Video: 'Shaved Fish - Lennon Plastic Ono Band'

(Saturday, December 13, 1975) — Shaved Fish, the first compilation album by ex-Beatle John Lennon, featuring all of the singles that he had issued up to that point in the United States as a solo artist, with the exception of “Stand by Me,” which had been released earlier that year, peaked at #12 on today’s Billboard 200 albums chart.

After the release of his album of oldies cover versions, Rock ‘n’ Roll (1975), Lennon was planning to work on an album of new material. However, when his wife Yoko Ono became pregnant, he decided to reissue songs from his solo career.

Shaved Fish includes many of Lennon’s most popular solo recordings in their original 45 rpm single edits.

Five of the songs had not been previously issued on an album: “Cold Turkey”, “Instant Karma!”, “Power to the People”, the holiday single “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” and “Give Peace a Chance.” The latter appears in truncated form and opens side one, while an excerpt of a live version of the song closes side two.