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Open Your Box
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Wikipedia article
"'Open Your Box'" is a The Plastic Ono Band song by Yoko Ono, released on 12 March 1971 as the B-side of John Lennon's single "Power to the People".[https://madelinex.com/2021/12/19/my-new-book/ 'IN YOUR MIND THE INFINITE UNIVERSE OF YOKO ONO'] Lennon played guitar and produced the song.
In 1971, Ono's risqu lyrics were received in controversy ("box" is slang for vagina). Ono sings, "Open your box, open your trousers, open your sex, open your legs, open open open open open". The record was banned from radio in Britain, and was played on-air only when echo was added to blur the lyrics. Capitol Records, which distributed music by Apple Records in the United States, initially refused to issue the recording, and it was replaced as the B-side by another Ono track, "Touch Me".
"Open Your Box" was remixed and re-released by Orange Factory in 2001.
Availability on albums
"Open Your Box" eventually appeared in 1971 on Ono's 'Fly' album, under the title "'Hirake'" ("" means "opening" in Japanese.) It also appears as a bonus track on a compact disc reissue of 'Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band', however in a different version.
The Orange Factory remixed version was an underground hit and brought about renewed interest in Ono's career, inspiring her to create her album 'Blueprint for a Sunrise' and further the remix project to much success. A compilation of these remixes entitled 'Open Your Box' was released in April 2007.
Reception
'Ultimate Classic Rock' critic Michael Gallucci rated it as Ono's 6th best song, saying that it "is about sex...but the noisy chaos surrounding it is pure primal rage."
Track listing
'iTunes EP'
# "Open Your Box" (The Club)
# "Open Your Box" (The Dub The Voice)
# "Open Your Box" (Radio Edit)
Official versions
#Single version (censored) 3:31 (as B-side of "Power to the People")
#Album version (a.k.a. "Hirake") 3:31
#Alternate version 7:35 (from 'Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band' CD reissue)
#Orange Factory Radio Edit (2001) 4:37
#Orange Factory Club Mix (2001) 9:59
#Orange Factory Dub (2001) 9:59
#Orange Factory Club Mix Edit 6:20 (from 'Open Your Box' compilation)
Credits and personnel
*Yoko Ono vocals, songwriting, production
*John Lennon production, guitar
*Klaus Voormann bass guitar
*Jim Gordon drums
Charts
References
Category:Apple Records singles
Category:Yoko Ono songs
Category:1971 songs
Category:2001 singles
Category:Obscenity controversies in music
Category:Song recordings produced by John Lennon
Category:Song recordings produced by Yoko Ono
Category:Songs written by Yoko Ono
Category:Plastic Ono Band songs
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