Walls and Bridges
Encyclopedia
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
(June 1973-January 1975), the album captures Lennon in the midst of The Lost Weekend. Walls and Bridges was an American Billboard #1 album and featured Lennon's only #1 single as a solo artist during his lifetime, "Whatever Gets You thru the Night
".
, as a companion . Lennon soon moved to California with Pang, and embarked upon an eighteen-month relationship with Pang he would later refer to as his "Lost Weekend". While Lennon and Pang were living in Los Angeles, John took the opportunity to get reacquainted with his son, Julian, whom he had not seen in four years. Lennon had planned to record an album of rock 'n' roll oldies with producer Phil Spector
, but these sessions became legendary not for the music produced but for the chaotic antics fuelled by alcohol. Lennon and Pang returned to New York and Spector disappeared with these session tapes. Still in the mood to make music, Lennon decided to record a new album of original material.
on drums, Klaus Voormann
on bass, Jesse Ed Davis
on guitar, and Arthur Jenkins
on percussion.
Walls and Bridges has a variety of musical stylings and many of the lyrics make it clear that Lennon both enjoyed his new-found freedom and also missed Ono. "Going Down On Love", "What You Got" and "Bless You" address his feelings toward Ono, while the first track written for the record, "Surprise Surprise (Sweet Bird of Paradox)" was written for Pang. "Steel and Glass" included a sinister riff reminiscent of "How Do You Sleep?", Lennon's audio argument with Paul McCartney
from the Imagine
album, though the digs this time were directed at former Beatles manager Allen Klein
. "Scared" is a haunting track exploring Lennon's fear of ageing, loneliness and the emptiness of success. It also included the seemingly prophetic lyric: "Hatred and jealousy gonna be the death of me."
The album also includes some of Lennon's most uplifting songs, namely its two singles "Whatever Gets You Thru The Night" (which features Elton John on piano and harmony vocals) and "#9 Dream" (the instrumentation literally evokes a dream). Another is "Beef Jerky", a funky Stax-inspired instrumental (the only instrumental to appear on a Lennon solo album).
Recalling the recording of the album, in an interview with Pete Hamill in Rolling Stone (5 June 1975), Lennon recalled: "Elton sort of popped in on the sessions for 'Walls and Bridges' and sort of zapped in and played the piano and ended up singing 'Whatever Gets You Thru the Night' with me. Which was a great shot in the arm. I'd done three quarters of it, 'Now what do we do?' Should we put a camel on it or a xylophone? That sort of thing. And he came in and said, 'Hey, I'll play some piano!'"
Another notable track is "Nobody Loves You (When You're Down and Out)", although written in 1973 was remembered by Lennon in an interview for Playboy
magazine as expressing his feeling for the whole [lost weekend] period. Lennon "always imagined Sinatra singing that one. I don't know why. It's kind of a Sinatraesque song, really. He would do a perfect job with it. Are you listening Frank? You need one song that isn't a piece of nothing. Here's one for you, the horn arrangement and everything's made for you. But don't ask me to produce it".
The final track is a casual cover of the Lee Dorsey oldie "Ya Ya", which Lennon tacked onto the end of the album with the credit: "Starring Julian Lennon
on drums and Dad on piano and vocals". During one of his frequent visits from England to see his father during this period, eleven-year-old Julian attended the recording sessions. Lennon surprised Julian by including the track on the album. Pang recalled the younger Lennon's response, telling his father "If I'd known, I would have played better". Lennon also sends a message to publisher Morris Levy
who was expecting this Lennon release to be the oldies album (see Rock 'n' Roll
) at the beginning of the track: "OK we'll do sitting in the lala. That'll get rid of that!" which infuriated Levy.
Cut from the album at the last minute was a track called "Move Over Ms. L", one of Lennon's harder rockers, which would eventually appear as the B-side to the single "Stand By Me" the following year – the only example of a Lennon B-side not already available on an album.
noted that Lennon was making "progress". In later years Stephen Thomas Erlewine
of Allmusic felt that the album was "decidedly uneven".
