Mind Games (John Lennon song)
"Mind Games" | ||||
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Single by John Lennon | ||||
from the album Mind Games | ||||
B-side | "Meat City" | |||
Released | 29 October 1973 (US) 16 November 1973 (UK)[1] | |||
Recorded | July–August 1973 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 4:13 | |||
Label | Apple | |||
Songwriter(s) | John Lennon | |||
Producer(s) | John Lennon | |||
John Lennon singles chronology | ||||
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Official video | ||||
"Mind Games" on YouTube | ||||
Mind Games track listing | ||||
12 tracks
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"Mind Games" is a song written and performed by
Background
This song, which was begun in 1969 was originally titled "Make Love, Not War",[4] a popular anti-war slogan at that time.[7] Another song, "I Promise", contains the melody that would later appear on "Mind Games".[4] The original Lennon demos for "Make Love, Not War" and "I Promise", recorded in 1970, are available on the John Lennon Anthology.[4][7] Lennon finished writing the song after reading the book Mind Games: The Guide to Inner Space by Robert Masters and Jean Houston (1972).[8][9] Lennon later encountered Masters in a restaurant and told him, "I am one of your fans. You wrote Mind Games."[8]
This eloquent track evoked lingering hippie sentiments mixed with the evolving mysticism of the early 1970s. In keeping with the original theme, the lyrics advocate unity, love, and a positive outlook. According to Billboard, the song asserts "that positive thoughts are the answer to happiness.[10] The lyric "YES is the answer" is a nod to his wife Yoko Ono's art piece that brought them together originally. The song was recorded as Lennon split with her for his 18-month "lost weekend" with May Pang. Although it did not involve producer Phil Spector, it nonetheless revealed what Lennon had learned from working with him.
Cash Box said that "top flight vocal performance backed by that steady, yet driving, tempo accentuates some great lyrics, all in making for a great song."[11] Record World called it "one of [Lennon's] best songs in the post-Beatle period."[12]
Personnel
According to John Lennon's official website:[13]
- John Lennon – vocals, guitar,
- David Spinozza – guitar
- Ken Ascher– keyboards
- Gordon Edwards– bass guitar
- Jim Keltner – drums
Chart performance
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Regional popularity
"Mind Games" did best in
Cover versions
In 1990 South African musician Ratau Mike Makhalemele released an EP of Lennon covers including a 16-minute-long version of Mind Games.[26]
In 1995, it was recorded by George Clinton for the John Lennon tribute album Working Class Hero: A Tribute to John Lennon.
In 1997, it was recorded by DJ Krush with vocals by Eri Ohno for the album MiLight.
In 2001,
The Irish band
In 2006, it was covered by German rock /pop group
In 2007, Gavin Rossdale's version appeared on Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur as an iTunes exclusive bonus track.
In April 2009, Sinéad O'Connor's version of the song recorded in the mid 1990s appeared on the re-released deluxe edition of her second album, I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got.
In 2017, Arcade Fire released a cover on Spotify, and performed the song multiple times live in concert.
In 2020, German singer-songwriter Niels Frevert covered Mind Games for the Rolling Stone magazine tribute album Lennon Re-imagined.
In May 2023, American rock and jazz artist Brian Eaton released a cover version as a single for the song's 50th anniversary.
In June 2023, British band Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds included a cover version as a bonus track on their album Council Skies.
References
- ISBN 0-345-29794-6.
- ISBN 9781493064601.
- ISBN 031214704X.
- ^ ISBN 9780954452810.
- ISBN 978-0711983076.
- ISBN 978-0-9544528-1-0.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-275-99180-7.
- ^ ISBN 0835607534.
- ISBN 9780954452810.
- ^ "Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard. November 3, 1973. p. 59. Retrieved 2020-07-25.
- ^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. November 3, 1973. p. 20. Retrieved 2021-12-11.
- ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. November 3, 1973. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
- ^ "Mind Games". JOHN LENNON. Retrieved 2024-06-28.
- ^ Go Set National Top 40
- ^ ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
- ^ "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. 1974-01-19. Retrieved 2017-12-13.
- ^ "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Retrieved January 24, 2024. Select "Singoli" in the "Tipo" field, type "John Lennon" in the "Titolo" field and press "cerca".
- ^ "JOHN LENNON | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 138.
- ^ "Top 100 1981-12-05". Cashbox Magazine. Retrieved 2015-01-05.
- ^ "Item: 9481 - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
- ISBN 0-89820-142-X.
- ^ WLS Musicradio Survey, December 15, 1973
- ^ WLS Big 89 of 1973
- ^ Brian Currin. "Mike Makhalemele - Mind Games". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
External links
- John Lennon - Mind Games on YouTube