I've heard it said that John Lennon's 1973 album, Mind Games cover looks like John is walking away from Yoko and is symbolic of their separation that started right around the time of the album's release. I can get where that idea comes from obviously, but I have always been curious about the photo of John walking away. Where did that photo originate?
Thanks to the official John Lennon website and one of my favorite John fans, that mystery has now been solved. John is not actually "walking away" in the photograph. He is standing at an airport (at least that is what it looks like to me) in front of an ad for the U.S. Army. I am no sure when in 1973 this photo was taken, but it had to have been sometimes after June 3 and before August 4 because of the short style of hair (it was really starting to grow out by early August).
Unless... the image of John is pasted over the background photo, like on the album cover!
ReplyDeleteHeck, I wonder why that particular photo was chosen. Jacket and tote bag ...?
ReplyDeleteon the front cover John is closer to Mt. Ono. On the back, he's closer to the front and is walking away from Yoko. You got that idea from John he was walking away from Yoko on the cover ;-)
ReplyDeleteThe album set me back a little when it came it out in 1973. Remember thinking then it was the first time I heard Lennon songs on an LP that couldve been written by any regular artist, and performed by any regular band (although Mind Games and Meat City are great). 1973, a tough year for John on many levels. His ex-bandmates put out 3 outstanding LPs that year which left his album in the dust.
ReplyDeleteJohn himself said he realized after he cut and pasted the imagery that he was walking away from Yoko (with a bag in hand). The original photo he cut up was at an airport; the message on the cover is "I'm off the with May Pang now for 18 months of music and occasional mischief."
ReplyDelete