''Menlove Ave.'' is a 1986

compilation album A compilation album comprises Album#Tracks, tracks, which may be previously released or unreleased, usually from several separate recordings by either one Performing arts#Performers, performer or by several performers. If the recordings are from ...

by English rock musician

John Lennon John Winston Ono Lennon (born John Winston Lennon; 9 October 19408 December 1980) was an English singer-songwriter, musician and activist. He gained global fame as the founder, co-lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the Beatles. Lennon's ...

. It is the second posthumous release of Lennon's music (after '' Milk and Honey''), having been recorded during the sessions for his albums '' Walls and Bridges'' and ''

Rock 'n' Roll Rock and roll (often written as rock & roll, rock-n-roll, and rock 'n' roll) is a Genre (music), genre of popular music that evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s. It Origins of rock and roll, originated from African ...

''. ''Menlove Ave.'' was released under the supervision of

Yoko Ono Yoko Ono (, usually spelled in katakana as ; born February 18, 1933) is a Japanese multimedia artist, singer, songwriter, and peace activist. Her work also encompasses performance art and filmmaking. Ono grew up in Tokyo and moved to New York ...

, Lennon's widow.

Background

The first side of the LP comprises session outtakes from the ''

'' sessions with

Phil Spector Harvey Phillip Spector (December 26, 1939 – January 16, 2021) was an American record producer and songwriter who is best known for pioneering recording practices in the 1960s, followed by his trials and conviction for murder in the 2000s. S ...

in late 1973, apart from "Rock 'n' Roll People", which is from the '' Mind Games'' sessions. The remainder features rehearsal recordings in mid-1974 for '' Walls and Bridges''. The song "Rock 'n' Roll People" was originally recorded and released on Johnny Winter's seventh studio album '' John Dawson Winter III''. The title refers to Lennon's childhood home, 251 Menlove Avenue, in

Liverpool Liverpool is a port City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. It is situated on the eastern side of the River Mersey, Mersey Estuary, near the Irish Sea, north-west of London. With a population ...

. Menlove Avenue is a long road in South Liverpool, part of the Liverpool ring road. While it is mainly residential, it is also a primary route: the A562. It also passes Woolton Village where Lennon and

Paul McCartney Sir James Paul McCartney (born 18 June 1942) is an English singer, songwriter and musician who gained global fame with the Beatles, for whom he played bass guitar and the piano, and shared primary songwriting and lead vocal duties with John ...

first met. Yoko Ono's liner notes mention that "John's American rock roots –

Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977) was an American singer and actor. Referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one of the most significant cultural figures of the ...

, Fats Domino and

– are evident in these tracks. But what I hear in John's voice are the other roots of the boy who grew up in Liverpool, listening to ' Greensleeves,' BBC Radio and Tessie O'Shea".

Album cover

The artwork for the release was effected by artist Andy Warhol, just months before Lennon's death in 1980. It was later used as the cover for the 2005 compilation album '' Working Class Hero: The Definitive Lennon''.

Reception and aftermath

Though ''Menlove Ave.'' included previously unreleased material of John Lennon, it failed to chart in the United Kingdom. It did manage to reach number 127 in the United States, making it Lennon's least-successful album. ''Menlove Ave.'' was issued on CD in 1987, and remains available from Capitol Records in that format. Side 1, tracks 3–5 appeared as bonus tracks on the 2004 remastered version of ''

''. The song "Here We Go Again" was included on the 2006 soundtrack album '' The U.S. vs. John Lennon'' and 2010 box set '' Gimme Some Truth''. The album is the only one of Lennon's not available on music streaming platforms.

Track listing

Notes * Side 1, tracks 1 and 3–5 are outtakes recorded in late 1973 during the ''

'' sessions. * Side 1, track 2 was recorded mid-1973 for, but left off of, '' Mind Games''. * Side 2, tracks 1–5 are mid-1974 rehearsal recordings for '' Walls and Bridges''.

Personnel

: vocals, guitar, piano (side 2), producer (side 1, track 2; side 2) * Jesse Ed Davis: guitar (side 2) * Klaus Voormann: bass (side 2) * Jim Keltner: drums (side 2) *

: producer (side 1, tracks 1, 3–5)

References

{{Authority control John Lennon compilation albums 1986 compilation albums Capitol Records compilation albums Parlophone compilation albums Compilation albums published posthumously Albums produced by Phil Spector Albums with cover art by Andy Warhol