WHAT’S THE STORY?
TODAY is the 50th anniversary of the UK release of one of the most influential pieces of popular music of the 20th century, Imagine by John Lennon.
A simple song in the key of C major, its lyrics have made it an unofficial anthem for all sorts of people and causes across the globe. But as its creator intended, it is most associated with demands for peace and justice in the world.
The song was contained on the album, also called Imagine, which was released in the UK on
October 8, 1971. Lennon knew how controversial its lyrics would be in Britain. He described it himself as “anti-religious, anti-nationalistic, anti-conventional, anti-capitalistic …but because it is sugar-coated, it is accepted”.
The single went out in the USA and elsewhere from October 11, 1971, the album having been released across the Pond on September 9.
Produced by Lennon, his wife Yoko Ono and legendary producer Phil Spector, Imagine was released on the Apple Records label co-owned by Lennon and the other Beatles. Other than Lennon’s vocal and piano playing the track features just a few musicians, Klaus Voormann on bass guitar, Alan White on drums and the Flux Fiddlers on strings.
Lennon always credited Yoko One for her lyrical contribution to the song and she is now officially recognised for her work.
Spector reportedly completed the production in just three takes, the second of which was used on the album and as the single. Spector, who died in prison earlier this year while serving life for murder, said many years ago: “We knew what we were going to do. It was going to be John making a political statement, but a very commercial one as well. I always thought that Imagine was like the national anthem.”
HOW HIGH IN THE CHARTS DID IT REACH?
IMAGINE was Lennon’s second album after John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band which contained the bitter track Working Class Hero and reflected Lennon’s involvement in primal scream therapy to deal with issues from his past.
Having endured therapy Lennon let rip on Imagine, and the album contains How Do You Sleep, his tirade against his former collaborator Paul McCartney. There are also classic tracks such as Jealous Guy, How, Gimme Some Truth and Crippled Inside, as well as two love songs for Yoko Ono, Oh My Love and Oh Yoko.
It was the title track, however, that gained most of the air play on radio and which was recognised from the outset as a great and memorable song. And yes, its lyrics did prove controversial.
The album went to number one in the charts in both the UK and USA and the single reached number three on the Hot 100 American chart. When it was eventually released as a single in Britain in 1975, it charted at number six.
The single also went to number one in Canada, Australia and South Africa and was a top 10 hit in many other countries.
As a single it has sold around 20 million copies and was Lennon’s biggest success as a solo artist.
WHY HAS IT BECOME SO INFLUENTIAL?
SADLY, Imagine really only became a global smash hit after the assassination of John Lennon by Mark David Chapman in New York on December 8, 1980. Lennon was just 40. Chapman is still in jail.
Immediately fans queued to buy Imagine with many saying that spoke to them about the tragedy of a man of peace killed in such a violent manner. The simple video of Lennon singing with Yoko Ono alongside him became iconic.
Imagine went to the top of the UK charts for a month and was a hit across the world. Since then it has been performed or recorded by more than 200 artists, by everyone from Dolly Parton to David Bowie, Elton John to Queen.
It has resurfaced in the charts several times, most notably after it featured in the Olympics’ closing ceremony in 2012, performed by the Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Choir and the Liverpool Signing Choir. The choirs sang the first verse and accompanied Lennon’s original vocals during the rest of the song.
It regularly features in “best of” charts.
HOW POWERFUL ARE THE LYRICS NOW?
GIVEN what the entire world has been going through for nearly two years now, Lennon and Ono’s words have more resonance than ever. Read them and try not to weep too much.
Imagine there’s no heaven
It’s easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today
Imagine there’s no countries
It isn’t hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace
You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will be as one
Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world
You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will live as one
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