Saturday 11 August 1973 | John Lennon, Studio
| Studio | Record Plant, New York City |
| Producer | John Lennon |
| Engineers | Roy Cicala, Dan Barbiero |
| Session | Second overdub session for Mind Games |
The second overdub session for John Lennon’s fourth solo album Mind Games took place on 11 August 1973 at the Record Plant in New York City. The session featured saxophonist Michael Brecker, who performed on four songs.
The session
Michael Brecker recorded saxophone overdubs on four Mind Games tracks: ‘One Day (At A Time)’, ‘Intuition’, ‘Only People’, and ‘Meat City’. It was Brecker’s only session for the album.
Michael Brecker (1949–2007) was one of the most influential saxophonists in jazz and popular music history. By 1973 he was already an in-demand session musician in New York, and would go on to appear on hundreds of albums across jazz, rock and soul. He won eleven Grammy Awards during his career and is widely regarded as one of the greatest tenor saxophonists of the twentieth century. His brother Randy Brecker was also a celebrated jazz musician, and the two formed the Brecker Brothers band in 1975.
John Lennon — officially licensed merch
John Lennon: Imagine Peace Unisex T-Shirt (Black).
Mind Games
Mind Games was John Lennon’s fourth solo album, released on 2 November 1973. It was recorded during the ‘Lost Weekend’ period, when Lennon was separated from Yoko Ono and living in Los Angeles with May Pang. The album was recorded primarily at the Record Plant in New York City.
The album featured a large cast of session musicians and was produced by Lennon himself. It reached number nine in the UK and number nine in the US. The title track, ‘Mind Games’, was released as a single and reached number 26 in the UK and number 18 in the US.
The first overdub session for the album had taken place on 10 August 1973, the previous day, when instruments including a Mellotron, Fender Rhodes, congas and chimes were added.
John Lennon — officially licensed merch
John Lennon: Imagine Peace Ladies T-Shirt (Black).
Record Plant, New York City
The Record Plant, 321 West 44th Street, New York City — where John Lennon recorded overdubs for Mind Games on 10 and 11 August 1973.
Key Facts
| Date | Saturday 11 August 1973 |
| Session | Second overdub session for Mind Games |
| Featured musician | Michael Brecker (saxophone) |
| Songs recorded | ‘One Day (At A Time)’, ‘Intuition’, ‘Only People’, ‘Meat City’ |
| Album released | Mind Games, 2 November 1973 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Michael Brecker?
Michael Brecker (1949–2007) was one of the most influential saxophonists in jazz and popular music history. He won eleven Grammy Awards and appeared on hundreds of albums. He formed the Brecker Brothers band with his brother Randy Brecker in 1975.
What is the Mind Games album?
Mind Games was John Lennon's fourth solo album, released on 2 November 1973. It was recorded during the 'Lost Weekend' period when Lennon was separated from Yoko Ono and living in Los Angeles with May Pang. The title track reached number 18 in the US.
Which songs did Michael Brecker play saxophone on?
Michael Brecker recorded saxophone overdubs on 'One Day (At A Time)', 'Intuition', 'Only People' and 'Meat City' on 11 August 1973. It was his only session for the Mind Games album.
What was the 'Lost Weekend'?
The 'Lost Weekend' was an 18-month period from late 1973 to early 1975 when John Lennon and Yoko Ono separated. Lennon lived in Los Angeles with May Pang, during which time he recorded Mind Games and Walls and Bridges.
→ Recording: Mind Games by John Lennon – 10 August 1973
→ Wings live: Olympen, Lund – 11 August 1972
→ The Beatles Knowledge Hub
→ August in Beatles History
→ On This Day in Beatles History
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