UK album release: Rock ‘N’ Roll by John Lennon

Rock ‘N’ Roll, the sixth and final studio album by John Lennon before his five-year retirement into househusbandry, was a collection of cover versions of 1950s and early 1960s songs recorded during the legendary Lost Weekend. It was released in the United Kingdom on 21 February 1975.

It was rush-released in an attempt to limit the damage caused by Roots, an unofficial collection issued by Morris Levy during the fall-out from a plagiarism case.

The album reached number six in the UK, spending a total of 25 weeks on the chart. Sales of Rock ‘N’ Roll were slow, with the vogue for nostalgia having largely ended with David Bowie’s Pin Ups and Bryan Ferry’s These Foolish Things, both issued in 1973.

In the US it peaked at number six on the album chart following its release on 17 February 1975. Capitol’s first pressing for Rock ‘N’ Roll was for just 2,444 LPs and 500 8-track cartridges.

A single, ‘Stand By Me’/‘Move Over Ms L’, sold moderately well, but peaked at number 20 in the US and 30 in the UK. Promotional copies of a second single, ‘Ain’t That A Shame’/‘Slippin’ And Slidin”, were sent to radio stations, but it was never released.