John Lennon’s 84th birthday celebrated with new “meditation mixes” of ‘Mind Games’
To celebrate what would have been John Lennon’s 84th birthday, a box set has been shared containing “meditation mixes” of his 1973 song ‘Mind Games’.
Details of the box set were first shared back in August, when the late musician’s son Sean Ono Lennon announced the project. Initially, the mindful remixes of the hit were shared on the app Lumeate, before being confirmed as being given both a digital and limited-edition physical release.
Today’s release of the digital version (October 9) coincides with both John’s and Sean’s birthdays. The 3LP physical edition is set to arrive on Friday (October 11) via Capitol/UMe. Stream the digital version below, and pre-order the vinyl here.
The mixes feature nine reworkings of ‘Mind Games’ which were created in a bid to help listeners relax and guide them into deeper states of consciousness. Titled ‘Mind Games – The Meditation Mixes’, numerous sound design techniques and processes to the original multitrack recordings, and it was mixed and engineered by Sam Gannon.
In some cases, the tracks have been enhanced with additional instrumentation from Sean, and additional recording engineering has come from Scott Holingsworth.
As for the physical copies, the LPs are pressed on 180-gram crystal clear vinyl and arrive packaged in a triple gatefold mirror board sleeve. The ‘Side B’ of the third vinyl in the set includes nine unique 1.8 second mantras, which play continually in the vinyl’s run-out grooves to create infinite loops.
According to a new press release, the new mixes “forge their own space while maintaining firm, authentic roots in John Lennon’s original recording of the original song.”
Each of the nine has been altered, slowed down and extended, and some now run upwards of 33 minutes. According to a new description, four of the tracks are presented as “Binaural versions that each focus on different types of brain waves: Beta, Delta, Gamma, and Theta.”
Titled ‘Mind’, ‘Space’, ‘Spirit’, and ‘Love’, they each feature a Binaural Beat – “an auditory illusion created within the brain when the left and right ears hear two slightly different frequencies” and can “activate different brain patterns for scientifically proven therapeutic effects.”
Originally released in 1973, ‘Mind Games’ served as the opening track of the legendary musician’s album of the same name, and became a top 20 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.
Speaking of the release in a statement earlier this year, Sean said: “You might say meditation is the ultimate mind game. These very abstract interpretations will hopefully assist you in exploring your ‘Innerverse.’
“I was both thrilled and surprised when UMG said they wanted to make a vinyl edition,” he continued. “This part of the ‘Mind Games’ project evolved spontaneously and feels like it is sprinkled with just the right amount of good vibes and fairy dust. (Effects may vary).”
Upon being debuted on the Lumeate app earlier this year, the release came in conjunction with Mental Health Awareness Month, and each of the nine “meditation mixes” was light sequenced, using carefully selected flicker frequencies to accompany the mind-and-mood-altering sound.
Other ways that the late musician’s 84th birthday is being celebrated includes the relighting of the Imagine Peace Tower in Iceland. Created by Yoko Ono Lennon in 2007, the outdoor artwork dedicated to The Beatles’ member will be lit for the 18th time at 8pm GMT tonight.
At the event, Valdimar Guõmindsson and Örn Eldjárn will perform live, and Reykjavik mayor Einor Þorsteinsson will give a speech.
As well as that a new limited-edition speaker has been shared for the occasion. Inspired by ‘Mind Games’, the new piece of tech has been designed by Teenage Engineering – find out more here.
Similarly, D’Addario has unveiled a new run of John Lennon licensed guitar accessories too, including new guitar picks and straps (check them out here), and mobile music game Beatstar has collaborated with the late musician’s estate for a new announcement, coming on November 15.
In other news, Sean previously opened up about the importance of his father and his music and his parents’ relationship.
“One thing that distinguishes my dad’s solo career is how personal his lyrics became. It is like a diary, and it is my duty to bring attention to my father’s music. Not just my duty to him, but a duty to the world,” he told The Times. “With the world as it is now, people have forgotten so many things that I never imagined could be forgotten. I refuse to let that happen to this music — it means too much to me.”
As for The Beatles, the Liverpool legends recently announced a new boxset, comprising their 1964 US albums and celebrating six decades of Beatlemania. More recently, Paul McCartney performed the “final” Beatles track ‘Now And Then’ live for the first time in Uruguay.
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Liberty Dunworth
NME
