Editing Shaved Fish

{{Use British English|date=December 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date= December 2019}}
{{Infobox album
| name       = Shaved Fish
| type       = compilation
| artist     = [[John Lennon]] with [[Plastic Ono Band]]
| cover      = JohnLennon-albums-shavedfish.jpg
| border     = yes
| alt        = Superimposed on a background consisting mostly of a cloudy, pale blue sky is a three-row by four-column borderless grid. Eleven of the 12 blocks in the grid contain the title from one of the songs on the album and an illustration for that song.  The 12th block, located in the first row, third column, has a white background.  Starting from the top, the words "SHAVED FISH LENNON" are vertically aligned, appearing in large black block capitals with a red dot centred in a separate row between "FISH" and "LENNON"; below "LENNON", in a single row of smaller block capitals, are the words "PLASTIC ONO BAND".
| released   = {{Start date|1975|10|20|df=y}}
| recorded   = June 1969&nbsp;– July 1974
| venue      =
| studio     =
| genre      = [[Rock music|Rock]]
| length     = {{duration|m=41|s=55}}
| label      = [[Apple Records|Apple]]
| producer   = [[John Lennon]], [[Yoko Ono]], <br /> [[Phil Spector]]
| chronology = [[John Lennon]]
| prev_title = [[Rock 'n' Roll (John Lennon album)|Rock 'n' Roll]]
| prev_year  = 1975
| next_title = [[Double Fantasy]]
| next_year  = 1980
| misc       = {{Singles
 | name        = Shaved Fish
 | type        = compilation
 | single1     = [[Imagine (John Lennon song)|Imagine]]
 | single1date = 24 October 1975 (UK)
}}
}}
'''''Shaved Fish''''' is a compilation album by English rock musician [[John Lennon]] with the [[Plastic Ono Band]], issued in October 1975 on [[Apple Records]]. It contains all of the [[single (music)|singles]] that he had issued up to that point in the United States as a solo artist, with the exception of "[[Stand by Me (Ben E. King song)|Stand by Me]]", which had been released earlier that year. The only compilation of Lennon's non-[[The Beatles|Beatles]] recordings released during his lifetime, the album peaked at number 8 in the UK and number 12 in the US. It was also Lennon's final album released on Apple Records before it was shut down in 1975,{{cn|date=February 2024}} to be revived in the 1990s.

==Background==
After the release of his album of [[oldies]] [[cover version]]s, [[Rock 'n' Roll (John Lennon album)|''Rock 'n' Roll'']] (1975), Lennon was planning to work on an album of new material. However, when his wife [[Yoko Ono]] became pregnant, he decided to reissue songs from his solo career.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Blaney|first=John|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZuCZR7MiDA0C|title=John Lennon: Listen to This Book|date=2005|publisher=John Blaney|isbn=978-0-9544528-1-0|pages=173|language=en}}</ref>

{{quote|What I found out was, when I went to look for the "[[Cold Turkey]]" master tapes, nobody knew where they were. I had to use dubs of "[[Power to the People (song)|Power to the People]]" because the tapes were gone, nobody could give a damn at the record companies because they weren't... you know, that big. Big enough for them to be interested... I thought if I don't put this package together, some of the work is just going to go... they will be lost forever.|John Lennon<ref>{{Cite book|last=Peebles|first=Andy|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/9158501|title=The Last Lennon Tapes: John Lennon and Yoko Ono Talk to Andy Peebles December 6, 1980.|date=1983|publisher=Dell Publishing|isbn=0-440-04903-2|location=New York|oclc=9158501}}</ref>}}

==Content==
''Shaved Fish'' includes many of Lennon's most popular solo recordings in their original [[Single (music)|45 rpm]] single edits. Five of the songs had not been previously issued on an album: "Cold Turkey", "[[Instant Karma!]]", "Power to the People", the holiday single "[[Happy Xmas (War Is Over)]]" and "[[Give Peace a Chance]]". The latter appears in truncated form and opens side one, while an excerpt of a live version of the song closes side two.<ref name="madinger">{{cite book|last=Madinger|first=Chip|title=Eight Arms to Hold You: The Solo Beatles Compendium|year=2000|publisher=44.1 Productions|location=Chesterfield, MO|isbn=0-615-11724-4|author2=Easter, Mark |page=80}}</ref> Eight of these singles made the Top 40 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' chart]], with "[[Whatever Gets You thru the Night]]" going to number 1; five made the top ten in the [[United Kingdom]]. "[[Imagine (John Lennon song)|Imagine]]", never previously released as a single in the UK, was issued as such concurrent to the release of this album.

