“Plastic Ono Band,” released in December 1970, was John Lennon’s first solo album after the breakup of the Beatles earlier that year. It was a far cry from the tuneful reassurance of Paul McCartney’s one-man-studio-band album “McCartney” and the polished abundance of George Harrison’s triple album, “All Things Must Pass,” both of which were also released that year. In both music and lyrics, “Plastic Ono Band” was a stark statement of pain, separation, vulnerability and self-reclamation after the whirlwind that had been Lennon’s life as a Beatle. Half a century later, the album retains its power.
Now it has been remixed, massively expanded, anatomized and annotated as “Plastic Ono Band: The Ultimate Collection”. The compilation was produced by Yoko Ono, Lennon’s widow and a producer (with Lennon and Phil Spector) of the original album, and Simon Hilton; there are other configurations for less obsessive fans.
CD 1: The Ultimate Mixes
01. Mother (Ultimate Mix) (5:36)
02. Hold On (Ultimate Mix) (1:52)
03. I Found Out (Ultimate Mix) (3:38)
04. Working Class Hero (Ultimate Mix) (3:48)
05. Isolation (Ultimate Mix) (2:52)
06. Remember (Ultimate Mix) (4:33)
07. Love (Ultimate Mix) (3:23)
08. Well Well Well (Ultimate Mix) (5:57)
09. Look At Me (Ultimate Mix) (2:54)
10. God (Ultimate Mix) (4:13)
11. My Mummy's Dead (Ultimate Mix) (0:52)
12. Give Peace A Chance (Ultimate Mix) (Feat. Yoko Ono) (4:54)
13. Cold Turkey (Ultimate Mix) (5:03)
14. Instant Karma! (We All Shine On) (Ultimate Mix) (Feat. Yoko Ono) (3:21)
CD 2: The Ultimate Mixes/The Out-Takes
01. Mother (Take 61 / Out-take / Ultimate Mix) (4:18)
02. Hold On (Take 2 / Out-take / Ultimate Mix) (2:11)
03. I Found Out (Take 1 / Out-take / Ultimate Mix) (3:46)
04. Working Class Hero (Take 1 / Out-take / Ultimate Mix) (3:50)
05. Isolation (Take 23 / Out-take / Ultimate Mix) (2:51)
06. Remember (Rehearsal 1 / Out-take / Ultimate Mix) (3:11)
07. Love (Take 6 / Out-take / Ultimate Mix) (2:36)
08. Well Well Well (Take 2 / Out-take / Ultimate Mix) (3:35)
09. Look At Me (Take 2 / Out-take / Ultimate Mix) (2:50)
10. God (Take 27 / Out-take / Ultimate Mix) (4:06)
11. My Mummy's Dead (Take 2 / Out-take / Ultimate Mix) (1:15)
12. Give Peace A Chance (Take 2 / Out-take / Ultimate Mix) (Feat. Yoko Ono) (6:01)
13. Cold Turkey (Take 1 / Out-take / Ultimate Mix) (5:24)
14. Instant Karma! (We All Shine On) (Take 1 / Out-take / Ultimate Mix) (Feat. Yoko Ono) (2:53)
CD 3: The Elements Mixes
01. Mother (Elements Mix) (5:00)
02. Hold On (Elements Mix) (1:53)
03. I Found Out (Elements Mix) (5:25)
04. Working Class Hero (Elements Mix) (3:11)
05. Isolation (Elements Mix) (2:44)
06. Remember (Elements Mix) (8:38)
07. Love (Elements Mix) (5:40)
08. Well Well Well (Elements Mix) (5:57)
09. Look At Me (Elements Mix) (2:57)
10. God (Elements Mix) (4:09)
11. My Mummy's Dead (Elements Mix) (0:53)
12. Give Peace A Chance (Elements Mix) (Feat. Yoko Ono) (4:54)
13. Cold Turkey (Elements Mix) (5:03)
14. Instant Karma! (We All Shine On) (Elements Mix) (Feat. Yoko Ono) (3:21)
CD 4: The Raw Studio Mixes
01. Mother (Take 64 / Raw Studio Mix) (5:12)
02. Hold On (Take 32 / Raw Studio Mix) (1:52)
03. I Found Out (Take 3 / Extended / Raw Studio Mix) (5:34)
04. Working Class Hero (Take 9 / Raw Studio Mix) (4:08)
05. Isolation (Take 29 / Raw Studio Mix) (2:52)
06. Remember (Take 13 / Raw Studio Mix) (4:59)
07. Love (Take 37 / Raw Studio Mix) (4:27)
08. Well Well Well (Take 4 / Extended / Raw Studio Mix) (6:47)
