Daydreaming with Julian Lennon
I heard an interview on 102.7Fm in 1986 when Secret Value of Daydreaming came out. Julian Lennon said he toured behind the Valotte album and found he didn’t have many big crowd sing along songs. This album would be more concert friendly. His band mate Justin Clayton turned up the guitars and beats per minute. Much of the sound is more current to the time.
Valotte opens with a ballad, this opens with the pounding “Stick Around.” The guitar grabs you. Echo effects mix in with the pounding beat. There is a ripping guitar solo. The song went Top 40.
The next song, “You Get What You Want,” opens with a piano jam from Billy Joel, then Lennon comes in talking like he’s on the phone. It’s another pounding swinging rocker with background vocals and keyboards.
Side two opens with “This is my Day.” It was released as a single, but wasn’t a hit. Too bad. There are time changes and a soaring guitar solo.
Lyrically, there isn’t much there, but that is another asset. You can easily sing along. The song is about looking at the surroundings and in yourself for answers. Just amazing song.
“You Don’t Have to Tell Me” is very 1980s. The bass and keyboards make the song. It has a Joy Division vibe.
The album ends with a ballad.
I remember reading a “Rolling Stone” magazine review of the album. Lennon didn’t live up to their hype and their image of what the son of an immortal Beatle should do. The review had an issue with “Let me tell you” because Lennon doesn’t tell us what the point is. There are hints, but tell me what?
Oh, the sophomore slump.
This album sold well but not Valotte numbers. The lyrics were more esoteric. There were less ballads.
Lennon’s first album was a home run. Add all the “son of a Beatle” hype on to it and it is tough to top. I would love to tell you he tops it, but the album is good, not great. I still love “This Is My Day.” I can work out to “Stick Around.” “Everyday” is an end of the day ride home kind of song. The opening of the songs grab you.
It’s solid and available on streaming services.
Ignore the sophomore slump and come for the tunes, it works.