Recording: Going Down On Love, Whatever Gets You Thru The Night – 16 July 1974

Q: When was Whatever Gets You Thru The Night recorded?

Backing track first recorded 16 July 1974 at Record Plant, NYC. Re-recorded 17, 23 and 31 July 1974.

Q: What album is Whatever Gets You Thru The Night on?

Walls And Bridges (1974). It was also Lennon's only US number one solo single.

Q: When was Going Down On Love recorded?

16 July 1974 at Record Plant, NYC, in the same session as Whatever Gets You Thru The Night.

Q: What is the Walls And Bridges album?

John Lennon's fifth solo studio album, released September 1974, recorded at Record Plant, New York.

July 15, 2026

Tuesday 16 July 1974 | Record Plant, New York City
Producer: John Lennon

John Lennon worked on two songs for his Walls And Bridges album on 16 July 1974, recording the backing tracks for both Going Down On Love and Whatever Gets You Thru The Night at the Record Plant in New York City.

The Sessions

Both backing tracks were laid down during the session. However, Whatever Gets You Thru The Night was subsequently re-recorded on 17, 23, and 31 July 1974 before Lennon was satisfied with the result.

Whatever Gets You Thru The Night became one of the most significant recordings of Lennon's solo career — featuring Elton John on piano and backing vocals, it became Lennon's first and only US number one single as a solo artist, reaching the top spot in November 1974. Lennon had made a bet with Elton John that if the song reached number one, he would join Elton on stage — a promise he kept at Madison Square Garden on 28 November 1974, in what proved to be his final concert appearance.

Key Facts: 16 July 1974

Date	Tuesday 16 July 1974
Studio	Record Plant, New York City
Producer	John Lennon
Songs recorded	Going Down On Love; Whatever Gets You Thru The Night (backing tracks)
Album	Walls And Bridges (1974)
Re-recorded	Whatever Gets You Thru The Night: 17, 23 and 31 July 1974

Record Plant Studios, West 44th Street, New York City — where John Lennon recorded the Walls And Bridges album in 1974.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Whatever Gets You Thru The Night recorded?

The backing track for Whatever Gets You Thru The Night was first recorded on 16 July 1974 at Record Plant, New York City. It was re-recorded on 17, 23 and 31 July 1974 before the final version was completed.

What album is Whatever Gets You Thru The Night on?

Whatever Gets You Thru The Night appears on John Lennon's Walls And Bridges album, released in September 1974. It was also released as a single and became Lennon's only US number one as a solo artist.

When was Going Down On Love recorded?

The backing track for Going Down On Love was recorded on 16 July 1974 at Record Plant, New York City, during the same session as Whatever Gets You Thru The Night. It appears on the Walls And Bridges album.

What is the Walls And Bridges album?

Walls And Bridges is John Lennon's fifth solo studio album, released in September 1974. It was recorded at Record Plant in New York City and produced by Lennon himself during his Lost Weekend period.