In an interview Classic Rock magazine , Rick Nielsen , guitarist for Cheap Trick , revealed that he received a complimentary comment from John Lennon during the recording of their last album, Double Fantasy, in 1980.
That year, producer Jack Douglas invited Nielsen and his bandmate, drummer Bun E. Carlos , to participate in Lennon's new album, playing on the track "I'm Losing You." According to Nielsen, he was in the studio playing when John Lennon turned to Jack Douglas and said, "My God, I wish Rick had played on 'Cold Turkey.' Clapton choked up."
"Cold Turkey" was the second single of John Lennon's solo career and featured Eric Clapton on guitar. When Lennon returned his Order of the British Empire award to Buckingham Palace, he jokingly mentioned the song in his statement: "I am returning this MBE in protest against the UK's involvement in the Nigeria-Biafra situation, against our support for the United States in Vietnam and against 'Cold Turkey' falling in the charts." The song had fallen one position on the UK Singles Chart, reaching number 15 that week.
Finally, the version of "I'm Losing You" featuring the members of Cheap Trick didn't make it onto the final version of Double Fantasy , but was released years later, in 1998, on the special edition John Lennon Anthology . Listen below.
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