 B

PB EMIDISC DMM

AU
Sleeve Information

Code

Circulated

Comments

AU1

Nov-88

Uncoated gatefold sleeve. "DIGITALLY REMASTERED" footer on rear cover. The white half is susceptible to discolouration, particularly on the inner cover that's pressed against the black inner cover.

Overview
Released in Australia on 14 November 1988, Imagine: John Lennon – Music from the Motion Picture brought together 21 recordings spanning John’s Beatles and solo career. Compiled to accompany the documentary, the double album combined familiar recordings with previously unreleased material to present a musical portrait of his life.

Nine Beatles recordings formed much of the album’s opening half: 'Twist and Shout', 'Help!', 'In My Life', 'Strawberry Fields Forever', 'A Day in the Life', 'Revolution', 'The Ballad of John and Yoko', 'Julia' and 'Don’t Let Me Down'. The selection reflected both John’s songwriting and his performances, extending from the early energy of 'Twist and Shout' to the more personal 'Julia'.

Of particular interest to Beatles collectors, 'A Day in the Life' appeared with a clean introduction, without the applause overlapping its opening on Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. The album also introduced an acoustic demo of 'Real Love', several years before a different John demo formed the basis of The Beatles’ 1996 recording.

The solo selections included a previously unreleased rehearsal of 'Imagine' and a live performance of 'Mother' from the 1972 One to One concerts. These appeared alongside recordings including 'Give Peace a Chance', 'God', 'Jealous Guy', 'Woman' and 'Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)', with the familiar studio version of 'Imagine' closing the album.

Although all the songs featured in the documentary, the sleeve explained that some performances differed from those heard in the film, allowing complete versions to be included. The resulting collection served both as a companion to the documentary and as a retrospective bringing John’s Beatles and solo recordings together.

Click the sleeve image above to view the inner gatefold.

The album spent eleven weeks on the Australian charts, reaching No. 15.