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![Yoko Ono and John Lennon performing in 1971.](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/73/Yoko_Ono_and_John_Lennon_at_John_Sinclair_Freedom_Rally.jpg/240px-Yoko_Ono_and_John_Lennon_at_John_Sinclair_Freedom_Rally.jpg)
John Lennon (1940–1980) was an English musician who gained prominence as a member of the Beatles. His songwriting partnership with bandmate Paul McCartney is one of the most celebrated in music history.[1] After their break-up, Lennon recorded over 150 songs as a solo artist. Between 1968 and 1969, Lennon released three avant-garde experimental albums with wife Yoko Ono,[a] as well as a live album and two singles, "Give Peace a Chance" and "Cold Turkey", with the Plastic Ono Band.[5][6] His debut single before the Beatles' break-up was "Instant Karma!"[6]
Lennon's debut solo album, John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band, was released in late 1970.[7] Influenced by primal scream therapy, its songs are noted for their intense nature and "raw" sound,[8] containing personal lyrics dealing with themes of loss, abandonment, and suffering.[7][9] Its follow-up, Imagine, was released in 1971.[10] Co-produced by Phil Spector and featuring appearances by former Beatle George Harrison, Imagine features songs with calmer and elaborate arrangements compared to its predecessor, with lyrics discussing peace, love, and notably, an attack on former bandmate Paul McCartney in the song "How Do You Sleep?"[10] Its title track, in particular, is regarded as one of Lennon's finest songs.[11] Also recorded during this time was the Christmas song "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)".[6] Some Time in New York City (1972), a part-studio, part-live album with Yoko Ono and Elephant's Memory, contained songs by both Lennon and Ono, with lyrics discussing political and social issues and topics such as sexism, incarceration, colonialism and racism.[12] Mind Games (1973), Lennon's first self-produced album, marked a return to introspective songwriting, featuring love songs, hard rockers, and bouts of humour.[13][14] Walls and Bridges (1974), recorded during his 18-month separation from Ono, features rock and pop songs that reflected Lennon's feelings at the time, as well as contributions from Elton John.[15] Rock 'n' Roll (1975), a covers album of late 1950s and early 1960s rock songs, included songs such as "Stand by Me", "Peggy Sue" and "You Can't Catch Me".[16] After Rock 'n' Roll, Lennon took a five-year hiatus from the music industry to raise his son Sean,[17] aside from occasional demos.[b]
Lennon returned to music in 1980 with Ono on the album Double Fantasy.[6] Co-produced by Jack Douglas, the album's songs primarily focus on the couple's relationship, emphasising their love for each other and their son, Sean, with some songs discussing Lennon's hiatus.[18] He was shot and killed by Mark David Chapman three weeks after the album's release.[6] In the years following his death, many previously unissued songs have seen release on other albums, including Milk and Honey (1984),[19] Menlove Ave. (1986),[20] and John Lennon Anthology (1998).[6][21]
Songs
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0–9 · A · B · C · D · E · F · G · H · I · J · K · L · M · N · O · P · R · S · T · W · Y Notes · References · Bibliography |
† | Indicates song not written or co-written by John Lennon |
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# | Indicates song credited to John Lennon and Yoko Ono |
