Philadelphia freedom - Elton John

Elton John released 'Philadelphia freedom' as a single in 1975. Elton, looking to honour his friend, tennis professional Billie Jean King, asked Taupin to write a song called 'Philadelphia Freedom', an homage to her tennis team. Taupin said, 'I can't write a song about tennis', and did not. Taupin maintains that the lyrics bear no relation to tennis, Philly Soul or even flag-waving patriotism. In the U.S. it was a charttopper in April 1975.

The B-side features a live performance of 'I saw her standing there' by Elton John and John Lennon at Madison Square Gardens on November 26, 1974.

My collection: 7" single no. 5292
Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received February 1, 2012
Cost: 2,8 euro
Tracks: 'Philadelphia freedom' / 'I saw her standing there (live)'

Singles bag - John Lennon

In support of Record Store Day, EMI released a limited edition John Lennon vinyl package. It's titled 'Singles bag', but it's not really a bag, but rather a cardboard envelope with three singles, a poster, three postcard and one plastic adaptor in it. It's a real treat for John Lennon fans and those who appreciate his music.

Of course, there isn't really anything new in the bag: all three singles have been released in the past. Still, it is quite wonderful to hear 'Imagine' once again - still the highlight of this bag in my opinion - and of course who could resist the sound of Yoko Ono screaming like an escaped inmate of a psychiatric ward in 'Why'? The poster of the duo in the Hilton Hotel in Amsterdam during their 'Bed-in for peace' action is a nice extra.

My collection: 7" single no. 4837
Found: La La Land, Den Haag, April 17, 2010
Cost: Well... let's just say it wasn't cheap.
Tracks: 'Mother' (John Lennon) / 'Why' (Yoko Ono) // 'Imagine' / 'It's so hard' // 'Watching the wheels' (John Lennon) / 'Yes, I'm your angel' (Yoko Ono)

Jealous guy - John Lennon

'Jealous guy' first appeared on John Lennon's 1971 album 'Imagine'. The track was originally written as 'Child of nature' for the Beatles' White Album in 1968. When the track was not used on the album, Lennon rewrote the lyric and recorded the song himself as 'Jealous guy'.

'Jealous guy' was released as a single in November 1985. It reached number 65 in the UK singles charts.

My collection: 7" single no. 453
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, December 1985
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Jealous guy' / 'Going down on love'

Woman - John Lennon

'Woman' was written by John Lennon as an ode to his wife Yoko Ono. In an interview for Rolling Stone magazine on December 5, 1980, Lennon said that 'Woman' was a 'grown-up version' of the song 'Girl'.

The song was released as the second single from Lennon's 'Double fantasy' album, and the first single released after his tragic death on December 8, 1980. It spent two weeks at number 1 in the UK singles chart and five weeks at number 1 in New Zealand. In the Netherlands, the single only managed to reach number 21, while in the US it reached number 2.

My collection: 7" single no. 2384
Found: House of Rhythm, London, July 1, 1995
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Woman' (John Lennon) / 'Beautiful boys' (Yoko Ono)

Love - John Lennon

John Lennon is probably one of the most prolific artists after dying. After his tragic death in December 1980, he's released an album or two with previously unreleased work and more than a dozen compilation albums. One of these was 'The John Lennon collection' (1982), from which this single, 'Love', was taken.

'Love' was originally released as a track on Lennon's 'John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band' album (1970). This single is a remix of the track, adding a piano intro and outro, played by Phil Spector, mixed at the same volume as the rest of the song. On the album version, the intro fades in and the outro fades out. The single peaked at number 41 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2892
Found: Beanos, East Croydon, London, October 29, 1997
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Love' / 'Give me some truth'

(Just like) Starting over - John Lennon

'(Just like) Starting over' was released as the first single from John Lennon's 1980 album 'Double fantasy' and his first single in five years. It was chosen by Lennon, not because he felt it was the best track on the album, but because it was the most appropriate one, following his five year absence from the music business. The original title of the song was 'Starting over'. '(Just like)' was added at the last minute because a country song of the same title was released by Tammy Wynette just a few months before.

Released in October 1980, the single reached number one in the UK and the USA two weeks after Lennon was killed by a madman on December 8 of that year. The sound of Yoko Ono getting an orgasm on the B-side was an added bonus.

My collection: 7" single no. 2898
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 30, 1997
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: '(Just like) Starting over' (John Lennon) / 'Kiss kiss kiss' (Yoko Ono)

Happy Xmas (War is over) - John Lennon & Yoko Ono

'Happy Xmas (War Is Over)' was recorded by John Lennon, Yoko Ono and the The Plastic Ono Band at Record Plant Studios in New York City in late October of 1971. The track was produced by Phil Spector. The children singing in the background were from the Harlem Community Choir and are credited on the song's single.

The song was John Lennon's reaction to the war in Vietnam. Although the song is a protest song about the Vietnam War, it has become a Christmas standard and has appeared on several Christmas albums. The 2003 re-release was a limited edition 7" on green vinyl.

My collection: 7" single no. 3403

Found: HMV, London, December 2003

Cost: 2 pounds

Tracks: 'Happy Xmas (War is over)' / 'Imagine'