A John Lennon classic has taken on new life in both sight and sound.
In the run-up to the October release of the box set Gimme Some Truth. The Ultimate Mixes, a remixed version of the late Beatle's 1973 track Mind Games has been released with an upgraded video.
Originally the lead single and title song of Lennon's fourth album, it is an uplifting and jaunty ode to positivity and is full of the singer's signature lyrical themes of existentialism, opposition to war and an unwavering love for his wife, Yoko Ono.
The track's remix puts Lennon's voice front and centre, while at the same time upping the bassline to give it all an added groove.
The original music video has also received a modern twist, with a new version released in high definition. Shot by a BBC film crew, the video has Lennon, dressed in a black overcoat and hat, going on an autumn stroll in New York City.
On his walk, he signs autographs for fans and grabs a pretzel from a street vendor before checking out the elephants at Central Park Zoo.
The video is full of cheeky references to his work with the Beatles, with scenes of Lennon strolling through strawberry fields, as well as posing for a picture in front of a poster for Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band on the Road, an off-Broadway production inspired by the band's 1967 album masterpiece Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.
Speaking to Rolling Stone at the time of its initial release, Lennon described the track as a song mixing various styles. "Mind Games was a fun track because the voice is in stereo and the seeming orchestra on it is just me playing three notes with slide guitar," he said.
“And the middle eight is reggae. Trying again to explain to American musicians what reggae was in 1973 was pretty hard, but it’s basically a reggae middle eight if you listen to it.”
The refreshed track is part of 36 solo Lennon songs, featuring hits Imagine and Jealous Guy, which have been totally remixed for Gimme Some Truth. The Ultimate Mixes.
In addition to being made available digitally, the physical compilation will be available as a set of four vinyl LPs and as two CDs plus a Blue-ray DVD, which will have all the tracks presented in high definition.
The set will be released on what would have been Lennon's 80th birthday, on Friday, October 9.
