Video: 'Cookin' (In the Kitchen of Love)'

(Thursday, May 27, 1976) — While ex-Beatle Paul McCartney was in Cincinnati to perform another concert on his Wings Over America tour and former Beatle George Harrison was in England for the first week of sessions for his next studio album, ex-Beatle John Lennon joined former Beatle Ringo Starr today at the Cherokee Studios in Hollywood, where he is currently recording his next studio album Ringo’s Rotogravure.

Video: 'john lennon demos - Cookin' (In The Kitchen Of Love), 3 takes'

Lennon played piano on his own composition “Cookin’ (In The Kitchen Of Love),” which would be his last studio recording session until Aug. 7, 1980, when he began work, with his wife, Yoko Ono, on the album Double Fantasy.

The track was remixed on at least three different occasions during post-production, with the keeper being finished on September 2, 1976.

The Lennon and his wife, Yoko Ono, had flown from New York to Los Angeles on May 25, 1976, and spent last night (May 26, 1976) at the Roxy, where Bob Marley and the Wailers were supporting their new album Rastaman Vibration.

The Lennons and Ringo were seated in the private lounge, On The Rox, along with Mac Rebennack (a.k.a. Dr. John), Harry Nilsson and Bernie Taupin.

Lennon had written the song “Cookin’ (In the Kitchen of Love)” specifically for Starr’s album. The track was cut with a notable group of musicians that included drummer Jim Keltner, guitarist Danny Kortchmar, keyboardist Mac Rebennack (better known as Dr. John), and bassist Klaus Voormann.

Starr later expressed deep appreciation for Lennon’s willingness to contribute both a song and his time in the studio. Reflecting on their long friendship dating back to The Beatles, he remarked: “He’s very good to me. He writes me a song and comes out and gets in the studio with me… John’s the only one that’s been on all the albums, actually came down and worked with me and wrote me songs.”

Lennon, however, remembered the day rather differently. By 1976 he was largely withdrawn from the music business during his self-described “househusband” period, devoting most of his time in New York to raising his infant son.

In later recollections he admitted that he had been reluctant to attend the session and felt the atmosphere in the studio was strained. “The vibes in the studio were not good that day… I didn’t really want to go down there and do the session… Ringo had asked, so we went down there and did it, but the track didn’t come alive at all. I was thinking, ‘What the hell am I doing down here?’”

Ironically, the same day brought an unexpected bit of publicity back home in New York. The Los Angeles Times carried a photograph taken in Manhattan showing the Lennons’ seven-month-old son Sean Ono Lennon out for a walk with his nanny, Masako.

The caption read: “Seven-month-old Sean Ono Lennon gets an airing in Manhattan with his nursemaid.” The photograph had likely been taken the previous day, after Lennon and Ono had already left for California.

During the Lennons’ stay in Los Angeles, former Apple Records executive Ken Mansfield also recalled an unexpected encounter with Lennon at Starr’s home. Mansfield had recently finished producing Waylon Jennings’ album Are You Ready for the Country and had brought an advance copy for Starr, who was a fan of Jennings’ music. When Mansfield arrived, he was surprised to find Lennon sitting moodily on the couch.

Mansfield was also seeking approval from at least three former Beatles for a lyric change to a female cover version of the song “Hey Jude.” He later joked about the unusual tactics he used to secure signatures: he persuaded Starr with the exclusive playback of Jennings’ new album, sent Paul McCartney a pair of sunglasses from Rodeo Drive he had admired in a magazine, and—taking advantage of Lennon’s dour mood—simply left Starr’s house before Lennon could object.