Written by: Lennon
Recorded: July-August 1973
Producer: John Lennon
Released: 16 November 1973 (UK), 29 October 1973 (US)
John Lennon: vocals, guitar
David Spinozza: guitar
Peter E 'Sneaky Pete' Kleinow: pedal steel guitar
Ken Ascher: keyboards
Gordon Edwards: bass guitar
Jim Keltner: drums
Something Different: backing vocals
Available on:
Mind Games
One of the highlights of John Lennon's fourth solo album Mind Games was Out The Blue, a love song written for Yoko Ono.
The song presented the pair as destined to be together, and presents Ono as a burst of energy coming into his life when he was suffering with "life's misery". The theme of "two minds, one destiny" recurs in several places in Mind Games, with a search for completion at the heart of You Are Here and One Day (At A Time).
Well, that's just another kinda love song. Nothin' special.
All We Are Saying, David Sheff
The song was written while Lennon and Ono were undergoing marital problems, and was recorded after they had split up and he had begun an affair with May Pang. Lennon took the temporary break-up harder, pouring his emotions into his songs.
Out The Blue was one of Mind Games' more focused and successful songs. The initial stripped-down recording wouldn't have sounded out of place on John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band, but Lennon sweetened it with backing vocals later in the sessions. The result was a recording which would have made a fine second single from the album, but it was not to be.
This is a beautiful song. As Joe says one of the best off Mind Games.It was instantly a favorite of mine when I got this album. The pain and emotion of Lennon’s feelings are presented starkly in this song.
My favorite song from “Mind Games”! This song is not John’s best lyrically UT the emotional vocal is vintage John.