S.O.D. "Instant Karma" by John Lennon

5/17/2015     When released in 1970 this tune was up against The Beatles' tune "Let It Be" on the charts but ranked well in many countries peaking at #3 in the U.S. and #5 in the UK.  The tune was considered an instant hit and was one of the fastest produced singles in pop music history being written, recorded and released in a matter of 10 days.  It was also the first solo single by any member of the Beatles to sell over 1 million copies and obtain a Gold Certification.  

     Produced at Abbey Road Studios in London, it employs Phil Spector's signature Wall of Sound technique.  Although Spector had recently announced retirement, this production led to the Beatles offering him the role of producer for the "Let It Be" album.  Lennon completed writing the tune in one hour and his biographer John Blaney stated that Lennon was developing his own brand of egalitarianism.  The musical lineup consisted of Lennon and Harrison on guitars, Alan White on drums, Billy Preston on the organ, bass guitar by Klaus Voormann and a host of backup singers including Yoko Ono and several dozen revellers from London's Hatchett Club.  

     Although privately announcing his departure from the group just for months earlier, Lennon was still officially a member of the Beatles.  The chord structure is similar to the English nursery rhyme "Three Blind Mice".  Part of the inspiration for the movie "The Shining" came from the song's chorus.  Who's not missing Lennon?