00-01-81/1980 – Promo Video
Woman
On 26-11-80, footage of John and Yoko walking in Central Park, and then getting undressed on a bed at home, was made for future use, very likely a Promo Video for ‘Just Like (Starting Over)’, but instead it was used for the follow-up single, ‘Woman’. A UK No. 1 and a US No. 2, the video was broadcast on ‘Top Of The Pops’ on 29-01-81, and can also be found on ‘Lennon Legend – The Very Best of John Lennon’.
00-02-81/1980 – ‘Top Of The Pops’ Video (UK)
Woman
Despite having already broadcast, on 29-01-81, the official video for ‘Woman’, for reasons unknown they used their own specially made one for subsequent broadcasts. Featuring footage mostly from 1969, though with a few 1980 stills, it was broadcast on 05-02-81, 12-02-81 and, in part, on 31-12-81.
00-02-81 – Promo Video – YOKO ONO
Walking On Thin Ice
Getting positive music reviews for the first time in her life, something several critics commentated on is how Yoko’s songs on ‘Double Fantasy’ sounded more contemporary than John’s, and her new single, ‘Walking On Thin Ice’, isn’t a million miles away from what The B-52’s and Lene Lovich were doing at the time. A UK No. 35 and US No. 58 hit, the song is taken from her ‘Seasons Of Glass’ album. The Promo video features some of the same Central Park/bed footage as the ‘Woman’ video, with additional new solo footage of Yoko and older home movie clips.
00-08-81 – Promo Video – YOKO ONO
Goodbye Sadness
Although lacking the impact of ‘Walking On Thin Ice’, ‘Goodbye Sadness’ is genuinely touching, both as a song and a video.
1984/1980 – Promo Video #1
Nobody Told Me
In 1984, a ‘new’ John and Yoko album, compiled from unreleased 1980 recordings, was released. Entitled ‘Milk and Honey’, it got to No. 3 in the UK and No. 11 in the USA, with ‘Nobody Told Me’, at Nos. 6 and 5 respectively, the first and biggest hit from the album. Shown on ‘Top Of The Pops’ on 19-01-84, this video, compiled from a number of mostly familiar sources, was also on ‘The John Lennon Video Collection’.
1984/1980 – Promo Video #1
Borrowed Time
Like most of the 1984 videos, this features footage from a wide variety of eras. A No. 32 UK and No. 108 US hit, it was shown on ‘Top Of The Pops’ on 29-03-84, and was later on ‘The John Lennon Video Collection’ videotape.
1984/1980 – Promo Video
I’m Stepping Out
Available on ‘Lennon Legend – The Very Best of John Lennon’, this features a great variety of footage from 1969 to 1980, though the most amusing/touching bit is when John, Yoko and Sean go skinny-dipping at the end.
1984/1980 – Promo Video
Grow Old With Me
Compiled from a variety of sources, this video is on ‘Lennon Legend – The Very Best of John Lennon’. ‘Grow Old With Me’ very nearly became a new Beatles single along with ‘Free As A Bird’ and ‘Real Love’ in the mid-‘90s, and certainly has the same ghostly, demo-like, quality as the un-dubbed other songs.
1984/1980 – Promo Video
Every Man Has A Woman
One of the lesser-known John Lennon videos, this features a storyline of a man meeting a woman in a restaurant, but contains no John Lennon/Yoko Ono footage.
1988/1971 – Promo Video #2
Imagine
Used to promote the 1988 ‘Imagine: John Lennon’ documentary movie, this is an interesting conceptual video that features a boy/man walking through a series of doors, and gradually getting older. It’s far better than it sounds.
1988/1971 – Promo Video #2
Jealous Guy
Again released as promotion for ‘Imagine: John Lennon’, this features John recording the song, intercut with both Beatles and solo footage.
1992/1971 – Promo Video #1
Power To The People
Featuring footage of John and Yoko on a 1971 protest march in London intercut with various clips of conflicts, this was made for the ‘The John Lennon Video Collection’ VHS release. It is also on both the ‘Lennon Legend – The Very Best of John Lennon’ DVD and the ‘Power To The People’ DVD, though all 3 releases feature some slightly differing edits from each other.
1992/1971 – Promo Video #1
Happy Christmas (War Is Over)
The first official video for the song, this features footage of the 1992 version of the Harlem Gospel Choir, along with stills of John and Yoko’s peace campaigns. It was on ‘The John Lennon Video Collection’.
