Open Your Box
Encyclopedia
Open Your Box is a song by Yoko Ono
, released on 12 March 1971 as the B-side of John Lennon
's single Power to the People
. It was remix
ed and re-released by Orange Factory
in 2001.
In 1971, Ono's risqué lyrics were received in controversy ("box" is slang for vagina
). She 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.
album, under the title Hirake ("ひらけ" means "opening" in Japanese.) It also appears as a bonus track
on a compact disc reissue of Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band
.
In 2001, Orange Factory approached Ono for permission to remix Open Your Box, an idea to which she was indifferently receptive. However, she was later very pleased with the results, apparently so much so that she was moved to tears.
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.
Yoko Ono
is a Japanese artist, musician, author and peace activist, known for her work in avant-garde art, music and filmmaking as well as her marriage to John Lennon...
, released on 12 March 1971 as the B-side of John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
's single Power to the People
Power to the People (song)
"Power to the People" is a song written by John Lennon, released as a single in 1971 by John Lennon and the Plastic Ono Band on Apple Records, catalogue Apple R5892 in the United Kingdom and Apple 1830 in the United States. It peaked at #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #7 on the British singles chart...
. It was remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
ed and re-released by Orange Factory
Orange Factory
Orange Factory psychoacoustic arts and music publishing house, Sofia is a Bulgarian artistic studio, experimenting with music and multimedia, organising concerts, competitions and festivals, publishing...
in 2001.
In 1971, Ono's risqué lyrics were received in controversy ("box" is slang for vagina
Vagina
The vagina is a fibromuscular tubular tract leading from the uterus to the exterior of the body in female placental mammals and marsupials, or to the cloaca in female birds, monotremes, and some reptiles. Female insects and other invertebrates also have a vagina, which is the terminal part of the...
). She 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
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
, which distributed music by Apple Records
Apple Records
Apple Records is a record label founded by The Beatles in 1968, as a division of Apple Corps Ltd. It was initially intended as a creative outlet for the Beatles, both as a group and individually, plus a selection of other artists including Mary Hopkin, James Taylor, Badfinger, and Billy Preston...
in the United States, initially refused to issue the recording, and it was replaced as the B-side by another Ono track, Touch Me.
Availability on albums
Open Your Box eventually appeared in 1971 on Ono's FlyFly (Yoko Ono album)
Fly is the second album by Yoko Ono. It was produced by John Lennon and Ono, and released in 1971. It was a complete avant-garde/Fluxus package in a gatefold sleeve that came with a full-size poster and a postcard to order Ono's book Grapefruit. Notable songs include the singles "Midsummer New...
album, under the title Hirake ("ひらけ" means "opening" in Japanese.) It also appears as a bonus track
Bonus track
In terms of recorded music, a bonus track is a piece of music which has been included on specific releases or reissues of an album. This is most often done as a promotional device, either as an incentive to customers to purchase albums they might otherwise not, or to repurchase albums they already...
on a compact disc reissue of Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band
Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band
Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band is the avant-garde debut album by Yoko Ono, which came after recording three experimental releases with John Lennon and a live album as a member of The Plastic Ono Band...
.
In 2001, Orange Factory approached Ono for permission to remix Open Your Box, an idea to which she was indifferently receptive. However, she was later very pleased with the results, apparently so much so that she was moved to tears.
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
Blueprint for a Sunrise
* "Wouldnit "swing"" is a remix of "Wouldnit" from Rising* "Soul Got Out Of The Box" was originally a 1972 outtake from Approximately Infinite Universe...
, and further the remix project to much success. A compilation of these remixes entitled Open Your Box
Open Your Box (album)
Open Your Box is a remix album by Yoko Ono which was released on April 24, 2007. It is a compilation of her successful series of remix singles released since 2001 with the addition of several new mixes. Collaborators include Basement Jaxx, Felix Da Housecat and the Pet Shop Boys...
was released in April 2007.
Track listing
iTunes EP- "Open Your Box" (The Club)
- "Open Your Box" (The Dub The Voice)
- "Open Your Box" (Radio Edit)
Credits and personnel
- Vocals – Yoko OnoYoko Onois a Japanese artist, musician, author and peace activist, known for her work in avant-garde art, music and filmmaking as well as her marriage to John Lennon...
- SongwritingSongwriterA songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
– Yoko Ono - ProductionRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
– John LennonJohn LennonJohn Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
, Yoko Ono - Guitar – John Lennon
- Bass – Klaus Voorman
- Drums – Jim GordonJim Gordon (musician)James Beck "Jim" Gordon is an American recording artist, musician and songwriter. The Grammy Award winner was one of the most requested session drummers in the late 1960s and 1970s, recording albums with many well-known musicians of the time, and was the drummer in the blues-rock supergroup Derek...
Charts
| Chart (2001-02) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles (The Official Charts Company) | 144 |
| US Hot Dance Club Songs (Billboard Billboard (magazine) Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis... ) |
25 |