When Tupac was murdered, we lost a great rap artist and poet, but you'd never know it. Since his death "he" has released countless cd's and books of poetry and lyrics.

When John Lennon was murdered 28 years ago, we lost an incredible artist, activist and musician. Yet, since his death, we've had maybe two tracks that they "found" with muddled sound remastered with the other Beatles adding their voices and instruments to create a "new" release. (And to help sell the Beatle's Anthology.) Too bad John didn't have the foresight to record tons of material that we could have had the pleasure of listening to all these years later.

Not to question or demean Tupac's work, as I've always loved his style of writing... it's just amazing to me that he has such a tremendous body of work that he left us all these years later.

Makes me think of Prince, too. How much of his music that we've never heard that's stored in his infamous "vault". Music we'll only hear long after he's gone, unless he decides to take it with him. And you know Prince, he just may... lol.

Anyway, I was thinking... I'd sure love to hear some new Lennon. I miss his voice... and in today's turbulent times, I could use his outlook on life...

June7 said:

that's wrong. There was Milk & Honey, the other bunch of songs recorded in 1980. Us fans have the bootlegs with countless other songs or early versions.
The 80s would have been tough for John. I doubnt he would have had much success. Most 60s/70s stars struggled in the 80s.
His private life was terrible too.

June7 said:

You just had to go and ruin this thoughtful post by putting Prince in it. Ahh...I'll get to him in a minute.

I just got a collection of some John Lennon music that I, of course, hadn't heard before, so I was truly blown away. So I understand what you mean, I'd love for there to be some new John Lennon music. I think there is. Yoko is just keeping it for herself for now. Nothing wrong with that, I'm just saying maybe there's still hope out there.

Tupac was pre-occupied with his own death. Some would go so far as to say that he saw it coming, long before it did. He intentionally left a legacy that would grow and I'm thankful. I love hearing yet another "new" Tupac song, even if it is crappy by today's standards. He made sure part of himself would always be here for us and I like that.

Ok...now for Prince. Hold on to what you've got. Be happy with that. If you want to know I truly think...I think he's already destroyed the vault!

Knowing his funky ass, he got pissed one night about something close to nothing, grabbed an ax and reenacted that basement scene from Purple Rain.

Either that or he's got some sort of self destruct device connected to it. The moment his hearts stops beating or his brain has no activity...KA-BOOM!!!!

June7 said:

Thank you for posting this! I am so tired of defending Tupac, as he is one of my favorite artists to listen to. He was in the studio for countless hours at a time, almost seems like he had a premonition that he wouldn't be around to release new stuff...Anyways, on to Prince. I have a feeling that he will probably order his stuff in the vault to be destroyed after he passes on. Why do I think that? Because when he moved out of the Purple House in Chanhassen, he had it destroyed. It just seems to fit with his personality, which is a shame. It is a shame because I'm sure that a lot of us would like to hear what is in the vault, although we know that we probably won't hear any of it....sorry for the ramble...

HatrinaHaterwitz said:

i don't think there's anything left. Probably take 23 of the demo for Woman from the Bermudas.

Have you got some Lost Lennon Tapes??

I find the story of Just Like Starting Over intersting. Also that a song like I'm Stepping Out is a relative of Girls and Boys (Real Love)

kenlacam said:

That's why I need to the the '08 Robin Hood. Rob from the Prince and give to the .org.

LittleBLUECorvette said:

graecophilos said:

I don't think what I got was anything that was lost...I wish!!

I just hadn't heard them before and during these trying times with this whole election process, they were a great find for me.

I agree with June7, it would be awesome to know what John Lennon would be feeling and saying (I know HE'D be speaking on some things!) right about now.

HatrinaHaterwitz said:

I'll do it if nobody tells? We all know Prince like to perform a lot, so when he not at the crib, it'd time 3 go to work.

Not to hate on Tupac, but c'mon he rapped over other peoples best music.

