John Lennon: Looking Back at the Legacy of a Legend

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s top new record shop, remembers the music and influence of the legendary Beatle

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It has been 36 years to the day that John Lennon was shot in front of his apartment in New York City.  To this day, fans all over the world continue to mourn the loss of the legendary musician.

As one of the main vocalists and songwriters for the Beatles, Lennon’s words have become part of the musical lexicon for many a generation. “Strawberry Fields Forever,” “Come Together,” “Revolution” and “All You Need Is Love” are only a few of the many popular contributions the musician made for the band. That doesn’t even include the works that he wrote in collaboration with Paul McCartney. Many credit Lennon’s work with the Beatles as defining the British rock sound in the 1960s and expanding it in the 1970s.

Lennon continued that legacy with his prolific solo work, as well as collaborations with wife Yoko Ono. “Imagine” continues to be his biggest solo hit and one of the most covered songs of the 20^th century. It was listed as the number three song on Rolling Stone’s list of the ‘500 Greatest Songs of All Time,’ as well as the second best single of all time by Guinness World Records British Hit Singles Book.

But Lennon’s legacy is not only in his music, but in his actions as well. He was also a well-known activist, advocating for peace in the world. Some of his most beloved songs, like “Imagine,” “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” and “Give Peace a Chance” have become anthems for anti-war movements all over the world. “Give Peace a Chance,” in particular, had been used protest the Vietnam War and sung by protesters during Vietnam Moratorium Day.

The loss of John Lennon is still felt the world over by family, friends and fans. Many tribute albums have been released over the years celebrating the musician, his work and his causes. In 2007, Amnesty International released a compilation of artists covering Lennon’s music in an effort to bring attention to the crisis in Darfur. The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus is a charity sponsored by Canon and Yoko Ono which provides youths with the tools to create music and video in a real, traveling recording studio.

 While John Lennon may be gone, his music and legacy will never be forgotten. His work has left an indelible mark on the music world, influencing much of the music that we enjoy today.

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Celebrate the life of John Lennon by picking up music from throughout his career, including a wide selection of Beatles titles, as well as his solo works, at Vinyl Bay 777 and vinylbay777.com.  With the largest selection of new and used titles on vinyl, CD, cassette and more on Long Island, Vinyl Bay 777 is sure to become your new favorite record shop. Stop by during our newly extended holiday hours.