Lennon, the Mobster & the Lawyer

The Untold Story

By: Jay Bergen

Narrated by: Scott R. McKinley

Before John Lennon retreated peacefully into private life in 1975, he fought a major legal battle that went under the public radar.

Just as his rock 'n' roll oldies album hit the market, Morris Levy, the Mob-connected owner of Roulette Records, released Roots, an unauthorized version of the same record. Levy had used rough mixes of John's unfinished rock 'n' roll recordings—and claimed the former Beatle had verbally agreed to the arrangement. The clash led to a lawsuit and countersuit between Levy and Lennon.

Attorney Jay Bergen, a partner in a prestigious New York City law firm, represented John in this epic battle over the rights to his own recordings. Millions of dollars were at stake.

Jay tells the intimate story of how he worked closely with John to rebut Levy's outrageous claims. He also recounts how John explained his recording process in poetic, exacting terms before a judge who knew little about the Beatles and John's solo career.

Lennon, the Mobster & the Lawyer catches the high drama of the courtroom skirmishes in this previously untold story. It also paints a detailed personal picture of John and his world in 1975-76, when he was soon to have a new son and went into happy seclusion to be a husband and father.

©2022 Jay Bergen (P)2022 Jay Bergen

Great look at Lennon’s creative process.

I found this book fascinating. For me, it was clear from the beginning that Lennon should prevail on the legal case. However, the great fascination for me was walking through John Lennon‘s mind and seeing how he creates music and then finally placing it gently and carefully within the vinyl that we all hear. Scott McKinley did a magnificent job narrating. Each character has a distinct voice and when listening to his Sean Lennon, I actually thought I was listening to Mr. Lennon. Bravo to Mr. McKinley!

Superb Material, Great Writer, Excellent Narrator

Having researched Lennon’s life for 36 years, I approached this story with reservation. What could this book tell me that I hadnt already read before? The answer was; so much!!

Author Jay Bergen was John’s attorney in the “Roots” (bootleg) trial against Morris Levy. And he tells the dramatic true story of his fight - and John’s fight - to keep Levy from selling an unauthorized bootleg record made from rough tapes of John’s “Rock’n’Roll” LP. In detailed court testimony you will hear John explain how he painstakingly orders the tracks on his LPs (from the Beatles days on), what each song on the “Rock’n’Roll” tapes meant to him, and how he records and polishes an album. This is info you’ve never heard before!

Let me say that the narrator, Scott McKinley, is remarkable! I’m very picky about John’s voice being authentic…and he captures John perfectly. He also brings Jay Bergen (whom I have met since my first listen) to life exactly as I imagine him to be in the 1970s. McKinley is riveting. I listen to many audio books, and he’s my favorite narrator.

If you are a Beatles fan, Lennon fan, or music aficionado, this is the book for you. It’s a jewel.

Well written, engrossing story

This book is a well structured and written account of John Lennon's troubles with Morris Levy. Scott McKinley's vocalizations of the various characters involved help keep the story sorted out, but are at times annoying in their stereotyped portrayals. As far as I know, he does not claim to be an impressionist, but his attempts at Lennon are about 50% successful, and he clearly has never heard Klaus Voormann speak. Since most people have never heard the actual voices of most of the other characters, they are not as offensive. So while the performance is average, the book is excellent and most informative.