B-side "Meat City" Recorded July–August 1973 Length 4:13 | Format 7" vinyl Genre Rock | |
Released 29 October 1973 (US)
16 November 1973 (UK) | ||
"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.
Contents
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.
Personnel
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.