![Phil Spector in 1965](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/Phil_Spector.jpg/150px-Phil_Spector.jpg)
![Frank Zappa performing in 1971](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/12/Frank_1.jpg/150px-Frank_1.jpg)
![Harry Nilsson in 1974](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c6/Harry_Nilsson_%281974%29_%28tall%29.png/150px-Harry_Nilsson_%281974%29_%28tall%29.png)
![Elton John in 2015](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/26/Elton_John_November_2015.jpg/150px-Elton_John_November_2015.jpg)
![Ben E. King performing in 2007](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c2/Ben_E._King2.jpg/150px-Ben_E._King2.jpg)
Song | Writer(s) | Original release | Producer(s) | Year | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
"#9 Dream" | John Lennon | Walls and Bridges | John Lennon | 1974 | [22] |
"Ain't She Sweet" | Jack Yellen Milton Ager † |
John Lennon Anthology | Yoko Ono Rob Stevens |
1998 | [23] |
"Ain't That a Shame" | Fats Domino Dave Bartholomew † |
Rock 'n' Roll | John Lennon | 1975 | [24] |
"Aisumasen (I'm Sorry)" | John Lennon | Mind Games | John Lennon | 1973 | [25] |
"Amsterdam" # | John Lennon Yoko Ono |
Wedding Album | John Lennon Yoko Ono |
1969 | [26] |
"Angel Baby" | Rosie Hamlin † | Menlove Ave. | John Lennon Phil Spector |
1986 | [27] |
"Angela" # (with Elephant's Memory) |
John Lennon Yoko Ono |
Some Time in New York City | John Lennon Yoko Ono Phil Spector |
1972 | [28] |
"Attica State" # (with Elephant's Memory) |
John Lennon Yoko Ono |
Some Time in New York City | John Lennon Yoko Ono Phil Spector |
1972 | [28] |
"Aü" (live) # (with the Mothers of Invention) |
John Lennon Yoko Ono |
Some Time in New York City | John Lennon Yoko Ono Phil Spector |
1972 | [28] |
"Baby's Heartbeat" # | John Lennon Yoko Ono |
Unfinished Music No. 2: Life with the Lions | John Lennon Yoko Ono |
1969 | [29] |
"Be My Baby" | Phil Spector Ellie Greenwich Jeff Barry † |
John Lennon Anthology | Yoko Ono Rob Stevens |
1998 | [23] |
"Be-Bop-A-Lula" | Bill Davis Gene Vincent † |
Rock 'n' Roll | John Lennon | 1975 | [24] |
"Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)" # | John Lennon | Double Fantasy | John Lennon Yoko Ono Jack Douglas |
1980 | [30] |
"Beautiful Boys" # | Yoko Ono † | Double Fantasy | John Lennon Yoko Ono Jack Douglas |
1980 | [30] |
"Beef Jerky" | John Lennon | Walls and Bridges | John Lennon | 1974 | [22] |
"Bless You" | John Lennon | Walls and Bridges | John Lennon | 1974 | [22] |
"Blue Suede Shoes" (live) (Plastic Ono Band) |
Carl Perkins † | Live Peace in Toronto 1969 | John Lennon Yoko Ono |
1969 | [31] |
"Bony Moronie" | Larry Williams † | Rock 'n' Roll | Phil Spector | 1975 | [24] |
"Born in a Prison" # (with Elephant's Memory) |
Yoko Ono † | Some Time in New York City | John Lennon Yoko Ono Phil Spector |
1972 | [28] |
"Borrowed Time" | John Lennon | Milk and Honey | John Lennon Yoko Ono |
1984 | [32] |
"Bring On the Lucie (Freda Peeple)" | John Lennon | Mind Games | John Lennon | 1973 | [25] |
"Cambridge 1969" # | John Lennon Yoko Ono |
Unfinished Music No. 2: Life with the Lions | John Lennon Yoko Ono |
1969 | [29] |
"Cleanup Time" # | John Lennon | Double Fantasy | John Lennon Yoko Ono Jack Douglas |
1980 | [30] |
"Cold Turkey"[c] (Plastic Ono Band) |
John Lennon | Non-album single | John Lennon Yoko Ono |
1969 | [33] |
"Come Together"[d] (live) | John Lennon Paul McCartney |
Live in New York City | Yoko Ono | 1986 | [34] |
"Crippled Inside" | John Lennon | Imagine | John Lennon Yoko Ono Phil Spector |
