Tag Archives: Walls and Bridges

Music Monday: October 6, 2025

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Hi, everyone. Welcome to this week’s edition of Music Monday.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

This week will mark the 85th birth anniversary of the man who was first introduced to the world as “The Smart Beatle”. John Winston Ono Lennon was born in Liverpool, England on October 9, 1940. His parents did not have a stable marriage (his father was a seamen who was away a lot) so eventually Lennon was raised by his Aunt Mimi Smith after her sister & John’s mother, Julia, gave her custody when her son was nearly four. Two years before her death in 1958 from being struck by a car, she bought her son his first guitar in 1956, the same year he formed The Quarryman group.

At their second performance, Lennon met Paul McCartney & invited him to join the band. By 1960, George Harrison was invited by McCartney to join the group that by this time was renamed The Beatles. Two years later, the addition of Ringo Starr completed the lineup that would change the world.

This December will mark the 60th anniversary of The Beatles seminal album, Rubber Soul. And that comes in a year where we already celebrated the 60th anniversary of 1965’s Help! movie & album and the historic Shea Stadium show along with the 55th anniversary of 1970’s Let It Be. Still, Lennon has his own significant landmarks this year as well.

Fifty-five years ago in December 1970, he released his first solo album, John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

His songs explored the death of his mother, his disillusionment with life, fame, heroes & everything else that is supposed to make people happy. Lennon was writing the tracks as he approached his 30th birthday, after his time as a Beatle for nearly a decade came to an end and made him more rich & famous than most people would ever be, and he just wanted to be John. He wanted to live a much smaller existence with the woman he loved.

Five years later Lennon had a life altering year. It started 50 years ago in February 1975 with the release of Rock ‘n’ Roll, the album he made in tribute to his musical heroes.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

It includes covers of songs by Little Richard, Sam Cooke, Fats Domino and Buddy Holly, amongst others. That album was followed by a greatest hit compilation, Shaved Fish, released in October 1975. That month Lennon turned 35 and on his birthday, he became a father for the second time with the birth of his son, Sean. That led Lennon to put his musical career on hold so he could focus on fatherhood. He spent the next five years as a self-described “house husband” (a/k/a a stay at home dad).

By 1980, he returned to his musical career. A summer of writing & recording resulted in Double Fantasy which was released on November 17, 1980.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

On December 27, 1980, it became the third #1 album of his career (after Imagine in 1971 and Walls And Bridges in 1974), staying in the top spot for eight consecutive weeks. Double Fantasy’s first single, “(Just Like) Starting Over”, reached the top spot in the U.S. on the same day where it stayed for five consecutive weeks. The second single, “Woman”, peaked at #2 in March 1981 while the third single, “Watching The Wheels”, reached the #10 spot two months later.

Double Fantasy was the last album released in Lennon’s lifetime. He died 45 years ago on December 8, 1980. My heart is still broken.

Sending “limitless undying love” today & every day “across the universe” to the man who changed music & life for so many of us.

John Lennon circa 1980. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

The Beatles: “You’re Going to Lose That Girl” (written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. From the 1965 album, Help!).

The Beatles: “Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)” (written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. From the 1965 album, Rubber Soul).

The Beatles: “In My Life” (written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. From the 1965 album, Rubber Soul).

The Dirty Mac: “Yer Blues” (As performed at “The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus” concert, December 1968. Written by John Lennon & Paul McCartney. From the 1968 album, The Beatles).

The Beatles: “Dig A Pony” (written by John Lennon. From the 1970 album, Let It Be).

John Lennon: “God” (written by John Lennon. From the 1970 album, John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band).

John Lennon: “Just Because” (written by Lloyd Price. From the 1975 album, Rock ‘n’ Roll).

John Lennon: “I’m Losing You” (written by John Lennon. From the 1980 album, Double Fantasy).

Stay safe & well.

Let’s Take A Moment Day 246

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Hi everyone.  Hope you are all well and continue to stay that way during this global health crisis we are facing.  But in addition to protecting your physical wellness, what are you doing to stay mentally healthy today?

kurt v

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

I know we are in a serious situation, but I need a break from the gloom, doom and bullying by way of hoarding. Music has always been my refuge and watching those beautiful Italians singing to each other from their balconies reaffirmed my belief that music is the answer. So until the old normal returns, I am going to share a song I listen to that helps me escape the current state of things, if only for a few minutes each day.  And if this helps anyone else, even better.

On November 16, 1974 John Lennon hit the top of the charts with the first single from his “Walls and Bridges” album. The song was released in September of that year and Lennon’s friend, Elton John, provided harmony vocals & the piano track for the record. It was his way of thanking Lennon for playing guitar & singing back-up vocals on John’s cover of “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds” recorded several months earlier (Lennon was credited as “Dr. Winston O’Boogie” on the cover to keep legal issues from the record company at bay).

John was so sure Lennon’s tune would become a #1 record John bet Lennon that if that happened, he would have to join John onstage at his concert at Madison Square Garden on November 28. Lennon agreed because he did not think the song would do that well. But between the upbeat get-you-up-on-your-feet tempo, Lennon’s incredible vocal with sing-along lyrics, John’s boogie- woogie playing style & a horn section that just owned every note they played, this song could not miss.

Once the song made it to the top of the chart, John reminded Lennon of the bet & he was almost physically sick the night of the show because he was terrified to take the stage. It had been a while since he played in a venue that large (The Beatles had stopped touring in 1966 & Lennon was playing smaller places as a solo artist). But all went well & the two men performed three songs together: the “Lucy” cover, today’s pick and a Beatles tune, “I Saw Her Standing There” (the live recording was released as the B-side to John’s single, “Philadelphia Freedom” in February 1975).

The original track featured Paul McCartney on lead vocal, so when Lennon introduced it to the audience, he said it was a song from “an old estranged fiance of mine, old Paul”. And the ecstatic crowd, who cut short their Thanksgiving feast to be at the John concert that night, heard the number one song in the country by Lennon as well as two Beatles songs. If there was ever a concert I wish I could have attended, this is one of them. And one of my favorite rock & roll stories ever.

I also believe this was the last time Lennon was ever on stage, or at least in an arena of this size. He was separated from his wife, Yoko Ono, for about 18 months at the time of this show. John invited her to the concert where she and Lennon reunited backstage afterwards. She gave birth to their son, Sean Ono Lennon, on Lennon’s birthday the next year. John was named Sean’s godfather.and Lennon became a stay at home dad to his son until he went back into the studio five years later to record “Double Fantasy”. It was released 40 years ago today on November 17, 1980.

In March 1982, John recorded “Empty Garden” in honor of Lennon. John performed the song in Madison Square Garden in August of that year and invited his godson and his mother on stage in tribute to Lennon.

“Whatever gets you through your life
It’s all right, it’s all right
Do it wrong, or do it right
It’s all right, it’s all right

Don’t need a watch to waste your time
Oh no, oh no“.

elton john john lennon

Elton & John

Elton and John backstage

Elton Sean circa 1982

Top two pictures: Elton John (left) and John Lennon (R) on stage at Madison Square Garden on November 28, 1974. Third picture: Lennon backstage with John & his band the same night (Lennon is third from left, standing with John to his right). Last picture (L_R): Sean Ono Lennon (age 6) & Yoko Ono join John on stage at his concert at the Garden in August 1982 after he performed his tribute song to Lennon, “Empty Garden”, (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

John Lennon featuring Elton John: “Whatever Gets You Through The Night” (1974, written by John Lennon).

I do not own the rights to anything.  I am just sharing what I love and how I am coping with you.

Stay well.