«Power to the People» revives John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s most defiant era
Released on the heels of “One to One: John & Yoko,” the exquisite documentary directed by Kevin Macdonald and Sam Rice-Edwards, “Power to the People” makes for a worthy addition to the ongoing series of legacy releases by the Lennon estate. Under Sean Ono Lennon’s direction, these collections have proven, time and time again, to be the cream of the crop when it comes to celebrating the post-Beatles legacy.
The “Power to the People” box set affords listeners an expansive and, indeed, immersive experience when it comes to the Lennons’ August 30, 1972, “One to One” benefit concerts at New York City’s Madison Square Garden. Held on behalf of disabled students at Staten Island’s Willowbrook School, the concerts offer a vivid depiction of John and Yoko at the height of their 1970s-era social activism. In terms of pure historical value, the “One to One” event marked the only full-length concerts that Lennon undertook after The Beatles’ final show at San Francisco’s Candlestick Park in August 1966.