1992/1973 – Promo Video #1
Mind Games
Made especially for ‘The John Lennon Video Collection., this features clips from the 1974 ‘Whatever Gets You Through The Night’ video, intercut with various other archive clips.
1992/1974 – Promo Video #1
#9 Dream
Again made for ‘The John Lennon Video Collection’ video, this features footage from the usual sources, and isn’t especially interesting.
1992/1974 – Promo Video #2
Whatever Gets You Thru The Night
Featuring animated footage from John’s drawings, this was made for ‘The John Lennon Video Collection’, and also appears, with minor differences, on ‘Lennon Legend – The Very Best of John Lennon’.
1992/1980 – Promo Video #1
(Just Like) Starting Over
This video utilises the 1980 Central Park and bed footage that first appeared in the ‘Woman’ video, though it was allegedly originally filmed with this song in mind. The video can be found on ‘The John Lennon Video Collection’.
1998/1970 – Promo Video #1
Working Class Hero
Issued to promote 1998’s ‘Anthology’, this mix of well-known clips includes the ‘Well, Well, Well’ ending, as heard on the box-set.
1998/1974 – Promo Video
Only You
When John Lennon supervised Ringo Starr’s version of ‘Only You’, he laid down his own guide vocal, and it is this that was released on 1998’s ‘Anthology’. The video is compiled from the usual over-familiar sources.
1998/1980 – Promo Video
I’m Losing You
Some of the ‘Double Fantasy’ songs were originally recorded, as elaborate demos, by John Lennon backed by Cheap Trick, and for this video to promote ‘Anthology’, actual members of Cheap Trick (in their 1998 guise) appear alongside old footage of John. Essential, both as viewing and listening.
2000/1970 – Promo Video #2
Working Class Hero
Issued as a sort of ‘video history’ to commemorate the 20th anniversary of John’s death, this compilation of Beatles and solo clips again uses the ‘Anthology’ version, albeit without the ‘Well, Well, Well’ ending, and is interrupted throughout by comments from John. There were 2 versions of this video, one which leaves the ‘F’-word intact, and the other with it censored.
2000/1980 – Promo Video #2
(Just Like) Starting Over
Released on the 20th anniversary of John’s death on 08-12-00, this concept video of memorabilia and drawings is reminiscent of the video for ‘Free As A Bird’. It is on ‘Lennon Legend – The Very Best of John Lennon’.
2003/1969 – Promo Video #2
Cold Turkey
Instead of the 1969 promo video, for ‘Lennon Legend – The Very Best of John Lennon’ a new one was made. It features footage from the 1972 ‘One To One’ concert, intercut with clips of John and Yoko leaving court in 1968.
2003/1970 – Promo Video
Mother
Comprised of still photos, this surprisingly effective video was made ‘Lennon Legend – The Very Best of John Lennon’.
2003/1970 – Promo Video
Love
Although the 1970 recording was issued as a UK single in 1982, when it reached No. 41 in the charts, this video, from the usual sources, was compiled especially for ‘Lennon Legend – The Very Best of John Lennon’ in 2003.
2003/1970 – Promo Video #3
Working Class Hero
Another conceptual video, this features a young boy playing John Lennon as a child, amidst all sorts of special effects, stills, clips and drawings. It is on ‘Lennon Legend – The Very Best of John Lennon’.
2003/1971 – Promo Video #2
Happy Christmas (War Is Over)
For ‘Lennon Legend – The Very Best of John Lennon’, a new video was made, featuring footage and stills from various wars around the world. While it fits the song, as there’s no footage of John (and Yoko), it is a video that many fans probably skip.
2003/1971 – Promo Video #3
Jealous Guy
Probably the best of the 3 videos for the song, this features John in the recording studio, with outtake footage from the taping of the 1972 ‘Imagine’ movie. It is on ‘Lennon Legend – The Very Best of John Lennon’.
2003/1973 – Promo Video #2
Mind Games
In 2003, Yoko bought around 40 minutes of silent footage from the ‘Whatever Gets You Thru the Night’ video shoot on 17-10-74, and it’s from this footage, in stunning quality, that this new video was compiled.
2003/1974 – Promo Video #2
#9 Dream
A slight step-up from the 1992 video, this features clips from the experimental ‘Smile’ film from 1968 (featuring close-up, slow-motion, film of John’s face), intercut with other archive clips. It is on ‘Lennon Legend – The Very Best of John Lennon’.
