Essential, yet underrated

Review Score: (8/10)
Proof that Lennon was a giant among his contemporaries, with or without Paul McCartney. "Instant Karma" was one of John's best ever compositions, and still has one's toe tapping 30 years later. (Lennon re-wrote this song as "Nobody Told Me" for his posthumously released "Milk & Honey" album.) "Cold Turkey" and "Power to the People" showed Lennon could rock with the best of them! And the sweeping beauty and simplicity of "Imagine", and the moving way John sings it, never cease to grab the ear, any time the song is played. "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" has become a perennial Christmas classic, though unfortunately, in this collection, its ending was cross-faded into a noisy "live" rendition of "Give Peace a Chance". And I could have done without "Woman Is the Nigger of the World", but thankfully it's a shorter version than found on the disasterous "Sometime in New York City" album. And the ending of that song -- "we make her paint her face and daaaaaaaaaaaaaance" -- still sends shivers down my spine -- another illustration that, as a song craftsman, and as a vocalist, Lennon was in a class of his own.

More Reviews:

• FOR THE TRUE BEATLE FAN
• This Is A Great One
• Conceptual Greatest Hits Package
• Lennon Legend is a better collection.
• John shines on and how
• Listen
• Highly Collectible Lennon!
• Outdated
• Shaved Fish Doesn't Get Me Thru The Night
• Lennon Shaves
• "Instant Karma" is worth every penny.
• Great Apple Singles Collection
• Cover story
• Good material, better available elsewhere
• Great cover but hardly worth the price
• Early Greatest Hits Now Outdated
• Pretty weak. Disappointing.