On this day in music history: March 22, 1971 - “Power To The People” by John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band is released (UK release is on March 12th). Written by John Lennon, the song is written (as an anthemic follow up to “Give Peace A Chance”) in response to an interview Lennon gives to British Pakistani activist/journalist Tariq Ali and British socialist historian Robin Blackburn in early 1971. The track is recorded from February 11-16, 1971 at Ascot Sound Studios (Lennon’s home studio at Tittenhurst Park in Ascot, UK) during the sessions that would produce the “Imagine” album. Co-produced by Lennon, Phil Spector and Yoko Ono, it features musicians such as Billy Preston (keyboards), Klaus Voorman (bass), Alan White (drums), and Bobby Keys (saxophone). “Power To The People” will be released as a stand alone single, peaking at #7 on the UK singles chart and #11 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song will make its first appearance on an album with the release of John Lennon’s first greatest hits album “Shaved Fish” in 1975. 

On this day in music history: June 1, 1969 - “Give Peace A Chance” by The Plastic Ono Band is recorded. Written by John Lennon (though credited to Lennon - McCartney on its original release) during his and wife Yoko Ono’s “bed-in” honeymoon, it is recorded in room 1742 of the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Numerous friends and celebrities including Timothy Leary, Petula Clark, Dick Gregory, Allen Ginsberg, Murray the K, Derek Taylor, and Tommy Smothers sing on the chorus. The song will be adapted as an anthem of the American anti-war movement. Released as a single in the UK on July 4th (US release on July 7th) “Peace” will peak at #2 on the UK singles chart and #14 on the Billboard Hot 100.

On this day in music history: March 22, 1971 - “Power To The People” by John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band is released (UK release is on March 12th). Written by John Lennon, the track is recorded from February 11-16, 1971 at Ascot Sound Studios during the sessions that would produce the “Imagine” album. The song is written in response to an interview Lennon gives to British Pakistani activist/journalist Tariq Ali and British socialist historian Robin Blackburn. “People” will be released as a stand alone single, peaking at #7 on the UK singles chart and #11 on the Billboard Hot 100.