2003/1980 – Promo Video
Watching The Wheels
Especially made for ‘Lennon Legend – The Very Best of John Lennon’, this features some excellent home movie footage. When released as a 1981 single, the song got to No. 30 in the UK and No. 10 in the USA.
2003/1980 – Promo Video
Beautiful Boy
From ‘Lennon Legend – The Very Best of John Lennon’, the video for ‘Beautiful Boy’ is entirely made up of vacation footage from Cold Spring Harbour on 13-04-80.
2003/1980 – Promo Video #2
Nobody Told Me
This newly created video is mostly compiled from 1971 ‘Imagine’ movie footage plus outtakes, and can be found on ‘Lennon Legend – The Very Best of John Lennon’.
2003/1980 – Promo Video #2
Borrowed Time
Again compiled for ‘Lennon Legend – The Very Best of John Lennon’, this conceptual video sees John as a young child, and then going through the years from 1969 to 1980.
2006/1971 – Promo Video #2
Power To The People
Completely different from the 1992 video and all subsequent edits, this video was made especially to promote ‘The U.S. vs. John Lennon’ documentary movie, and includes filmed quotes from John himself.
Cynthia Lennon, John’s first wife, died on 01-04-15.
PAUL McCARTNEY
00-12-66 – ‘The Family Way’ Movie (UK)
The first non-Beatles project to prominently feature Paul McCartney’s name on it was the soundtrack album to this 1966 movie starring Hayley Mills and Hywel Bennett. With music by Paul, and played by The George Martin Orchestra, the album was released in the UK in January 1967 and in the USA in June 1967. It didn’t chart.
00-03-68 – Promo Video – CILLA BLACK
Step Inside Love
Taped in January 1968, the promo video features studio scenes of Paul with Cilla, recording the No. 8 UK hit that he composed for her TV series ‘Cilla!’.
00-03-69 – Promo Video – MARY HOPKIN
Goodbye
Taped on 01-03-69, this video features Paul with Mary in a recording studio. The Follow-up to ‘Those Were The Days’, Paul’s composition ‘Goodbye’ reached No. 2 in the UK and No. 13 in the USA.
00-04-70 – Promo Video #1
Maybe I’m Amazed
When Paul released his first proper solo album, ‘McCartney’, no singles were extracted from it. However, the song that stood out is ‘Maybe I’m Amazed’, so much so that a Video was made to help promote the album. Consisting of stills featuring Paul and Linda, the video was given its own spot on the UK’s ‘LWT’ ITV channel on 19-04-69, and it was also shown on ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’ on the same day. This video is on the 2007 ‘The McCartney Years’ 3-disc DVD set, though, as with nearly all the videos on it, this has been cropped to 16:9 format. The ‘McCartney’ album reached No. 2 in the UK, and topped the charts in the USA.
00-03-71 – ‘Top Of The Pops’ Video (UK) – MISSING/LOST
Another Day
Perhaps surprisingly, there was no official video or TV appearances to promote Paul McCartney’s 1st solo single, credited to Paul and Linda McCartney, though the UK did at least have a video that was taped especially for the 04-03-71 edition of ‘Top Of The Pops’. The song reached No. 17 in the UK charts, and topped the charts in the USA.
11-03-71 – ‘Top Of The Pops’ (UK) – PAN’S PEOPLE – MISSING/LOST
Another Day
With Paul unavailable, this time ‘Top Of The Pops’ used their resident dance troupe, uncharacteristically dressed in office clothing and spending much of the time seated.
00-06-71 – High Park, Campbeltown, Scotland (UK)
Bip Bop / Hey Diddle
As well as shooting footage for 2 promo videos, on 05/06-06-71 Paul and Linda were filmed outdoors performing the above songs to Paul’s guitar accompaniment.
00-06-71 – Promo Video
3 Legs
Taped in Campbeltown, Scotland, on 05/06-06-71, this is one of two videos made to promote ‘Ram’. It was broadcast on ‘Top Of The Pops’ on 24-06-71, but isn’t on any official DVD release. ‘Ram’ got to No. 1 in the UK and No. 2 in the USA. Extracted from the album in the USA was the chart-topping single ‘Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey’, though the UK had the far less commercial ‘The Back Seat Of My Car’ instead, which stalled at No. 39.
00-06-71 – Promo Video
Heart Of The Country
Taped on the same dates and at the same location as ‘3 Legs’, this was also broadcast on ‘Top Of The Pops’ on 24-06-71, and can be found on ‘The McCartney Years’.
