Take Five: Songs John Lennon Wrote for (or With) Other Artists

John Lennon’s body of work is staggeringly impressive. With the Beatles and as a solo artist, he created some of the most enduring music of the rock era. And though it represented a small fraction of his creative output, his work as a writer for (and in one case, with) other artists is worthy of note. In addition to his production credits (for wife Yoko Ono, The Silkie, David Peel and the Lower East Side, Mick Jagger and Harry Nilsson), Lennon composed songs expressly for other artists he admired. Nearly all of that activity took place between his leaving the Beatles in 1969 and the start of his retirement/hiatus in 1975. Had he lived, Lennon would have celebrated his 85th birthday on October 9. On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the first of many compilations surveying his solo work – 1975’s Shaved Fish – here are five songs written by John Lennon but recorded by other acts.

“God Save Us” by Bill Elliot & the Elastic Oz Band (single, 1971)
In the years immediately following the Beatles’ breakup, Lennon championed a variety of political and/or social justice causes. One was the London-based underground magazine Oz. The publication had run afoul of obscenity laws in the UK, and John and Yoko took up their cause. Lennon quickly penned this song with hopes of the single raising money for Oz’s defense. Phil Spector produced the quickie session – which has a flavor not unlike the material on Imagine – and enlisted Bill Elliot of George Harrison protégé band Splinter to record the lead vocal. Sadly, the ad budget to promote the release cost more than the single earned.

“I’m the Greatest” from Ringo Starr’s Ringo (1973)
Even though the Beatles had split acrimoniously, drummer Ringo Starr remained on excellent terms with all of his ex-band mates. In fact, the closest that the Beatles ever came to a reunion (during Lennon’s life, anyway) was in the making of Ringo, Starr’s third LP. With a cover designed to evoke thoughts of Sgt. Pepper, the album featured guest spots and songwriting by John, Paul and George (though never all three at the same time). A highlight of the Platinum-selling album – which spawned three hit singles – is this song, a wry tune inspired by one of boxer Muhammad Ali’s sayings. It quickly became a Ringo signature. The recording features Lennon, Harrison and Starr, the only time that all three worked together post-Beatles.

“Rock and Roll People” from Johnny Winter’s John Dawson Winter III (1974)
Lennon wrote “Rock and Roll People” in 1970, cutting a demo recording that same year. He attempted to record a studio version for release in 1973, but was dissatisfied with the results. His recording engineer suggested giving the tune to blues guitar hero Johnny Winter. Lennon agreed, and Winter cut the song for his self-titled 1974 album. Outtakes of John’s version eventually appeared on the posthumous Menlove Ave. album in 1986.

“Move Over Ms. L” from Keith Moon’s Two Sides of the Moon (1975)
Lennon’s so-called “lost weekend” in Los Angeles is the stuff of legend; temporarily estranged from Yoko, he caroused with fellow rockers like Harry Nilsson, Micky Dolenz, Keith Allison, Alice Cooper and Keith Moon, sometimes making headlines for all the wrong reasons (like the notorious “Troubadour Kotex” incident). During that period, he gave Who drummer this song – which Lennon had already demoed himself – for inclusion on his remarkably dissolute all-star party record Two Sides of the Moon.

“Fame” from David Bowie’s Young Americans (1975)
A centerpiece of David Bowie’s ninth studio album Young Americans, “Fame” is a bitter rumination on the dark side of popularity. It’s also a deeply funky tune that highlights Bowie’s fascination with soul and funk. Bowie co-wrote the song with friend John Lennon, who sings the “fame” response in the song’s choruses and plays acoustic guitar on the recording. As a single, “Fame” took the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200. Young Americans also features Bowie’s cover of John’s Beatles-era song “Across the Universe.” Lennon played guitar on that track as well.