Power to the People (song)

Infobox Single
Name = Power to the People


Artist = John Lennon with the Plastic Ono Band
Released = flagicon|UK 12 March 1971
flagicon|US 22 March 1971
Format = 7" vinyl
Recorded = January/February 1971
Genre = Rock/Pop
Length = 3:15
Label = Apple
Writer = John Lennon
Producer = Phil Spector, John Lennon and Yoko Ono
Certification =
Chart position = * #5 (Switzerland)
* #6 (UK)
* #11 (US)
Last single = Instant Karma!
(1970); Mother (US only, 1970)
This single = "Power to the People"
(1971)
Next single = "Imagine"
(US only, 1971)

"Power to the People" is a song recorded by John Lennon at Ascot Sound Studios in London, Englandcite book |first=Richard |last=Williams |title=Phil Spector: Out of His Head |year=2003 |pages=160 |publisher=Omnibus Press |location=London |isbn=0-7119-9864-7] and released on 12 March 1971 in the United Kingdom and 22 March 1971 in the United States.cite book |first=John |last=Blaney |title=John Lennon: Listen To This Book |year=2005 |pages=66-70| publisher=Biddles Ltd. |location=Guildford, Great Britain |isbn=0-9544528-1-X] The song was written by Lennon in responsecite book |first=Chris |last=Ingham |title=The Rough Guide to the Beatles |year=2003 |pages=117 |publisher=Rough Guides Ltd. |location=London |isbn=1-84353-140-2] to interview he gave to Tariq Ali and Robin Blackburn, published in "Red Mole" (8-22 March 1971).cite book |first=Elizabeth and David Gutman (eds.) |last=Thomson |title=The Lennon Companion |year=2004 |pages=165 |publisher=Da Capo Press |location=Cambridge, MA |isbn=0-306-81270-3] As Lennon explained, "I just felt inspired by what they said, although a lot of it is gobbledygook. So I wrote 'Power to the People' the same way I wrote 'Give Peace a Chance,' as something for the people to sing. I make singles like broadsheets. It was another quickie, done at Ascot."cite book |first=Richard |last=Williams |title=Phil Spector: Out of His Head |year=2003 |pages=160 |publisher=Omnibus Press |location=London |isbn=0-7119-9864-7]

It entered the charts on 20 March 1971, and remained there for nine weeks. It was John Lennon's fourth solo single and it was credited to John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band, which on this occasion comprised of Lennon, Klaus Voormann, Alan White, Bobby Keys and Billy Preston.cite book |first=John |last=Blaney |title=John Lennon: Listen To This Book |year=2005 |pages=70| publisher=Biddles Ltd. |location=Guildford, Great Britain |isbn=0-9544528-1-X] Additional backing vocals were supplied by Rosetta Hightowercite book |first=John |last=Blaney |title=John Lennon: Listen To This Book |year=2005 |pages=70| publisher=Biddles Ltd. |location=Guildford, Great Britain |isbn=0-9544528-1-X] and "44 others."Fact|date=August 2008 Phil Spector, John Lennon, and Yoko Ono were credited as producers.cite book |first=John |last=Blaney |title=John Lennon: Listen To This Book |year=2005 |pages=70| publisher=Biddles Ltd. |location=Guildford, Great Britain |isbn=0-9544528-1-X]

John Lennon's perception of the song changed during the 1970s. Lennon in "Skywriting by Word of Mouth" called the song "rather embarrassing" and supported Hunter S. Thompson's claim that the anthem was "ten years too late."cite book |first=John |last=Lennon |title=Skywriting by Word of Mouth: And Other Writings, Including "The Ballad of John and Yoko" |year=1986 |pages=25| publisher=HarperCollins |location=New York |isbn=0-06-091444-0] In 1980, he stated that the song "didn't really come off" as it had been "written in the state of being asleep and wanting to be loved by Tariq Ali and his ilk."cite book | first=Patrick |last=Cadogan | title=The Revolutionary Artist: John Lennon's Radical Years| year=2008 | pages=137 | publisher=Lulu| location=Morrisville, North Carolina | isbn=978-1-4357-1863-0] The B-side featured "Open Your Box" in the UK and "Touch Me" in the US. Both songs are by Yoko Ono.

The song was covered by Black Eyed Peas on the album .

Personnel

The musicians who performed on "Power to the People" were as follows:cite book |first=John |last=Blaney |title=John Lennon: Listen To This Book |year=2005 |pages=70| publisher=Biddles Ltd. |location=Guildford, Great Britain |isbn=0-9544528-1-X]
*John Lennon - vocals, guitar, piano
*Rosetta Hightower and other singers - backing vocals
*Bobby Keys - saxophone
*Billy Preston - piano, keyboards
*Klaus Voormann - bass
*Alan White - drums

References