Double Fantasy
Studio album by John Lennon and Yoko Ono
Released 17 November 1980
Recorded The Hit Factory, NYC, 4 August 1980 Ð late September 1980
Genre Rock, pop rock
Length 45:05
Label Geffen
Producer John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Jack Douglas
Professional reviews
* Allmusic 4/5 stars link
Double Fantasy is the comeback album by John Lennon and Yoko Ono, released in 1980 initially on the newly-formed Geffen Records, and then from 1989 onwards through EMI. It is notable for being John Lennon's last authorised release, released only three weeks before his murder. The album won the 1981 Grammy Award for Album of the Year and is Lennon's best-selling studio album at three million shipments in the U.S.
Recording
Following the birth of his son Sean in 1975, Lennon put his career on hold to raise the boy. In the summer of 1980, both Lennon and Ono felt ready to resume work and began composing.
After five years of little musical activity aside from recording the occasional demo in his apartment at The Dakota, Lennon was absolutely bursting with creativity. He had fulfilled a lifelong ambition of learning how to sail in early 1980 and had been given fresh creative impetus in June of that year following his life-affirming experiences sailing a 43-foot sloop to Bermuda, accompanied by a small crew. Once in Bermuda, he started writing songs for a new album, sometimes writing about new experiences and occasionally reworking the half finished demos that he had recorded in the Dakota building.
He was also, he claimed, the most content he had ever felt in all his years, even writing a song called "Life Begins at 40" to commemorate that milestone in his life. His assuredness and love for his family came through on the retro "(Just Like) Starting Over", as well as "Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)" and "Woman".
Yoko Ono approached producer Jack Douglas, with whom both Lennon and Ono had worked before, giving him John's demos to listen to. ÒMy immediate impressions were that I was going to have a hard time making it better than the demos because there was such intimacy in the demos,Ó Douglas told Uncut's Chris Hunt in 2005.
Lennon, Ono and Douglas produced dozens of songs beginning that August, enough to fill Double Fantasy and beyond. A projected second album, Milk and Honey, was well into the rehearsal phase when work was halted following Lennon's murder that December.
Ono was currently being regarded with fresh perspective after the onslaught of the late 1970's punk movement which bore similarities to her earlier work. As such, with renewed confidence, she produced many songs. Lennon's specific reference to the B-52's "Rock Lobster" was evidence that popular music had caught up with Ono's vision.
Lennon and Ono made the decision to release their impending songs together on the same album, the first time they had done so since 1972's controversial Some Time in New York City. Subtitled "A Heart Play", Double Fantasy would be a collection of songs wherein John and Yoko would be singing to each other.
Signed by David Geffen, alongside Elton John and Donna Summer, for his new label, Geffen, Double Fantasy was preceded by Lennon's "(Just Like) Starting Over", which became a US and UK #1 hit in the aftermath of John's murder. The album itself was received with much interest, coming after such an extended break. The album debuted at #27 in the UK and the following week reached #14, but then it fell down very quickly to #25 and then #46, making the #14 its peak position. In the US, the situation was different. There, the album debuted at #25 and then rose to #12 and then #11.
Douglas brought Rick Nielsen and Bun E. Carlos of the band Cheap Trick to play on "I'm Losing You", but it was eventually re-recorded with the studio musicians. The Cheap Trick version was included on the John Lennon Anthology collection released in 1998.
The cover of the album is said to be inspired in a photograph of Astrid Kirchherr and Stuart Sutcliffe, the first bassist of The Beatles and one of John's best friends, who died in 1962.
Tragedy and aftermath
On the evening 8 December 1980, Mark David Chapman shot John Lennon four times as he was walking into The Dakota with Ono; Lennon died approximately twenty minutes later. ÒThe last time I saw John he had this incredible smile on his face,Ó Jack Douglas later told journalist Chris Hunt. ÒIt was the evening we finished ÔWalking On Thin IceÕ. He was just thrilled, and so was Yoko, because we all knew we had accomplished what John set out to do with that track. I walked him to the elevator and said goodnight. About 40 minutes later my girlfriend came to the studio, all white. ÔItÕs just been on the radio,Õ she said. ÔJohn was shotÕ.Ó
With worldwide grief for Lennon's death on an almost unparalleled scale, Double Fantasy rose to #1 in most countries making a #11 to #1 move in the US and spending 8 weeks at the top. Rising from #46 to #2 in the UK, spending there an impressive 7 weeks and then finally peaked at #1 for 2 weeks. "(Just Like) Starting Over" also immediately rose to #1 worldwide, selling several million copies, with many of Lennon's past solo and Beatles releases re-charting as well. Subsequent singles, "Woman" and "Watching the Wheels" were also very successful.
Only hours before his death, Lennon signed a copy of the album for his murderer. In 2003 this autographed LP was sold for $525,000, making it the most valuable record ever.
