Writer: John Lennon
Producer: Phil Spector
Recorded: January 27th, 1970, in London
Released: February 6th, 1970
| Players: | John Lennon — vocals, guitar, piano George Harrison — guitar, piano Klaus Voorman — bass, piano Billy Preston — organ Alan White — drums, piano Mal Evans — chimes, handclaps various random clubgoers — backing vocals |
| Album: | Shaved Fish (Capitol, 1975) |
“Instant Karma” is one of the fastest singles ever produced in pop music, released just 10 days after it was recorded.
The version of the Plastic Ono Band that appears on “Instant Karma” was an ad hoc group of heavyweights, including Beatles guitarist George Harrison, session keyboardist and solo performer Billy Preston, and future Yes drummer Alan White.
The song's heavy piano sound was produced by four musicians playing piano at the same time — John Lennon and Klaus Voorman on electric pianos, and Harrison and White on grand pianos.
The chorus singers included some Plastic Ono Band members, Lennon's then-manager Allen Klein, and some late-night revelers from London's Hatchetts Club, who were rounded up by Preston and conducted by Harrison.
“Instant Karma” peaked at Number Three on the Billboard Hot 100 and rose to Number Five in the U.K.
The original U.S. single of “Instant Karma” had a Phil Spector mix that was not approved by Lennon.
It was the first solo single by a member of the Beatles to sell a million copies in the U.S., and sold well over two million copies worldwide.
“Instant Karma” was only released as a single. It didn't appear on a Lennon album until the Shaved Fish best-of collection in 1975.