09. Look At Me (Take 9 / Raw Studio Mix) (3:08)
10. God (Take 42 / Raw Studio Mix) (4:27)
11. My Mummy's Dead (Take 1 / Raw Studio Mix) (0:53)
12. Give Peace A Chance (Take 4 / Extended / Raw Studio Mix) (Feat. Yoko Ono) (6:35)
13. Cold Turkey (Take 2 / Raw Studio Mix) (5:06)
14. Instant Karma! (We All Shine On) (Take 10 / Raw Studio Mix) (Feat. Yoko Ono) (3:32)
CD 5: The Evolution Documentary
01. Mother (Evolution Documentary) (9:16)
02. Hold On (Evolution Documentary) (8:46)
03. I Found Out (Evolution Documentary) (6:01)
04. Working Class Hero (Evolution Documentary) (3:34)
05. Isolation (Evolution Documentary) (9:39)
06. Remember (Evolution Documentary) (7:02)
07. Love (Evolution Documentary) (7:37)
08. Well Well Well (Evolution Documentary) (4:50)
09. Look At Me (Evolution Documentary) (5:51)
10. God (Evolution Documentary) (8:10)
11. My Mummy's Dead (Evolution Documentary) (1:36)
12. Give Peace A Chance (Evolution Documentary) (7:29)
13. Cold Turkey (Evolution Documentary) (4:51)
14. Instant Karma! (We All Shine On) (Evolution Documentary) (Feat. Yoko Ono) (8:48)
CD 6: The Demos
01. Mother (Home Demo) (5:00)
02. Hold On (Studio Demo) (2:18)
03. I Found Out (Home Demo) (4:09)
04. Working Class Hero (Studio Demo) (3:50)
05. Isolation (Studio Demo) (2:55)
06. Remember (Studio Demo) (5:24)
07. Love (Home Demo) (2:39)
08. Well Well Well (Home Demo) (1:16)
09. Look At Me (Home Demo) (2:49)
10. God (Home Demo) (3:52)
11. My Mummy's Dead (Home Demo) (1:18)
12. Give Peace A Chance (Home Demo) (Feat. Yoko Ono) (2:40)
13. Cold Turkey (Home Demo) (3:34)
14. Instant Karma! (We All Shine On) (Studio Demo) (Feat. Yoko Ono) (3:33)
CD 7: The Jams
01. Johnny B. Goode (Jam) (1:02)
02. Ain't That A Shame (Jam) (1:54)
03. Hold On (Jam 1) (2:22)
04. Hold On (Jam 2) (1:37)
05. Glad All Over (Jam) (1:12)
06. Be Faithful To Me (Jam) (0:44)
07. Send Me Some Lovin' (Jam) (1:06)
08. Get Back (Jam) (1:05)
09. Lost John (Jam 1) (1:56)
10. Goodnight Irene (Jam) (1:51)
11. You'll Never Walk Alone (Jam) (1:44)
12. I Don't Want To Be A Soldier Mama, I Don't Wanna Die (Jam 1) (3:30)
13. It'll Be Me (Jam) (1:08)
14. Honey, Don't! (Jam) (1:39)
15. Elvis Parody (Don't Be Cruel, Hound Dog, When I'm Over You) (Jam) (2:48)
16. Matchbox (Jam) (1:57)
17. I've Got A Feeling (Jam) (0:20)
18. Mystery Train (Jam) (2:44)
19. (You're So Square) Baby I Don't Care (Jam) (0:29)
20. I Don't Want To Be A Soldier Mama, I Don't Wanna Die (Jam 2) (1:46)
21. Lost John (Jam 2) (0:48)
22. Don't Worry Kyoko (Mummy's Only Looking For A Hand In The Snow) (Jam) (Yoko Ono) (2:07)
CD 8: Out-take / Raw Studio Mix
01. Mother (Take 91 / Out-take / Raw Studio Mix) (4:00)
02. Hold On (Take 18 / Out-take / Raw Studio Mix) (2:07)
03. I Found Out (Take 7 / Out-take / Raw Studio Mix) (7:51)
04. Working Class Hero (Take 10 / Out-take / Raw Studio Mix) (3:44)
05. Isolation (Take 1 / Out-take / Raw Studio Mix) (0:35)
06. Remember (Take 1 / Out-take / Raw Studio Mix) (2:53)
07. Love (Take 9 / Out-take / Raw Studio Mix) (2:34)
08. Well Well Well (Take 5 / Out-take / Raw Studio Mix) (5:06)
09. Look At Me (Take 3 / Out-take / Raw Studio Mix) (3:12)
10. God (Take 1 / Out-take / Raw Studio Mix) (2:28)
11. My Mummy's Dead (Take 2 / Out-take / Raw Studio Mix) (1:19)
12. Give Peace A Chance (Take 4 / Stripped Down / Extended / Raw Studio Mix) (Feat. Yoko Ono) (6:33)
13. Cold Turkey (Take 2 / Stripped Down / Raw Studio Mix) (5:01)
14. Instant Karma! (We All Shine On) (Take 5 / Out-take / Raw Studio Mix) (Feat. Yoko Ono) (3:11)