==Artwork and packaging==
Roy Kohara was the art director of the album, and the illustrations were made by Michael Bryan.<ref name="allmus"/> The cover is divided into twelve rectangles: one for each of the eleven songs on the LP, and one for the album title, written in ''Bruce Mikita'' [[font]] (also known as ''Novel Open'').<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hardwig|first=Florian|date=2020-10-09|title=Lennon / Plastic Ono Band – Shaved Fish album art|url=https://fontsinuse.com/uses/33185/lennon-plastic-ono-band-shaved-fish-album-art|access-date=2020-11-06|website=Fonts in Use}}</ref>

The album title originates from the Japanese food [[katsuobushi]], a kind of dried fish.{{citation needed|date=December 2021}}

==Release==
''Shaved Fish'' was released on 20 October 1975 in the US<ref>{{Cite web| title=Shaved Fish |url=http://www.johnlennon.com/music/albums/shaved-fish |access-date=17 December 2021 |website=johnlennon.com}}</ref> and 24 October in the UK.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bpi.co.uk/award/5813-2886-2|title=BPI}}</ref> The release of the album came less than three weeks after the resolution of Lennon's long-running immigration dispute and the birth of [[Sean Lennon]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Womack|first1=Kenneth|author-link1=Kenneth Womack|title=The Beatles Encyclopedia: Everything Fab Four|date=2014|publisher=ABC-CLIO Greenwood|location=Santa Barbara|isbn=978-0-313-39171-2|page=823|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xWRyBAAAQBAJ&q=%22john%20lennon%22%20%22katsuobushi%22&pg=PA823|access-date=29 November 2014}}</ref>

Several of the master tapes were unavailable for the compilation, and dubs from 45 rpm single records were used. Due to this, the first release of the [[compact disc]] in May 1987 suffered from poor sound quality and needed to be remastered. The improved CD version was issued in December 1987,<ref name=":0" /> restoring the full fadeouts that were shortened in some of the songs on the original release.<ref>{{Cite web|date=1 June 1989|title=Better late than never for remastered CDs|url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/423708581/|url-access=subscription|access-date=2020-11-07|website=The Gazette from Montreal|location=Quebec|page=54|language=en|via=Newspapers}}</ref>

In February 1976, following the release of the album, Lennon's recording contract expired, and he was uninterested in re-signing with EMI/Capitol.<ref name=Rough110-111>{{cite book|last=Ingham|first=Chris|title=The Rough Guide to The Beatles|year=2003|publisher=Rough Guides|location=London|isbn=978-1-84353-140-1|edition=1st|pages=110–111}}</ref>

==Reception==
{{Album ratings
| rev1      = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="allmus">{{cite web| title=Shaved Fish | url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r11535|pure_url=yes}} | publisher=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=2009-11-20}}</ref>
|rev2 = ''[[Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies|Christgau's Record Guide]]''
|rev2Score = B+<ref name="CG">{{cite book|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|year=1981|title=[[Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies]]|publisher=[[Ticknor & Fields]]|isbn=089919026X|chapter=Consumer Guide '70s: L|chapter-url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_chap.php?k=L&bk=70|access-date=1 March 2019|via=robertchristgau.com}}</ref>
| rev3 = [[MusicHound]]
| rev3Score = 3/5<ref>Gary Graff & Daniel Durchholz (eds), ''MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide'', Visible Ink Press (Farmington Hills, MI, 1999; {{ISBN|1-57859-061-2}}), p. 667.</ref>
| rev4 = ''[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide]]''
| rev4Score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/john-lennon/albumguide |title=John Lennon: Album Guide &#124; Rolling Stone Music |publisher=Rollingstone.com |access-date=16 August 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209175016/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/john-lennon/albumguide |archive-date=9 February 2014 }}</ref>
}}

