David Peel & The Apple Band - John Lennon Forever (1987)

David Peel returned to the orbit of John Lennon for this 1987 memorial album, which opens with his reconception/recomposition of "Imagine" in a heavy electric/punk style and a few guitar and backing vocal vamps that even emulate Yoko Ono's style of singing. 

His vocals throughout this album are as raw and untrained as ever -- that's part of his appeal -- but the accompaniment this time out takes the form of a nicely full electric rock & roll band with a first-rate rhythm section and some satisfyingly hook-laden lead guitar on pieces like "John Lennon Forever." 

The songs are interspersed with interview and commentary tracks, but most of what's here is music, and surprisingly accomplished music at that -- the tone may be a little overly serious (which is not surprising given the subject matter of the album), but overall this was Peel's most professional sounding (dare one say mainstream?) album since the 1970s.

David Peel & The Apple Band - John Lennon Forever (1987)

(320 kbps, front cover included)