1971 | [35] |
"Dear John" | John Lennon | John Lennon Anthology | Yoko Ono Rob Stevens |
1998 | [23] |
"Dear Yoko" # | John Lennon | Double Fantasy | John Lennon Yoko Ono Jack Douglas |
1980 | [30] |
"Dizzy, Miss Lizzy" (live) (Plastic Ono Band) |
Larry Williams † | Live Peace in Toronto 1969 | John Lennon Yoko Ono |
1969 | [31] |
"Do You Want to Dance" | Bobby Freeman † | Rock 'n' Roll | John Lennon | 1975 | [24] |
"Do the Oz" | John Lennon Yoko Ono |
John Lennon Anthology | Yoko Ono Rob Stevens |
1998 | [23] |
"Don't Be Scared" # | Yoko Ono † | Milk and Honey | John Lennon Yoko Ono |
1984 | [32] |
"Don't Worry Kyoko"[c] (Yoko Ono and Plastic Ono Band) |
Yoko Ono † | Fly | John Lennon Yoko Ono |
1971 | [36] |
"Every Man Has a Woman Who Loves Him" # | Yoko Ono † | Double Fantasy | John Lennon Yoko Ono Jack Douglas |
1980 | [30] |
"(Forgive Me) My Little Flower Princess" # | John Lennon | Milk and Honey | John Lennon Yoko Ono |
1984 | [32] |
"Free as a Bird" (demo) | John Lennon | – | –[e] | [37] | |
"Gimme Some Truth" | John Lennon | Imagine | John Lennon Yoko Ono Phil Spector |
1971 | [35] |
"Give Me Something" # | Yoko Ono † | Double Fantasy | John Lennon Yoko Ono Jack Douglas |
1980 | [30] |
"Give Peace a Chance" (Plastic Ono Band) |
John Lennon Paul McCartney[f] |
Non-album single | John Lennon Yoko Ono |
1969 | [39] |
"God" | John Lennon | John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band | John Lennon Yoko Ono Phil Spector |
1970 | [40] |
"God Save Oz" | John Lennon Yoko Ono |
John Lennon Anthology | Yoko Ono Rob Stevens |
1998 | [23] |
"Going Down on Love" | John Lennon | Walls and Bridges | John Lennon | 1974 | [22] |
"Goodnight Vienna" | John Lennon | John Lennon Anthology | Yoko Ono Rob Stevens |
1998 | [23] |
"The Great Wok" | John Lennon | John Lennon Anthology | Yoko Ono Rob Stevens |
1998 | [23] |
"Grow Old with Me" # | John Lennon | Milk and Honey | John Lennon Yoko Ono |
1984 | [32] |
"Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" (John & Yoko/Plastic Ono Band with the Harlem Community Choir) |
John Lennon Yoko Ono |
Non-album single | Phil Spector John Lennon Yoko Ono |
1971 | [41] |
"Hard Times are Over" # | Yoko Ono † | Double Fantasy | John Lennon Yoko Ono Jack Douglas |
1980 | [30] |
"Help Me to Help Myself" # | John Lennon | Double Fantasy (2000 reissue) | John Lennon Yoko Ono Jack Douglas |
2000 | [42] |
"Here We Go Again" | John Lennon Phil Spector |
Menlove Ave. | John Lennon Phil Spector |
1986 | [27] |
"Hold On" | John Lennon | John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band | John Lennon Yoko Ono Phil Spector |
1970 | [40] |
"Honey Don't" | Carl Perkins † | John Lennon Signature Box | – | 2010 | [43] |
"Hound Dog" (live) | Jerry Leiber Mike Stoller † |
Live in New York City | Yoko Ono | 1986 | [34] |
"How?" | John Lennon | Imagine | John Lennon Yoko Ono Phil Spector |
1971 | [35] |
"How Do You Sleep?" | John Lennon | Imagine | John Lennon Yoko Ono Phil Spector |
1971 | [35] |
"I Don't Wanna Be a Soldier Mama" | John Lennon | Imagine | John Lennon Yoko Ono Phil Spector |
1971 | [35] |
"I Don't Wanna Face It" # | John Lennon | Milk and Honey | John Lennon Yoko Ono |
1984 | [32] |
"I Found Out" | John Lennon | John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band | John Lennon Yoko Ono Phil Spector |
1970 | [40] |
"I Know (I Know)" | John Lennon | Mind Games | John Lennon | 1973 | [25] |
"I Saw Her Standing There"[d] (live) | John Lennon Paul McCartney |
Lennon | – | 1990 | [44] |