Both the album and the single, "Whatever Gets You thru the Night", reached #1 on the American charts the same week (16 November), and #6 in the United Kingdom.
During the recording of "Whatever Gets You," Elton John bet Lennon that it would top the charts. Never believing it would, Lennon agreed to perform live with John if it did. Having lost the wager, Lennon appeared at John's Madison Square Garden
show on 28 November, performing Lennon's current #1 hit together as well as The Beatles
' "I Saw Her Standing There
" and "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
", (which was Elton John's new single with Lennon on backing vocals). This was Lennon's last major live performance.
In addition to reestablishing a relationship with Julian, Lennon mended fences with the other Beatles during this period and Walls and Bridges is filled with musical nods to the group. In the opening track, Lennon sings "somebody please, please help me". On "Surprise Surprise", Lennon utilises the coda of "Drive My Car" substituting the "beep beep yeahs" with "sweet sweet love". In response to McCartney's Lennon-esque track, Let Me Roll It
on the Band on the Run
album, Lennon took the guitar riff note for note and incorporated it into "Beef Jerky".
The album's elaborate jacket featured childhood drawings done by Lennon and a series of interchangeable faces. Walls and Bridges also had a popular ad campaign (created by Lennon) called "Listen To This..." (button, photo, sticker, ad, poster, t-shirt and, in New York City, a huge poster plastered on the rear of 2,000 city buses).
Television and radio commercials featuring a voiceover from Ringo Starr
depicted the album jacket in its many 'photo flap' faces. Lennon would return the favour and do the voiceover for the commercials for Starr's Goodnight Vienna
album.
Shortly after its release, Lennon personally mixed a true quadrophonic version of the album ("for the 20 people who buy quad", he joked in his infamous 1974 WNEW radio interview in New York). These mixes highlight many of the percussive and orchestrative textures that were not as prominent on the stereo version.
Capitol Records again reissued the album on 5 Oct. 2010. This version was a remaster of the original album mixes and cover art.
, except "Old Dirt Road", by John Lennon and Harry Nilsson
and "Ya Ya", by Lee Dorsey/Morris Levy/Clarence Lewis/Morgan Robinson
Performed by:
Plus:
Special guest:
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...
; 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
Yoko Ono
is a Japanese artist, musician, author and peace activist, known for her work in avant-garde art, music and filmmaking as well as her marriage to John Lennon...
(June 1973-January 1975), the album captures Lennon in the midst of The Lost Weekend. Walls and Bridges was an American Billboard #1 album and featured Lennon's only #1 single as a solo artist during his lifetime, "Whatever Gets You thru the Night
Whatever Gets You thru the Night
"Whatever Gets You Thru the Night" is a song written by John Lennon, released as a single in 1974 on Apple Records, catalogue Apple 1874 in the United States and Apple R5998 in the United Kingdom. It peaked at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #36 on the British singles chart...
".
Background
In June 1973, as Lennon was about to record Mind Games, Ono decided that she and Lennon should separate. Ono suggested that he take their personal assistant, May PangMay Pang
May Fung Yee Pang is best known as the former girlfriend of John Lennon. She had previously worked as a personal assistant and production coordinator for Lennon and his wife, Yoko Ono....
, as a companion . Lennon soon moved to California with Pang, and embarked upon an eighteen-month relationship with Pang he would later refer to as his "Lost Weekend". While Lennon and Pang were living in Los Angeles, John took the opportunity to get reacquainted with his son, Julian, whom he had not seen in four years. Lennon had planned to record an album of rock 'n' roll oldies with producer Phil Spector
Phil Spector
Phillip Harvey "Phil" Spector is an American record producer and songwriter, later known for his conviction in the murder of actress Lana Clarkson....
, but these sessions became legendary not for the music produced but for the chaotic antics fuelled by alcohol. Lennon and Pang returned to New York and Spector disappeared with these session tapes. Still in the mood to make music, Lennon decided to record a new album of original material.
