The MFSL version of "Live Peace In Toronto" does sound better to these ears than the original CD release I had from 1995. It has a decent dynamic range when compared to most of the new CDs produced out there. MFSL sounds warmer to me although detail is roughly about the same. This isn't the perfect John Lennon/Eric Clapton concert experience (keep in mind the little rehearsal time they had)but despite the ragged playing its clear they're enjoying themselves. Do you want to spent the extra money on the MFSL version of the album? That depends on how you feel about this album. If you're perfectly fine with the previous edition and rarely listen to it on CD, you'll probably do quite well without this version or if you listen to most of your music on an ipod/smaller speakers again the previous version will sound just fine. We don't get any sort of bonus material although the calender was updated to reflect the year of release for this (it's part of the booklet).

As far as John Lennon was concerned The Beatles were dead. He was invited to participate in a concert for peace in Toronto. The story has it that Lennon committed to go, had asked Alan White (Yes) and Klaus Voormann to back up and Eric Clapton up. Depending on which version you hear Lennon and Ono decided not to go and Clapton got a call from the promoter who reminded Clapton that he lost money on the short Blind Faith tour the previous year and Clapton owed him. Clapton went to Lennon's house and told him he had to go--it's a gig and you never do a no show for a gig. He went.

The other version is that Lennon showed up at the airport having not been able to get ahold of Clapton and finally got a hold of him and convinced him to go just before they were set to leave. They rehearsed on the plane ride over. When they arrived at the airport a limo picked up John and Yoko. John assumed that Clapton, Voorman and White would find their own transportation--so much for equality.

All of that would explain the ragged but inspired playing on "Live Peace in Toronto" not of one Lennon's (or Clapton's) best albums but a worthwhile addition for fans of either man. The band practiced a couple of oldies on the plane without their amps along with one track that Clapton and Voormann knew ("Cold Turkey") because they had played on the single version and a Beatles tune (ironically Lennon chose "Yer Blues" (which Clapton knew having performed it with Lennon for The Rolling Stones' Rock 'n' Roll Circus)which was written as a parody of the blue movement something that Clapton was instrumental in reviving). The band also trot out "Blue Suede Shoes" and "Money" early favs of John's that the band probably knew. Lennon concludes with "Give Peace A Chance". Lennon and the band played better on "Live in New York City" but this album has a charm (for Lennon's tracks) all its own.

The second half includes three Yoko Ono compostions--"Don't Worry Kyoko (Mummy's Only Looking for Her hand in the Snow)", ""John, John (Let's Hope For Peace)". The latter "tune" is a feedback drenched experiment that fans would do best to avoid if you're expecting a melody or coherent song. If you want to listen to experimental art-rock, you might enjoy it.

I feel a bit dissapointed with how short the songs are. I understand that Lennon didn't have much time to practice, but the majority of the songs were simply blues-based. With Clapton alongside, they could have jammed these songs for a while. It seems to me possibly, that Clapton didn't jam and get into it, because each time there was a break Yoko would start her screaming and throw off any creativity. The remastering sounds really great though. But overall, it sounds like a shortened live rehearsal.

The album cover, with the usual mobile fidelity border (my only negative remark on the album), still disgusts me, but it was worth it. I've only heard the album from this version, but I can't see much room for improvement, as the sound here is better than all my earlier CD's.

My review on the music is on amazon for another version of the CD (a mistake made on my part), but in short, it is great live work, and one my favorite albums, almost equaling to The Beatles work, and the best of the solo albums. For John in concert, this is it. Maybe not worth five stars, but definately four 1/2.

This is a review of the newly released Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab version.

Let me tell you, the guys at MFSL did an amazing job of this. It sounds crisper, cleaner, and better than ever before. It's amazing... it honestly sounds like you're actually at the concert. If you're a Lennon fan and you're interested in buying this album, be sure to pick up the MFSL version before it goes out of print forever.

I actually have the original US Apple LP. This edition is likely a 24K Gold Plated Limited Edition CD. This was performed at a peace festival in the Toronto area Spetember 1969. The Plastic Ono Band included Eric Clapton, longtime cohort Klaus Voorman, and future Yes drummer Alan White. Yoko of course spilled her guts! John was not fully ready to return to the stage after three years away (not counting TV), even more on his own (you all know how it was). He didn't even have a chance to rehearse, so he had to wing it. He had to improvise on "Give Peace a Chance", as he did on the original anyway. "Cold Turkey" had not yet been cut in the studio. "Yer Blues" was the only Beatles original he did. Yoko screams through "Don't Worry Kyoko" and "John, John (Let's Hope for Peace)". This did sell better than the three LPs combined that actually sold more papers than the records themselves! This was typed on 8 December 2005, the 25th anniversary of Lennon's death.