Mother by John Lennon – ****

First released: 1970

Lennon really belts this one out that actually has two versions in release: a mono single version and a stereo album version. The album version is preferable to me just to hear Lennon totally shred his vocal chords near the end of the track. Make sure you turn your volume knob down in a hurry or you will be blasted with the opening notes of "Hold On" from "John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band". The song was also included on the 1975 compilation "Shaved Fish", the "Imagine: John Lennon" soundtrack from 1988, 1990’s "Lennon", "Lennon Legend" from 1997 in single edit form, and "Working Class Hero" from 2005. Lennon also performed this live in 1972 and this version was released in 1986 on "Live in New York City". This version was also on "Instant Karma" from 2001. There’s also a demo version released on 1998’s "The John Lennon Anthology".