Many people posted this song during the lockdown and I can see why.
I always liked the song and understood that isolation doesn’t equate to loneliness. You can be in a crowd of people and yet feel isolated or alone. You can be physically isolated from others yet still feel very much connected to others.
The bass player on this track was Klaus Voormann, who was a friend of the Beatles from their Hamburg days. He was also an artist… he is the artist who designed the cover of Revolver. Ringo Starr also lends a hand with drums on this track.
The song was released on his true debut album John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band in 1970. Arguably one of if not his best album. Like Paul’s debut this one was not big in production but unlike Pauls…this album was not light pop songs. You can feel John releasing his inner feelings for everyone to see on this album. Not an album to play to get a party going. You can hear John’s disillusionment with life, fame, and his three former bandmates.
This was during the time John Lennon went to see Doctor Arthur Janov in scream therapy. A way to bare his soul for his feelings like his mom that was killed when he was a teenager.
John Lennon: ‘Isolation’ and ‘Hold On John’, they’re the rough remixes. I just remixed them that night on seven-and-a-half [inches per second tape] to take them home to see what else I was going to do with them. And then I didn’t really, I didn’t even put them onto fifteen [IPS], so the quality is a bit hissy on ’em too. By the time I’d done everything, I started listening. I found out it’s better that, with ‘Instant Karma’ and other things, you remix it right away that night. I’d known that before, but never followed it through.
I usually don’t pay much attention to covers. I ignore actors turn singers but I did find a very good version of this song out there. In 2020 Jeff Beck and Johnny Depp recorded this song and Beck’s guitar work is great. Depp also does the vocals justice in this.
Isolation
People say we got it made
Don’t they know we’re so afraid
Isolation
We’re afraid to be alone
Everybody got to have a home
Isolation
Just a boy and a little girl
Trying to change the whole wide world
Isolation
The world is just a little town
Everybody trying to put us down
Isolation
I don’t expect you, to understand
After you caused so much pain
But then again, you’re not to blame
You’re just a human, a victim of the insane
We’re afraid of everyone
Afraid of the sun
Isolation
The sun will never disappear
But the world may not have many years
Isolation
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I always loved this song. I hear the human, P.O.’d John Lennon in this one. I read a negative review of this song once and I didn’t get it at all.
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Yea I wouldn’t either. I love his honesty in this one. Even when he is baring all he wraps it up in a melodic tune.
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Beck and Depp, who would have thunk that up, but it’s not bad? It is so hard to get good videos of a lot of Beatles and Lennon songs, so this works for me. Beck looks pretty good for an old guy. John was a tortured soul.
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It’s not a bad version at all. I never usually like when actresses and actors try music…but this works.
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that’s a new one to me, rather good. Excellent lyrics, delivery and I like that John kept it very sparse
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It gained a whole new popularity during the lockdown… I’ve always liked it.
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Plastic Ono Band/Yes drummer Alan White passed away very recently – he didn’t play on this but played on Instant Karma and the Imagine album.
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I must have missed that. He is on the Instant Karma video I believe.
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I do like this version, but Lennon sure tore his heart out at this stage of his career. Lovely phrasing on I-solation… ‘Mother’ is another cathartic one where he leaves nothing behind but shredded vocal cords.
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It’s not an album I just listen to all of the time…but I love it.
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There are just some days when a primal scream at the universe is needed.
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Isolation definitely is among the highlights on this John Lennon album. As much as I dig and admire Macca, his first solo album is fluff by comparison.
As for Johnny Depp, I respect him as a musician, not only because of this cover, which I think is pretty decent. Have you ever heard some of his music with Hollywood Vampires? They do both covers both also originals, especially on their 2019 and to date most recent album “Rise”. Not bad!
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Oh yea…this album is so serious compared to McCartney’s first one.
Yes I have seen Depp in the Vampires…good stuff! He was a musician way before he became an actor…that is why he was in California…trying to make it in a band.
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