05-03-70 – ‘Top Of The Pops’ (UK)
Instant Karma
This is a repeated of the 12-02-70 appearance.
18-03-71 – ‘Top Of The Pops’ Video (UK) – MISSING/LOST
Power To The People
A No. 6 UK hit and No. 11 US hit, this promo video for the raucous ‘Power To The People’ was made especially for ‘Top Of The Pops’, and was broadcast on 18-03-71 on 25-03-71, though it no longer survives. No official (non-‘Top Of The Pops’) video was made for the song until 1992.
21/22-05-71 – Tittenhurst, Ascot (UK)
Imagine / Jealous Guy / Gimme Some Truth / Oh My Love / How Do You Sleep? [with George Harrison] / How? / Oh Yoko!
The highlights of the 1988 ‘Imagine: John Lennon’ documentary movie were several excerpts from the recordings sessions for the ‘Imagine’ album, and in 2000 a further documentary, entitled ‘Gimme Some Truth’, was released on DVD, with much additional footage from these sessions. It was reissued as part of the ‘Imagine’ movie DVD in 2018, a release that also sees incredible split-screen edits of John recording ‘Jealous Guy’, ‘How?’ and ‘Gimme Some Truth’. Lengthy outtake footage of both ‘Oh My Love’ and ‘How Do You Sleep?’ circulate unofficially, the latter featuring George Harrison on slide guitar.
06-06-71 – Fillmore East, New York (USA)
Well (Baby Please Don’t Go) / Jamrag / Scumbag / Au [all songs are with Frank Zappa and band]
Appearing as special guest of Frank Zappa, John’s version of ‘Well (Baby Please Don’t Go)’ would be quite a good performance if Yoko Ono hadn’t ruined it with her inappropriate howling, while the other songs are almost unlistenable jams. Circulating unofficially on surprisingly good multi-angle colour footage, the audio of these songs, with a bass overdub by Klaus Voormann, appeared on ‘Sometime In New York City’.
00-09-71 – ‘Imagine’ movie (USA)
Imagine / Crippled Inside / Jealous Guy / Don’t Count The Waves [Yoko Ono] / It’s So Hard / Mrs. Lennon [Yoko Ono] / I Don’t Wanna Be A Soldier / Mind Train [Yoko Ono] / Power To The People (incomplete) / Gimme Some Truth / Midsummer New York [Yoko Ono] / Oh My Love / How Do You Sleep? / How? / Oh Yoko!
The 1971 ‘Imagine’ movie (not to be confused with the ‘Imagine: John Lennon’ documentary movie from 1988), is a ground-breaking collection of Promo Videos, taped over several months, made to promote John’s ‘Imagine’ and Yoko’s ‘Fly’ albums. Although it wasn’t widely seen at the time, no-one else was doing this in 1971 (Blondie’s ‘Eat To The Beat’ from 1979 is generally regarded as the first video album). The movie was issued, in edited form, as a VHS tape in 1985, and then finally issued on DVD in 2018. Additionally, outtake footage of the ‘Imagine’ promo video circulates unofficially. The ‘Imagine’ single was a No. 3 US single in 1971, though, surprisingly, it wasn’t issued as a single in the UK until 1975, when it got to No. 6, and, following John’s death, was a No. 1 in 1981. The ‘Imagine’ album was No. 1 in both the UK and the USA. The Promo Video for ‘Imagine’ was broadcast on ‘Top Of The Pops’ on 08-01-81, 15-01-81, 22-01-81, 29-01-81, 31-12-81 and 07-01-00, and, as well as in the full 1972 movie, can be found on the ‘Lennon Legend – The Very Best of John Lennon’ DVD.
12-11-71 – Bank Street, New York (USA)
Luck Of The Irish [with Yoko Ono]
Circulating unofficially is almost 20 minutes of black and white footage, featuring John and Yoko rehearsing a song that later appeared on the ‘Sometime In New York City’ album.
00-12-71 – ‘Top Of The Pops’ Video (UK)
Happy Christmas (War Is Over)
Unlike in the ‘60s, the early ‘70s produced a number of classic Christmas records, and John and Yoko’s 1971 seasonal offering is up there with and predates the hits by Slade, Mud, Wizzard, Elton John and all the other glam-era greats. Only making it to No. 42 in the US, in the UK it wasn’t released until December the following year, when it made No. 2. This video, featuring footage in and outside a church, intercut with stills of John and Yoko recording with the Harlem Gospel Choir, was made especially for ‘Top Of The Pops’ and broadcast on 14-12-72.
