Capitol Records to Reissue John Lennon's ``Mind Games'' on November 5th; Remixed, Remastered and Featuring Three Bonus Tracks

Business Wire, Oct 2, 2002

Business Editors/Entertainment Editors

HOLLYWOOD--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 2, 2002

"Mind Games," John Lennon's seminal 1973 solo album, has been remixed, remastered and augmented by three bonus tracks, and will be reissued by Capitol Records on November 5, 2002.

The original album is complemented by three previously unreleased tracks -- an early version of "Aisumasen (I'm Sorry)" with alternate lyrics, a home version of "Bring On The Lucie (Freda Peeple)" and an alternate version of "Meat City."

In the tradition of Capitol's recent Lennon reissues ("Imagine," "Double Fantasy," "Plastic Ono Band" and "Milk and Honey"), "Mind Games" utilizes original cover art, but features new deluxe packaging. The 32-page booklet includes many previously unseen John Lennon drawings, photographs and memorabilia from the era, plus full song lyrics.

The follow-up to 1972's heavily politicized "Some Time In New York City," "Mind Games" was recorded at New York's Record Plant in August 1973, and released in November of that year. At the time, John was in the middle of his battle with Immigration to stay in the U.S., the Watergate scandal was making headlines and a global recession was underway.

"On 'Mind Games,' for the first time, Lennon has begun to mix his older, spiritual and religious yearnings with his political convictions," noted critic Dave Marsh upon its release. (A yellowed clipping of his review is reproduced in the CD booklet.)

Just before recording the album, John and Yoko had moved into the Dakota in New York. That same month had seen them reveal their image of Nutopia, a concept explored on the album sleeve for "Mind Games" and on the track "Nutopian International Anthem," a few seconds of silence. In their Declaration of Nutopia (issued on April 1st of 1973 and reproduced in the new packaging), John and Yoko described it as a conceptual country - one with "no land, no boundaries, no passports, only people...no laws other than cosmic."

"Mind Games" was remixed at Abbey Road Studios, and was produced by Yoko Ono, from the original production by John Lennon.

"When considering this program of reissues, I kept thinking how John would have been thrilled by the possibilities offered by current recording technology," said Yoko. "Thus, along with the great team at Abbey Road, I was happy to ensure that these classic records could fully benefit from the improved mixing and mastering facilities available to us now."