An “Ultimate Mix” version of “I’m the Greatest,” a John Lennon-penned song that he gave to Ringo Starr to record for his 1973 solo album, Ringo, has been released via digital formats for the first time ever. The “Ultimate Mix” of “I’m the Greatest” features Lennon instead of Starr on lead vocals. It was first available as a hidden track on the recently released Mind Games – The Ultimate Collection box set.
To record “I’m the Greatest,” Lennon, Starr, and George Harrison reunited to work together for the first time since The Beatles broke up in 1970. The sessions, which were produced by Richard Perry, took place in March 1973 at Sunset Sound in Los Angeles. The track featured Lennon on piano, Starr on drums, and Harrison on guitar. In addition, , Billy Preston played organ and Klaus Voormann played bass on the recording.
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Lennon, Starr, and Harrison never recorded together again before John’s tragic murder in December 1980.
The “Ultimate Mix” of “I’m the Greatest” features a guide vocal Lennon recorded as the lead vocal track. It includes some studio chatter from John at the beginning and end of the track. The song was newly mixed by Grammy Award-winning mixer Paul Hicks and engineer Sam Gannon using the original tapes. The mix was overseen by Sean Ono Lennon, who produced the Mind Games reissue.
More About “I’m the Greatest”
Lennon wrote “I’m the Greatest” in 1970 not long after The Beatles broke up. He was inspired write the song by boxing legend Muhammad Ali’s well-known catchphrase, as well as by watching the first U.K. TV broadcast of the Fab Four’s 1964 film A Hard Day’s Night.
He eventually decided to give the song to Starr to record, and reworked the lyrics specially for Ringo.
In a 1980 interview with Playboy, Lennon reflected on why he offered the song to Starr.
“I couldn’t sing it, but it was perfect for Ringo,” he said. “He could say, ‘I’m the greatest’ and people wouldn’t get upset. Whereas if I said ‘I’m the greatest,’ they’d all take it so seriously.”
Starr later commented about the tune, “It’s very tongue in cheek. Only [John] could have written it and only I could have sung it.”
Details About the Mind Games – The Ultimate Collection Reissues
As previously reported, the expanded Ultimate Collection editions of Mind Games were released on July 12. They feature newly remixed audio, with Deluxe and Super Deluxe versions offering a deep dive into the sessions for the album.
The Deluxe and Super Deluxe versions of Mind Games present each song from the album in multiple forms, including new mixes, rough demos, outtakes, and more.
Both Deluxe and Super Deluxe box sets feature six CDs and two Blu-ray discs. The CDs feature Ultimate Mixes, Elements Mixes, Elemental Mixes, Out-takes, Raw Studio Mixes, and Evolution Documentary mixes. The Blu-rays boast three high-res versions of the audio featured on the CDs, plus additional content.
The Super Deluxe edition is presented in a 13-inch clear plastic cube that’s a replica of Yoko Ono’s 1966 “Danger Box” art piece. The cube houses nine interlocking boxes of various sizes and shapes that offer a variety of hidden secrets, surprises, and puzzles.
Included in the package are the aforementioned CDs and Blu-rays; a seven-LP vinyl version of the collection; and several other box-set presentations.
Details About the Digital Versions of Mind Games Mixes
The digital edition of the “Ultimate Mixes” version of the Mind Games album was made available on August 2. It includes two bonus tracks—“Rock ‘n’ Roll People” and the aforementioned “I’m the Greatest.”
The “Elemental Mixes” version of Mind Games also was released on digital formats on August 2. It includes one digital-only bonus track, an outtake version of “You Are Here.” The “Elemental Mixes” are stripped-down versions of the Mind Games tracks that feature no drums and Lennon’s vocal upfront in the mix.
More bonus tracks that are hidden in the Mind Games box set will be released via digital formats every two weeks leading up to the late Lennon’s birthday on October 9.
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