In June 1968 John Lennon and Yoko Ono began to re-work the ending of a song
entitled Revolution that The Beatles had recently recorded.
Paul and George (Martin) hadn’t liked the ending but John and Yoko began to loop tapes and incorporate
snippets from nearby sound libraries, including a recording that took John’s fancy of a chap saying
number 9.
What emerged from that session, an 8.22 collage we now know as Revolution 9,
laid the foundations for this collection exploring artists’ uses of the term. Works of
historical importance were collaged and sequenced with newly invited compositions, blind calls for submissions, spoken word, student pieces, anonymous works, youtube snippets and existing tracks.
Roger Hill points out that part of the word’s power is in the phonetic possibilities of those four syllables. Artists that have sung the term revolution – Chris de Burgh,
Kylie Minogue, Elton John, Barry Manilow, Billie Piper, Michael Ball, Diana Ross, Ella
Fitzgerald, Eric Clapton and Simply Red. Artists that have not – Iggy Pop, Einstürzende Neubauten, Kraftwerk, New York Dolls, Björk, Abba, Beach Boys, Blur, New Order and Lou Reed.
These CDs will shift from 200-500rpm between first and last tracks. Reggae sought it, techno repeated it, hip-hop developed the Black Panthers’ version of it until Sara Jones threw their sexism back in their face, northern soul rotated it, Riot Grrrls screamed for it, glam liked the sound of it, metal growled it, folk historicised it and pop played fire with it.
Price to include John Lennon on London Weekend TV in 1972 saying It isn't over
just because flower power didn't work. It's only the beginning. We're just in the inception of revolution - £660.
Compiled and produced by Alan Dunn as a limited edition (1,000) to be given away free of charge as part of the exhibition 'Recent Appointments' at
Leeds Met Gallery, with support from the Arts Council of England. Project developed and produced by 67projects,
Wirral/Liverpool/Leeds.
These CDs are covered by an MCPS Limited Manufacture Licence