Video: 'John Lennon interview with Dennis Elsas, 28 Sept 1974 Part 1 of 4'

(Saturday, September 28, 1974, approximately 4:00 p.m. EDT) — Two days after he released his fifth solo studio album Walls and Bridges, former Beatle John Lennon appeared today at the studios of WNEW-FM in New York City, joining a surprised music director/on-air personality Dennis Elsas.

Elsas casually let Lennon introduce himself and he promptly opened with a plug for the new single and LP, and for roughly for the next two hours, John was the consummate guest.

Video: 'John Lennon interview with Dennis Elsas, 28 Sept 1974 Part 2 of 4'

Lennon spun records (from his own collection), gave station IDs, read promo spots and delivered weather reports (it was a rainy afternoon).

Crafted during the former Beatle’s 18-month separation from Yoko Ono, often referred to as his “Lost Weekend,” the album reflects a tumultuous period in Lennon’s life.

Video: 'John Lennon interview with Dennis Elsas, 28 Sept 1974 Part 3 of 4'

Among the famous musicians who performed on the album were Elton John (piano and harmony vocals on “Whatever Gets You thru the Night,” Hammond organ and background vocals on “Surprise, Surprise (Sweet Bird of Paradox)” and Harry Nilsson (backing vocals on “Old Dirt Road”).

Walls and Bridges would soar to the top of the American charts, securing the number-one spot on both Billboard and Record World.

Video: 'John Lennon interview with Dennis Elsas, 28 Sept 1974 Part 4 of 4'

The album featured two notable singles, “Whatever Gets You thru the Night” and “#9 Dream.” The former marked a milestone in Lennon’s career, becoming his first and only solo number-one hit in the United States during his lifetime.

The album’s success was recognized with a gold certification in the U.S. and a silver certification in the UK.