Steel and Glass
Encyclopedia
"Steel and Glass" is a song by John Lennon
, released on his 1974 album Walls and Bridges
.
. At this point he had only the melody and a few sentences of lyrics, it would be another year before the song became was heard on Walls and Bridges. In 1974 a piano demo was taped. Again, the final lyrics were yet to be written. While Lennon's ideas were taking shape, it was hugely based upon a single piano chord - from the final studio recording. Before recording Walls and Bridges in July 1974, Lennon spent somewhat 10 days in pre-production at Sunset Studios and Record Plant East, New York. During this time he rehearsed a few songs with the musicians he had recruited for the sessions.
, released in 1986. With Lennon's steel-string guitar to the foreground, it lacked the string arrangement of the final version. Take 8 of "Steel and Glass" was released on the 1998 box set John Lennon Anthology
, and sounded a lot more like the final version, but with the reggae rhythms of the chorus more pronounced. Take nine was the one used on Walls and Bridges.
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
, released on his 1974 album Walls and Bridges
Walls and Bridges
Walls and Bridges is the fifth album by John Lennon; it was issued on 26 September 1974 in the United States and on 4 October in the United Kingdom. Written, recorded and released during his 18-month separation from Yoko Ono , the album captures Lennon in the midst of The Lost Weekend...
.
Recording
Lennon recorded an acoustic demo of "Steel and Glass" in the summer of 1973, before studio work began on Mind GamesMind Games
Mind Games is John Lennon's fourth post-Beatles album, and was recorded and released in 1973. Like his previous album, the politically topical and somewhat abrasive Some Time in New York City, Mind Games was poorly received by music critics...
. At this point he had only the melody and a few sentences of lyrics, it would be another year before the song became was heard on Walls and Bridges. In 1974 a piano demo was taped. Again, the final lyrics were yet to be written. While Lennon's ideas were taking shape, it was hugely based upon a single piano chord - from the final studio recording. Before recording Walls and Bridges in July 1974, Lennon spent somewhat 10 days in pre-production at Sunset Studios and Record Plant East, New York. During this time he rehearsed a few songs with the musicians he had recruited for the sessions.
Release
An edited version of "Steel and Glass" from the pre-production stage was included on the posthumous collection Menlove Ave.Menlove Ave.
Menlove Ave. is a 1986 album by English rock musician John Lennon. It is the second posthumous release of Lennon's music, having been recorded during the sessions from his albums, Walls and Bridges and Rock 'n' Roll...
, released in 1986. With Lennon's steel-string guitar to the foreground, it lacked the string arrangement of the final version. Take 8 of "Steel and Glass" was released on the 1998 box set John Lennon Anthology
John Lennon Anthology
John Lennon Anthology is a box set of home demos, alternative studio outtakes and other unreleased material recorded by John Lennon over the course of his solo career from "Give Peace a Chance" in 1969 up until the 1980 sessions for Double Fantasy and Milk and Honey.The anthology was divided by its...
, and sounded a lot more like the final version, but with the reggae rhythms of the chorus more pronounced. Take nine was the one used on Walls and Bridges.
Personnel
The musicians who performed on the original recording were as follows:- John LennonJohn LennonJohn Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
- vocals, acoustic guitar - Nicky HopkinsNicky HopkinsNicholas Christian "Nicky" Hopkins was an English pianist and organist.He recorded and performed on noted British and American popular music recordings of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s as a session musician....
- piano - Jesse Ed DavisJesse Ed DavisJesse Edwin Davis was an American guitarist. He was well regarded as a session artist. His death in 1988 is attributed to a drug overdose.-Biography:...
- electric guitar - Eddie MottauEddie MottauEddie Mottau is a Boston-born American guitarist. His career has included membership in the bands Bo Grumpus and Mottau, Drew & Clark , and session work for musicians Noel Paul Stookey, John Lennon, Yoko Ono, and David Peel....
- acoustic guitar - Ken Ascher - clavinet
- Klaus VoormannKlaus VoormannKlaus Voormann is a German Grammy Award-winning artist, noted musician, and record producer. He designed artwork for many bands including The Beatles, The Bee Gees, Wet Wet Wet and Turbonegro. His most notable work as a producer was his work with the band Trio, including their worldwide hit "Da Da...
- bass - Arthur JenkinsArthur Jenkins (percussionist)Arthur Eugene Jenkins, Jr. was an American keyboardist, composer, arranger and percussionist who worked with many popular music icons such as John Lennon, Harry Belafonte, Bob Marley and Chaka Khan....
- percussion - Jim KeltnerJim KeltnerJames Lee "Jim" Keltner is an American drummer known primarily for his session work. He has contributed to the work of many well-known artists...
- drums - Bobby KeysBobby KeysBobby Keys is an American saxophone player, and has performed with other musicians as a member of one of the notable horn sections of the 1970s. He appears on albums by The Rolling Stones, The Who, Harry Nilsson, Delaney Bramlett, George Harrison's All Things Must Pass, Eric Clapton and Joe...
, Steve Madaio, Howard Johnson, Ron Aprea, Frank Vicari - horns