ACTUALLY -FAR FROM COMPLETE AS NEW ITEMS AND RECORDINGS ARE ALWAYS BEING FOUND!
As well as having a fascination for collecting Beatles music and print collectibles over the years, I also hold a similar interest in collecting both Julian Lennon and his audio recordings and his print-related material. I would contend that not only has the press been unfair to Julian for virtually his entire career but also a large group of Beatles fans who continue to compare him and expecting him to equal his father’s accomplishments instead of allowing him to chart his own course.
Only in recent years, because he began to follow photography as his primary ambition, has he been fully acknowledged as an artistic force to be reckoned with! In this post, many Julian items will be re-posted from earlier blog posts to highlight a career of great work!
How many true Beatles fans have even attempted to hear Julian’s Jude album, the excellent Everything Changes LP or Photograph Smile recordings, Help Yourself or the many great guest appearances that Julian has had on other artist’s albums. His musical output has been far greater than most people realize.
In recent years it has been distressing to learn of several health crises that Julian has encountered. He was diagnosed with skin cancer on his scalp which was successfully removed. Recently, Julian has announced that he has a cardiac condition and is also pre-diabetic. In my opinion as a constant follower of his career that we finally give him his due recognition as a versatile and multi-talented artist who faced an intolerable number of expectations and criticism, simply because of his genes! We also wish him the best with his health conditions!
If Julian makes additional recordings in the future or releases further books I will continue to support his career with additional posts about his work. If his musical career has ceased, this will be the last post presented on the subject. In my opinion as an artist in the musical world, he is under-appreciated and certainly not respected or acknowledged enough!
I am aware that he is currently writing a self-acknowledged different type of autobiography which I await with much eager interest.
This is a photo of Julian taken by my great friend, the late Bill Maura, when we went to a Julian book signing in New York City at Barnes and Noble. Julian was promoting the first book of his Children’s book trilogy, Touch the Earth!
Very few people are aware of a special Spanish release in both Venezuela and Spain where three songs off of Julian’s Help Yourself album appear in the Spanish language
In Venezuela, the songs appeared on vinyl as an LP. In Spain, the tracks only appeared on a select few copies of a special cd release. Even in the present day, the cd is difficult to find.
A few sample tracks from the Help Yourself album:
Julian Lennon – Saltwater (1991, Official Music Video)
The back cover of the CD indicating the three songs sung in Spanish on the back cover:
Here are the three Spanish sung songs that have appeared on YouTube posts!
CREO QUE VOY A LLORAR (SALTWATER)
Julian Lennon – Saltwater (Spanish)
The lyrics, if you wish to sing along…
CORAZON DE PALMERA (TAKE ME HOME)
Julian Lennon – Corazon De Palmera
The lyrics, if you wish to sing along…
ES TARDE YA (MAYBE I WAS WRONG)
Julian Lennon – Es Tarde Ya (Maybe I Was Wrong) Sung in Spanish
The lyrics, if you wish to sing along…
In the 1980s Julian made a guest singing appearance on Mike Batt’s musical version of the Lewis Carroll poem entitled, The Hunting of the Snark! It was presented at the Royal Albert Hall and featured many celebrity guests. John Hurt was the primary narrator. Julian sang on three of the musical numbers presented in the show!
Beatle George Harrison also had a connection to this presentation as he played guitar on one of the songs from the musical entitled “Children of the Sky”.
The cover of the Snark album:
The three primary songs on the soundtrack featuring Julian Lennon singing!
04 Mike Batt The Hunting Of The Snark – The Escapade
The Hunting of the Snark – Midnight Smoke
12 Mike Batt The Hunting Of The Snark – The Vanishing
Back cover featuring the soundtrack track listing and credits for the production!
THE IMAGINE 45
Though Julian has claimed that he would never record this iconic song of his dad’s, he relented to help raise funds for the Ukrainian struggle against the Russian invasion. The song appeared on a rare 45 shown below! He did not need to worry as his version was excellent. He was backed on guitar by Nuno Bettencourt!
