Rating and commenting upon an artist such as John Lennon always invokes emotional responses. First, let's keep in mind that there are two separate entries on this list, one each for Lennon and the Beatles, and the two should be analyzed separately. Second, the Beatles are clearly a case where the sum was much greater than all the individual parts. Lastly, I can't carry a tune in a bucket, but just because I may be for world peace or may tolerate a bitchy woman doesn't make me a five star solo musician. With all that said, when one objectively looks at Lennon's solo work as a more casual fan and when compared to the other artists on this list, Lennon just doesn't merit more than three stars. Sure, he had his moments as a solo artist (eg Mind Games, Watching The Wheels, the overrated but still excellent Imagine, and (Just Like) Starting Over), but most music fans would not consider any of his full length releases necessary and would be more than satisfied by one of the compilation releases that are available.

John Lennon Was A Good Singer & Songwriter But He Was A Terrible Father To Julian He Could Have Been Better To Julian! From Kirsten

THE HIPPY BUM BROKE UP THE BEATLES I HAVE NO RESPECT FOR HIM AND YOKO.

The prolific songwriter of the Beatles was a legend on his own as well.

The thing with his quote about Jesus, ok here's the scoop: He ment to say that more kids were paying more attention to them then church but it came out wrong!

He was an intergral part of the Beatles success, but on his own he seemed to reap the benefits of the Beatles' holdover popularity than doing anything groundbreaking on his own. Mr. Lennon is revered as a political figure to alot of people, however I fail to understand why. He lived his life as the "ultimate hippie", but the only reason he was able to do that for the last 10 years of his life was due to the money he had socked away as the result of being a popular entertainer. If he had not been independently wealthy as an entertainer, his lifestyle post-Beatles would have found him smack in the gutter with not enough money nor ambition to take care of the necessities of real life.

A mean, nasty piece of work, scarred from childhood and weird in his adult life. Selfish & rude too. His genius was destoryed by Yoko Ono. Hyped up and over rated.

John Lennon was out there and so was his music. He seemed like someone who was pertpetually wearing pink sunglasses all the time; he needed to get real. His wife's meddling also brought down the Beatles.

Great musician, terrible voice though.

The leader of the great band ever---that's worth 5 stars!

I love him. His music is beautiful and timeless. He had one of the most enthralling, powerful voices ever in rock music. He was controversial, contradictory, angry, sweet, totally brilliant. I have everything he ever did. Its still so frech and poignant today. I think he was a true visionary, a superlative artist. I love the Beatles stuff, I love the Yoko stuff he did, and I love his stuff alone. He was all human- which is the best thing about him. My very, very favorite musical artist of the 20th Century, followed closely by George Gershwin.

COMMUNIST, SHOULD HAVE BEEN DEPORTED, ONE OF THE CAUSES OF THE LIBERAL, POLITICALLY CORRECT GARBAGE THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH TODAY. SORRY THAT I GAVE HIM ONE STAR BUT THAT WAS AS LOW AS IT WENT.I BET HES NOT SINGING IMAGINE NOW. HOPEFULLY HE GOT RIGHT WITH THE ONE HE DENIED BEFORE HE PASSED BUT THERES NO WAY OF KNOWING.

Has there ever lived a greater song writer?

HIS DUMB EGOCENTRIC WIFE HAD SUCH A DELETRIOUS EFFECT ON HIM THAT HE CAN'T BE RATED HIGHER. HIS GREAT SONGS WERE TRULY GREAT BUT MOST OF HIS ALBUMS WERE FILLED WITH FERTILIZER.

Screw that hippie, anti american.. He is crap...

Made by the beatles, immortalized in assassination. Highly overrated

To be honest with you, I'm glad he's gone. Anyone who would use his fame and influence to refer to Jesus Christ as "a yellow-bellied, fascist bastard" deserves what he got. He was not the musical genius so many people made him out to be, nor was he some rock revolutianist. He was just a drug-sucking, dirty hippie that fell undeservingly into fame.

I had trouble with John Lennon after he left the Beatles. With the exception being "Imagine" alot of his music sounded like it was missing something. He's good, I won't argue with that, but I think that if a beatle needs to be at the top it needs to be Paul.

john lennon, he had a wit, but face it, he had no voice whatsoever, a few good songs, but come on he had major major problems, and if he wasnt in music, he would be as freaky as a unibomber

a true artist and a good soul.a great songwriiter who will be remember for all times.a true icon.

Great composer and musician, shame he married Yoko!

