JOHN LENNON AND THE PLASTIC ONO BAND - Shaved Fish 12" Vinyl LP Album

The Definitive John Lennon Compilation – A Timeless Collection of Iconic Hits

Cover of John Lennon's 'Shaved Fish' album featuring surreal illustrations representing his solo songs. The cover is divided into multiple panels, each depicting a different song through imaginative artwork, including images of Lennon, Yoko Ono, and symbolic elements such as floating objects, a jet, and an intense portrait of Lennon.

"Shaved Fish," a 1975 compilation by John Lennon and the Plastic Ono Band, encapsulates the socio-political spirit of the mid-1970s. Featuring iconic hits like "Imagine" and "Give Peace a Chance," the album reflects Lennon's activism. Produced by Lennon, Yoko Ono, and Phil Spector, its cover design by Roy Kohara and Michael Brya became an emblem of the era. The title originated from Lennon's desire for a distinctive name, reflecting the uniqueness of the compilation.

Production & Recording Information
"Shaved Fish" Album Description:

The release of "Shaved Fish," the compilation album by John Lennon and the Plastic Ono Band in 1975, marked a significant contribution to the musical landscape of its time. This collection showcased some of Lennon's most iconic songs, including timeless classics like "Imagine," "Give Peace a Chance," "Cold Turkey," and "Power to the People."

In the context of the mid-1970s, the album reflected the prevailing socio-political atmosphere. The world was navigating through a tumultuous period marked by activism, calls for peace, and the lingering impact of the counterculture movements of the 1960s. John Lennon, known for his activism and outspoken views, used his music as a platform to convey messages of peace, love, and social change.

The production of "Shaved Fish" involved a collaboration of notable producers, including John Lennon himself, Yoko Ono, and Phil Spector. This convergence of creative minds contributed to the album's unique sound and its ability to resonate with a diverse audience.

The album cover design and artwork, credited to Roy Kohara and Michael Brya, played a crucial role in visually representing the essence of the music. The cover, with its distinctive design, became an iconic visual representation of John Lennon's solo career during this period.

The record's label, Apple Records, known for its association with The Beatles, added a historical context to the album. The use of both catalog numbers, 5C 062-05987 on the back cover and 1A 062-05987 on the record's label, reflects the attention to detail in the production process and the significance attributed to cataloging and record-keeping within the music industry at that time.

Album Packaging

 This album includes the original custom inner sleeve with the Japanese flag drawing and lyrics of all the songs performed by John Lennon and the Plastic Ono band.

Producers:

  Produced by John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Phil Spector

Yoko Ono a Japanese artist, singer, and peace activist, born in Tokyo in 1933. She moved to New York in the 1950s and became involved in the avant-garde art scene, where she gained recognition for her conceptual and performance art pieces. In the 1960s, she met John Lennon and the two became a famous artistic and romantic partnership. Together, they staged several public events advocating for peace and were prominent figures in the anti-war movement. After Lennon's death in 1980, Ono continued to work as an artist and musician, releasing albums and staging exhibitions. She has also been involved in various peace activism initiatives and has received numerous awards and honors for her artistic and cultural contributions.

Album Cover Design & Artwork:

Art Direction/Design; Roy Kohara

Illustrations:  Michael Bryan

Music Genre:

Pop-Rock

Label & Catalognr:

Apple Records – 5C 062-05987 ( On the album's back cover )

Apple Records – 1A 062-05987 ( On the record's label )

Media Format:

Record Format: 12" Vinyl Stereo Gramophone Record
Total Album (Cover+Record) weight: 230 gram  

Country

1975 Netherlands

Tracklisting Side One:
  1. Give Peace a Chance
  2. Cold Turkey
  3. Instant Karma!
  4. Power to the people
  5. Mother
  6. Woman is the nigger of the world
Tracklisting Side Two:
  1. Imagine
  2. Whatever get's you thru the night
  3. Mind Games
  4. #9 Dream
  5. Happy Xmas (War is Over)
  6. Reprise: Give Peace a Chance
High Resolution & Quality Photos
Front Cover Photo Of JOHN LENNON AND THE PLASTIC ONO BAND - Shaved Fish
Cover of John Lennon's 'Shaved Fish' album featuring surreal illustrations representing his solo songs. The cover is divided into multiple panels, each depicting a different song through imaginative artwork, including images of Lennon, Yoko Ono, and symbolic elements such as floating objects, a jet, and an intense portrait of Lennon.

John Lennon and The Plastic Ono Band – Shaved Fish

This album cover features a surreal, collage-like illustration divided into several panels, each depicting a different song from John Lennon's solo career. The color palette is dominated by soft blues and whites, giving the image an ethereal, dreamlike quality.

In the top left, an illustration of Lennon and Yoko Ono sitting together with a guitar represents Give Peace a Chance. Below, a jar labeled "Instant Karma" is mid-air, with its contents spilling out. The song title is written in blue beside it.

The central top panel contains the album title, Shaved Fish, written in a stylized font, with "Lennon" and "Plastic Ono Band" below, and a red circle resembling the Japanese flag.

To the right, a jet drops a large red ornament-like object in a reference to Happy Xmas (War is Over). Another panel shows a woman in bed, staring at a framed picture of John Lennon, visually representing Mother.

Other elements include an intense portrait of Lennon wearing sunglasses for Mind Games, a close-up of his tongue-out expression for Whatever Gets You Thru the Night, and a dramatic, solitary figure trudging through snow for Cold Turkey. The song Woman is the Nigger of the World is depicted through pencils and lipsticks piercing into the background.

