Mind Games (song)
Single by John Lennon from the album Mind Games
B-side "Meat City"
Released 29 October 1973 (US)
16 November 1973 (UK)
Format 7" vinyl
Recorded July–August 1973
Genre Rock, pop
Length 4:13
Label Apple Records
Producer John Lennon
Certification Gold (US)
"Mind Games" is a song written by John Lennon, released as a single in 1973 on Apple Records, catalogue Apple 1868 in the US and Apple R5994 in the UK. It peaked at #18 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #26 on the British singles chart.
It was the lead single for the album of the same name in the US, but released the same day as the album in the UK.
Be sessions, was originally titled "Make Love Not War," a popular hippie slogan at that time.
The original Lennon demo for "Make Love, Not War" is available on the John Lennon Anthology.
Four years later, the lyrics evolved into "Mind Games", which was inspired by the book of the same name by Robert Masters and Jean Houston (1972). In keeping with the original theme, the lyrics extole unity, love and positive outlook.
The lyric "YES is the answer" is a nod to his wife Yoko Ono's artpiece that brought them together originally. The song was recorded as Lennon split with her for his 18-month "lost weekend" with May Pang.
Personnel
John Lennon: vocals, guitar, slide guitar
David Spinozza: guitar
Ken Ascher: keyboards
Gordon Edwards: bass
Jim Keltner: drums |