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2.26pm
22 September 2009
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This is Lennon at his best. And what is Yoko knitting?
On this day 26th Jan in 1970, John Lennon wrote, recorded, and mixed his new single, “Instant Karma ,” all in one day. It ranks as one of the fastest-released songs in pop music history, recorded at London’s Abbey Road Studios and arriving in stores only ten days later. The single peaked at No. 3 on the US chart and No. 5 in the UK.
4.14pm
31 March 2008
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OK, that’s the fourth time I’ve heard this today. It’s wrong. It happened on the 27th. That thisdayinmusic link says as much.
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4.31am
10 August 2011
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Phil Spector was the producer, which is how Lennon ended up giving him the job of producing Let It Be . McCartney was furious, etc… etc… and the rest is history.
"Into the Sky with Diamonds" (the Beatles and the Race to the Moon – a history)
8.49pm
19 April 2010
Offline When Instant Karma first came out in the US my friend and I took it to my house, cranked up my parents' stereo in the living room and played it over and over and over and over.
The following people thank robert for this post:
Vera Chuck and Dave"She looks more like him than I do."
2.20am
10 August 2011
Offline I'll be the lone dissenter here.
I think “Instant Karma ” was a harbinger of things to come in Lennon-land: a wonderful song with raw (as in under-cooked) production.
There's some very awkward drumming that nearly sounds amateurish.
Of course, it's all strictly a question of taste. (But Voltaire said, “Good taste is my taste”)
I always wondered why the post-Beatle Lennon had relatively little commercial success – even the Lennon Broadway musical basically opened and closed (and it was great!!!). [“Imagine ” became a major anthem after he died].
And I think that for many people, his songs lacked production, at least in the sense that they'd become accustomed to in his Beatle days.
To my ears, “Instant Karma ” is/was a good example.
"Into the Sky with Diamonds" (the Beatles and the Race to the Moon – a history)
12.10am
10 August 2011
Offline For you “Instant Karma ” fans: Am on hold with Apple Care – the song playing on their recording is “Instant Karma “
"Into the Sky with Diamonds" (the Beatles and the Race to the Moon – a history)
2.33pm
1 December 2009
Offline That’s hilarious! They put you on hold and play “Instant Karma ” – obviously the word “irony” means nothing to them!
On a similar subject: Last night my bank called me – or rather, a recorded message called me, interrupting my dinner – and after forcing me to verify my identity by punching in my year of birth, they immediately put ME on hold! Thus allowing me to listen to a 15-second loop of lite jazz-funk eight or nine times while I waited. I was very “amused”. (They assured me that my call may have been monitored for quality assurance. I wonder if they heard me cursing ineffectually.)
GEORGE: In fact, The Detroit Sound. JOHN: In fact, yes. GEORGE: In fact, yeah. Tamla-Motown artists are our favorites. The Miracles. JOHN: We like Marvin Gaye. GEORGE: The Impressions PAUL & GEORGE: Mary Wells. GEORGE: The Exciters. RINGO: Chuck Jackson. JOHN: To name but eighty.
7.11pm
8 November 2012
Offline Today, Saturday with the Beatles played a version of the song before it was Spectorized. And you can hear more clearly John accidentally singing one time, “Like the moons and the sun and the stars.” John thinking outside the Earth-bound box. 
parlance
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Von Bontee7.44pm
Reviewers
Moderators
1 May 2011
Offline Not the same version as played on ‘Saturday With The Beatles ‘ but you can hear the basic ‘Instant Karma ‘ without Spectors overdubs on youtube (2 channels of the 5.1 mix). Its pretty cool to hear.
The following people thank meanmistermustard for this post:
Oudis, Bongo"I told you everything I could about me, Told you everything I could" ('Before Believing' - Emmylou Harris)
4.52am
18 October 2013
Offline ‘My Mummy’s Dead ‘……’All You Need Is Love ‘……..’Instant Karma ‘……..probably ‘Power To The People ‘
Clever lad.
7.11am
15 May 2014
Offline And nobody here will say it’s a great song?
“Forsan et haec olim meminisse juvabit” (“Perhaps one day it will be a pleasure to look back on even this”; Virgil, The Aeneid, Book 1, line 203, where Aeneas says this to his men after the shipwreck that put them on the shores of Africa)
4.20am
18 October 2013
Offline I will…..Apart from the drumming….. which someone must have liked.
A great song ……Though not a great song for John, more of a personal exercise in spontaneity.
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Oudis3.03pm
Reviewers
Moderators
1 May 2011
Offline I find ‘Instant Karma ‘ to be one of John’s best songs. Great lyrics with a bit of bite, Spector’s production really suits the song (for once, hurray!), Alan White’s drums propel the song on, and John’s vocal is fantastic. Throw in Beatle George and 5th Beatle Mal and you have a party.
The following people thank meanmistermustard for this post:
Oudis, BeatleSnut, Bongo"I told you everything I could about me, Told you everything I could" ('Before Believing' - Emmylou Harris)
6.16pm
Reviewers
14 April 2010
Offline A definite favorite in our household.
To the fountain of perpetual mirth, let it roll for all its worth. And all the children boogie.
3.32am
24 March 2014
Offline I saw the guy playing the tambourine and i thought you might like to watch this (though you probably have seen it a thousand times before), @Zig
The following people thank Shamrock Womlbs for this post:
Zig"I Need You by George Harrison"
10.12am
Reviewers
14 April 2010
Offline Hey, thanks Shamrock! I have seen it but I’m always pleased by a Mal sighting. Klaus Vooormann on the bass is a bonus.
To the fountain of perpetual mirth, let it roll for all its worth. And all the children boogie.
3.54am
12 May 2015
Offline meanmistermustard said
I find ‘Instant Karma ‘ to be one of John’s best songs. Great lyrics with a bit of bite, Spector’s production really suits the song (for once, hurray!), Alan White’s drums propel the song on, and John’s vocal is fantastic. Throw in Beatle George and 5th Beatle Mal and you have a party.
Agreed. The piano(s) sound and the rhythms are rock solid,one of spectors best productions.
5.50pm
28 March 2014
Offline Shamrock Womlbs said
I saw the guy playing the tambourine and i thought you might like to watch this (though you probably have seen it a thousand times before), @Zig
Did YOKO cut her head again???? 
BEATLES Music gives me Eargasms! 
7.02am
25 February 2020
Offline maybe my favourite Beatles solo song
1.30am
14 June 2016
Offline Vera Chuck and Dave said
maybe my favourite Beatles solo song
It’s very good and works well as an anthem. Mainstream, catchy and doesn’t really feel dated.
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