This day each year marks the unfortunate anniversary of the tragic death of John Lennon who was murdered in 1980 at the age of 40. The Beatles legend wrote many of the Fab Four’s most beloved songs and composed several more standouts during his subsequent solo career. Lennon’s legacy is not a question of whether he was an elite songwriter, among the best to ever live, it’s a question of what could have been had he not been senselessly taken from the world, his family and his friends.
Last month marked 50 years since The Beatles self-titled album known as The White Album was released. The double LP features many classics in the band’s songbook attributed to the Lennon/McCartney songwriting partnership Lennon forged with Paul McCartney. Among the album tracks Lennon was primarily responsible for writing include “Dear Prudence,” “Glass Onion,” “The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill,” “Happiness Is a Warm Gun,” “I’m So Tired,” “Julia,” “Yer Blues,” “Sexy Sadie,” “Cry Baby Cry” and “Good Night.”
A massive box set celebrating The White Album was recently issued featuring over 50 previously unreleased recordings, including the May 1968 “Esher Demos” made at George Harrison’s Kinfauns home on the Claremont Estate in Esher, England. Spotify created the official The Beatles White Album Experience playlist combining the new box set with a series of videos about the album and re-issue project. The videos featuring producer Giles Martin (son of late Beatles producer George Martin) and author Kevin Howlett discussing The White Album are available on the webplayer and desktop app, stream the playlist below:
