Interview: John Lennon and Yoko Ono for Sounds – 17 July 1971

Q: What did John Lennon discuss in his Sounds interview on 17 July 1971?

A track-by-track breakdown of Imagine, working with Phil Spector, Yoko Ono's book Grapefruit, their New York trip, and film projects.

Q: Who interviewed John Lennon for Sounds in July 1971?

Steve Peacock, with photographs by Spud Murphy, at Tittenhurst Park.

Q: Did John Lennon play the Imagine album before its release?

Yes, he gave Steve Peacock and Spud Murphy a pre-release playback of the complete Imagine album on 17 July 1971.

July 15, 2026

Saturday 17 July 1971 | Tittenhurst Park, Ascot, Berkshire

On 17 July 1971, John Lennon and Yoko Ono gave an interview to Sounds magazine at their Tittenhurst Park estate. Interviewer Steve Peacock and photographer Spud Murphy were first treated to a pre-release playback of the Imagine album, after which the interview and photoshoot took place in the couple's bedroom.

What Was Discussed

Lennon gave a track-by-track breakdown of every song on the Imagine album, then discussed:

Working with producer Phil Spector
Yoko Ono's book Grapefruit
Their recent trip to New York City
Their various film projects, including the Imagine film then in production under the working title Your Show

About Sounds Magazine

Sounds was a British weekly music newspaper published from 1970 to 1991. Launched as a rival to Melody Maker and New Musical Express, it covered rock, pop and later punk and heavy metal. An interview with John Lennon ahead of the release of the Imagine album — one of the most anticipated records of 1971 — would have been a major coup for the publication.

The Imagine Album

The Imagine album was released in September 1971 and became one of the best-selling and most critically acclaimed records of John Lennon's solo career. Produced by John Lennon, Yoko Ono and Phil Spector, it featured the title track Imagine, Jealous Guy, How Do You Sleep? and Oh Yoko! among others. The album reached number one in both the UK and the USA.

Key Facts

Date	Saturday 17 July 1971
Location	Tittenhurst Park, Ascot, Berkshire
Publication	Sounds
Interviewer	Steve Peacock
Photographer	Spud Murphy
Pre-release playback	Imagine album
Topics covered	Track-by-track breakdown, Phil Spector, Grapefruit, New York City, film projects

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Frequently Asked Questions

What did John Lennon discuss in his Sounds interview on 17 July 1971?

John Lennon gave a track-by-track breakdown of the Imagine album, and discussed working with Phil Spector, Yoko Ono's book Grapefruit, their recent trip to New York City, and their various film projects including the Imagine film.

Who interviewed John Lennon for Sounds in July 1971?

Steve Peacock conducted the interview, with photographs taken by Spud Murphy. The interview and photoshoot took place in Lennon and Ono's bedroom at Tittenhurst Park.

Did John Lennon play the Imagine album before its release?

Yes. Before the Sounds interview on 17 July 1971, Lennon treated interviewer Steve Peacock and photographer Spud Murphy to a pre-release playback of the complete Imagine album, which was not released until September 1971.