by Marshall Fish

Created on: December 08, 2010   Last Updated: December 09, 2010

In 1980, John Lennon returned to the music business following a five year absence. The result was "Double Fantasy", the comeback album he recorded with wife Yoko Ono. Thirty years  later, the album has now been remixed and re-released as "Double Fantasy Stripped Down".

This new version of "Double Fantasy" works well, and ends up being a fine album on its own merits. Original "Double Fantasy" producer Jack Douglas and Ono have stripped away the background vocals, sound effects, much of the horn parts etc., and the album comes across as more loose than the original. Lennon seems to be having fun as count in's and snippets of dialogue are now heard before several of the songs. The opening track, the Elvis Presley and Roy Orbison influenced "(Just Like) Starting Over", now begins with a spoken intro by Lennon, "This one's for Gene and Eddie and Elvis and Buddy" referencing late rockers Gene Vincent, Eddie Cochran, Presley, and Buddy Holly.

"Cleanup Time", Lennon's tune about his home life during the recording hiatus, comes across more funky on "Double Fantasy Stripped Down" than on the original album. The song's horn parts in the chorus have now been replaced by Lennon singing "Make a ring around the world", and at the end of the track he ad-libs the words , "Christmas time, party time" .The fade from "Cleanup Time" to Ono's "I'm Moving On" on "Double Fantasy" is gone, to separate the tracks now, and emphasize Lennon singing the words "Long Lost John" at the end.

To some, Ono's vocals might be an acquired taste. But, in 1980, the B-52's "Rock Lobster" featured vocals that sounded exactly like Ono's wailing/vocal improvisations, and Lene Lovich's "Lucky Number" also had a quirky style similar to an Ono song. So, Ono's influence was being felt in some contemporary music performers of the time. In fact, a few early reviews of "Double Fantasy" in 1980 praised her contributions, while some critics felt that Lennon's songs lacked bite. Those opinions changed following Lennon's senseless murder.

Her songs on "Double Fantasy" were even a little restrained from her past avant-garde vocals. The new wave style "Give Me Something" and edgy "I'm Moving On" are successful in the "Stripped Down" format. "Yes, I'm Your Angel" unfortunately, does sound a lot like the 1930's tune, "Making Whoopee",which resulted in a  lawsuit in the 1980's. The album's last track, Ono's gospel influenced "Hard Times are Over" finds Lennon's backing vocals more prominent in the

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