John Lennon was never shy about speaking his mind. Whether it was politics, music, or his own career, he had a reputation for blunt honesty that sometimes startled fans. One of his more surprising admissions was that he didn’t really like albums all that much. In fact, Lennon once confessed that there were only two albums he ever enjoyed all the way through — a striking comment from someone who helped make some of the most iconic albums in rock history.
Lennon’s Issue With Albums
Lennon admitted in interviews that he was “not an album person.” To him, albums often felt padded out, with too many “filler” tracks surrounding the stronger singles. He believed most albums — even Beatles albums — suffered from unevenness. While he praised individual songs or moments of brilliance, he rarely felt a record delivered perfection from start to finish.
This view was unusual for the 1960s and ’70s, when the album was becoming the centerpiece of rock artistry. Bands like The Beatles, The Beach Boys, and Pink Floyd were elevating the album into an art form. Yet Lennon himself seemed more skeptical, focusing on the power of songs rather than the unity of an LP.
The Two Albums He Loved Completely
When asked about which records broke through his skepticism, Lennon pointed to his teenage years. At around 16, he recalled being blown away by two albums that he genuinely loved in their entirety:
Elvis Presley – Elvis Presley (1956)
Lennon often spoke about the seismic effect Elvis had on him. He once said: “Nothing really affected me until Elvis. Without Elvis, there would be no Beatles.” The debut Elvis album, packed with raw energy and unfiltered rock ’n’ roll spirit, represented a cultural explosion. To Lennon, every track carried that same fire, making it one of the only albums he felt never dragged.
Carl Perkins – Early Rockabilly Recordings
Lennon couldn’t recall whether it was Carl Perkins’ first or second record, but what mattered was the authenticity. Perkins was a pioneer of rockabilly, blending country with rhythm and blues. Songs like “Blue Suede Shoes” resonated deeply with Lennon. He admired Perkins’ natural style and the lack of filler. Like Elvis, Perkins represented the pure excitement of rock before the industry became more polished and commercial.
Why This Matters
It’s fascinating that Lennon — one of the architects of the modern album era — felt so little attachment to albums as a format. While fans debate whether Revolver, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, or The White Album represents The Beatles’ greatest achievement, Lennon himself didn’t believe any of them were flawless. He could recognize their artistic breakthroughs, but in his own words, he thought there was always “padding” between the standout songs.
By highlighting Elvis and Carl Perkins, Lennon revealed where his heart truly lay: in the raw, unfiltered energy of early rock and roll. Those records captured the spirit of rebellion and freedom that inspired him to pick up a guitar in the first place.
Lennon’s confession also offers insight into his artistic standards. He was brutally self-critical and resistant to celebrating his own work. Even when he praised Beatles material, he rarely spoke of it as perfect. For him, perfection was found only in a handful of moments — and, apparently, in just two albums.
This perspective helps explain Lennon’s solo career as well. Albums like Plastic Ono Band stripped away production and polish in favor of raw honesty. Instead of aiming for a “perfect” album, Lennon leaned into authenticity, creating music that reflected the truth of his emotions.
That John Lennon — one of the greatest songwriters of the 20th century — only ever enjoyed two albums from start to finish is both surprising and revealing. His tastes weren’t guided by polish or grand statements, but by energy, truth, and authenticity. For him, Elvis Presley’s debut and Carl Perkins’ rockabilly work captured exactly what music should be: alive, honest, and unforgettable.
In the end, Lennon’s admission reminds us that even legends don’t always align with fan expectations. While the world continues to celebrate Beatles albums as near-perfect masterpieces, Lennon himself only ever found that kind of completeness in the raw rock ’n’ roll records that first inspired him.