Gimme Some Truth (2010) 


 

Disc One
  1. Working Class Hero
  2. Instant Karma!
  3. Power to the People
  4. God
  5. I Don't Wanna Be a Soldier Mama
     I Don't Wanna Die
  6. Gimme Some Truth
  7. Sunday Bloody Sunday
  8. Steel and Glass
  9. Meat City
  10.I Don't Wanna Face It
  11.Remember
  12.Woman is the Ni**er of the World
  13.I Found Out
  14.Isolation
  15.Imagine
  16.Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
  17.Give Peace a Chance
  18.Only People
  
Disc Two
  1. Mother
  2. Hold On
  3. You Are Here
  4. Well Well Well
  5. Oh My Love
  6. Oh Yoko!
  7. Grow Old With Me
  8. Love
  9. Jealous Guy
  10.Woman
  11.Out the Blue
  12.Bless You
  13.Nobody Loves You (When You're Down and Out)
  14.My Mummy's Dead
  15.I'm Losing You
  16.(Just Like) Starting Over
  17.No.9 Dream
  18.Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)
  
Disc Three
  1. Mind Games
  2. Nobody Told Me
  3. Cleanup Time
  4. Crippled Inside
  5. How Do You Sleep?
  6. How?
  7. Intuition
  8. I'm Stepping Out
  9. Whatever Gets You Thru the Night
  10.Old Dirt Road
  11.Scared
  12.What You Got
  13.Cold Turkey
  14.New York City
  15.Surprise, Surprise (Sweet Bird of Paradox)
  16.Borrowed Time
  17.Look at Me
  18.Watching the Wheels
  
Disc Four
  1. Be-Bop-a-Lula
  2. You Can't Catch Me
  3. Medley: Rip it Up/Ready Teddy
  4. Tight AS
  5. Ain't That a Shame
  6. Sweet Little Sixteen
  7. Do You Wanna Dance
  8. Slippin' and a Slidin'
  9. Peggy Sue
  10.Medley: Bring it on Home/Send Me Some Lovin'
  11.Yer Blues
  12.Just Because
  13.Bony Moronie
  14.Beef Jerky
  15.Ya Ya
  16.Hound Dog
  17.Stand By Me
  18.Here We Go Again

 

Released in 2010 as part of a comprehensive reissue campaign marking what would have been John Lennon’s 70th birthday, Gimme Some Truth offers a sprawling four-disc overview of his solo career. Rather than opting for a traditional chronological sequence, the tracks are grouped thematically under banners such as Working Class Hero, Woman, Borrowed Time, and Roots—an attempt, presumably, to reframe Lennon’s post-Beatles output in terms of recurring ideas rather than linear progression.

The result is a well-curated, handsomely packaged set that succeeds more as an interpretive project than a definitive retrospective. The sound quality is excellent—newly remastered across the board—and the selections are thoughtfully made. All of the essential tracks are here, along with a few deeper cuts and curiosities that help fill in the picture for the uninitiated.

But therein lies the dilemma. At four full discs in length, Gimme Some Truth covers nearly the entirety of Lennon’s solo output. And for many listeners, it raises the obvious question: why not simply purchase the original albums? With Lennon’s solo discography consisting of only a handful of studio releases, this set, while expansive, begins to feel more like a rearrangement of existing materials than a discovery of something new.

To its credit, the thematic approach does reveal some interesting continuities across Lennon’s work—his social conscience, his vulnerability, his fascination with domestic life. But for those already familiar with the albums, these connections were hardly hidden to begin with. And while the sequencing may offer fresh context, it doesn’t necessarily deepen the listening experience in a meaningful way.

Ultimately, Gimme Some Truth is a strong collection, but one whose real audience lies somewhere between the casual listener and the completist. For newcomers, it offers a more immersive entry point than a single-disc greatest hits package. For those already in possession of the core albums, however, it feels more archival than essential. A handsome box, certainly—but not a necessary one.

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