Wednesday 14 August 2024 | John Lennon, Press release
| Release | Mind Games (Meditation Mixes) |
| Announced | 14 August 2024 |
| Release date | 11 October 2024 |
| Producer | Sean Ono Lennon |
| Formats | Triple 180g crystal-clear vinyl (3LP); digital/streaming |
| Content | 9 Meditation Mixes + 9 infinite loop mantras (vinyl only) |
On 14 August 2024, it was announced that Mind Games (Meditation Mixes) — a radical reimagining of John Lennon’s 1973 album, produced by his son Sean Ono Lennon — would be released on 11 October 2024, two days after what would have been John Lennon’s 84th birthday and Sean’s own 49th birthday on 9 October. The release was issued as a limited edition triple 180g crystal-clear vinyl set in a triple gatefold mirror board sleeve, and on digital and streaming platforms.
What are the Meditation Mixes?
The nine Meditation Mixes were created by applying extensive sound design techniques to the original 1973 two-inch multitrack recordings of Mind Games. Each mix has been radically altered, slowed down and extended, ranging from 5 minutes to over 23 minutes in length, designed to provide a relaxing, immersive and meditative listening experience.
Four of the nine tracks are presented as Binaural versions, each targeting a different type of brain wave:
- Beta waves (15Hz) — associated with thinking and active concentration
- Delta waves (0.5Hz) — produced during deep sleep and complete relaxation
- Gamma waves — associated with high levels of thought and focus
- Theta waves (8Hz) — produced while sleeping or daydreaming
Each Binaural track features a Binaural Beat — an auditory illusion created when the left and right ears hear two slightly different frequencies, whose difference is perceived by the brain as a new frequency. This technique is used to activate different brain patterns for scientifically studied therapeutic effects.
“You might say meditation is the ultimate mind game. These very abstract interpretations will hopefully assist you in exploring your ‘Innerverse’. I was both thrilled and surprised when UMG said they wanted to make a vinyl edition. This part of the Mind Games project evolved spontaneously and feels like it is sprinkled with just the right amount of good vibes and fairy dust. (Effects may vary).”
— Sean Ono Lennon
John Lennon — officially licensed merch
John Lennon: Rainbows, Love & Peace Unisex T-Shirt (Blue).
The Lumenate connection
The Meditation Mixes debuted exclusively on the Lumenate app in May 2024, in conjunction with Mental Health Awareness Month. Each mix was paired with a unique light sequence using carefully selected flicker frequencies delivered via the smartphone’s flashlight onto the user’s closed eyes — a technique designed to neurologically guide the listener into an altered state of consciousness.
Lumenate, launched in 2021, uses research-driven strobe frequencies to help users access states described as lying between deep meditation and psychedelic experience, without the use of substances. The pairing of the Meditation Mixes with Lumenate’s light technology was conceived as a fully immersive audio-visual experience.
Full tracklisting
LP1–2 — Meditation Mixes
- MIND (40Hz Gamma Binaural)
- DREAM
-
SPACE (8Hz Theta Binaural)
John Lennon: slide guitar, Mellotron, vocals. Ken Ascher: organ. -
SEED
John Lennon: vocals. Sean Ono Lennon: reverse piano, Wurlitzer electric piano, celeste, electric guitars, slide guitar, Moog, Yamaha CS80. -
YES
John Lennon: vocals. Sean Ono Lennon: drums, bass, reverse piano, Wurlitzer electric piano, Roland Jupiter-8, celeste, electric guitars, slide guitar, Moog, Yamaha CS80. -
SPIRIT (15Hz Beta Binaural)
John Lennon: slide guitar, Mellotron. David Spinozza: electric guitar. Ken Ascher: reed organ. Gordon Edwards: bass. -
LOVE (0.5Hz Delta Binaural)
John Lennon: vocals. Gordon Edwards: bass. -
SURRENDER
John Lennon: vocals. Sean Ono Lennon: drums, bass, reverse piano, Wurlitzer electric piano, Roland Jupiter-8, celeste, electric guitars, slide guitar, Moog, Yamaha CS80. -
PEACE
John Lennon: vocals, Mellotron, slide guitar, Clavinet, tambourine, maracas. Ken Ascher: organ, reed organ, piano. David Spinozza: electric guitar. Gordon Edwards: bass. Jim Keltner: drums.