Recording
Recording sessions for Walls and Bridges began in June 1974 at Record Plant East in New York City. Musicians included Jim KeltnerJim Keltner
James Lee "Jim" Keltner is an American drummer known primarily for his session work. He has contributed to the work of many well-known artists...
on drums, Klaus Voormann
Klaus Voormann
Klaus 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...
on bass, Jesse Ed Davis
Jesse Ed Davis
Jesse 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:...
on guitar, and Arthur Jenkins
Arthur 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....
on percussion.
Walls and Bridges has a variety of musical stylings and many of the lyrics make it clear that Lennon both enjoyed his new-found freedom and also missed Ono. "Going Down On Love", "What You Got" and "Bless You" address his feelings toward Ono, while the first track written for the record, "Surprise Surprise (Sweet Bird of Paradox)" was written for Pang. "Steel and Glass" included a sinister riff reminiscent of "How Do You Sleep?", Lennon's audio argument with Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
from the Imagine
Imagine (album)
Imagine is the second album by John Lennon. Recorded and released in 1971, the album tended toward songs that were gentler, more commercial and less avant-garde than those on his critically acclaimed previous album, John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band. The album is considered the most popular of his works...
album, though the digs this time were directed at former Beatles manager Allen Klein
Allen Klein
Allen Klein was an American businessman, talent agent and record label executive. His clients included The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.- The accountant :...
. "Scared" is a haunting track exploring Lennon's fear of ageing, loneliness and the emptiness of success. It also included the seemingly prophetic lyric: "Hatred and jealousy gonna be the death of me."
The album also includes some of Lennon's most uplifting songs, namely its two singles "Whatever Gets You Thru The Night" (which features Elton John on piano and harmony vocals) and "#9 Dream" (the instrumentation literally evokes a dream). Another is "Beef Jerky", a funky Stax-inspired instrumental (the only instrumental to appear on a Lennon solo album).
Recalling the recording of the album, in an interview with Pete Hamill in Rolling Stone (5 June 1975), Lennon recalled: "Elton sort of popped in on the sessions for 'Walls and Bridges' and sort of zapped in and played the piano and ended up singing 'Whatever Gets You Thru the Night' with me. Which was a great shot in the arm. I'd done three quarters of it, 'Now what do we do?' Should we put a camel on it or a xylophone? That sort of thing. And he came in and said, 'Hey, I'll play some piano!'"
Another notable track is "Nobody Loves You (When You're Down and Out)", although written in 1973 was remembered by Lennon in an interview for Playboy
Playboy
Playboy is an American men's magazine that features photographs of nude women as well as journalism and fiction. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother. The magazine has grown into Playboy Enterprises, Inc., with...
magazine as expressing his feeling for the whole [lost weekend] period. Lennon "always imagined Sinatra singing that one. I don't know why. It's kind of a Sinatraesque song, really. He would do a perfect job with it. Are you listening Frank? You need one song that isn't a piece of nothing. Here's one for you, the horn arrangement and everything's made for you. But don't ask me to produce it".
The final track is a casual cover of the Lee Dorsey oldie "Ya Ya", which Lennon tacked onto the end of the album with the credit: "Starring Julian Lennon
Julian Lennon
John Charles Julian Lennon is an English musician, songwriter, actor, and photographer. He is the son of John Lennon and Lennon's first wife, Cynthia Powell. Beatles manager Brian Epstein was his godfather. He has a younger half-brother, Sean Lennon. Lennon was named after his paternal...
on drums and Dad on piano and vocals". During one of his frequent visits from England to see his father during this period, eleven-year-old Julian attended the recording sessions. Lennon surprised Julian by including the track on the album. Pang recalled the younger Lennon's response, telling his father "If I'd known, I would have played better". Lennon also sends a message to publisher Morris Levy
Morris Levy
Morris Levy was an American music industry executive, best known as the founder and owner of Roulette Records...
who was expecting this Lennon release to be the oldies album (see Rock 'n' Roll
Rock 'n' Roll (John Lennon album)
Rock 'n' Roll is a 1975 album of late 1950s and early 1960s songs covered by John Lennon. Recording the album was problematic and spanned a year. Though critically derided, it reached #6 in both the United Kingdom and the United States.-History:...
