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John Lennon: The New York Years

Episode 1

Duration: 57 minutes

First broadcast: on 6 MusicLatest broadcast: on 6 Music

Susan Sarandon explores the major moments of John's life that occurred in the city he called home from the early 70s, when he and Yoko moved there following the break up of The Beatles, until his death on 8 December 1980. Featuring input from friends and family, who lived and worked with Lennon during his New York years, this programme highlights the career defining moments that were influenced by the Big Apple.

It was on John's first visit to New York in 1964, during The Beatles first US tour, that he was introduced to Bob Dylan. John was inspired by Dylan's lyrical creativity and Lennon's music would never be the same again. John and Yoko returned to New York whenever possible during the Beatles hectic final years and eventually decide to move there permanently in September 1971.

John and Yoko began recording their album, Sometime In New York City, with an agenda to protest against the social injustices they observed in the United States. With Phil Spector producing, and accompanied by members of the Plastic Ono Band, the album was completed in March of 1972 and remains the most overtly political recordings Lennon ever recorded.

In 1975 John retired from music to spend time as a "house husband", raising his son Sean at their Manhattan apartment, before returning to the studio with Yoko in 1980 to record the album Double Fantasy. But on 8 December, John murdered by Mark Chapman, who'd asked the former Beatle for his autograph only hours before he killed him. Show less

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