John's fifth solo single.
"Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" was credited to John & Yoko and the Plastic Ono Band with The Harlem Community Choir. The personnel
for the Plastic's this time comprised, John, Hugh McCraken, Nicky Hopkins, Jim Keltner and Yoko.
Again Phil Spector assisted with the producing.
Again we had a delay waiting for the single in England, the release of this record was delayed one YEAR due to publishing
difficulties over Yoko's composing credits. Many like me though, obtained the single a year earlier on Import. The U.S.
version was on a much lighter clearer green vinyl than the U.K. version.
The record starts with a whispered message from John and Yoko, Yoko says "Happy Christmas Kyoko" followed by John saying,
"Happy Christmas Julian".
The B-side, written solely by Yoko was produced by John and Yoko and Phil Spector.
This was the first Lennon single not to feature the Apple logo on the record label. As with Sometime in New York City
it was replaced with the John and Yoko "merging heads" design.
8th December 2003 - A special re-release with two formats.
R6627 - 7" single on green vinyl.
A-side - Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
B-side - Imagine
CDR 6627 - Enhanced C.D.
Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
Imagine
Instant Karma
Imagine (Instrumental) with a
Photo Gallery.
In the year 2007 the Official Singles chart rules were changed to allow internet music downloads to be counted for chart purposes.
Due to the effects of the Christmas market and the ease of downloads this track re-entered the official singles charts (although, of course, there is now no longer any "B-Side").
9th December 2007 - Happy Xmas is suddenly noted as being in the charts as it went from 111 to number 60.
16th December 2007 - Happy Xmas climbed TWENTY places and entered the official top 40 at number 40.
23rd December 2007 - Happy Xmas dropped just one place from number 40 to number 41.
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