Mind Games (song)

"Mind Games"
File:Mind Games 45.jpg
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
Length	4:13
Label	Apple
Writer(s)	John Lennon
Producer(s)	John Lennon
John Lennon singles chronology
"Woman Is the Nigger of the World" (1972) "Mind Games" (1973) "Whatever Gets You thru the Night" (1974)
Mind Games track listing 12 tracks Side one "Mind Games" "Tight A$" "Aisumasen (I'm Sorry)" "One Day (At a Time)" "Bring on the Lucie (Freeda Peeple)" "Nutopian International Anthem" Side two "Intuition" "Out the Blue" "Only People" "I Know (I Know)" "You Are Here" "Meat City"

"Mind Games" is a song written and performed by John Lennon, released as a single in 1973 on Apple Records, catalogue Apple 1868 in the United States and Apple R5994 in the United Kingdom. It was the lead single for the album of the same name. The UK single and album and the US single were issued on the same day - November 16, 1973. The single was US certificated gold in the US in 1974. It peaked at number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 26 on the British singles chart. It also peaked at number 10 on the Cashbox Top 100.

Background

This song, which was begun in 1969 and can be heard in the Beatles' Let It Be sessions, was originally titled "Make Love, Not War", a popular hippie slogan at that time. Another song, "I Promise", contains the melody that would later be featured on "Mind Games". The original Lennon demos for "Make Love, Not War" and "I Promise", recorded in 1970, are available on the John Lennon Anthology. Lennon finished writing the song after reading the book Mind Games: The Guide to Inner Space by Robert Masters and Jean Houston (1972). Lennon later encountered Masters in a restaurant and told him, "I am one of your fans. You wrote Mind Games."

In keeping with the original theme, the lyrics advocate unity, love, and a positive outlook. The lyric "YES is the answer" is a nod to his wife Yoko Ono's art piece that brought them together originally. The song was recorded as Lennon split with her for his 18-month "lost weekend" with May Pang.

Chart performance

Weekly singles charts

Chart (1973-74)	Peak position
Australia	16
Canadian RPM	10
UK	26
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	18
U.S. Cash Box Top 100	10
WLS-AM (Chicago)	6

Year-end charts

Chart (1973)	Rank
Australia	113
Canada	106
WLS-AM (Chicago)	81

Personnel

• John Lennon: vocals, guitar, slide guitar
• David Spinozza: guitar
• Ken Ascher: keyboards
• Gordon Edwards: bass
• Jim Keltner: drums

Cover versions

In 1990 South African musician Ratau Mike Makhalemele released an EP of Lennon covers including a 16-minute long version of Mind Games.

In 1995, it was recorded by George Clinton for the John Lennon tribute album Working Class Hero: A Tribute to John Lennon.

In 2001, it was performed by Kevin Spacey as part of the tribute concert Come Together: A Night for John Lennon's Words and Music.

The Irish band Hal covered Mind Games for Q Magazine in 2005.

In 2006, it was covered by German rock /pop group MIA., as well as Australian band, Eskimo Joe, as part of the project Make Some Noise to support Amnesty International.

In 2007, Gavin Rossdale's version appeared on Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur as an iTunes exclusive bonus track.

In April 2009, Sinéad O'Connor's version of the song recorded in the mid 90's appeared on the re-released deluxe edition of her second album, I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got.

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics