When was The Ballad of John and Yoko released?

The Ballad of John and Yoko was released on 30 May 1969 as a non-album single on Apple Records (Parlophone R 5786 in the UK).

What was the B-side of The Ballad of John and Yoko?

The B-side was Old Brown Shoe, written and sung by George Harrison, recorded on 16 April 1969.

Did The Ballad of John and Yoko reach number one?

Yes. It reached #1 in the UK, becoming the Beatles' 17th UK chart-topper. It also hit #1 in Australia, Ireland, Norway, and the Netherlands, and peaked at #8 in the US despite a widespread radio ban.

Why was The Ballad of John and Yoko banned in the US?

Over 100 US radio stations banned the song because of the words 'Christ' and 'crucify' in the chorus, which programme directors labelled profane and sacrilegious.

The Beatles Release The Ballad of John and Yoko – 30 May 1969

April 17, 2026

30 May in Beatles History | May in Beatles History | Beatles Knowledge Hub

On This Day: 30 May 1969

On 30 May 1969, The Beatles released The Ballad of John and Yoko as a non-album single on Apple Records (Parlophone in the UK). It was one of the most unusual releases in the band's catalogue — recorded by just two Beatles, banned by over 100 US radio stations, and yet destined to become the band's 17th UK number one.

The Single

Detail	Information
Title	The Ballad of John and Yoko
B-side	Old Brown Shoe (George Harrison)
Released	30 May 1969
Recorded	14 April 1969, EMI Studios, Abbey Road, London
Label	Apple Records (UK: Parlophone R 5786)
Writers	Lennon–McCartney
Performers	John Lennon, Paul McCartney (George Harrison and Ringo Starr absent)
UK chart peak	#1 (Beatles' 17th UK number one)
US chart peak	#8 (Billboard Hot 100)

Why Only Two Beatles?

John Lennon recorded the song on 14 April 1969 with only Paul McCartney present. George Harrison was filming The Magic Christian and Ringo Starr was also unavailable. Lennon was in a hurry — he wanted the song out while the events it described (his marriage to Yoko Ono in Gibraltar and their Amsterdam bed-in) were still fresh in the public mind. McCartney played drums, piano, and bass; Lennon handled lead guitar and vocals.

The Radio Ban

The song's chorus — "Christ you know it ain't easy / You know how hard it can be / The way things are goin' / They're gonna crucify me" — led more than 100 US radio stations to refuse to air it, calling it profane and sacrilegious. Lennon had anticipated the reaction and warned record executive Tony Bramwell in advance not to give the track too much pre-release exposure.

Despite the ban, the single peaked at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US. In the UK, where no ban was imposed, it went straight to #1.

The B-Side: Old Brown Shoe

The B-side was George Harrison's Old Brown Shoe, recorded on 16 April 1969 — just two days after the A-side. It remains one of Harrison's most underrated Beatles contributions: a driving, bluesy track with a characteristically sharp Harrison guitar riff and lyrics that play with duality and contradiction.

Chart Performance

Chart	Peak Position
UK Singles Chart	#1
Billboard Hot 100 (US)	#8
Australia	#1
Ireland	#1
Norway	#1
Netherlands	#1

Legacy

The Ballad of John and Yoko was the last Beatles single to reach #1 in the UK until "Now and Then" in November 2023 — a gap of 54 years. It later appeared on the 1973 compilation 1967–1970 (the Blue Album) and has been included on numerous Beatles compilations since.

For a full deep dive into the song's story, the radio ban, and its lasting legacy, read our longform feature: Why The Ballad of John and Yoko Was Banned by 100+ Radio Stations — and Still Hit #1.