Only People

Written by: Lennon
Recorded: 2, 3, 11, 16 August 1973
Producer: John Lennon

Released: 16 November 1973 (UK), 2 November 1973 (US)

Available on:
Mind Games

Personnel

John Lennon: vocals, guitar
David Spinozza: guitar
Ken Ascher: keyboards
Michael Brecker: saxophone
Gordon Edwards: bass guitar
Jim Keltner: drums
Something Different (Christine Wiltshire, Jocelyn Brown, Kathy Mull, Angel Coakley): backing vocals

‘Only People’ was a song on John Lennon’s fourth solo album Mind Games.

In January 1972 Lennon and Yoko Ono co-hosted five episodes of The Mike Douglas Show on US television. The guests included a number of political figures plus Lennon’s hero Chuck Berry. During the Berry episode Lennon made the statement “Only people can save the world,” while talking about the song ‘Imagine’.

By 1973 he had largely left the days of Comrade Lennon behind, but some elements remained in his songs. ‘Only People’ was apparently based on Ono’s reworking of the earlier phrase: “Only people can change the world.” The sentence appeared on the record’s inner sleeve, credited to her.

That was a failure as a song. It was a good lick, but I couldn’t ever get the words to make sense.

‘Only People’ was intended as an inspirational call for people to take charge, but its non-specific nature and plodding rhythm meant it lacked the anthemic qualities of songs like ‘Give Peace A Chance’ and ‘Power To The People’. Lennon himself sounds unconvinced, with phrases such as “Make no mistake its our future we’re making/Bake the cake and eat it too” betraying the aimlessness and lack of conviction which coloured much of his 1973 output.

In the studio

‘Only People’ was first jammed in the studio at the Record Plant studio in New York City on 2 August 1973.

It was recorded properly on 3 August. Two tape reels were used. Reel 1 contained takes 1-11, but only takes 2 and 3 were complete.

Reel 2 contained takes 12-18. Takes 12 and 18 were the only ones complete. The first of those was included in the expanded 2024 reissue of Mind Games.

Take 18 became the master. It had Lennon’s vocals and Clavinet, David Spinozza’s electric guitar, Ken Ascher’s electric piano, Gordon Edwards’ bass guitar, and Jim Keltner’s drums.

Overdubs included handclaps and cowbell by the musicians; piano by Ascher; two saxophone parts by Michael Brecker; two backing vocal tracks by Something Different; and electric guitar and two lead vocal tracks by Lennon.

‘Only People’ was mixed on 21, 23, and 30 August 1973.

Join the Fab Forum discussion on Only People »