) at the beginning of the track: "OK we'll do sitting in the lala. That'll get rid of that!" which infuriated Levy.
Cut from the album at the last minute was a track called "Move Over Ms. L", one of Lennon's harder rockers, which would eventually appear as the B-side to the single "Stand By Me" the following year – the only example of a Lennon B-side not already available on an album.
Reception and Promotion
Walls and Bridges has received mixed reviews over the years. When originally released a review from Rolling StoneRolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
noted that Lennon was making "progress". In later years Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Stephen Thomas Erlewine is a senior editor for Allmusic. He is the author of many artist biographies and record reviews for Allmusic, as well as a freelance writer, occasionally contributing liner notes. He is also frontman and guitarist for the Ann Arbor-based band Who Dat?Erlewine is the nephew...
of Allmusic felt that the album was "decidedly uneven".
Both the album and the single, "Whatever Gets You thru the Night", reached #1 on the American charts the same week (16 November), and #6 in the United Kingdom.
During the recording of "Whatever Gets You," Elton John bet Lennon that it would top the charts. Never believing it would, Lennon agreed to perform live with John if it did. Having lost the wager, Lennon appeared at John's Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
show on 28 November, performing Lennon's current #1 hit together as well as The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
' "I Saw Her Standing There
I Saw Her Standing There
"I Saw Her Standing There" is a song written by Paul McCartney and John Lennon, and is the opening track on The Beatles' debut album, Please Please Me, released in the United Kingdom by Parlophone on 22 March 1963....
" and "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
"Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" is a song written primarily by John Lennon and credited to Lennon–McCartney, for The Beatles' 1967 album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band...
", (which was Elton John's new single with Lennon on backing vocals). This was Lennon's last major live performance.
In addition to reestablishing a relationship with Julian, Lennon mended fences with the other Beatles during this period and Walls and Bridges is filled with musical nods to the group. In the opening track, Lennon sings "somebody please, please help me". On "Surprise Surprise", Lennon utilises the coda of "Drive My Car" substituting the "beep beep yeahs" with "sweet sweet love". In response to McCartney's Lennon-esque track, Let Me Roll It
Let Me Roll It
"Let Me Roll It" is the last track on side one on the Paul McCartney & Wings album Band on the Run. The song was seen by critics as a pastiche to John Lennon's sound, particularly the riff and the use of tape echo on the vocals. McCartney, however, never claimed the song was intended as a pastiche...
on the Band on the Run
Band on the Run
Band on the Run is an album by Paul McCartney & Wings, released in 1973. It was Wings' third album. It became Wings' most successful album and remains the most celebrated of McCartney's post-Beatles albums...
album, Lennon took the guitar riff note for note and incorporated it into "Beef Jerky".
The album's elaborate jacket featured childhood drawings done by Lennon and a series of interchangeable faces. Walls and Bridges also had a popular ad campaign (created by Lennon) called "Listen To This..." (button, photo, sticker, ad, poster, t-shirt and, in New York City, a huge poster plastered on the rear of 2,000 city buses).
Television and radio commercials featuring a voiceover from Ringo Starr
Ringo Starr
Richard Starkey, MBE better known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an English musician and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for The Beatles. When the band formed in 1960, Starr was a member of another Liverpool band, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. He became The Beatles' drummer in...
depicted the album jacket in its many 'photo flap' faces. Lennon would return the favour and do the voiceover for the commercials for Starr's Goodnight Vienna
Goodnight Vienna
Goodnight Vienna is the fourth album by Ringo Starr. It was recorded in the summer of 1974 in Los Angeles, and released later that year. Goodnight Vienna followed the commercially successful predecessor Ringo, and Starr used many of the same players, including Billy Preston, Klaus Voormann, Robbie...
album.
