Billboard #1 Hits: #344: “Whatever Gets You Thru The Night”- John Lennon. November 16, 1974. #1 for 1 week in Billboard Hot 100.
- Single: “Whatever Gets You Thru The Night”- John Lennon
- Record Company-Apple
- Genre: Rock
- Written by John Lennon
- Time: 3:27
- B-side:”Beef Jerky”
- Album- Walls And Bridges
- Grade:A
- Peaked at #1 1 week in Billboard Hot 100. #36 in UK Singles Chart.
John Lennon finally gets a #1 hit as a solo artist- he was the final Beatle to hit #1 as a solo artist. Elton John plays on this one- and no one was higher on the charts in the mid 70’s as Elton.
From wikipedia:
The inspiration for the lyrics came from late-night television. In December 2005, May Pang told Radio Times: “At night he loved to channel -surf , and would pick up phrases from all the shows. One time, he was watching Reverend Ike, a famous black evangelist, who was saying, “Let me tell you guys, it doesn’t matter, it’s whatever gets you through the night.” John loved it and said, “I’ve got to write it down or I’ll forget it.” He always kept a pad and pen by the bed. That was the beginning of ‘Whatever Gets You Thru the Night’.”
I use it as a life philosophy. One of my favorite Lennon solo songs.
I like the song…hard to believe though that Imagine wasn’t his first.
Yes it is- as much as that has been played- #3 hmm.
Always loved this one.
I always thought this was one of John’s best solo songs. Like Max and you, I am surprised that “Imagine” didn’t make it to the top. It’s such an iconic beautiful song.