John Lennon...what can i say that hasn`t already been said. He is a true Working Class Hero...a gentleman in his own way...a true believer of "power to the people". A leader that would fight for the people`s rights and that wouldn´t take no Sh*t from nobody. He was more that a musician he was a Genius...WE MISS YOU JOHN!

Imagine his only reasonable song

5 stars... only because I can't give him 6.

WAY too overrated- he was nothing without the Beatles- besides, what a lunatic!!!

Genius & most influential personally never forget where I was when I found out he was killed Classic repertoire Killer no filler!

C'mon people give it up! First place to the beatles and 2nd to this lame-o another YUCK!!!

there could never be enough good words to describe john lennon. he was great as a beatle and even better on his own.

Lennon has always been my favorite Beatle. His solo career was the shortest and, despite disinterest in the mid 70's, greatest of the four beatles! "Plastic Ono Band" is a classic, one of the greatest albums of all time, "Imagine" is another gem, despite being a bit "Sugar coated", lets forget about "Sometime in New York City", "Mind Games" was a welcome return to form (despite John's growing disinterest with churning out music), "Walls and Bridges" was a very enjoyable album, despite being overproduced, "Rock and Roll" was an album filled with many enjoyable covers, and, lastly, John's songs were fabulous on "Double Fantasy" (I would have paid extra just to have Yoko's songs taken out). The many posthumous releases have also been great, A standout being the 1998 release "The John Lennon Anthology", it's head and shoulders above "Beatles Anthology" when it comes to quality. As for the other three beatles, Harrison's solo releases were quite satisfying, Paul's were, well, below par (awful), and Ringo...well he's Ringo, the little drummer who never could...great drummer, but great at little else. John Lennon's solo career was tragically cut short. We were robbed of a great musician and great person. RIP John, you will live forever in the hearts of all beatles fans, everywhere!

JohnnyRoulette has it spot on. Lennon is famous for The Beatles, where he was best collaborating with Paul; afterwards he is known for a few songs and his activism and idealism. He wrote some fantastic songs, remarkable in their simplicity. He wrote some real ducks as well. Better than average singer, reasonable guitarist, not a very good artist. I think he got carried away with himself and Yoko; he realised what an influence he was on people and had some great ideas, and some not so great. He was a man. Good at heart. A great loss.

Not much of a musician or songwriter, credit goes to Paul. Gets a point for being a Beatle.

He was the best songwriter among the Beatles and kept their music real. If I had to sum him up in one word, that would be "honest" .... he always spoke his mind, and he listened to his conscience.

Hey, I LOVE John Lennon. I think its a bit weird that people here are assuming and judging about his personal life. Why do you people care so much that the man loved his wife and was happy to share that with the world? Maybe he wanted everyone to accept her and understand that union, which obviously NO ONE has done. He's been dead for so long but people still hate the poor woman. Its time to move on, I think. Anyway, I want to make a few suggestions to people who question the brilliance of this man. Listen to these songs please: There's A Place,If I Fell,I Feel Fine,This Boy,No Reply,You've Got To Hide Your Love Away,Help!,You'reGonna Lose That Girl,Norweigen Wood,Girl,In My Life,Yer Blues,Happiness Is A Warm Gun,Rain,Strawberry Fields Forever,I Am the Walrus,A Day in the Life,Day Tripper,Julia,Across the Universe,Because, Come Together,Tell Me Why,I Want You (She's So Heavy),Sexy Sadie,I'm So Tired, I'm Only Sleeping,Tomorrow Never Knows,And Your Bird Can Sing,Yes It Is,Revolution,How?,Jealous Guy,Woman,Bless You,Mother,Look At Me,God,Crippled Inside,Gimme Some Truth,Watching the Wheels,#9 Dream, Surprise!Surprise!(Sweet Bird of Paradox),Luck of the Irish,Happy XMas,Imagine,Working Class Hero,(Just Like)Starting Over,Real Love,Oh My Love,Beautiful Boy,All You Need Is Love,Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds,Hey Bulldog!,Remember,Well Well Well, Out The Blue, Mind Games,I Know (I Know),Meat City,Tight A$,New York City,Attica State,etc,etc,etc. Ok? Then you can badmouth John Lennon and call him untalented and overrated. Just listen to those songs, which aren't even the jest of his entire repertoire, nor half of his contribution to music. A person's personal life is their personal life. You have to end it at some point. Appreciate the music and stop bitching about how he had screwed up politics and dragged his weird wife with him wherever he went. ATLEAST HE CARED. He could have been dull and boring and sang cute little pop tunes with stupid lyrics, but he cared. Give him his credit there, drop it about what he did outside of his music, and just listen. That should honestly be enough. Its almost too much. He was SO amazing.