Shortly after its release, Lennon personally mixed a true quadrophonic version of the album ("for the 20 people who buy quad", he joked in his infamous 1974 WNEW radio interview in New York). These mixes highlight many of the percussive and orchestrative textures that were not as prominent on the stereo version.
Remix/Remaster
Walls and Bridges was released in a remixed and remastered form in November 2005 (though four of the original tracks: "Old Dirt Road", "Bless You", "Scared" and "Nobody Loves You" were not remixed). The remastered version featured an alternative cover. This new cover retained Lennon's signature and hand-written title, but used one of the portraits Bob Gruen took for the album instead of Lennon's childhood drawing. The bonus tracks for the reissue include "Whatever Gets You Thru The Night" performed live with Elton John, a previously unreleased acoustic version of "Nobody Loves You (When You're Down And Out)" and a promotional interview with Lennon.Capitol Records again reissued the album on 5 Oct. 2010. This version was a remaster of the original album mixes and cover art.
Track listing
All songs written and composed by John LennonJohn 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...
, except "Old Dirt Road", by John Lennon and Harry Nilsson
Harry Nilsson
Harry Edward Nilsson III was an American singer-songwriter who achieved the peak of his commercial success in the early 1970s. On all but his earliest recordings he is credited as Nilsson...
and "Ya Ya", by Lee Dorsey/Morris Levy/Clarence Lewis/Morgan Robinson
Side One
- "Going Down on LoveGoing Down on Love"Going Down on Love" is a song by John Lennon, released as the first track on his 1974 album Walls and Bridges.-Personnel:The musicians who performed on the original recording were as follows:*John Lennon - vocals, acoustic guitar*Nicky Hopkins - piano...
" – 3:54 - "Whatever Gets You thru the NightWhatever Gets You thru the Night"Whatever Gets You Thru the Night" is a song written by John Lennon, released as a single in 1974 on Apple Records, catalogue Apple 1874 in the United States and Apple R5998 in the United Kingdom. It peaked at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #36 on the British singles chart...
" – 3:28 - "Old Dirt RoadOld Dirt Road"Old Dirt Road" is a song written by John Lennon and Harry Nilsson, released on Lennon's 1974 album Walls and Bridges.-Personnel:The musicians who performed on the original recording were as follows:*John Lennon - vocals, acoustic guitar...
" – 4:11 - "What You Got" – 3:09
- "Bless You" – 4:38
- "Scared" – 4:36
Side Two
- "#9 DreamNumber 9 Dream"#9 Dream" is a song written by John Lennon and first issued on his 1974 album Walls and Bridges. It was released as the second single from that album months later, on Apple Records catalogue Apple 1878 in the United States and Apple R6003 in the United Kingdom...
" – 4:47 - "Surprise, Surprise (Sweet Bird of Paradox)" – 2:55
- "Steel and GlassSteel and Glass"Steel and Glass" is a song by John Lennon, released on his 1974 album Walls and Bridges.-Recording:Lennon recorded an acoustic demo of "Steel and Glass" in the summer of 1973, before studio work began on Mind Games. At this point he had only the melody and a few sentences of lyrics, it would be...
" – 4:37 - "Beef Jerky" – 3:26
- "Nobody Loves You (When You're Down and Out)Nobody Loves You (When You're Down and Out)"Nobody Loves You " is a song written by John Lennon released on his 1974 album Walls and Bridges. The song is included on the 1986 compilation Menlove Ave., the 1990 boxset Lennon, the 1998 box set John Lennon Anthology...
" – 5:08 - "Ya Ya" – 1:06
2005 reissue bonus tracks
- "Whatever Gets You thru the NightWhatever Gets You thru the Night"Whatever Gets You Thru the Night" is a song written by John Lennon, released as a single in 1974 on Apple Records, catalogue Apple 1874 in the United States and Apple R5998 in the United Kingdom. It peaked at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #36 on the British singles chart...