10-12-71 – ‘Ten For Two’, Crisler Arena, Ann Arbour (USA)
Attica State / The Luck Of The Irish [with Yoko Ono] / Sisters O Sisters [Performed by Yoko Ono] / John Sinclair
‘Ten For Two’ was a benefit concert for John Sinclair, a left-wing US activist who was given a 10 year prison sentence for possession of marijuana, for which John and Yoko played acoustically, and performed all new, politically-leaning, songs. All of these songs were later issued on 1972’s ‘Sometime In New York City’, which got to No. 11 in the UK charts, but in the USA, where it was savaged by the critics, it only scraped to No. 48. This, perhaps not incidentally, would be the only time prior to 1980’s ‘Double Fantasy’ where John and Yoko would share songs on the same studio album. The backing band here are Apple recording artists David Peel and The Lower East Side, who would perform with them at all December 1971 live and TV performances.
17-12-71 – The Apollo Theatre, New York (USA)
Attica State / Sisters O Sisters [Performed by Yoko Ono] / Imagine
Another benefit concert, this time for the families who became victims of the riots at Attica State Prison, and another fine acoustic performance, though the inevitable highlight is ‘Imagine’.
13-01-72 – ‘The David Frost Show’ (USA)
The Ballad Of New York City [Performed by David Peel] / Attica State / The Luck Of The Irish (short version) [with Yoko Ono] / Sisters O Sisters [Performed by Yoko Ono] / John Sinclair / Attica State (Reprise) / The Hippie From New York City [Performed by David Peel]
Taped on 16-12-71, John and Yoko reprise the 4 songs they performed in Ann Arbour, as well as back David Peel on a couple of his own rather ramshackle songs. John and Yoko also partake in an audience Q & A, though John gets annoyed at their response, refusing to be interviewed by David Frost later, where Yoko does the interview solo.
14-02-72 – ‘The Mike Douglas Show’ (USA)
It’s So Hard
One of US TV’s most popular and enduring chat shows, John and Yoko were happy to be invited to co-host 5 shows in a row, where they chatted, showed film clips, and performed several songs while backed by The Elephant’s Memory Band, who would join them for live performances and recording sessions throughout the year. Taped on 14-01-72, this is a solid version of one of the tougher tracks from the ‘Imagine’ album.
15-02-72 – ‘The Mike Douglas Show’ (USA)
Midsummer New York [Performed by Yoko Ono]
Taped on 18-01-72, the only song performed today was this bluesy Yoko Ono song.
16-02-72 – ‘The Mike Douglas Show’ (USA)
Sisters O Sisters [Performed by Yoko Ono] / Memphis, Tennessee [with Chuck Berry] / Johnny B. Goode [with Chuck Berry]
Following an acoustic ‘Sisters O Sisters’, John is joined by his early rock ‘n’ roll hero Chuck Berry, and while the end result is better seen than heard (if only Yoko would shut up), it was still undoubtedly a thrill for all involved. Taped on 20-01-72, John’s introduction to Chuck Berry was later used for the latter’s own 1988 ‘Hail, Hail, Rock ‘n’ Roll’ movie.
17-02-72 – ‘The Mike Douglas Show’ (USA)
Imagine
Taped on 27-01-72, here John performs a slightly hesitant version of his classic while playing an electric piano.
18-02-72 –‘The Mike Douglas Show’ (USA)
The Luck Of The Irish [with Yoko Ono] / Sakura [Performed by Yoko Ono]
Generally, John and Yoko kept away from their more controversial recent songs for their appearances on ‘The Mike Douglas Show’, but for this last show taped on 28-01-72, they performed a relaxed version of ‘The Luck Of The Irish’, as well as a traditional Japanese song.
11-03-72 – ‘Aquarius’ (UK)
Medley: Bring On The Lucie (Freda Peeple) - Attica State
Taped in the USA in early December 1971, John plays, solo, a snippet of a
song that would later appear on the ‘Mind Games’ album, followed by another version of ‘Attica State’.
22-04-72 – National Peace Rally, New York (USA)
Give Peace A Chance
Not really a performance in the true sense, John and Yoko attend a peace rally, where they and the crowd sing a chorus of ‘Give Peace A Chance’.
11-05-72 – ‘The Dick Cavett Show’ (USA)
Woman Is The Nigger Of The World / We’re All Water [Performed by Yoko Ono]
A song with a title that would be even more controversial today, back then few radio stations would play a song called ‘Woman Is The Nigger Of The World’. Despite this, the song is excellent, and this live version, taped on 03-05-72, is one of John’s greatest performances. Yoko Ono can only be an anti-climax afterwards, though this is still a strong version of one of her better songs. ‘Woman Is The Nigger Of The World’ was, incredibly, released as a US single, where it did well to get as high as No. 57.