LP3 Side B — Infinite Loop Mantras (vinyl only)
- MANTRA ONE ∞ — Gordon Edwards: bass. Jim Keltner: drums.
- MANTRA TWO ∞ — Gordon Edwards: bass.
- MANTRA THREE ∞ — Something Different (Christine Wiltshire, Jocelyn Brown, Kathy Mull, Angel Coakley): vocals.
- MANTRA FOUR ∞ — David Spinozza: electric guitar.
- MANTRA FIVE ∞ — Ken Ascher: organ.
- MANTRA SIX ∞ — John Lennon: vocals. Something Different: vocals.
- MANTRA SEVEN ∞ — Something Different: vocals.
- MANTRA EIGHT ∞ — Something Different: vocals.
- MANTRA NINE ∞ — John Lennon: vocals.
The nine 1.8-second mantras are pressed into the run-out grooves of Side B on LP3, designed to play as infinite loops on a record player — a technique that recalls the locked groove at the end of the original Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band vinyl, which The Beatles had used to similar meditative effect in 1967.
Credits
| Written by | John Lennon |
| Original producer (1973) | John Lennon |
| Original engineers (1973) | Roy Cicala, Dan Barbiero |
| Producer (2024) | Sean Ono Lennon |
| Mixed and engineered (2024) | Sam Gannon |
| Recording engineer (2024) | Scott Hollingsworth (tracks 1, 4, 5, 8) |
| Stereo mastering | Alex Wharton at Abbey Road Studios |
| Dolby Atmos mastering | Sam Gannon at REVL8 |
| Production management | Simon Hilton |
| Publishing | © Lenono Music administered by Downtown Publishing Ltd |
| Label | ℗ Calderstone Productions Limited (a division of Universal Music Group) |
Key Facts
| Announced | 14 August 2024 |
| Release date | 11 October 2024 |
| John and Sean’s shared birthday | 9 October |
| Vinyl format | 3 x 180g crystal-clear vinyl, triple gatefold mirror board sleeve |
| Meditation Mixes | 9 tracks, 5–23+ minutes each |
| Binaural tracks | 4 (Mind, Space, Spirit, Love) |
| Infinite loop mantras | 9 (vinyl only, run-out grooves of LP3 Side B) |
| Lumenate debut | May 2024 (Mental Health Awareness Month) |
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Mind Games Meditation Mixes?
Nine radically altered, slowed and extended versions of John Lennon's 1973 Mind Games album, produced by Sean Ono Lennon. Each mix ranges from 5 to over 23 minutes. Four tracks are Binaural versions targeting different brain wave states: Beta, Delta, Gamma and Theta. They were created from the original 1973 two-inch multitrack recordings.
What are the infinite loop mantras on the vinyl?
Nine 1.8-second mantras pressed into the run-out grooves of Side B on LP3, designed to play as infinite loops on a record player. They feature contributions from John Lennon, Sean Ono Lennon, Gordon Edwards, Jim Keltner, David Spinozza, Ken Ascher and the vocal group Something Different.
Who produced the Mind Games Meditation Mixes?
Sean Ono Lennon produced the Meditation Mixes, working from the original 1973 multitrack recordings. They were mixed and engineered by Sam Gannon, with stereo mastering by Alex Wharton at Abbey Road Studios and Dolby Atmos mastering by Sam Gannon at REVL8.
→ John and Yoko documentary Daytime Revolution announced – 14 August 2024
→ Recording: Mind Games by John Lennon – 14 August 1973
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