This December 8th will be the 25th anniversary of the tragic death of John Lennon. Having been a committed Beatleologist for 30 years, I thought somewhat sarcasticly
"Oh, swell. Yet another narrated rehash of Beatle stuff for reconsumption," when I saw the listing for the John Ono Lennon Special, produced by Hearing Voices. There was certainly much of that. Lynn Neary's (NPR) introduction including her early exposure to the Beatles had me braced for "John goes to All Things Considered". There was much of that as well. I thought I'd seen, heard, or read every biographical account ever produced. After all, how much more is there to uncover that hasn't already been done again and again? The pleasant surprise was when the narration stopped and the next 25 minutes of the program became a montage of John's interviews, music (solo and with the 3 others), and various recordings from his entire career. This was enough to keep me intrigued, waiting for some inimate detail I've never heard before. The program is itself a montage of short productions pieced together into a one hour program. Some highlights include early takes of many of his greatest songs, "Anthology" style, and studio banter, which takes the listener right there. In the second half, Neary returns while people share their feelings about John's impact on their lives as well as when he they heard he had been shot to death. Though it's unlcear who these people are or why they were particularly chosen. Though very professionally edited, the content is not particularly rivetting or original and feels as if it was made simply beause someone thought SOMETHING had to be made at this time.