Track listing
# Title Writer(s) Length
1. "(Just Like) Starting Over" John Lennon 3:56
2. "Kiss Kiss Kiss" Yoko Ono 2:41
3. "Cleanup Time" John Lennon 2:58
4. "Give Me Something" Yoko Ono 1:35
5. "I'm Losing You" John Lennon 3:57
6. "I'm Moving On" Yoko Ono 2:20
7. "Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)" John Lennon 4:02
8. "Watching the Wheels" John Lennon 3:35
9. "Yes, I'm Your Angel" Yoko Ono 3:08
10. "Woman" John Lennon 3:22
11. "Beautiful Boys" Yoko Ono 2:55
12. "Dear Yoko" John Lennon 2:34
13. "Every Man Has a Woman Who Loves Him" Yoko Ono 4:02
14. "Hard Times Are Over" Yoko Ono 3:20
Singles
* "(Just Like) Starting Over" (John Lennon, 24 October 1980, #1 UK, #1 U.S.)
* "Woman" (John Lennon, 16 January 1981, #1 UK, #2 U.S.)
* "Walking on Thin Ice" (Yoko Ono, 20 February 1981, #35 UK, #58 U.S.)
* "Watching the Wheels" (John Lennon, 27 March 1981, #30 UK, #10 U.S.)
Accolades
* Double Fantasy won the Grammy award for "1981 Album of the Year", amid emotional scenes as Yoko Ono and six-year-old Sean accepted the award.
* In 1989, it was ranked #29 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 100 greatest albums of the 1980s.
Personnel
* John Lennon Ð lead, harmony and background vocals; rhythm and acoustic guitars; piano and keyboards; arranger and producer.
* Yoko Ono Ð lead and background vocals; arranger and producer.
* Jack Douglas - arranger and producer.
* Earl Slick Ð lead guitar.
* Hugh McCracken Ð lead guitar.
* Tony Levin Ð bass.
* George Small Ð keyboards.
* Andy Newmark Ð drums.
* Arthur Jenkins Ð percussion.
* Ed Walsh Ð oberheim, synthesizer.
* Robert Greenidge Ð steel drum on "Beautiful Boy"
* Matthew Cunningham Ð hammer dulcimer on "Watching the Wheels"
* Randy Stein Ð English Concertina
* Howard Johnson Ð horns.
* Grant Hungerford Ð horns.
* John Parran Ð horns.
* Seldon Powell Ð horns.
* George "Young" Opalisky Ð horns.
* Roger Rosenberg Ð horns.
* David Tofani Ð horns.
* Ronald Tooley Ð horns.
* Tony Davillo Ð horn arrangements and musical associate.
* Michelle Simpson, Cassandra Wooten, Cheryl Mason Jacks, Eric Troyer, Benny Cummings Singers, The Kings Temple Choir Ð background vocals.
* Toshihiro Hamaya Ð production assistant.
* Julie Last Ð assistant engineer.
* George Marino Ð original mastering and remastering.
* Lee DeCarlo Ð engineer.
* Jon Smith Ð assistant engineer.
* Anthony Davilio Ð musical associate.
* James A. Ball Ð assistant engineer.
* Bob Gruen Ð photography.
* Kishin Shinoyama Ð cover photo and photography.
* Karla Merrifield Ð reissue art coordinator.
* Nishi F Saimaru Ð photography.
* David Spindel Ð photography.
* Lilo Raymond Ð photography.
* Christopher Whorf Ð artwork.
* Bruce Replogle - publicist.
Released 17 November 1980
Recorded The Hit Factory, NYC, 4 August 1980 - late September 1980
Label Geffen
Producer John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Jack Douglas
* John Lennon Ð lead, harmony and background vocals; rhythm and acoustic guitars; piano and keyboards; arranger and producer.
* Yoko Ono Ð lead and background vocals; arranger and producer.
* Jack Douglas - arranger and producer.
* Earl Slick Ð lead guitar.
* Hugh McCracken Ð lead guitar.
* Tony Levin Ð bass.
* George Small Ð keyboards.
* Andy Newmark Ð drums.
* Arthur Jenkins Ð percussion.
* Ed Walsh Ð oberheim, synthesizer.
* Robert Greenidge Ð steel drum on "Beautiful Boy"
* Matthew Cunningham Ð hammer dulcimer on "Watching the Wheels"
* Randy Stein Ð English Concertina
* Howard Johnson Ð horns.
* Grant Hungerford Ð horns.
* John Parran Ð horns.
* Seldon Powell Ð horns.
* George "Young" Opalisky Ð horns.
* Roger Rosenberg Ð horns.
* David Tofani Ð horns.
* Ronald Tooley Ð horns.
* Tony Davillo Ð horn arrangements and musical associate.
* Michelle Simpson, Cassandra Wooten, Cheryl Mason Jacks, Eric Troyer, Benny Cummings Singers, The Kings Temple Choir Ð background vocals.
* Toshihiro Hamaya Ð production assistant.
* Julie Last Ð assistant engineer.
* George Marino Ð original mastering and remastering.
* Lee DeCarlo Ð engineer.
* Jon Smith Ð assistant engineer.
* Anthony Davilio Ð musical associate.
* James A. Ball Ð assistant engineer.
* Bob Gruen Ð photography.
* Kishin Shinoyama Ð cover photo and photography.
* Karla Merrifield Ð reissue art coordinator.
* Nishi F Saimaru Ð photography.
* David Spindel Ð photography.
* Lilo Raymond Ð photography.
* Christopher Whorf Ð artwork.
* Bruce Replogle - publicist.