Video: 'Attica State (Remastered 2010)'

(Wednesday, March 10, 1972) — Former Beatle John Lennon recorded, overdubbed and mixed “Attica State” and “John Sinclair” today at the Record Planet recording studio in New York City for his album Some Time in New York City, a part-studio, part-live double album with his wife, Yoko Ono.

“Attica State” is a lamentation of the loss of life in the Attica State prison riots, as well as the poor living conditions and human rights prisoners are afforded in the United States.

“John Sinclair” was written in response to the imprisonment of John Sinclair, who was given ten years in prison for the possession of two marijuana cigarettes. Sinclair was released shortly after Lennon performed it at a benefit concert at Ann Arbor’s Crisler Arena in December 1971.

Video: 'John Sinclair (Remastered 2010)'

Released in June 1972 in the U.S. and in September 1972 in the UK, it was the third studio album to bear Lennon’s name since he left The Beatles, and his fourth with Ono (the first three were experimental albums released in 1968-69). Lennon and Ono were backed by members of the American rock band Elephant’s Memory.

Like Lennon’s previous solo albums, it was co-produced by Lennon, Ono, and Phil Spector. Recording sessions would continue through March 18, 1972.

The album’s lyrics are very politically charged compared to its predecessors, discussing political and social issues and topics such as sexism, incarceration, colonialism, and racism.