12-08-72 – ‘Eye Witness News’, St. Regis Hotel, New York (USA)
Medley: Rock Island Line – Maybe Baby – Peggy Sue / Woman Is The Nigger Of The World / Fools Like Me / Caribbean
Taped on 05-08-72, these are loose but fun performances featuring John playing solo electric guitar in a hotel room, though it is clear that Yoko wasn’t familiar with most of the oldies, particularly Jerry Lee Lewis’ ‘Fools Like Me’.
30-08-72 – ‘One To One’, Madison Square Garden, New York – Afternoon Show (USA)
Power To The People (Intro) / New York City / It’s So Hard / Woman Is The Nigger Of The World / Sisters O Sisters [Performed by Yoko Ono] / Well, Well, Well / Instant Karma / Mother / Born In A Prison [with Yoko Ono] / Come Together / Imagine / Cold Turkey / Hound Dog / Give Peace A Chance
Performing two benefit concerts for the Willowbrook School for Children, John, with Yoko and The Elephant’s Memory Band, performed on this day the only 2 full-length shows of his post-Beatles career. Although inevitably a little under-rehearsed, John sounds far more inspired than he did in Toronto 3 years earlier. The above songs were issued on VHS as ‘Live In New York City’ in 1986, though not all songs from the show were included, and fans are still waiting for an official, perhaps expanded, DVD release. The full set-list for the afternoon show is: Power To The People (Intro) / New York City / It’s So Hard / Move On Fast [Performed by Yoko Ono] / Woman Is The Nigger Of The World / Sisters O Sisters [Performed by Yoko Ono] / Well, Well, Well / Instant Karma / Mother / We’re All Water [Performed by Yoko Ono] / Born In A Prison [with Yoko Ono] / Come Together / Imagine / Open Your Box [Performed by Yoko Ono] / Cold Turkey / Don’t Worry, Kyoko (Mummy’s Only Looking For Her Hand In The Snow) [Performed by Yoko Ono] / Hound Dog / Give Peace A Chance
30-08-72 – ‘One To One’, Madison Square Garden, New York – Afternoon Show (USA)
Move On Fast [Performed by Yoko Ono]
Not included on the 1986 VHS release, this song was broadcast in the UK on ‘The Old Grey Whistle Test’ on 30-01-73.
30-08-72 – ‘One To One’, Madison Square Garden, New York – Evening Show (USA)
Come Together / Instant Karma / Sisters O Sisters [Performed by Yoko Ono] / Cold Turkey / Hound Dog / Give Peace A Chance [with Stevie Wonder] / Imagine (audio only, over closing credits)
This was considered by those who were there as the superior of the two shows, despite it being shorter, but only the above songs were broadcast, on US TV, on 14-12-72. The full set-list for the evening show is: Power To The People (Intro) / New York City / It’s So Hard / Woman Is The Nigger Of The World / Sisters O Sisters [Performed by Yoko Ono] / Well, Well, Well / Instant Karma / Mother / We’re All Water [Performed by Yoko Ono] / Come Together / Imagine / Cold Turkey / Hound Dog / Give Peace A Chance [with Stevie Wonder]
06-09-72 – ‘Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon’ (USA)
Imagine / Now Or Never [Performed by Yoko Ono] / Give Peace A Chance
Though John looks a little dishevelled, this is another fine performance, with ‘Give Peace A Chance’ a jammed, reggae-influenced version. Sadly, this was John’s last performance with The Elephant’s Memory Band.
30-06-73 – ‘Flipside’ (USA)
Winter Song [Performed by Yoko Ono]
Taped on 12-05-73, this features a now long-haired John being interviewed, and Yoko Ono (without John) is seen recording this rather good song. Soon after this, John and Yoko would split for around 18 months, while John went on what he’d later call his ‘lost weekend’. Although in retrospect John, and later Yoko, dismissed this period as a time of non-stop partying and very little productivity, John recorded the Mind Games’, ‘Walls and Bridges’ and ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll’ albums, participated on No. 1 hits by both David Bowie and Elton John, recorded with Harry Nilsson, Ringo Starr and Keith Moon, and even jammed in a recording studio with Paul McCartney. He hadn’t been this productive since The Beatles’ touring years, and he would never be this productive again.
In late 1973, the ‘Mind Games’ single got to No. 26 in the UK and No. 18 in the USA, while the parent album of the same name reached Nos. 13 and 9 respectively. Unfortunately, in direct contrast to the previous few years, there were no Promo Videos or TV performances for this song, though there were later videos in 1992 and 2003 – see the entries for those years.
