Video: 'Cold Turkey - John Lennon Plastic Ono Band [Original video]'

(Sunday, October 5, 1969, 10:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. BST) — John Lennon, who privately informed his fellow Beatles on Sept. 20, 1969, that he was leaving the group, completed his first studio recording as a solo artist today, overdubbing a pair of new lead vocals (harmonizing with himself on the chorus) and adding more electric guitar on “Cold Turkey” today at EMI Studio 2 in London.

The song was written in a “creative outburst” following Lennon and his wife, Yoko Ono, going “cold turkey” from their brief heroin addictions.

Video: 'Cold Turkey'

Lennon first demoed the song in late August and reportedly presented the song to fellow Beatle and songwriting partner Paul McCartney as a potential single by The Beatles, just after they finished recording for their Abbey Road album, but it was apparently refused.

Lennon first performed the song on Sept. 13, 1969, at the Toronto Rock and Roll Revival with Ono, Eric Clapton, Klaus Voormann and Alan White, a group dubbed the Plastic Ono Band.

The studio recording was released Oct. 20, 1969, as a Plastic Ono Band single with sole writing credits to Lennon.