Thankfully back in print after being unavailable for several years, John Lennon & Yoko Ono's "Milk & Honey" album is a wonderful swan song for Lennon (although it certainly wasn't intended as such). Released in 1984, it comprises Lennon's leftover songs from the "Double Fantasy" sessions, some of them in unfinished form, as well as additional material from Yoko, with the album following the same call-and-response format of the couple's "Double Fantasy" disc. In some ways, "Milk & Honey" is actually better than the Grammy-winning "Double Fantasy" (as great an album as that one is), if for no other reason than Yoko's contributions are a LOT easier on the ears this time around. John's material on "Double Fantasy" is classic Lennon all the way, but apart from the very sweet "Yes I'm Your Angel," Yoko's tunes on "Double Fantasy" were very difficult to take, what with her screeching vocals and choppy delivery. Not so on "Milk & Honey." Her songs this time around are melodic & tuneful through and through, and even her singing here is quite tolerable (my favorite: "Let Me Count The Ways," which is very lovely). Her songs compliment John's material on this album very nicely. Although some of John's songs here sound unfinished (considering his amusing, joking vocals on a few tracks, probably not intended as the final versions), all of his songs are a great pleasure to listen to, including "I'm Stepping Out," "Nobody Told Me," "I Don't Wanna Face It," and "Borrowed Time." "Grow Old With Me," John's wedding song which is heard here in cassette demo form (the only existing recording of it), is a gorgeous song, one of Lennon's best. "Forgive Me (My Little Flower Princess)" may indeed be a "throwaway" number, but oh, what a catchy, irresistible throwaway! It's bouncy and it lingers in the head, and for me, that's good enough. The bonus material on this re-issue are all excellent, too. "Every Man Has A Woman Who Loves Him," one of Yoko's best compositions, was originally a duet between John & Yoko. Now, the vocals have been re-mixed so it's John singing lead throughout, which is a very nice surprise. The CD concludes with an insightful 20-minute snippet from the last recorded interview John ever gave, a mere several hours before his tragic shooting. Listening to it, one is saddened by hearing a very happy, very talented man who had so much left to give to the world, and yet, the listener sadly knows that his time was almost up. Nonetheless, it's a very precious recording to have.The CD has also been remastered & remixed for better sound, and I couldn't be happier with it. "Milk & Honey" is a very fond farewell to one of the 20th Century's greatest musical geniuses, with a little bit of help from the woman who loved him. We miss you, John.

Milk and Honey is an unfinished work. Sure, Yoko's contributions are polished to perfection but John never had the chance to put the finishing touches on his stuff. I'm not sure if he would even have issued all the tracks on this album. A couple are up to John's best standards including Nobody Told Me, I'm Stepping Out and I Don't Want to Face It. The largest problem with John's tracks on Double Fantasy are the overslick production and session playing (compare for example the amazing version of I'm Losing You recorded with Cheap Trick from the box set to the DF version. The latter is lacks grit and soul by comparison). The same problem doesn't exist with M&H; the unfinished nature of the album and rough edges actually compliment Lennon's better songs.

I've never been a huge Yoko fan but she did emerge as a solid songwriter on their last two albums together. If you can get past Yoko's little girl singing, you'll find a number of songs that compliment Lennon's tracks. This is most evident with Lennon's remake of Every Man Has a Woman Who Loves Him. It's one of Yoko's most accomplished and striking tunes. Lennon produced some of his most striking work with the Beatles when Yoko became his muse. While that's not the case with all of his solo recordings, there are a couple of strong tracks here that make this essential for Beatles and Lennon fans.

The bonus tracks and sound quality add value to this package for those who purchased the first version of this CD (or LP). While there's nothing enlightening about the interview, it's nice to hear some of Lennon's comments. Lennon's utopian vision of what the world could be (particularly after the tragedy of Sept. 11)may have been out of touch with reality but it highlights the potential of the human spirit. If we can ever get past our differences and Lennon suggests that perhaps we have enough compassion to achieve some of these goals.

Milk & Honey isn't essential listening for casual fans. I'd suggest the Lennon Legend CD for those folks. This album demonstrates that even into his fourth decade Lennon still had relevence as an artist.

These songs, the remainder from 1980's "Double Fantasy" sessions deliver a sharp and delightful musical punch. While they aren't as "slick" as "Double Fanatasy" (John had planned to double track his vocals after Christmas, 1980), tracks such as "Nobody Told Me" , "I Don't Want to Face It" and "Steppin Out" are John at his rock and roll best. Songs such as the reggae-influenced "Borrowed Time" and the tropical island-drenched "Forgive Me" are wonderful and offer a glmpse of the great music that was to come..... In addition, Yoko's "You're The One" is a classic "Walking On Thin Ice" esqe recording---and this remastered edition features John's "lead" vocal on Yoko's "Every Man Has a Woman" (as a bonus track). I highly recommend this CD.

Contrary to what is written in another customer review, this is not the first CD issue of this album--the first CD was issued simultaneously with the LP on Polydor Records in 1984 (I own that edition). This one, however, is much better.

First, the sound quality is, like on the other Lennon remasters, greatly improved. The addition of bonus tracks (especially the interview) is a nice touch, also.

About the music. The Lennon material on this album is certainly good, but, aside from the hit "Nobody Told Me", not classic or essential. On this album, Yoko shines. Of her songs, "Your Hands", sung in Japanese, is my favorite. "You're the One" and "O Sanity" are also great tracks. I am glad that "Every Man Has a Woman Who Loves Him" was included here. The song was originally released on DOUBLE FANTASY with Yoko singing lead and John singing harmony in the background. For this version, which was originally issued on EVERY MAN HAS A WOMAN (an album of other artists covering Yoko compositions), John's harmony vocal is moved up front and actually works as a lead. It's nice to have all of this available on CD again in this improved edition.

Others have said that taking John's songs from DOUBLE FANTASY and MILK AND HONEY to compile one album would be an improvement. Don't dismiss Yoko's work out of hand, though. There are some treasures in her material that should not be missed. Give her a chance and you may be pleasantly surprised.

All in all, a good (although not great) album. It does make one sad, though, to imagine what would have come later. It really did seem like the Lennons were just getting started with renewed enthusiasm and spirit.

Milk and Honey was a revelation to me when it was originally released in 1984- John's songs sounded a lot more rough, ready and fun than his tunes on Double Fantasy. "Nobody Told Me" is probably my favourite song ever - it's a rollicking, stream of consciousness song.

John's songwriting on this album is very witty for the most part: "you want to save humanity, but it's people that you just can't stand" (I Don't Wanna Facce It). I actually liked some of the Yoko tunes on this album too- O Sanity is great.

This remaster is just brilliant- the sound quality is just fantastic, bright and clear and LOUD.

Grow Old With Me has been remastered so you don't hear the rhythm box echoing as it does in the original 1984 release. This is a wonderful song, made better on this release. I amlost had this song played at my wedding, but I ran with the White Album song 'I Will' instead.

The booklet has the original sleeve notes plus a Robert "Lennon" and Elizabeth "Ono" photo which is funny- it ties in with the Robert Browning / Elizabeth Barrett Browning thing. The photo's are excellent and are a nice touch.

For a release that hasn't been available on CD for a L-O-N-G time, it is very welcome reissue: the sound quality just makes it essential- and you can even sequence Yoko's songs out if you like- John's song alone are worth the price of admission.

The interview recorded a few hours before he was assassinated it poignant listening- JL was truely a great bloke and someone you would have loved to have a beer with.