Imagine (feat. Nuno Bettencourt)
The back cover of the 45:
THE JULIAN LENNON EVERYTHING CHANGES BOX SET
The music on this set was superb and deserved much wider acceptance in worldwide sales than it received. The boxed set featured the full production CD, an acoustic version and an instrumental version. A gorgeous and beautiful package!
Box Set, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered
3 x CD
DVD
2 x Vinyl, LP, Picture Disc
My signed copy of the excellent album:
A few beautiful sonic samples from another excellent Julian Lennon album:
CHILDREN OF THE WORLD:
Julian wrote a fabulous song with songwriter Nick Wood for a Japanese animated feature. The song was also used to raise funds in support of the damage incurred by an earthquake and tsunami that ravaged Japan. The song is beautiful and not many in the Western World are aware of its existence:
Released:
Sep 30, 2011
The album is dedicated to children effected by the earthquake and tsunami which devastated north-eastern Japan on March 11, 2011. The Tyler Foundation, inspired by these events, collaborated with world famous musicians, song writers, and producers to release the ‘Shine On! Volume One’ album. The collaboration includes original songs written and performed by international musicians such as Maxi Priest, Donna Burke, Julian Lennon, Mark Ballas, and more. It also includes lyrics contributed by Alan Menken and Academy Award winning lyricist Tim Rice.
Tracklist
1 Julian Lennon– Children Of The World
Music By, Lyrics By – Julian Lennon, Nick Wood
4:38
2 Tin Cup Gypsy– Bezi
Music By, Lyrics By – Mark Ferris (7)
3:40
3 Tierney Sutton Ft. Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band– Grade 3
Music By, Lyrics By – Mark Ferris (7)
2:51
4 Donna Burke– Howling At The Moon
Music By, Lyrics By – Alan Menken, Tim Rice
3:14
5 Tin Cup Gypsy– Summer Is Over
Music By, Lyrics By – Mark Ferris (7)
3:43
6 Amber Lily– Tanuki
Music By, Lyrics By – Mark Ferris (7)
3:35
7 Mark Ballas– The Sun Always Shines
Music By, Lyrics By – Michael Becker, Nick Souter, Nick Wood
4:39
8 Wendy Parr– Another Yesterday
Music By, Lyrics By – Kimberly Forsythe, Mark Ferris (7)
3:56
9 Maxi Priest– African Sky
Music By, Lyrics By – Mark Ferris (7), Maxi Priest, Nick Wood
4:28
10 Monday Michiru– Baby Rachel
Music By, Lyrics By – Mark Ferris (7)
5:36
11 Amber Lily Ft. Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band– Play With Me
Music By, Lyrics By – Mark Ferris (7)
4:10
12 Sakari Elementary School Choir Ft. Rie Fu– Who I Want To Be
Music By, Lyrics By – Mark Ferris (7)
5:12
My signed version of the Japanese CD called COO which was originally acquired by Charles Rosenay! COO was an animated Japanese feature!
Released:
1993
Contents of the COO CD:
1 Julian Lennon– Children Of The World 5:42
2 Nick Wood– Pago Pago Island 2:07
3 Nick Wood– Children Of The World (Orchestral Version) 2:40
“Hope”
“Hope”- a song written by Nick Wood and co-sung with Julian Lennon about a tsunami that hit Japan:
HOPE(HD) – Nick Wood feat. Julian Lennon, Tetsuya Komuro, and BEYOND Tomorrow Students – YouTube
ANOTHER RARE JULIAN SONG FROM MR. HOLLAND’S OPUS
COLE’S SONG – A DIALOGUE BETWEEN A SON AND A FATHER (IT SOUNDS RELEVANT TO JULIAN’S OWN LIFE)
A brilliant movie with a wonderful soundtrack. Listen to the Mike Kamen/Julian collaboration from the movie: A beautiful and heartfelt song-Cole’s Song!