00-02-72 – The I.C.A., London (UK)
The Mess / Wildlife / Bip Bop / Blue Moon Of Kentucky / Seaside Woman / Give Ireland Back To The Irish / My Love / Lucille
In the summer of 1971, Paul and Linda recruited Denny Laine on guitar and Denny Sewell on drums, to form the band Wings, and record the album ‘Wildlife’. Much decried by critics, the album did ok chart-wise, peaking at No. 11 in the UK and one place higher at No. 10 in the USA. Next, Paul wanted to take the band out on the road, so to bolster the line-up added ex-The Grease Band guitarist Henry McCullough. The above songs are from their first, filmed, rehearsals, though not all the listed songs currently circulate. Included is their controversial new single, ‘Give Ireland Back To The Irish’, which, despite being banned by the BBC, got to No. 16 in the UK, and No. 21 in the USA. Coincidentally, or perhaps not, John and Yoko wrote and recorded their similarly-themed ‘The Luck Of The Irish’ around the same time. Note, from now until the end of the ‘70s, Paul’s record releases, TV performances and concerts would be credited ‘Wings’, ‘Paul McCartney and Wings’ or similar.
25-05-72 – ‘Top Of The Pops’ (UK) – MISSING/LOST
Mary Had A Little Lamb
From the sublime to the ridiculous, following the BBC ban of ‘Give Ireland Back To The Irish’, Paul came up with something that no-one could find offensive, with the possible exception of those who thought he was capable of so much better. Despite this, ‘Mary Had A Little Lamb’, got to No. 9 in the UK and No. 28 in the USA, and he even appeared on ‘Top Of The Pops’ for the first time since 1966, though sadly the footage is lost.
01-06-72 – ‘Top Of The Pops’ (UK) – MISSING/LOST
Mary Had A Little Lamb
This is a repeat of the 25-05-72 performance.
00-06-72 – Promo Video #1
Mary Had A Little Lamb
No less th
an 4 different videos were made for ‘Mary Had A Little Lamb’, all taped at London’s BBC TV centre on 06-06-72. This first one features a farmyard set (complete with live chickens), as well as a live vocal, and was broadcast on ‘Top Of The Pops’ on 29-06-72. None of the videos are on ‘The McCartney Years’ DVD, probably because Paul quickly came to the conclusion that the record was an embarrassment, though perhaps not as quickly as most listeners.
00-06-72 – Promo Video #2
Mary Had A Little Lamb
This 2nd video features what can best be described as a ‘psychedelic’ background, and was broadcast in the USA on ‘The Flip Wilson Show’ on 12-10-72.
00-06-72 – Promo Video #3
Mary Had A Little Lamb
Now on an ‘outdoors’ studio set, this video also features animated scenes, and was broadcast in the UK on ‘The Basil Brush Show’ on 24-06-72.
00-06-72 – Promo Video #4
Mary Had A Little Lamb
For this 4th video, Paul plays piano while wearing a pointed wizard’s hat and a red clown’s nose. Only currently circulating in part, it is probable that it was never broadcast.
00-08-72 – 'The Bruce McMouse Show' (UK)
Big Barn Bed / Eat At Home / Bip Bop / The Mess / Wild Life / Mary Had A Little Lamb / Blue Moon Of Kentucky / I Am Your Singer / Seaside Woman / My Love / Maybe I'm Amazed / Hi, Hi, Hi / Long Tall Sally
Following a UK university tour from 09-02-72 to 23-02-72, from 09-07-72 until 24-08-72 Wings toured Europe. Some shows were filmed, for use in a short film called ‘The Bruce McMouse Show’, which mixed live footage with animation. Semi-forgotten for decades, in 2018 it was finally issued on DVD, as part of a deluxe (and expensive) ‘Red Rose Speedway’ reissue. While the animation is a little silly, the live footage is a revelation, with several surprises, including Linda singing ‘Seaside Woman’ years before it was released and an early, rather different, arrangement of ‘My Love’.
00-12-72 – Promo Video #1 (UK)
Hi, Hi, Hi
Finally releasing a single that proved he could still rock, ‘Hi, Hi, Hi’ b/w the reggae-like ‘C Moon’ got to No. 5 in the UK and No. 10 in the USA. The video, taped on 25-11-72, features a live vocal, but this was replaced by the studio version for ‘The McCartney Years’.
The Beatles- Tell Me What You See Page 8