Although I can see what people mean when they infer that Lennon has become some sort of a martyr, I can't say I agree with a few of the posts which state his contribution to the Beatles was a few songs here and there. That just is not true. John Lennon's contribution to the Beatles is enormous, to the extent that you can not possibly sum it up. Yes, he called himself a genius, and rightfully so. If you actually become more aware of what John did behind the scenes, instead of just favoring Paul McCartney because his songs were always the commercial hits, you'll understand why his position is that of the leader, the main-man, THE Beatle of them all. And its not even said to put down Paul McCartney, George Harrison, or Ringo Starr. Its just said as a plain fact. They were four guys who worked together,yes, but John had much of the drive and ambition and ideas that got them to where they eventually ruled the pop world. Paul McCartney has his right to be upset about all the adulation John gets, but if you actually READ some of the things Paul says, he admits it himself: John was his idol, John was the leader, and the three of them were pretty much in awe of John. I admit that I'm not so crazy about Lennon as a person, same as I could care less for Paul and never warmed to George- although I think he was probably the most sincere (along with Ringo). Lennon was one MAJOR egomaniac. On top of that, he behaved like a child half the time and seemed to think the world revolved around him and his wife. (I won’t go into the hypocrisy either.) I respect his loyalty to Yoko, and the fact that he realized his priorities in the end and devoted his time to raising a very healthy, beautiful kid. But I never really cared for him either way. Its his MUSIC that blows me away. I can't lie that I love his songs the most in the group. He had a killer voice, a fantastic amount of charisma when he sang, and he wrote generally gorgeous songs, awesome rock tunes, and he could be unbelievably deep and real at the same time. His music hits me. Paul's doesn't. That's the kind of stuff I'd listen to if I was into musicals...really bad musicals (Honey Pie, Martha My Dear, Maxwell’s Silver Hammer? come on...even his “good” songs do nothing for me) Paul's brilliant in his own way, but he can't touch John. And he knows it. Few can. He may have been a jerk in real life, but his music is the work of pure genius. That's all I have to say.

Of the four musicians who comprised the Beatles, John Lennon produced by far the most interesting body of work after the group disbanded. His solo (and Plastic Ono Band) efforts ranged from the brilliant to the execrable, but he was never, ever boring.

clearly the most talented beatle he saved the beatles from becoming schmaltzy which is certainly where paul would have led them had they continued into the 70's (pauls formula: write about 5 lines sing em pretty then repeat chorus 142 times i.e. hey jude and let it be) . john, to my taste, wrote thee very best perhaps three songs of all time in i am the walrus, a day in the life, balad of john and yoko. hard to tell at the end if he was losing his edge (on double fanasy) or just wanted to put out a bunch of gooey pop nonetheless he is thee greatest artist of all time in my opinion.

What are we talking about when rating John Lennon? Potilics? Music? Tendencies to be incredibly hypocritical? His cynicism? Maybe all of this combined. Forgive me for being a bit harsh on him, but, quite obviously, this is my opinion -- you're going to have the good and the bad. I appreciat him for his outspokenness and thoughts on human rights etc. "Power to the People," though basically a chant song, is wonderfully inspiring in some way. "Imagine" of course is beautiful. But what's this about "the MAIN Beatle," and "the only genuis in the band"?? For being the self-professed 'leader' he sure didn't care about his position much. "Strawberry Fields" comes to mind first as his major contribution, but other than that ... I'd have to think for a minute. Oh, okay, "In My Life," "Nowhere Man," ... Possibly I'm resentful of the way people portray him as a God/almighty perfect idol. News: he was terribly messed up, almost like a tortured artist of some sort. But, "hey, that's okay; he's a rebel. He can do ridiculous things and it just adds to his admirable character." How's that? Somehow, I don't get it. He was a terrible drug addict, but it's overlooked by some. Sure, so were the Beatles, but with pot and a few other things. John unfortunately had an eye for the hard drugs. His murder was completely wrong on every level of comprehension; it pains me to know someone actually thought to do such a thing. It's also unfortunate for this reason: he never wanted to become a martyr, but alas such is what he is. The problems I have are not with John Lennon the person, but John Lennon the image. He is also a self-professed genius, which is funny for those who praise him and degrade McCartney [his equal, mind you.] The same people who 'hate' McCartney for being self-centered, as they see it, are the same who embrace Lennon, his self-ritousness and sayings of "I could've been such-and-such, but I had to be a ****ing genius" intact. I think this whole thing started when he and the others stated "John is the leader." Besides all that, I respect him immensely. But I do not respect what people make him out to be.