Kamen: Cole’s Song – original version
THE RAREST RECORDING IN MY JULIAN LENNON COLLECTION:
This is a promo 10 inch of a Japanese recording that Julian Lennon did as promotional song for Fuji Products which he was promoting in Japan: This recording of the song appeared when Julian was beginning his career in the 80s!
The recording has never been posted on YouTube so I cannot post a link for it on here for you to listen to!
A copy of my DVD copy of the animated version of the Dickens classic of David Copperfield. Julian does the voice of the lead character and also sings a few songs in the video: This presentation originally appeared on US television in the 90s.
I’ll Be Your Hero – Julian Lennon
Sheena Easton & Julian Lennon – Is There Anyone (1993)
November 25, 1993 – Promo for ‘David Copperfield’ with Sheena Easton & Julian Lennon
David Copperfield – Is There Anyone
Family Christmas – David Copperfield 1993
Imagination- (w lyrics in info)
Voice cast
Julian Lennon as David Copperfield (cat)
Kelly Le Brock as Clara Copperfield (cat)
Sheena Easton as Agnes Wickfield (cat)
Arthur Holden as The Duke Wickfield (cat)
Howie Mandel as Mealy (dog)
Andrea Martin as Aunt Betsey (cat)
Michael York as Edward Murdstone (lion)
Richard Dumont as Grimby (mouse/rat)
Susan Glover as Mrs. Micawber (monkey), Peggotty (bear)
Joseph Marcell as Mr. Micawber (monkey)
Walter Massey as Doctor (cat)
Sonja Ball as Cheese Monster (vulture), Bird, Additional Voices
Terrence Scammell as Butcher (pig), Baker (raccoon), Additional voices
Songs
The songs are written by Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn.
“I Hate Boys!” – Aunt Betsey (Martin)
“I’ll Be Your Hero” – David (Lennon)
“Welcome to my Warehouse” – Murdstone and Grimby (York and Dumont)
“Is There Anyone?” – Agnes and David (Easton and Lennon)
“Something’s Gonna Turn Up” – David and Micawber (Lennon and Marcell)
“Imagination” – (Groulx)
“Everyone’s a Big Cheese Here” – (Groulx)
“Street Smart” – Mealy (Mandel; although featured, this song was mysteriously uncredited)
“Family Christmas” – Agnes, David, Micawber and Aunt Betsey (Easton, Lennon, Marcell and Martin)
JULIAN DOES THE VOICE OF TOBY-THE LITTLE TEAPOT IN THE EARLY 90s
“The Real Story of I’m a Little Teapot,” a delightful VHS from 1991 featuring Julian Lennon.
TIME-THE DAVE CLARK MUSICAL
I went to see this exciting musical in London in the 1980s and had a great time. I was enthused to hear that Julian was on three tracks of the soundtrack album including a duet record separately with Stevie Wonder!
The Julian Lennon tracks on this Dave Clark production:
Julian Lennon – If You Only Knew
Julian Lennon feat. Stevie Wonder – Time Will Teach Us All
THE MORNING TRIBE BOOK JULIAN LENNON BOOK WRITTEN WITH BART DAVIS
My signed copy of the book!
JULIAN DOES GERSHWIN
Summertime by Julian Lennon-excerpt from YouTube-Julian does Gershwin:
Summertime: Meninos do Morumbi featuring Julian Lennon
Have not seen the full performance of this benefit recording online but I was able to purchase the short and long version of the song when it was first issued!
JULIAN’S CHILDREN BOOK TRILOGY WRITTEN WITH BART DAVIS
Was very happy to acquire signed copies of the entire Julian book trilogy. Now looking forward to hopefully acquire a signed copy of his forthcoming autobiography:
JULIAN’S BOOK ABOUT THE BEATLES MEMORABILIA THAT HE PERSONALLY COLLECTED, PURCHASED, OR WAS GIVEN?