No Tupac song is half as good as a Lennon b-side

if you took every recorded conversation Lennon had (much more intesting imo)and put other peoples best music to it, you would have Lennon albums till the end of time.
ohh and by the way, its called milking something till its dry, rappers surviving families have to eat too.
[Edited 10/18/08 16:23pm]

violetblues said:

Gee, thanks. But this thread isn't comparing John with Tupac. It's about the legacy of music left behind.

John Lennon was basically leaving the music industry behind him, in an interview back in the later 70's with ABC tv, he finally spoke about getting back to work, he spoke of wanting to reunite with the beatles, and that they were speaking, he was approaching 40 and feeling re-born and also got back in touch with Julian around this time. I disagree that he didnt see his own death as a possible thing, they actually all did, but years after the Beatles John feared it alot, that was his reason for getting away from the spotlight and even his activism, and moving to NYC where he felt he could "get lost". I just think there was other important things to him and music was near the bottom of his list in the middle 70;s up until about 79 early 1980 when he went back in re-born and thats what spawned the 2 albums.

Since we are talking about John Lennon and thereby invoked his spirit. It's only right that he should be visually and musically represented!

Imagine


Let It Be


Power To The People - My Damn Jam!!!



Instant Karma






Tupac is up next!!!


Prince won't be represented and THAT'S HIS OWN DAMN FAULT!!!!

Yeah, John!!!

Now let's let Tupac get a little bit of the love that's from those that hear with their hearts and understand!!!

All Eyez On Me



I Ain't Mad At Cha



Until The End Of Time



Life Goes On

After my last 2 posts, I could post some Prince...right here...that would send this thread into Orbit, fueled off of nothing but love!!!!

Oh well!

that's the thing about being murdered.. it's not a planned event..

HatrinaHaterwitz said:

youre right sorry
[Edited 10/18/08 21:49pm]

June7 said:

Wow. I never even thought of that before. Great insight, and I agree with you. I'd love to hear more.

June7 said:

Posthumous Lennon

Milk & Honey
Menlove Ave (Rock N Roll outtakes/Walls & Bridges outtakes)
Anthology (4 CDs of unreleased stuff)

Sure, it's slimmer than Tupac's psthumous output, but it's a fuck of a lot better.

HatrinaHaterwitz said:

okay, but Let It Be had NO involvement from John. He even hated this masterpiece of Paul's

Shapeshifter said:

I have the Anthology and I regret it. For me there are rarely inbtersting thinbgs on it, compared to the bootlegs.

I like Mirror, Mirror
She's A Friend Of Dorothy's
You Saved My Soul
Dear John
Whatever Happened To...
I Watch Your Face
The Worst Is Over
Help Me To Help Myself

and others...

Later Yoko claimed Jophn recorded/Wrote the last song on 8/12 1980 but that's bullshit.
The last recording he made the November earlier and it was Dear John I guess...

Dear John, don't be hard to yourself
Give yourself a break
?????
The race is over,
Dear John

graecophilos said:

I just like the way he looks in this video.

HatrinaHaterwitz said:

At the time they all hated something that the other did, but years later praised each other. John said he wished he could write a straight poplove song like Paul could at the drop of a hat. Paul said he wished he had the "play on words that john had", and george for the most part always echoed these words and they about him, and Ringo, well he never really said anything about anyone that was bad.

lastdecember said:

Because ringo sucks a big fat dick

Sdldawn said:

But without him they never go where they went as a band. Think how John, Paul,George and Pete?? would sound, theres a reason that version couldnt get out of clubs

lastdecember said:

that still doesn't make me like ringo anymore.. sorry

John was pretty busy doing heroin the last few years of his life.

But really, he died 15 years later than 2pac. If he'd died at 25 I think there'd be more of a sense that he was only starting his journey. Of course, he was re-emerging from seclusion right as he died, so...maybe I don't know what I'm talking about!

But it's an interesting comparison, at any rate, as I think they're both the best (or at least most important) of their respective fields. Two outspoken and brilliant artists. 2Pac, unfortunately, had not had the opportunity to evolve as John did. I have the feeling he would have (perhaps not as a musical genius, but more as a cultural leader).

NDRU said:

I thought John quit heroin cold turkey.

HatrinaHaterwitz said:

Thanks.

Timmy84 said:

he did--twice