John Lennon's classic album 'Imagine' was released

Imagine is the second studio album by English musician John Lennon, released on 9 September 1971 by Apple Records. Co-produced by Lennon, his wife Yoko Ono and Phil Spector, the album's lush sound contrasts the basic, small-group arrangements of his first album, John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band (1970), while the opening title track is widely considered to be his signature song.

Lennon recorded the album from early to mid-1971 at Ascot Sound Studios, Abbey Road Studios and the Record Plant in New York City, with supporting musicians that included his ex-Beatles bandmate George Harrison, keyboardist Nicky Hopkins, bassist Klaus Voormann and drummers Alan White and Jim Keltner. Its lyrics reflect peace, love, politics, Lennon's experience with primal scream therapy, and, following a period of high personal tensions, an attack on his former writing partner Paul McCartney in "How Do You Sleep?" Extensive footage from the sessions was recorded for a scrapped documentary; parts were released on the documentary film Imagine: John Lennon (1988). The documentary John & Yoko: Above Us Only Sky, based on that footage, was released in 2018.

Imagine was a critical and commercial success, peaking at number one on both the UK Albums Chart and US Billboard 200. Along with John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band, it is considered one of Lennon's finest solo albums. In 2012, the album was voted 80th on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. The album has been reissued multiple times, including in 2018 as The Ultimate Collection, a six-disc box set containing previously unreleased demos, rare studio outtakes, "evolution documentaries" for each track, and isolated track elements along with surround mixes.

Background

While in New York, former Beatles John Lennon and George Harrison had a short jam session, during which Lennon asked Harrison to perform on Lennon's next album. Recording was scheduled to begin in a week's time at Lennon's Ascot Sound Studios, at his Tittenhurst Park residence.[2] Harrison agreed, and invited his friend, bassist Klaus Voormann.

Recording and structure

Recording for the album started on 24 May at Ascot Sound Studios. The first songs recorded were "It's So Hard" and "I Don't Want to Be a Soldier" in February 1971 at Ascot Sound Studios, during sessions for Lennon's single "Power to the People". A cover of the Olympics' 1958 song "Well (Baby Please Don't Go)", later released on John Lennon Anthology, was recorded on 16 February. Lennon chose to remake "I Don't Want to Be a Soldier" on 24 May 1971, the opening day of the main album sessions.

Lennon enlisted help from Nicky Hopkins, members of the Apple band Badfinger, Alan White and Jim Keltner. Harrison contributed lead guitar parts on various songs. Lennon showed the musicians a song that he had recently written, "Imagine". Also recorded was a demo of the future Lennon track "Aisumasen (I'm Sorry)", the unreleased song "San Francisco Bay Blues", and a demo of "I'm the Greatest".

Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono flew to New York on 3 July to continue sessions for the album the next day, at the Record Plant. Many instrumental parts were re-recorded there, and strings and saxophone by King Curtis were also added. The tracks that were finished at Record Plant were "It's So Hard", "I Don't Want to Be a Soldier" and "How Do You Sleep?" As on Lennon's last album, Phil Spector joined him and Ono as co-producer on Imagine. The string arrangements for the album were written by Torrie Zito.

Extensive footage of the sessions, showing the evolution of some of the songs, was originally filmed and titled Working Class Hero before being shelved. Footage of "Gimme Some Truth" aired as part of the BBC TV show The Old Grey Whistle Test on 12 December 1972. Portions were released as part of the documentary film Imagine: John Lennon.

Track listing

All songs written by John Lennon, except "Imagine" and "Oh My Love", both co-written with Yoko Ono, and "Baby Please Don't Go" written by Walter Ward.

Original release

Side one

1. "Imagine" – 3:01
2. "Crippled Inside" – 3:47
3. "Jealous Guy" – 4:14
4. "It's So Hard" – 2:25
5. "I Don't Want To Be A Soldier" – 6:05

Side two

1. "Gimme Some Truth" – 3:16
2. "Oh My Love" – 2:50
3. "How Do You Sleep?" – 5:36
4. "How?" – 3:43
5. "Oh Yoko!" – 4:20

Bonus EP on the 40th Anniversary LP edition

Side one

1. "Baby Please Don't Go" – 4:03
2. "Imagine" – 3:24
3. "How Do You Sleep?" – 5:23

Side two

1. "Jealous Guy" – 4:12
2. "Oh My Love" – 2:56
3. "I Don't Want to Be a Soldier Mama" – 5:23

Personnel

Personnel per John Blaney. Track numbering refers to CD and digital releases of the album.

Musicians

• John Lennon – vocals (all), piano (1, 7, 9), electric guitar (2, 4–6, 8, 10), acoustic guitar (3), whistling (3), harmonica (10)
• George Harrison – dobro (2), slide guitar (5, 6, 8), electric guitar (7)
• Nicky Hopkins – tack piano (2), piano (3, 5, 6, 9, 10), electric piano (7, 8)
• Klaus Voormann – bass guitar (all but 2), double bass (2)
• Alan White – drums (1, 2, 6–10), vibraphone (3, 5), Tibetan cymbals (7)
• Jim Keltner – drums (3, 5)
• Jim Gordon – drums (4)
• King Curtis – saxophone (4, 5)
• John Barham – harmonium (3), vibraphone (9)
• Joey Molland, Tom Evans – acoustic guitar (3, 5) (credited as "Joey and Tommy Badfinger")
• John Tout – piano (2, 8) (incorrectly credited as playing "acoustic guitar")
• Ted Turner – acoustic guitar (2, 8)
• Rod Linton – acoustic guitar (2, 6, 8, 10)
• Andy Davis – acoustic guitar (6, 8–10)
• Mike Pinder – tambourine (3, 5)
• Steve Brendell – double bass (2), maracas (5)
• Phil Spector – harmony vocal (10)
• The Flux Fiddlers (members of the New York Philharmonic) – orchestral strings (1, 3–5, 8, 9)

Production

• John Lennon – producer, cover artwork
• Yoko Ono – producer, cover photography
• Phil Spector – producer
• Jack Douglas– engineer