Lucky to have a signed copy of this book in the collection:
JULIAN’S BOOK COLLECTION OF SOME OF HIS FAVORITE PHOTOGRAPHS THAT HE HAS TAKEN:
I was so happy to acquire a signed copy of this fantastic book!
JULIAN”S CYCLE BOOK
His signature in the book!
A SET LIST FROM ONE OF JULIAN’S 1990s TOURS! THIS WAS FROM AN NY GIG!
Julian Lennon – Crucified, No One But You & Saltwater (LIVE RARE) (Apparently from the 1990s)
ONE OF THE MOST SPECIAL ITEMS IN MY COLLECTION AND YOU PROBABLY CAN SEE WHY!!!
A SIGNED JULIAN DRUMHEAD – MANY PEOPLE DO NOT REALIZE THAT JULIAN PLAYED DRUMS IN AN EARLY BAND HE WAS IN!
If anyone knows the photographer who took this picture, please let me know so they can be properly acknowledged and credited-thank you. (The purpose of using this photo was to highlight the statement made in the previous photo)
A SIGNED JULIAN LENNON BASEBALL
A signed baseball from Julian Lennon
MY FRAMED COPY OF A JULIAN LENNON SIGNED PRINT!
ANOTHER HIGHLIGHT FROM MY COLLECTION-THE FRAMED SIGNED VALOTTE LP WITH THE HANDWRITTEN LYRICS TO THE TITLE SONG!
A closeup of the lyrics:
MY PLATINUM AND GOLD RECORDS GIVEN TO ME BY AN ATLANTIC RECORDS EMPLOYEE OF MANY YEARS AND A DEAR FRIEND!
The gold record of the 2nd album:
Signed copy of the 2nd album:
Signed copy of the Mr. Jordan album:
THE GORGEOUS PHOTOGRAPH SMILE ALBUM BY JULIAN LENNON:
A signed promotional poster of the album cover:
Some sonic samples from the album:
Julian Lennon – Day After Day [Official Music Video]
A signed copy of the special cd cover for the album:
JULIAN’S JUDE ALBUM
Five Stellar Tracks from the wonderful Julian Lennon Jude album featuring my latest signed Julian Lennon signed album cover
Julian Lennon – Not One Night (Official Audio)
Julian Lennon – Love Never Dies (Official Audio)
My signed copy of the latest Julian Lennon LP named Jude. The unusual aspect of this signed LP is that in most signed versions of the LP, his signature appears on a print of the album cover that appears within the LP. This signature is actually on the album cover.
The Julian Lennon Jude album track listing:
ONE OF THE EARLIEST AND RAREST APPEARANCES OF JULIAN LENNON ON RECORD
One of the rarest Julian Lennon recordings an Elton John cover song recorded by Julian in the 1980s. The original recording by Elton was an instrumental. In this cover, Julian does vocals in the refrain that closes the song.
The Rafael Ravenscroft that Julian backed on this 1980s LP was the same sax player that played on the well-known Baker Street track by Gerry Rafferty!
Back cover of the LP:
Julian returns to LUCY
Julian performed this track to honor his former schoolmate Lucy Vodden who was to pass away from Lupus.
The writer of the track, James Scott Cook whose grandmother also had lupus was also named Lucy.
Lucy being performed by Julian Lennon and James Scott Cook:
A signed poster from a copy of the Lucy CD that I was able to acquire. These were inserted randomly in the package to surprise a few people who were fortunate enough to get one:
IS IT, OR ISN’T IT?
There is a lot of talk about whether this actually is the Julian drawing that inspired the Beatles song “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”. The original of this drawing is currently possessed by David Gilmour of Pink Floyd fame. I hope the puzzle is one day solved to everyone’s satisfaction
A SIGNED COVER OF ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE
Julian signed this cover story issue about him on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine:
THE UNKNOWN BUT BEAUTIFUL SONG ABOUT HIS DAD!
Julian signed this copy of the lyrics to an unreleased song he wrote about his father called Loving is Easy (When You Don’t Count the Costs!) He signed it for me in São Paulo, Brazil at a photographic exhibition. The late Taylana Zedra was so kind in obtaining it for me.
