Product Description

John Lennon & The Plastic Ono Band Live In Toronto ’69 is a rare look at one of the world’s most influential popular artists at a pivotal moment in his career. Filmed on the eve of the release of the Abbey Road LP — the last Beatles album to be recorded — this is the only performance ever caught on film of John Lennon & the Plastic Ono Band. It had been three years since Lennon had performed onstage with The Beatles. Seemingly on a whim, John and wife Yoko Ono hopped on a plane with guitarist Eric Clapton, bassist Klaus Voormann and drummer Alan White to travel to the Toronto Rock ’N’ Roll Revival festival showcasing some of Lennon’s early musical heroes — among them Bo Diddley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry and Little Richard. As it turned out, Lennon and the newly formed Plastic Ono Band played an equally significant role that night in the history of rock ’n’ roll, as it is widely believed this concert foreshadowed the official end of The Beatles. Captured by Academy Award®–nominated director D.A. Pennebaker (The War Room, Don’t Look Back, Monterey Pop), this concert film serves as one of the great historical documents in the career and life of John Lennon.

Track Listing

1. Blue Suede Shoes
2. Money
3. Dizzy Miss Lizzy
4. Yer Blues
5. Cold Turkey
6. Give Peace a Chance
7. Don't Worry Kyoko (Mummy's Only Looking for Her Hand in the Snow)
8. John John (Let's Hope for Peace)
9. John, John (Let's Hope for Peace) - John Lennon & the Plastic Ono Band, John Lennon & the Plastic Ono Band

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #25058 in DVD
• Released on: 2009-06-23
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Color, DVD, Live, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 56 minutes

Customer Reviews

It's a treasure...
This is a document of the only John Lennon Plastic Ono Band performance ever filmed, and it's filmed by legendary documentarist D.A. Pennebaker ("Don't Look Back," "Monterey Pop"). The band of course includes John & Yoko, Eric Clapton, Klaus Voorman (bass) and Alan White (drums). The concert is the same as the "Live Peace In Toronto" CD, but with a different sound source, Pennebaker's stereo recording remixed to 5.1 surround sound. I don't know if it's a new mix, or the same one on the previous "Sweet Toronto" 2002 release.

Yes, the performance is rough and raw. Yes, the band only rehearsed together once, acoustically on their flight to Toronto. But it is what it is: one of the few filmed John Lennon performances in existance, at the beginning of his solo career.

The historic nature of this show is obvious. The Beatles had just finished the Abbey Road LP, and although they had not yet broken up, it is thought that John's appearance here (his first public performance in over 2 years) was rather an impetus, contributing to the further fragmentation of the band.

Some people *will* find the Yoko portions of this performance unwatchable and unlistenable. But until we finally get a rerelease of John Lennon & The Plastic Ono Elephant's Memory Band's "Live In New York City" on DVD, or the actual evening performance of the Madison Square Garden "One To One" show, it will have to suffice. If you want some comic relief, watch John & Eric's reactions to Yoko's performances.

Good performance, BAD sound mix
If you've heard the L.P. or (Remixed) CD of the album "Live Peace in Toronto 1969", then you know what to expect musically: 6 songs featuring John Lennon(hastily learned & rehearsed on an airplane flight from London) and an unusual 2nd half featuring Yoko Ono's avant-garde wailing backed by the group's jamming & guitar feedback.
Unfortunately, due to record company permission issues, this video program cannot use the mix heard on the 1969 L.P., or the even better remix which replaced it in the CD era. Instead, the filmmakers use the live soundmix that the audience heard. Alan White's drums are down too low, and Eric Clapton's fine lead guitar wanders in and out of audibility.
This disc is disappointing. Hopefully, someday, we'll get a DVD of this show with audio that does justice to the performances.

A joy in every respect
Shout Factory is to be thanked for releasing this wonderful documentary film of the Live Peace in Toronto LP on DVD. It opens with an interview with Yoko Ono at an art show of John's work in 1988 (the music in the gallery is "Teach Your Children" by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young). The film turns to the rock 'n' roll revival artists the concert was arranged to display: Bo Diddley (the first part of his song is played as John and Yoko's limousine moves from the airport to the concert grounds), then the energetic Jerry Lee Lewis pounding on the piano, and finally Little Richard, who's a bit less over the top than usual. Then the sun is down and the Plastic Ono Band takes the stage: John and Yoko, as well as Eric Clapton on guitar, Klaus Voormann on bass, and Alan White on drums. Anyone who knows the album will recall the entire set, but it's great to see them playing live. The Plastic Ono Band's appearance was arranged quickly (according to Clapton's autobiography, John called him and asked, "What are you doing tonight?"), and John needs a crib sheet held by Yoko for the lyrics to "Cold Turkey," which had just been written. Fans of Yoko's will be pleased to know that she is fully represented on the DVD, with only the last few minutes of "John, John (Let's Hope for Peace)" cut off. Clapton's strongest guitar work is on Yoko's "Don't Worry Kyoko." John looks most assured singing a ferocious version of "Money" (a song whose lyrics contradict the values he espoused). Director D. A. Pennebaker offers a true film here, not just a video of the concert appearance. Length is 50 minutes.