Beatles ’74 pt6

It’s the end of summer in 1974 and big things are happening for John Lennon. After three long years of separation, John and his son Julian were at last reunited for a visit that would prove formative for their relationship moving forward. Though tensions remained with ex-wife Cynthia, the absence of Yoko Ono in John’s life allowed for some ice to be thawed between the former married couple, at least long enough for John to better get to know his son. As family ties grew, new professional relationships, such as that of Lennon’s friendship with Elton John, blossomed into fruitful collaborative projects. To repay buddy Elton for contributing to his new LP, John appeared singing harmony and providing instrumentation for two tracks slated for Elton’s new Caribou album. And Elton wasn’t the only pal to be paid a visit - Ringo Starr‘s new album, Goodnight Vienna, was given its name after former bandmate John’s title track contribution to the sessions. With Paul in the studio rehearsing his new Wings lineup, and George touting the new Dark Horse Records act called Splinter, it seemed that the Beatles were just as productive and vital as ever - even four years after the band’s split.