50 years ago today marked John Lennon’s last public concert appearance, with Elton John at New York’s Madison Square Garden – to honor a lost bet.
“Whatever Gets You Through the Night” sprang from something Lennon heard Reverend Ike say on TV one night, and Lennon considered it a bit of a throwaway. When he was recording it in the summer of 1974 Elton John visited the studio and wound up playing piano and organ and singing the harmony part. He mentioned to Lennon that this song would end his status as the only solo Beatle who hadn’t had a No. 1 single. Lennon scoffed and said if it made No. 1 he would join John to sing it live. Lennon hadn’t performed live since 1970 and wasn’t eager to do so again.
On Nov. 16, “Whatever Gets You Through the Night” hit No. 1, and on Thanksgiving night in New York Lennon made good on his promise. Not without trepidation, though. He was so nervous he asked Bernie Taupin to walk out on stage with him. Taupin accompanied him to the edge of the stage and told him, “You’re on your own.” Lennon was greeted with thunderous applause.
They then played “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,” which John released earlier in the month with Lennon on guitar and backing vocals (it would reach No. 1 in January). The last song Lennon sang for an audience was the first song on the debut album by the Beatles.
