Working Class Hero (Live 1972)

Working Class Hero" was released on John Lennon's first post-Beatles solo album, John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band. He set the song to the same folk-blues acoustic guitar pattern Bob Dylan had used for his 1964 song "Ballad of Hollis Brown". of interest is the rhythm of the song; in typical Lennon fashion, the rhythm is quite complex, alternating between 12/8 and 7/8; just try 'counting' along.....

John Lennon rehearsed this song with Elephant's Memory for the One to One concert at Madison Square Garden in August, 1972. On the track are:
Jim Keltner – drums
Wayne 'Tex' Gabriel – lead guitar
Gary Van Scyoc – bass guitar
John Ward – bass guitar
Stan Bronstein – saxophone
Adam Ippolito – keyboards
Richard Frank Jr. – drums

They didn't end up performing the song at the show, making this rehearsal version quite special; I never heard it before, not on John's Anthology set, not even a snippet on the Lost Lennon Tapes.

These concerts in New York City were Lennon's only rehearsed and full-length live performances in his solo career, and his first – and last – formal, full-fledged live concerts since the Beatles retired from the road in 1966. Lennon never mounted a tour during his post-Beatles career. The concerts also marked the last time he performed live with Ono, as also with Elephant's Memory.


Thanks to Chris Carter of Breakfast with the Beatles for playing this rarity on his April 28, 2013 show. I've re-sequenced and produced the track to make it sound more palpable. Lennon starts out singing quite well, but seems to lose patience halfway through, falling back on shouts and screams to create some excitement. Still, could have ben a haunting perfomance if they had given it more attention and rehearsal time.