Written by: Lennon
Recorded: July-August 1973
Producer: John Lennon
Released: 16 November 1973 (UK), 29 October 1973 (US)
John Lennon: vocals, guitar
David Spinozza: guitar
Ken Ascher: keyboards
Gordon Edwards: bass guitar
Jim Keltner: drums
Available on:
Mind Games
The second track on 1973's Mind Games album, Tight A$ found John Lennon reverting to playful lyrical wordplay after the politics of the previous year's Some Time In New York City.
Just a throwaway track. I felt like doing that kind of a song. It's a Tex-Mexsound which actually you could play now and it would be au courant, but I don't think many people were doing it then.
All We Are Saying, David Sheff
In May-July 1973 Lennon recorded a series of home demos for several songs which later appeared on Mind Games and Walls And Bridges, among them Tight A$. At this stage the song featured a guitar riff which he later refined for Beef Jerky.
Lennon produced the Mind Games album himself, marking a temporary halt to his partnership with Phil Spector. The recording for Tight A$ was straightforward, uncomplicated rock 'n' roll so beloved of Lennon, with playful lyrics referencing sex and drugs.
The final studio was edited by almost a minute for the album, with some solo guitar work by David Spinozza becoming lost along the way.
Things we said today