John Lennon Walls and Bridges

For the release in September 1974 of John Lennon’s Walls and Bridges album, Capitol Records implemented one of its most aggressive ad campaigns ever. Under the theme of "Listen To This______", Capitol designed and printed the following different promotional items and ads. Most were in black and white, and featured several different close-up photos of John. Shortly thereafter an east coast Beatle dealer designed and manufactured several "Listen To This_____" counterfeit/pirate items that first appeared at Beatlefests in 1975. Those items are at the end of this list.

1.	LISTEN TO THIS AD (version 1)	14-3/4" x 22" trade ad for Cash Box, Record World, and Billboard magazines. The ad was printed in a different size for each of the magazines.
2.	LISTEN TO THIS AD (version 2)	8-1/2" x 11" consumer ad used in National Lampoon. Reformatted at 12 7/8" x 9 1/4" for Rolling Stone magazine.
3.	LISTEN TO THIS AD (version 3)	3 columns x 10" ad slicks for newspaper
4.	LISTEN TO THIS POSTER	24" x 36" poster (color)
5.	LISTEN TO THIS BUMPERSTICKER	7-1/2" x 3-3/4" bumpersticker (black & white)
6.	LISTEN TO THIS STICKER	4-3/4" x 6-3/4" bumpersticker (color)
7.	LISTEN TO THIS POSTCARD	4-3/4" x 6-3/4" postcard, Apple logo on back
8.	LISTEN TO THIS BILLBOARD	48’ x 12’ billboard ad placed on Sunset Strip
9.	LISTEN TO THIS T-SHIRT	Black T-shirt
10.	LISTEN TO THIS CASH REGISTER	6-3/4" x 4-3/4" cash register card
11.	LISTEN TO THIS MATCHBOOK	Matchbook
12.	LISTEN TO THIS PRESS KIT	Press Kit, contains outer folder, Listen To This Photo # 1, Listen To This Photo # 2 and the Listen To This Interview card.
13.	LISTEN TO THIS EP (unreleased)	Envelope designed to hold a record, but not issued as designed. The envelope was designed to be 13-3/4" x 13-1/2", with a 3" x 4" sticker on the top, stamps in the upper right corner, the "eyes" photo in the middle, and the logo "Listen To This EP" on the bottom. It appears that this was designed to hold a promotional copy of the album, but the design copy says "EP".
14.	LISTEN TO THIS ENVELOPE (version 1)	Envelope - The end result of the above design, but without the sticker or stamps. The final size was 13.5" square, with flap and pleats to allow expansion of the envelope. The standard "eyes" photo was on the front.
15.	LISTEN TO THIS ENVELOPE (version 2)	Envelope - A variation of the above, but envelope had no flap. At 12- 3/4" square it was slightly smaller and blank on the back. The front was all black with the words "Listen To This Envelope" across the front.
16.	LISTEN TO THIS BUTTON	Button, black & white 2-1/2" diameter (reproduction alert, see item # 27)
17.	LISTEN TO THIS INTERVIEW	Print interview, A 1973 Ringo Starr interview "modified" by John Lennon. Issued separately and also included with the Press Kit (item 12). Here is the front of the card.
18.	LISTEN TO THIS MOBILE	Mobile, hanging
19.	LISTEN TO THIS MATCHBOX	Matchbox
20.	LISTEN TO THIS BUS	Poster, 21" x 72" made for placing on the side of busses
21.	LISTEN TO THIS SONGBOOK	Songbook, 64 pages, 9" x 12", standard photo of John with black borders on cover. Lennon Music Publishing, 1974.
22.	LISTEN TO THIS DREAM	Hanging card, used to promote the single #9 Dream / What You Got.
British items
23.	LISTEN TO THIS POSTER	Poster, 20" x 30", color photo in center
24.	LISTEN TO THIS PRESS KIT	Press Kit
25.	LISTEN TO THIS RELEASE SHEET	Flyer, 2-sided, 6-1/2" x 10-1/2" (reproduction alert see item # 30 below).
26.	LISTEN TO THIS WINDOW	Poster, 29" x 39", made of thick cardboard.
Counterfeit / Bootleg Items
27.	LISTEN TO THIS BUTTON	Color button, 3" diameter (originals were b&w 2-1/2"; Some fake 2-1/2" COLOR buttons have also been spotted)
28.	LISTEN TO THIS MENDING PACKET	Mending packet, 1-5/8" x 2 -1/2" "sewing" packet with needles & thread (This item was not listed in Capitol’s project design documents. These first appeared in small quantities at conventions in the mid 1970s)
29.	LISTEN TO THIS PICTURE RECORD	12" LP picture disc, color John photo, contains interviews including John talking about the Butcher cover.
30.	LISTEN TO THIS RELEASE SHEET	Flyer, 2-sided, 6-1/2" x 10-1/2"., copy of # 24 above, inferior printing quality.
(Several other counterfeit/pirate items were made, and we are currently researching those items to add to this list...)

Above left, the original large signature that John created for Capitol to copy. Above right, as it appeared on the back of the album booklet. Below, the envelope, button and sticker. Click on photos for enlargement.

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