Solo Years Anthology: John Lennon Edition
A Deep-Dive Compilation of Rare Post-Beatles Recordings
Solo Years Anthology traces the solo journeys of all four Beatles following their 1970 breakup, presenting a chronological collection rich in rare and unreleased material. Unlike standard greatest hits compilations, this series offers a collector-focused selection centered around promo-only singles, alternate versions, and non-album tracks that are nearly impossible to find today.
The John Lennon edition opens with a demo of Give Peace a Chance and transitions into the “Complete Video Version” — a longer edit than the standard single release. It continues with the “Naked Vocal Version” of Instant Karma, two censored Australian edits, and a Japan-exclusive single version of Love featuring a different intro.
Also included are two full-length interviews from 1971, rare mono promo mixes and extended versions of iconic singles like Happy Xmas (War Is Over), Mind Games, Whatever Gets You Thru the Night, Stand by Me, and (Just Like) Starting Over. The collection closes with Lennon’s final TV appearance in 1975, performing Imagine.
Every track in this compilation is sourced from hard-to-find pressings, unreleased mixes, or versions never issued on CD, making it an essential and meticulously curated release that captures John Lennon’s solo career in the 1970s like never before.
CD 1
1. GIVE PEACE A CHANCE (Original Demo 1969)
2. GIVE PEACE A CHANCE (Complete Video Version)
3. COLD TURKEY (US First Pressing / Error)
4. INSTANT KARMA (Naked Vocal Version)
5. MOTHER (US Single Mono Mix)
6. WORKING CLASS HERE (Australian Censored Version)
7. I FOUND OUT (Australian Censored Version)
8. LOVE (Japanese Single Version)
9. POWER TO THE PEOPLE (Complete Video Version)
10. PLASTIC ONO BAND (Special Interview Complete - Tokyo 1971)
11. IMAGINE (Special Interview Complete - New York 1971)
CD 2
1. GIVE PEACE A CHANCE (Unreleased Remix)
2. IMAGINE (Complete Video Version)
3. JEALOUS GUY (Original Video Mix)
4. HAPPY X'MAS (WAR IS OVER) (Demo Version)
5. GREETINGS FROM ASCOT
6. HAPPY X'MAS (WAR IS OVER) (Promo-Single Mono Mix)
7. MIND GAMES (Promo-Single Mono Mix)
8. WHATEVER GET YOU THROUGH THE NIGHT (Promo-Single Mono Mix)
9. #9 DREAM (Single Edit Stereo Version)
10. WHAT YOU GOT (Promo-Single Mono Mix)
11. STAND BY ME (Promo-Single Mono Mix)
12. AIN'T THAT A SHAME (Promo-Single Mono Mix)
13. SLIPPIN' AND SLIDIN' (Promo-Single Mono Mix)
14. (JUST LIKE) STARTING OVER (Extended Promo Version)
15. I'M LOSING YOU (Extended Promo Version)
16. WATCHING THE WHEELS (US Promo Single)
17. BORROWED TIME (US Promo Single)
18. A EVERY MAN HAS A WOMAN WHO LOVES HIM (Lennon Version)
19. IMAGINE (Final TV Appearance Live 1975)