00-10-74 – Promo Video #1
Whatever Gets You Thru The Night
A duet with an (un-credited) Elton John, when this was recorded Elton bet John that this would get to No. 1, and when John was sceptical, he promised Elton that he’d perform the song onstage with him. Although strangely stalling at No. 36 in the UK, it did indeed top the charts in the USA, and John kept his word. The parent album, ‘Walls and Bridges’, got to No. 6 in the UK, and again topped the charts in the USA. As for the video, taped on 17-10-74, it features a good-humoured John strolling around New York while wearing an all-black outfit that includes a feathered hat. It was to be John’s only proper, custom-filmed post-1972 Promo Video, so why it was substituted for a new one on ‘The John Lennon Video Collection’ and all subsequent DVDs makes no sense whatsoever. Outtake footage for this Promo Video also circulates.
On 28-11-74, John Lennon joined Elton John on stage to play 3 songs, ‘Whatever Gets You Through the Night’, ‘Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds’ and ‘I Saw Her Standing There’. Backstage afterwards, he was reconciled with Yoko. The ‘lost weekend’ was over. John would never set foot on a live concert stage again.
00-02-75 – ‘Top Of The Pops’ Video (UK) – MISSING/LOST
#9 Dream
This was made especially for ‘Top Of The Pops’, broadcast on 27-02-75. The single, again from ‘Walls and Bridges’, was a UK No. 23 and, appropriately, a US No. 9.
18-04-75 – ‘The Old Grey Whistle Test’ (UK)
Stand By Me / Slippin’ and Slidin’
Taped in New York’s Hit Factory Studios on 17-03-75, both songs are superb live-in-the-studio performances. They were featured, with original live audio, on ‘The John Lennon Video Collection’, while ‘Stand By Me’ appeared, with dubbed studio audio and inserted additional scenes, on ‘Lennon Legend – The Very Best of John Lennon’, as was, in its original live form, ‘Slippin’ and Slidin’’. John’s last single prior to retiring from public view for 5 years, ‘Stand By Me’ got to No. 30 in the UK and No. 20 in the USA, while the album ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll’ reached No. 6 on both sides of the Atlantic.
13-06-75 – ‘Salute To Sir Lew’ (USA)
Slippin’ and Slidin’ / Imagine
Performing live in New York’s Hilton Hotel on 18-04-75, and backed by the band Etcetera, this was John’s last ever TV performance. It was broadcast in the USA on 13-06-75, and in the UK 7 days later, but both broadcasts omitted a 3rd song, ‘Stand By Me’, which ended up on the cutting room floor. ‘Imagine’ is on ‘Lennon Legend – The Very Best of John Lennon’, and was also broadcast on ‘Top Of The Pops’ on 11-12-80.
28-06-75 – ‘Un Jour Futur’ (France)
Lady Marmalade
During an interview taped on 04-04-75 at The Dakota in New York, John surprised the French host by singing and playing a snatch of Labelle’s current disco hit.
06-11-75 – ‘Top Of The Pops’ (UK) – PAN’S PEOPLE – MISSING/LOST
Imagine
To promote the reissue of the single, ‘Top Of The Pops’’ current troupe did a routine for the song. It was repeated on 27-11-75.
11-04-80 – Cold Spring Harbour, New York (USA)
Dear Yoko (2 takes)
Although rather poorly lit, this footage of John running through 2 takes of a future ‘Double Fantasy’ song on his acoustic guitar is priceless. It’s interesting to note that he still had long hair and a beard at this point.
1980 – Promo Video #1 – NOT COMPLETED
I’m Losing You
On 19-08-80, footage of John at work in the Hit Factory studios was made, probably for proposed future use in promo videos for ‘(Just Like) Starting Over’ and ‘I’m Losing You’. Unfortunately, when John saw the results, he was horrified by his gaunt appearance, and ordered the footage to be destroyed. However, recently, incomplete footage of John recording ‘I’m Losing You’ has somehow surfaced.
John Lennon was shot dead on 08-12-80.
18-12-80 – ‘Top Of The Pops’ (UK) – LEGS & Co.
(Just Like) Starting Over
Following John’s death, both ‘(Just Like) Starting Over’ and the album ‘Double Fantasy’ reached No. 1 in the UK, the USA and pretty much everywhere else. However, there was no Promo Video for the song, and no-one had hastily assembled one either. So, the best ‘Top Of the Pops’ could come up with was to get their current troupe, ‘Legs & Co.’, to do an inappropriately light-hearted dance around a Christmas tree while wearing skimpy Santa-like outfits (this author is a fan of all the ‘Top Of The Pops’ dance troupes and doesn’t blame the dancers, but it’s a shame the show couldn’t have come up with something a little better). Fortunately, a couple of proper videos for the song were compiled later; see the 1992 and 2000 entries for details.
The Beatles- Tell Me What You See Page 7
