John Lennon’s Son Says ‘Imagine’ Producer Has No Credit
John Lennon’s Son Sean Ono Lennon Opened Up About His Dad’s Album Imagine. Sean said one of the album’s producers didn’t get enough credit. Afterwards, Sean explained why this was the case.
John Lennon’s son said one of the songs on ‘Imagine’ was sexy and mean
During a 2020 interview with Rolling Stone, Sean discussed a handful of his father’s solo tracks. One of them was “How do you sleep?” from the album Imagine. Sean opined “How do you sleep?” was a sexy song with mean lyrics.
Sean discussed Yoko Ono’s role in creating “How Do You Sleep?” “[The alternate take] proves, I must mention, that my mother produced Imagine,” he said. “She was a producer. Obviously there’s been a big judgment for women who have been discredited over the years, but I think it’s perfect, obvious, on which there is no no debate.For context, Yoko, John and Phil Spector are all credited producers on Imagine.
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What John Lennon’s Son Tells Listeners Who Don’t Like His Mom’s Music
Sean discussed the fan reaction to Imagine. “People were like, ‘Oh, yeah. Yoko did not produce Imagine, listen to his music,” he recalled. “But if you see the movie of them making this record, my dad asked her between takes. He’s like, ‘What do you think about that, Yoko?’ And she whispers, like, ‘C’ is too strong.'”
Sean placed Imagine in the context of his mother’s music. “I know my mother,” he said. “She has an opinion on everything. People say they hate his music. And I say, ‘Look, it’s good. But do you like Imagine? Because she made this record.
Sean said sexism prevented Yoko from receiving credit for producing Imagine. “I think people assumed because she was fashion forward and because she was a woman that she didn’t really do it,” Sean added. He said no one would have questioned Yoko’s role in creating the album if she was male.
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How ‘Imagine’ Happened in the US and UK
Imagine became one of John’s biggest albums in the United States. It topped the Billboard 200 for one of its 47 weeks on the chart. The album’s title track peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed on the charts for nine weeks.
Imagine was even more popular in the UK. According to The Official Charts Company, it was No. 1 for two of its 101 weeks on the chart. It was John’s only solo album to reach number one in the UK.
Some of the songs from the album became hits in the UK When first released, “Imagine” was No. 1 for four of its 42 weeks on the chart. It was later released as a double A-side with “Jealous Guy”. Then it reached #45 and remained on the list for five weeks.
Yoko helped make Imagine a classic album even if it didn’t get enough credit.
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