News The John Lennon song Roger Taylor called the “most beautiful”
Although his work with The Beatles is lauded for its innovative and ultimately era-defining essence, John Lennon also continued to demonstrate his talent outside the confines of the Liverpudlian group. A masterful songwriter with a hold on numerous genres, Lennon provided many notable moments throughout the 1970s. He looked set to continue a stellar career until his tragic assassination in 1980.
Of course, his most famous moment without the help of Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr is ‘Imagine’. Released in 1971 and taken from the album of the same name, the piano-led soft rock classic is the best-selling single of his solo career, with his resonant lyrics encouraging fans to imagine world peace and a society without materialism, borders or religion. The latter was his perennial enemy, a conflict which would partially culminate in his death.
However, the song is just the beginning of Lennon’s post-Beatles journey, as he ventured into creating a myriad of sonic palettes. These range from 1974’s Pussy Cats, a peculiar ode to excess that he crafted alongside his hellraising partner in crime, Harry Nilsson, to 1970’s John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band, a revered body of work featuring collaborators like Yoko Ono, Ringo Starr, and Klaus Voormann. This album produced notable tracks such as ‘Mother’ and ‘Working Class Hero’.
However, most longtime fans of Lennon would argue that Imagine is the most accomplished release of his solo career. Alongside the timeless title track, it features ‘Gimme Some Truth’ and ‘How Do You Sleep?’. Notably, the latter stands out for Lennon’s personal attacks aimed at former bandmate and songwriting partner McCartney, who had allegedly criticised him in the Ram song, ‘Too Many People’.
In addition to the aforementioned tracks, another standout moment from the album is ‘Jealous Guy’. Originally conceived as ‘Child of Nature’ during The Beatles’ sojourn with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in Rishikesh, India, inspired by a lecture from their spiritual teacher. It was later revisited as ‘On the Road to Marrakesh’ during the Get Back / Let It Be recording sessions. However, it ultimately didn’t make the final cut. When composing ‘Imagine’, Lennon repurposed the melody and replaced the lyrics with those now found in ‘Jealous Guy’.
One of Lennon’s most beloved songs, which includes over 92 official cover versions, including a chart-topping rendition by Roxy Music in 1981, ‘Jealous Guy’ resonated deeply with fans who closely followed Lennon’s journey post-Beatles. It encapsulates a poignant essence that some consider to be the quintessence of Lennon’s songwriting during this period. With its nostalgic connection to The Beatles, it holds a special place in the hearts of many. Even Queen drummer Roger Taylor regards it as the “most beautiful” song Lennon ever recorded.
Speaking to Shortlist in 2013, Taylor, whose band were galvanised by Lennon’s solo work, described ‘Jealous Guy’ as his favourite sad song. He said: “For this one, I’d say it’d be Jealous Guy by John Lennon. I just think it’s the most beautiful song, beautifully sung and I did used to sing it actually, I always enjoyed singing it. I find it just moves you, y’know – and that’s what sad songs are supposed to do.”
Listen to ‘Jealous Guy’ below.
