Friday 25 October 1974 | Recording | Record Plant, New York City
On 25 October 1974, John Lennon completed the recording of “Do You Wanna Dance?” for his Rock ’N’ Roll album. Lennon produced the work at the Record Plant in New York City, continuing a performance whose backing track had been recorded on 22 October.
The distinction between those dates is important. This was the completion of an existing recording, not the first day the song was put on tape. It belonged to the New York phase of an album project that had begun in Los Angeles the previous year.
Written by Bobby Freeman, the song offered Lennon a chance to revisit a familiar rock-and-roll standard while changing its rhythmic character. His version became the sixth track on the original album, between “Ain’t That A Shame” and “Sweet Little Sixteen”.
25 October 1974: the essential facts
| Date | Friday 25 October 1974 |
|---|---|
| Artist and producer | John Lennon |
| Song | Do You Wanna Dance? |
| Songwriter | Bobby Freeman |
| Album | Rock ’N’ Roll |
| Studio | Record Plant, New York City |
| Backing track recorded | 22 October 1974 |
| Recording completed | 25 October 1974 |
| US album release | 17 February 1975 |
| UK album release | 21 February 1975 |
From the backing track to the completed recording
The 22 October session included backing tracks for “Peggy Sue”, “Ain’t That A Shame”, the medley “Bring It On Home To Me/Send Me Some Lovin’” and “Do You Wanna Dance?”. It was part of the concentrated New York work through which Lennon brought the album towards completion.
Three days later, the dated session account identifies “Do You Wanna Dance?” as finished. It does not supply a detailed take number or a complete overdub log for that Friday.
Accordingly, completion should not be expanded into an unsupported claim that the whole performance was remade, every musician returned, or a particular instrument was newly recorded that day. The secure sequence is a backing track on 22 October followed by completion on the 25th.
That small distinction makes a substantial difference to the historical account: a song can have more than one meaningful studio date without those dates describing contradictory events.
A Bobby Freeman song in Lennon’s hands
“Do You Wanna Dance?” was a cover, not a Lennon composition. The official album credits name Bobby Freeman as its writer.
The song had already travelled through other performers’ repertoires before Lennon recorded it. Rather than simply reproducing an earlier arrangement, Lennon approached it with a Caribbean-influenced rhythm, later describing his intention as an attempt to make it reggae.
That intention gives the track a particular place within Rock ’N’ Roll. The album revisits songs from Lennon’s formative musical world, but revisiting did not always mean copying an earlier record note for note.
The useful listening distinction is between the familiar composition and Lennon’s treatment of it. Its identity as a standard remains, while the rhythmic approach gives this recording a different character.
The New York sessions and their musicians
The official album notes distinguish the 1973 sessions from the 21–25 October 1974 Record Plant East sessions. The latter group of recordings was produced and arranged by Lennon.
The 1974 session credits include Lennon on vocals and guitar, Jesse Ed Davis on guitar, Eddie Mottau on acoustic guitar, Jim Keltner on drums, Klaus Voormann on bass, Arthur Jenkins on percussion and Ken Ascher on keyboards, alongside brass and saxophone players.
These are credits for the session period, not a verified attendance list for each hour of 25 October. A completed album credit can identify the musicians involved without establishing precisely when every part was added.
The important production distinction is that this track belongs to Lennon’s New York work, rather than being assigned to Phil Spector simply because Spector produced other recordings used on the same album.
Two phases of one album
Rock ’N’ Roll draws on two distinct recording phases: the Los Angeles sessions of 1973 and the New York sessions of October 1974. The album’s overall production credits reflect both Lennon and Spector, but the individual tracks have their own histories.
Our 24 October 1973 Just Because article follows the earlier period. Our 24 October 1974 Stand By Me article covers another song from the later New York work.
Reading those entries together helps separate an album’s eventual running order from the order in which its performances were recorded. Tracks that became neighbours on the finished LP could originate in different cities and different years.
Where it sits on Rock ’N’ Roll
The official tracklist places “Do You Wanna Dance?” after “Ain’t That A Shame” and before “Sweet Little Sixteen”. It appears under Lennon’s production credit in the album’s 1974 group of recordings.
The album was released in the United States on 17 February 1975 and in the United Kingdom on 21 February. Those are album release dates, not the dates of this studio performance.
For the wider sequence of Lennon’s releases, explore our John Lennon solo discography guide. His biography and career guide provides the broader context for the recordings.
Location map: New York City
The session took place at the Record Plant in New York. The map below provides city-level context rather than claiming an exact historical studio-room pin or directing visitors to an operating 1974 facility.
Frequently asked questions
What did John Lennon finish recording on 25 October 1974?
He completed Do You Wanna Dance? for his Rock ’N’ Roll album.
When was the backing track recorded?
22 October 1974, three days before the dated completion session.
Where did the recording take place?
At the Record Plant in New York City, during Lennon’s October 1974 sessions.
Who wrote Do You Wanna Dance?
Bobby Freeman. Lennon’s recording is a cover version.
Did Phil Spector produce Lennon’s version?
This recording belongs to the New York material produced and arranged by Lennon. Spector produced other tracks included on the album.
When was Rock ’N’ Roll released?
17 February 1975 in the United States and 21 February 1975 in the United Kingdom.
Continue exploring: Stand By Me, 24 October 1974 · Just Because, 24 October 1973 · John Lennon solo discography · On This Day in Beatles History.
Selected reference: Rock ’N’ Roll in John Lennon’s official discography.
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