" - 4:23- Live with the Elton John band
- "Nobody Loves You (When You're Down and Out)Nobody Loves You (When You're Down and Out)"Nobody Loves You " is a song written by John Lennon released on his 1974 album Walls and Bridges. The song is included on the 1986 compilation Menlove Ave., the 1990 boxset Lennon, the 1998 box set John Lennon Anthology...
" – 5:07- Alternative version
- "John Interview (by Bob Mercer)" - 3:47
Credits and personnel
Arranged and produced by John Lennon.Performed by:
- 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...
: lead, harmony and background vocals; lead, rhythm and acoustic guitar; piano, whistling and percussion. - Ken AscherKenneth AscherKenneth "Kenny" Lee Ascher , is an American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger who is active in jazz, rock, classical, and musical theater genres — in live venues, recording studios, and cinema production. He is widely known for co-writing, with Paul Williams, The Rainbow Connection...
: electric piano, clavinet and mellotron. - 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. - 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. - 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. - 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. - 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...
: tenor saxophone - 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:...
: lead and acoustic 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.
Plus:
- Strings and brass musicians from the New York PhilharmonicNew York PhilharmonicThe New York Philharmonic is a symphony orchestra based in New York City in the United States. It is one of the American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five"...
Orchestrange: arranged and conducted by Ken Ascher. - Little Big Horns: brass section, arranged and conducted by Bobby Keys.
Special guest:
- Julian LennonJulian LennonJohn Charles Julian Lennon is an English musician, songwriter, actor, and photographer. He is the son of John Lennon and Lennon's first wife, Cynthia Powell. Beatles manager Brian Epstein was his godfather. He has a younger half-brother, Sean Lennon. Lennon was named after his paternal...
: drums on "Ya-ya" - Elton JohnElton JohnSir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
: piano and harmony vocals on "Whatever Gets you thru the Night" and hammond organ and background vocals on "Surprise, Surprise (Sweet Bird of Paradox)". - Joey Dambra, Lori Burton and May Pang: background vocals on "9 Dream".
Chart positions
| Chart (1974/75) | Position |
|---|---|
| Australian Kent Music Report Chart Kent Music Report The Kent Music Report was a weekly record chart of Australian music singles and albums which was compiled by music enthusiast David Kent from May 1974 through to 1998... |
4 |
| Canadian RPM RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... Albums Chart Canadian Albums Chart The Canadian Albums Chart is the official album sales chart in Canada. It is compiled every Wednesday by U.S.-based music sales tracking company Nielsen Soundscan, and published every Thursday by Jam! Canoe and Billboard, along with its sister charts the Canadian Singles Chart and the Canadian BDS... |
1 |
| Dutch Mega Albums Chart MegaCharts MegaCharts is responsible for the composition and exploitation of a broad collection of official charts in the Netherlands, of which the Mega Top 50 and the Mega Album Top 100 are the most known ones. Mega Charts also provides information to the Stichting Nederlandse Top 40, of which the Dutch Top... |
16 |
| Italian Albums Chart | 11 |
| Japanese Oricon LP Chart Oricon , established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan. It started as , which was founded by Sōkō Koike in November 1967 and became known for its music charts. Oricon Inc... |
14 |
| Norwegian Norway Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million... VG-lista VG-lista VG-listen is a Norwegian record chart. It is weekly presented in the newspaper VG and the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation program Topp 20. It is considered the primary Norwegian record chart, charting albums and singles from countries and continent around the world. The data is collected by... Albums Chart |
3 |
| UK Albums Chart UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
6 |
| U.S. Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
1 |
| West German Media Control Albums Chart | 41 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (1974) | Position |
|---|---|
| Canadian Albums Chart RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... |
17 |
| Chart (1975) | Position |
| Canadian Albums Chart RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... |
44 |
| Italian Albums Chart | 40 |
| U.S. Billboard Year-End Billboard Year-End Billboard Year-End charts are a cumulative measure of a single or album's performance in the United States, based upon the Billboard magazine charts during any given chart year. Billboard's "chart year" runs from the first week of December to the final week in November... |
84 |