The artwork collectively creates a surreal, almost floating dreamscape that encapsulates the themes of Lennon's music, from activism to introspection.

Photo Of The Back Cover JOHN LENNON AND THE PLASTIC ONO BAND - Shaved Fish
Back cover of John Lennon's 'Shaved Fish' album featuring a surreal illustration of a cigarette-pack-like container labeled 'Lennon Brand Shaved Fish.' The package is partially opened with torn paper edges, revealing contents inside. A stylized fish illustration swims against a backdrop of blue waves and clouds, with Japanese characters on the side. The tracklist is printed on the left.

John Lennon and The Plastic Ono Band – Shaved Fish (Back Cover)

This album back cover features a striking, surreal illustration of a box labeled "Lennon Brand Shaved Fish," stylized like a pack of cigarettes or a food container. The top is torn open, revealing the edges of a crumpled interior, with bits of paper floating away.

The package design is dominated by soft blue tones, featuring a detailed illustration of a fish swimming through stylized waves, evoking traditional Japanese art. Japanese characters appear on the side of the packaging, reinforcing the theme. The bottom of the box states "Net Wt. 1 LP."

On the left side of the cover, the tracklist is neatly printed, listing the songs on Side One and Side Two, including hits like Give Peace a Chance, Imagine, Cold Turkey, and Happy Xmas (War Is Over). The production credits, including contributions from John Lennon, Yoko Ono, and Phil Spector, are also present.

At the bottom right, a quote reads, "A conspiracy of silence speaks louder than words" – Dr. Winston O'Boogie, a pseudonym used by John Lennon himself.

The overall design merges pop art with a consumerist aesthetic, presenting Lennon's work in a package that visually suggests both mass production and a deeply personal artistic statement.

Photo of the custom inner sleeve
Inner sleeve of John Lennon's 'Shaved Fish' album featuring song lyrics printed in white text against a bold red background. The lyrics are neatly arranged in columns, covering all tracks from the album, including 'Imagine,' 'Give Peace a Chance,' and 'Happy Xmas (War Is Over).' The Apple Records logo appears at the bottom right.

John Lennon and The Plastic Ono Band – Shaved Fish (Inner Sleeve)

This image showcases the custom inner sleeve of John Lennon's Shaved Fish album. The design is visually striking, with an intense red background that contrasts sharply with the white printed text.

The entire surface is filled with the lyrics to the album’s songs, meticulously arranged in multiple columns. Each track is clearly labeled, featuring well-known Lennon compositions such as Give Peace a Chance, Cold Turkey, Instant Karma, Imagine, and Happy Xmas (War Is Over). The text is tightly spaced, creating a dense but readable layout.

The Apple Records logo is visible at the bottom right, subtly reinforcing the connection to Lennon's work with the Beatles and his solo career.

The bold color choice and clean typography give the inner sleeve a simple yet powerful aesthetic, matching the passionate and socially conscious themes of the album’s music.

Photo of the custom inner sleeve
Minimalist design of the inner sleeve of John Lennon's 'Shaved Fish' album, featuring a large, bold red circle centered on a white background, resembling the Japanese flag. The design is stark and simple, reinforcing the album's aesthetic and themes.

John Lennon and The Plastic Ono Band – Shaved Fish (Inner Sleeve)

This image features a minimalist and striking design for the inner sleeve of John Lennon's Shaved Fish album. The artwork consists of a single, large red circle centered on a plain white background, closely resembling the Japanese flag.

The simplicity of the design aligns with the overall aesthetic of the album, reinforcing Lennon's deep connection to Japan through his relationship with Yoko Ono. The stark contrast between the red and white creates a bold visual statement, echoing the stripped-down, raw emotion found in much of Lennon's solo work.

This sleeve design is devoid of any text or additional imagery, allowing the powerful symbolism of the red circle to stand alone. It serves as a continuation of the surreal and conceptual art direction seen throughout the album's packaging.

Close up of the record's label
Close-up of the record label for John Lennon's 'Shaved Fish' album. The label features the iconic Apple Records logo, with a green apple at the center. The album title, tracklist, and copyright details are printed in black text, along with catalog numbers and the 'STEMRA' rights organization marking.

John Lennon and The Plastic Ono Band – Shaved Fish (Vinyl Record Label)

This image presents a close-up of the record label from John Lennon's Shaved Fish album, pressed under Apple Records. The label design prominently features the classic Apple logo—a realistic green apple with a visible stem, set against a black background.

The album title, "Shaved Fish (Collectable Lennon)", is printed at the top, followed by the tracklist for Side 1. Songs include Give Peace a Chance, Cold Turkey, Instant Karma, Power to the People, Mother, and Woman is the Nigger of the World. Each song is credited to Lennon (or Lennon-McCartney) with their respective release years.

Several important details are also printed on the label. The copyright notice states "© 1975 EMI Records Ltd.," marking it as an EMI and Apple Recording. The catalog number "5C 062-05987" is visible in two places. Additionally, the rights organization STEMRA is listed at the bottom, indicating the pressing was intended for distribution in the Netherlands.

Around the outer edge, fine print warns against unauthorized public performance, broadcasting, and copying of the record. The combination of the Apple Records logo, detailed track information, and legal markings makes this label both an iconic and functional part of the album presentation.

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