John Lennon’s Best Solo Songs

John Lennon’s solo career began with the release of three avantgarde albums (“Two Virgins,” “Life With The Lions” and “Wedding Album’) in the late 1960’s with Japanese conceptual artist, Yoko Ono, while John was, if only half-heartedly, still in The Beatles.

In 1970, John released the Rock oriented solo effort (“John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band’), the first of seven albums released in his lifetime. Ono was listed as a performer/songwriter on three of the albums. “Milk And Honey” was issued posthumously.

Here are the best songs from Lennon’s solo career….

Give Peace A Chance – 1969

The anti-war song written by John (originally credited to Lennon–McCartney) and recorded with Yoko and a small group of friends (comedian Tom Smothers, LSD guru Timothy Leary, and pop singer Petula Clark, among others) in a performance in a hotel room during John and Yoko’s Bed-In for peace in Montreal, Quebec.

Starting Over – 1980

 The first single from “Double Fantasy” and the first new recording John had released since he left the music industry in 1975 was selected because it was the most appropriate following his five-year absence from the recording industry. 

Watching The Wheels – 1981

Released after John’s murder, it was the third and final single from John and Yoko’s “Double Fantasy,” reaching #10 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Nobody Told Me -1984

The song was originally written for Ringo Starr for his “Stop And Smell The Roses” album but due to John’s death, Starr decided not to record it.

Whatever Gets You Through The Night – 1974

Lennon’s only solo #1 single in the U.S. during his lifetime. He was the last ex-Beatles to reach the top of pop chart. 

Instant Karma -1970

The song reached #3 on Billboard‘s pop chart competing with The Beatles “Let It Be” in the U.S. and became the first solo single by a member of the band to sell a million copies.

Cold Turkey – 1969

John offered The Beatles the song for their “Abbey Road” album, but the other Beatles rejected it. Lennon then recorded it with a group of musicians he called The Plastic Ono Band and released it as a single.

Imagine – 1971

The best-selling single of John’s solo career imagines peace without materialism, with no borders or religion. Shortly before his death, John said that much of the song’s lyrics and content came from his wife, Yoko Ono. Decades later she did receive co-writing credit.

Bonus Track:

The Ballad Of John And Yoko (The Beatles) -1969

Written by John but credited to Lennon-McCartney partnership, the song chronicles the events surrounding the wedding of John and Yoko Ono. In the U.S., it was banned by some radio stations due to the lyrics’ reference to “Christ’ and ‘crucifixion’.

While credited to The Beatles, only John and Paul McCartney played on the track.

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