Talking About Oz (Vintage audio reel)

N.p.: N.p., 1971. Vintage audio recording on three quarter inch tape, three minutes and 30 seconds long, of John Lennon and Yoko Ono on Radio Free London circa 1971. The couple spend the time advocating for free speech and on behalf of the founders of "Oz" magazine, then on trial for obscenity and "conspiracy to corrupt public morals."

"Oz" was one of the most influentially designed and controversial underground magazines of the psychedelic era, and the trial became something of a cause celebre among the British left, with Lennon and Ono leading the charge, releasing a benefit single featuring the tracks "God Save Oz" and "Do the Oz" to raise (truncated) funds for the defense and recording numerous radio spots such as this one to publicize the issue.

In this recording, Lennon and Ono discuss the case and, after taking some shots at the presiding judge (whom Lennon refers to as "an old wanker"), Lennon sings the Harry Lauder standard "Keep Right on to the End of the Road," with Ono singing the repeated line "Let's not fall asleep." The recording ends with Ono saying "don't fall asleep fellas" and Lennon adding "and girls." This differs of other Radio Free London spots, which typically ended with Lennon signing off by saying "radio free witness," leading us to believe this is a variant recording or an outtake of similar material used for "The Lost Lennon Tapes" radio series.

Reel in Fine condition, housed in a Very Good cardboard box with Lennon's and Ono's names and the title typed on the front. Also included in a CD-R containing the audio. (Inventory #: 134451)