Click on the link below and become the 1,384,102nd person to view John Lennon's "(Just Like) Starting Over."
"Starting Over" was the last song produced and the first single released from the Double Fantasy album. It entered the Billboard Hot 100 on Nov. 1, 1980 at No. 38 and climbed to No. 6 by the time Lennon was murdered outside the Dakota in Manhattan on Dec. 8.
Nineteen days later -- on this day -- it reached No. 1 and remained there for five weeks.
Most of us who had been following the careers of the ex-Beatles at the time wondered if we'd hear from Lennon again following the birth of his son Sean in 1975. He had slipped into retirement and become a doting father to Sean and, of course, a loving companion to Yoko Ono, who was managing the family's business affairs.
This record, with its beautiful lyrics and smooth Orbison-like sound, answered the question for us and built great anticipation for Double Fantasy. And then a deranged bastard shot Lennon dead.
Two other songs from Double Fantasy became hits: "Woman" (No. 2) and "Watching the Wheels" (No. 10), and Double Fantasy would win the Grammy for Best Album in 1981.
No telling what Lennon might have done in the next 30 years.
Nicely put, and sorry I didn't see earlier, what with the holidays and all. Nice column by Joe Scarborough. His experience discovering the Beatles with John Lennon's death was not unique.
ReplyDeleteIt would be interesting collecting all the tribute songs that came out later. The list is nearly endless. Everyone from Paul Simon to Elton John to Charlene (remember her? Hint: Stevie Wonder.
Thanks for the memories, Mr. Smith