===Critical===
[[Robert Christgau]] of ''[[The Village Voice]]'' called the album "eleven shots in the dark from the weirdest major rock and roller of the early '70s" and said "not counting the two available on must-own albums, the only great cuts are 'Instant Karma' (Lennon's best political song) and '#9 Dream.'"<ref name="christgau">{{cite web| title=John Lennon: Shaved Fish| url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?id=684 | publisher=[[Robert Christgau]] |access-date=2009-11-20}}</ref> [[Dave Marsh]] of ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' praised the inclusion of non-album songs like "Instant Karma!", calling it "Lennon's best solo track", but deemed the compilation "so diffuse that it probably does present an accurate overview of Lennon's confused career since leaving the Beatles." He concluded that the album was evidence "not only of John Lennon's genius but of his continuing career difficulty."<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Marsh |first=Dave |title=Shaved Fish |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/shaved-fish-92296 |publisher=Penske Media Corporation |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=18 December 1975 |access-date=17 December 2021}}</ref> [[Charles Shaar Murray]] of the ''[[NME]]'' called ''Shaved Fish'' "as nifty a Greatest Hits album as you could expect from anybody who hasn't already put one out" and deemed the performances "stunning throughout". However, he felt the track selection was "a little off whack", particularly the inclusion of "Mother", which he found to be "such an integral part of the initial ''Plastic Ono Band'' album that I feel it's manifestly unfair to both artist and public to include it on an album of this nature."<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Murray |first1=Charles Shaar |author-link1=Charles Shaar Murray |date=October 2003 |orig-date=1 November 1975 |editor-last=Sutherland |editor-first=Steve |title=John Lennon: 'Shaved Fish' |magazine=John Lennon |series=NME Originals |location=London |publisher=IPC IGNITE! |volume=1 |issue=10 |page=126}}</ref>

A ''[[Creem]]'' magazine reader's poll in 1975 included the album among the top five "Best Reissues" of 1975, placing fourth, behind two [[The Rolling Stones|Rolling Stones]] compilations, ''[[Made in the Shade]]'' and ''[[Metamorphosis (The Rolling Stones album)|Metamorphosis]]'', and [[Bob Dylan]]'s ''[[The Basement Tapes]]''.<ref>{{cite web| title=CREEM Magazine 1975 Reader Poll Results | url=http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/creem_lists.htm#1975 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070110130743/http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/creem_lists.htm#1975 | url-status=usurped | archive-date=10 January 2007 | publisher=rocklistmusic.co.uk | work=[[Creem]] | access-date=2009-11-20}}</ref>

===Commercial===
The album was released in the UK on 24 October 1975, peaking at number 8.{{#tag:ref|UK Apple PCS 7173<ref name=Listen171 />|group="nb"}}<ref name=Listen171>{{cite book|last=Blaney|first=John|title=John Lennon: Listen to This Book|year=2005|publisher=Paper Jukebox|location=[S.l.]|isbn=978-0-9544528-1-0|edition=illustrated|page=171}}</ref> Released from the album on the same day in the UK was the single "Imagine", backed with "[[Working Class Hero]]", charting at number 6.<ref name=Listen171 /> The single was also Lennon's last for [[Apple Records]].<ref name=Listen171 /> 

The album later re-charted in the UK on 17 January 1981, at number 11.<ref name=Listen171 />

==Track listing==
All songs by John Lennon, except where noted.

===Side one===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! No.
!style="width:18em"| Song
! Length
! Notes
|-
|align="center"| 1 || "[[Give Peace a Chance]]"
|align="center"| 0:57
|style="font-size: small;" |
* Only the first minute of "Give Peace a Chance" is excerpted here.
* Issued as a single 4 July 1969 (UK) and 7 July 1969 (US).{{sfn|Wiener|1994|p=83}}
* Credited to [[Lennon–McCartney]] on the original single issue and vinyl edition of ''Shaved Fish'',<ref>''Shaved Fish''. [[Apple Records]] SW 3421, 1975, back cover credits.</ref> the song now appears as credited to Lennon alone.<ref>John Lennon. ''[[Working Class Hero: The Definitive Lennon|Working Class Hero]]''. [[Capitol Records]] CDP 0946 3 40391 2 3, 2005, [[liner notes]].</ref>
|-
|align="center"| 2 || "[[Cold Turkey]]"
|align="center"| 5:01
|style="font-size: small;" |
* Issued as a single 20 October 1969 (US) and 24 October 1969 (UK).{{sfn|Wiener|1994|p=86}}
|-
|align="center"| 3 || "[[Instant Karma!|Instant Karma! (We All Shine On)]]"
|align="center"| 3:21
|style="font-size: small;"|
* UK single mix, issued as a single in the UK on 6 February 1970; a different mix was issued as a single in the US on 20 February 1970.{{sfn|Wiener|1994|p=90}}
|-
|align="center"| 4 || "[[Power to the People (song)|Power to the People]]"
|align="center"| 3:21
|style="font-size: small;" |
* Issued as a single 12 March 1971 (UK) and 22 March 1971 (US).{{sfn|Wiener|1994|p=94–95}}
|-
|align="center"| 5 || "[[Mother (John Lennon song)|Mother]]"
|align="center"| 5:03
|style="font-size: small;" |
* From the album ''[[John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band]]'' (1970).
* Exclusive edit, different from the single edit issued on 28 December 1970 (US).{{sfn|Wiener|1994|p=94}} This edit includes the bells at the intro not present on the single edit, and fades out later than the single but earlier than the LP version.
|-
|align="center"| 6 || "[[Woman Is the Nigger of the World]]" <small>{{nowrap|(John Lennon, [[Yoko Ono]])}}</small>
|align="center"| 4:37
|style="font-size: small;" |
* From the album ''[[Some Time in New York City]]'' (1972).
* Exclusive edit; a longer version had been released on an American single on 24 April 1972 and on the LP.<ref>''Some Time in New York City.'' Apple Records SVBB 3392, 1972, side one track timings.</ref>{{sfn|Wiener|1994|p=100}}
|}

