In 1980, he stated that the song "didn't really come off" as it had been "written in the state of being asleep and wanting to be loved by Tariq Ali and his ilk". Thompson's claim that the anthem was "ten years too late". In Skywriting by Word of Mouth, he called the song "rather embarrassing" and supported Hunter S. Ī passionate political activist at the time, Lennon's perception of the song changed during the 1970s. Phil Spector, John Lennon, and Yoko Ono were credited as producers. Backing vocals were supplied by Rosetta Hightower and "44 others". It was Lennon's fourth solo single, the Plastic Ono Band on this occasion comprising Lennon, Bobby Keys and Billy Preston in addition to regulars Klaus Voormann and Alan White. It entered the charts on 20 March 1971, and remained there for nine weeks. So I wrote 'Power to the People' the same way I wrote ' Give Peace a Chance,' as something for the people to sing. As Lennon explained: "I just felt inspired by what they said, although a lot of it is gobbledygook. The song was written by Lennon in response to an interview he gave to Tariq Ali and Robin Blackburn, published in Red Mole (8–22 March 1971). The single was released on 12 March 1971 in the UK and 22 March 1971 in the US (although some sources give the British release as 8 March ). "Power to the People" was recorded at Ascot Sound Studios on 22 October 1970, during early sessions for Lennon's Imagine album. Happy Xmas (War Is Over), produced by Phil Spector, is the greatest festive hit of all time (even if that wasn’t Lennon’s intent).Ĭhances are you have these songs already. Instant Karma is spiky and zesty, sounding every second the speedily recorded anthem it is. Woman – Double Fantasy’s tender heart – is sentimental without the schmaltz. Lennon’s sole solo number one in the US during his lifetime, Whatever Gets You Thru the Night, is a barrelling funk number which benefits from the input of a certain Elton John. Cuts from the same album, Jealous Guy and Gimme Some Truth, are equally brilliant (what, no How Do You Sleep?) – the former excellently understated, the latter wonderfully rollicking. Would the lyrics seem as affecting without the piano accompaniment? Could the song work as a rocker? Possibly not, but it doesn’t matter – as it is, Imagine is perfect. Imagine will never not feel relevant to the modern world – it offers such a simple message, but one that still cuts deep and should resonate throughout any audience. But if you are without access to the ‘net (although if that’s the case, just how are you reading this?) then no doubt this bonus content will be appealing.Īs for the songs, well – surely anything (fresh) yet to be written about Lennon’s most famous hits isn’t fit to print. Of course, one could just watch these clips on the internet. What this offers that its predecessors did not is an accompanying DVD featuring videos for all of the 15 featured tracks. Newcomers to Lennon (if such a person exists), then, should investigate one of his singles compilations – and Power to the People is the latest in a long line of similar packages, following the likes of 2005’s Working Class Hero, 1997’s Lennon Legend and 1982’s John Lennon Collection. But Lennon wouldn’t produce another collection of comparable quality until 1980’s muddled, but sporadically magical, Double Fantasy – a set forever associated with his murder, just three weeks after its release. Two of his long-players, 1970’s Plastic Ono Band and the following year’s Imagine, are genuinely magnificent, as shimmering today as they were while blessed by the shine of the time, by the artist’s seemingly innate pop genius. Only the most passionate, or blinkered, Lennon fan could argue that the former Beatle never released a duff solo record.
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