Julian signing the lyrics of the song. Noticed that someone had posted a radio broadcast of the song on YouTube:
Julian Lennon – Loving Is Easy When You Don’t Count The Costs
A personal note of thanks from Julian:
A personal note that I received from Julian after I sent him a copy of his grandfather Freddie singing a song he had written and the particular version, I sent to Julian, was a very rare as it was his grandfather singing the song partially in the Dutch language: That’s My Life – Freddie Lennon – Dutch version – 1966
Childhood Julian signatures:
Julian Lennon signs the Hunter Davies Beatles biography as a 5-year-old.
The earliest sample of Julian’s signature in my collection. It was Julian’s writing of his first name on a 4-year-old birthday party invitation, and he apparently was just learning to write as he forgot the letter A in his first name!
A COUPLE OF CLOSING JULIAN COLLABORATIONS WITH OTHER ARTISTS:
THE END:
Would like to close with a few fine collaborations of Julian with other artists:
“To The Good Old Days”-Julian and Dennis DeYoung, former lead singer of Styx:
Julian Lennon + Dennis DeYoung – “To The Good Old Days” (Official Video)
Julian Lennon + Dennis DeYoung – “To The Good Old Days” (Art Track)
“Rain in England”
“Rain in England”- a wonderful song co-sung by Tony Mortimer and Julian Lennon. This song creates a unique imagery imprint of being in England when it rains!
Rain in England (Radio Mix) – YouTube
and finally…
“The High Road”
Another beautiful duet. This wonderful song was written by Brent Bourgeois and Julian alternates singing the verses with Brent: “The High Road”
Take the high road in everything you do in life and you should be Ok!
Be healthy and be happy!
Buzz
This blog poster never likes to close the curtain!!! LOL!
Julian Lennon covers America and the Rolling Stones:
Julian Lennon – I Need You (Cover)
A Digital only release with a thematic nod to the Saltwater release
Julian Lennon – Change (Official Audio)
CHEERS!
Be Healthy and be happy!
Buzz
I appreciate all of the information here. I did see Julian in the 80s when he went out in his first tour. He is a well rounded artist- musician photographer, author. A good man who took care of his mother and who has given us a lot to appreciate. Thank you, Julian.
Thank you for your comments, Patricia. He is a wonderful caring man who does his best to “make a difference in this often-crazy world in which we live.”
Thank you for posting Buzz! I am so grateful to have met Julian once, what a wonderful guy. His music has meant so much to me since 1984! I have over 125 kinds of Jules releases, and your discussion here prompted me to add even more to my wish list!
Anyone ever seen Julian do the voice for The Little Teapot animation? It was an adorable cartoon! I have on a VHS tape.
Jennifer-Thanks for the reminder. I had forgotten about that one. I amended the post thanks to you to include the old VHS tape on which the program appeared! Thanks!
Great! True, it can be hard to remember everything you buy after all of these years. I know it is for me!
Jennifer-saw this link to the program pn the internet:
https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=+I%27M+a+little+teapot+VHS+featuring+the+voice+of+Julian+Lennon+on+dvd&mid=E61EB1A755C2F82C760DE61EB1A755C2F82C760D&churl=&FORM=VIRE
You are absolutely right… Julian is so undervalued. I have all his albums and they are all excellent… and some of the collaborations you highlight. Thanks so much for posting such a detailed resume, which was interesting , informative and for many , hopefully, a revelation
Thank you for your comments, Robert! What I have found interesting as a collector is to be able to seek out the many collaborations that Julian has performed with other artists. That list of collaborations is far greater than the ones that were mentioned on this post!
I have nothing but respect for Julian’s musical and literary output.
A very talented man, sadly the son of a very famous father and unfairly compared. I haven’t seen his photographic work but will look into that. A man of many colours.
Martin L Saunders
Thank you for your comments and feelings concerning the subject at hand, Martin! Much appreciated!