===Side two===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! No.
!style="width:18em"| Song
! Length
! Notes
|-
|align="center"| 1 || "[[Imagine (John Lennon song)|Imagine]]"
|align="center"| 3:02
|style="font-size: small;" |
* From the album ''[[Imagine (John Lennon album)|Imagine]]'' (1971).
* Issued as a single 11 October 1971 (US){{sfn|Wiener|1994|p=97}} and 24 October 1975 (UK).{{sfn|Wiener|1994|p=116}}
|-
|align="center"| 2 || "[[Whatever Gets You thru the Night]]"
|align="center"| 3:03
|style="font-size: small;" |
* From the album ''[[Walls and Bridges]]'' (1974).
* With [[Elton John]] on piano and backing vocals.
* Exclusive edit. The single, issued 23 September 1974 (US) and 4 October 1974 (UK){{sfn|Wiener|1994|p=109}} ran for 3:20, while the LP version was 3:24.
|-
|align="center"| 3 || "[[Mind Games (John Lennon song)|Mind Games]]"
|align="center"| 4:12
|style="font-size: small;" |
* From the album ''[[Mind Games (John Lennon album)|Mind Games]]'' (1973).
* Issued as a single 29 October 1973 (US) and 16 November 1973 (UK).{{sfn|Wiener|1994|p=106}}
|-
|align="center"| 4 || "[[Number 9 Dream|#9 Dream]]"
|align="center"| 4:47
|style="font-size: small;" |
* From the album ''Walls and Bridges''.
* Issued as a single 16 December 1974 (US) and 31 January 1975 (UK).{{sfn|Wiener|1994|p=112}}
|-
|align="center"| 5 || "[[Happy Xmas (War Is Over)]]" /<br />"Give Peace a Chance (Reprise)" <small>{{nowrap|(Lennon, Ono)}}</small>
|align="center"| 4:15
|style="font-size: small;" |
* "Happy Xmas" issued as a single on 1 December 1971 (US) and 24 November 1972 (UK).{{sfn|Wiener|1994|p=98}}
* An excerpt from a live performance of "Give Peace a Chance" recorded at the [[Live in New York City (John Lennon album)|1972 "One to One" concerts]] is crossfaded onto the song's ending.<ref name="madinger"/>
|}

== Certifications ==
{{certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for ''Shaved Fish''}}
{{certification Table Entry|title=Shaved Fish|artist=John Lennon|type=album|relyear=1975|certyear=1976|region=United Kingdom|award=Gold|access-date=27 December 2022|id=5813-2886-2}}
{{certification Table Entry|title=Shaved Fish|artist=John Lennon|type=album|relyear=1975|certyear=1991|region=United States|award=Platinum|access-date=27 December 2022}}
{{certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}

==References==
'''Footnotes'''
{{Reflist|group="nb"}}

'''Citations'''
{{Reflist}}

'''Bibliography'''
* {{cite book|last=Wiener |first=Allen |title= The Beatles: The Ultimate Recording Guide |year=1994 |publisher=Bob Adams, Inc. |location=Holbrook, MA |isbn=1-55850-414-1|edition=Third Revised }}

{{John Lennon}}
{{Plastic Ono Band}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1975 greatest hits albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Phil Spector]]
[[Category:John Lennon compilation albums]]
[[Category:Apple Records compilation albums]]
[[Category:Plastic Ono Band albums]]