h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

'Free as a bird' and 'Real love' can't be on; having been released by the group in the 1990s.

Yeah, that really does run contrary to the spirit of the enterprise. I think a good starting point would be "Cold Turkey" and nothing by Ringo.

My votes for the Lennon-inspired tracks would be:

Jealous Guy and Imagine (of course);
Whatever Gets You Through the Night;
JohnÕs cover of Ben E KingÕs Stand By Me;
and special dispensation to include a reworking of Working Class Hero (1970).

And, as itÕs all getting a bit slow, I think John might suggest Revolution 10 (closer to 1 than 9).

Now what about 'Give Peace a Chance' (credited to Lennon/McCartney as a favour to Macca who'd been quite supportive about something - can't remember what) and 'Give me some truth'? The middle section in this was actually a McCartney tune which he suggested to John in the 'Let it be' sessions when Lennon mentioned 'Give me some truth'.

Lennon never credited it to McC, but it is a joint collaboration on the tune. But of course that doesn't mean it should get on for that reason alone!

I guess the question is what you would be trying to accomplish by compiling the songs. That is, what is your highest priority? Art? Social significance? Historical accuracy? "Give Peace a Chance" is a culturally significant song, but not a very good one. "Gimme Some Truth" is a great song, but not, strictly speaking (as you pointed out), a John Lennon solo piece. I would definitely second the nominations of "Jealous Guy" and "Imagine" and "Working Class Hero" and throw in "Watching the Wheels" for good measure.

I suppose the aim is to second-guess them and work out what they'd have put on.

Good to have had a vote for Watching the Wheels - possibly my favourite Lennon song.

I agree with everyone's choices. I love "Watching the Wheels," but it always makes me sad when I hear it. "Frontline" on PBS did a documentary about Mark Chapman that said "Watching the Wheels" was the song he listened to right before he went to shoot J.L. I think that ruined it for me...

Well, doesn't that just melt the ice cream.