John Lennon’s collaborations with other artists produced some of the most memorable songs in music history. From Elton John to David Bowie, his collaborations showed the world his diverse range of musical talents. Despite his untimely death, his music lives on, and his collaborations with other artists continue to inspire musicians today.
John Lennon is one of the most iconic musicians of all time. He was a prolific songwriter, singer, and guitarist, and his music has inspired generations of musicians. His collaborations with other artists have produced some of the most memorable songs in music history. Here are five of John Lennon’s iconic collaborations:
Elton John
During the early 1970s, John Lennon and Elton John collaborated on several songs. Lennon contributed backing vocals and guitar to Elton John’s rendition of The Beatles’ “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds.” Additionally, the duo collaborated on Lennon’s track “Whatever Gets You Thru the Night,” which became his only chart-topping hit in the United States. Following a wager between the two that if the song reached the top spot, Lennon would perform it with Sir Elton live, Lennon kept his promise and took the stage with Elton at Madison Square Garden. The concert turned out to be Lennon’s final major public performance.
Frank Zappa
John Lennon and Frank Zappa, an unexpected pairing, performed together at the Fillmore East in New York in 1971. The jam session was memorable and provided a fascinating tale for music fans. Nevertheless, Zappa alleged that Lennon took a song they performed together, altered its title, and failed to compensate him. Despite this dispute, their joint venture is regarded as one of the most distinctive in the music industry.
Harry Nilsson
Between 1973 and 1974, John Lennon went through his “Lost Weekend” phase, during which he collaborated with Harry Nilsson. Despite their numerous drunken escapades in Los Angeles, which led to negative publicity and public disturbances, the two managed to produce an album together. Lennon produced Nilsson’s 1974 album “Pussy Cats,” which achieved modest success, peaking at No. 60 on the Billboard 200.
Mick Jagger
Although there was rivalry between The Beatles and The Rolling Stones in the 1960s, John Lennon produced a cover of Willie Dixon’s song “Too Many Cooks (Spoil the Soup)” for Mick Jagger. However, the version they recorded was not released until 2007 as part of the compilation album “The Very Best of Mick Jagger.”
David Bowie
David Bowie had a great admiration for John Lennon and eagerly welcomed the opportunity to collaborate with him. Together, they worked on two tracks featured on Bowie’s 1975 Young Americans album – “Fame” and “Across the Universe.” “Fame” became a massive hit, marking Bowie’s first song to reach No. 1 in the U.S. On the other hand, “Across the Universe” was a cover of Lennon’s Beatles song, where Lennon contributed as a background acoustic guitarist.