To those of you berating him.....you should listen to Paul McCartney when he talks of Lennon and his influence on him personnally. It is clear from Paul's comments at many times over many years, that LENNON WAS THE BEATLE BOSS.

John Lennon is just the best! Of all the rock/pop musicians in history, none have touched me as deeply inside as has he. His music, both as part of the Beatles and in his own solo career, always strikes a real emotional chord, and the amount of influence he has had on such a vast number of comtemporary rock musicians is immeasurable. Even people I know who aren't too keen on his music have admitted that many of the bands they do love owe a great deal to Lennon. Of course, all the Beatles were, and still are, great, and the contributions of Paul, George and Ringo should not be overlooked, but it's Lennon who I feel closest to. His music is stunning and honest, having served as a real emotional outlet for him, but it's also the man he was that made him great. Sure, he had his flaws. He took drugs, drank and had bouts of physical violence. But he was only human, and, what really is impressive, is that he overcame all those vices in the end and managed to settle down and be a great, loving family guy for the last few years of his life. Lennon had it tough as a kid, and his life was troubled with a constant slew of family troubles, so inevitably he had a huge chip in his shoulder and a lot of inner resentment. But he didn't let that stop him from becoming a man of love and peace who campaigned so thoroughly and often creatively to make the world a better place, inspiring countless others along the way, and who was always determined, despite his struggles, to improve himself personally as a human being. And that's why I love him. It makes me so sad to think that a man so wonderful and compassionate that he was capable of touching generations way after his own could have been murdered by anyone. This world misses Lennon so much...but I know that his spirit lives on, and everything he wanted to tell us is right there in his songs. My personal favourite is 'Mind Games', an all-time classic. 'Imagine' wasn't his only fantastic song, you know!

I'm just going to pretend I'm not reading any of the negative things about John Lennon here. His music changed my life, and without it I wouldn't have even been interested in the Beatles to begin with. McCartney played the role in making the Beatles great? Complete bull. I can imagine the sound of the Beatles without John Lennon (never mind that the group wouldn't exist without him) and I don't think I would care for it one bit. Nice little pop songs aren't everything. John was deep, real, brilliant...my God he wrote "Strawberry Fields" for crying out loud.

Shouldda never done the Ono thing. Great as a Beatle, though.

Loved his Beatles work and his solo work despite its uneven characteristics. "Imagine" and "Plastic Ono Band" are good albums. He campaigned for world peace. He was a ghost when he was alive, and now his spirit is lingers around every time I put on songs like "Imagine" (probably the greatest rock and roll song ever). Not enough can be said about the man. Such an inspiration to all.

Great music... bad politics.

I personally do not like his atheistic, socialistic message.

Overrated. Was better with McCartney and visa versa

Tremendous talent. . .although Lennon fans have to admit he was getting slightly embarrassing near the end (remember the Dick Cavett show? Stethescope, anyone?) Like many artists, Lennon fancied himself an intellect when he wasn't. But what great music. . .a trememdous artist visionary who is sorely missed. "Imagine" is a great song.

Bloody hippie.

This scale doesn't go high enough to rate John Lennon. His contribution to music alone deserves a "5". But it was his development as a person, his power to inspire others, and his devotion to creating a better world and inspiring our souls that made him truely outstanding. It's HIS songs on the later Beatles albums that are the most thought provoking and complex. His work after the Beatles continued on that path, but became so raw and deep that people who wanted a more pop feel lost interest. But I don't think John cared (and neither do I). He was beyond searching for public approval by then, he was trying to change the world. John was an enlightened man that shared truth, and "those who had ears could hear". Anybody who thinks his work post-Beatles sucks should listen to Imagine and Beautiful Boy again. John wrote timeless songs that continue to influence musicians to this day, he's probably the best song writer that has ever lived in this century.

Yes, it's all been said here already, but it's human nature to get our own two-cents in, so here goes. John Lennon and his legacy are amazing. One human being has effected so many for so long, and for that I respect and admire Lennon. Those who believe that Paul wrote better music must not be musicians! Yes Paul was talented, but really there is no comparison here. John Lennon was incredibly talented and his solo work is some of the best music which exists. I love the beatles music, but I'd take any of John's solo work over the beatles any day. (let's not resort to namecalling here either! It is funny to watch people resort to elementary tactics like namecalling and cursing to make their point, but humor is not the focal point of this website. Let's refrain from insults, else somepeople might loose their recess.)

John was a genius.