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This was released on October 9, 1980, John Lennon's 40th birthday. It was 1 month before the album was released and 2 months before he was shot by Mark David Chapman.

This was the first song Lennon released since 1975.

Lennon wrote this while vacationing in Bermuda earlier in the year.

This didn't not reach #1 until 3 weeks after Lennon's death.

This was recorded at The Power Station in New York City. Musicians included Tony Levin on bass, Earl Slick on guitar, and Andy Newmark on drums.

Double Fantasy was released on David Geffen's record label, DGC. Many labels were competing for the album, but Geffen impressed Lennon when he wrote directly to Yoko and agreed to release it without hearing it first. All of Lennon's previous albums were released on The Beatles' label, Apple.

John and Yoko were considering doing a tour when this was climbing the charts.

This was one of the last songs recorded for the album. Lennon was not sure he should record it, but his producer and session musicians convinced him it would be a hit. It became the first single from Double Fantasy.

The day this was released, Yoko Ono hired a skywriter to write "Happy Birthday" above New York.

Comments:

and a girl at my school says this sucks. how sad she is. i really like love this song. just so laid back and peaceful, i love it.
- Amanda, Gretna, VT

John Lennon (as you all know), was the POWER behind the music,like when he started out in his early days,We all have `Leaders and Followers`, It just so happened that John, was `THE TREE`,the rest were new `BRANCHES`that attached themselfs to him(Metaphorically Speaking),And they Certainly made a GREAT IMPRESSION, That you cant Deny. Now Just before (EVIL)Mark Chapman Killed John, He Usually Signed Out Of Work,with the Name `Chappy`,But on THAT Night, He Signed Out As JOHN LENNON, WHY?, Was it Because He Was Such a Great Fan?, Or (Was He Put Up to it),Make Your Own Mind Up, I CERTAINLY HAVE, Happy Listning, to a `GREAT MUSIC SITE`.
- samuel, kilsyth, United Kingdom

Suzanne: That is an airport terminal boarding announcement, to go with the theme of inviting Yoko on a journey. It starts "Japan Airlines", but I can't make out the rest.
- Ekristheh, Halath, United States

This song is an perfect Evidence that John Lennon was the best composer, singer, songwriter then and now...Ths song has many rythm changes and John's voice is absolutely perfecy! I love the Beatles, John Lennon !!!! When i listen to this song and his voice of course i can't imagine that two months later he was killed by a murder...it's so...i can't describe this.
- TIMOKLIA, ATHENS, Greece

According to Charlie from Cape Girardeau, "Starting Over" would prove that John Lennon had rapidly calmed down from such anger issues. Amazing story. What a shame that John Lennon didn't get much chance to prove that before he passed away! Anyway, I'm a Beatle fan and I completely concur with the story line of "Starting Over". I like songs about making amends.
- andrew, birmingham, United States

John referred to this style of singing as "Elvis Orbison" according to Paul.
- Bill, Downers Grove, IL

At the END of "Starting Over" does anyone hear the strange eary sounds in the backgroud? It sounds exactly like they are saying...Mark David-- Mark Chapman..I am NOT kidding listen again closely. PEACE & LOVE to All of you.
- Suzanne, Boston, MA

I read that Lennon considered this to be a bit of throw-away pop. It wasn't something he was overly proud of. Maybe that's why he had to be convinced to record it. Read that on an interview with Robert Rosen at absoluteelsewhere.net Anyway I like simple pop sometimes, or silly love songs as Macca would say. After all; "what's wrong with that?"
- mark, worcester, MI

The famous quote from John is "I'd like to live to a ripe old age with Yoko only. And I'm not afraid of dying, I don't know how I'd feel at the moment, but I'm prepared for death because I don't believe in it. I think it's just getting out of one car and getting into another." That was recorded the morning of December 8, in his last interview. I have to hold my breath at that "getting out of the car" comment .... You couldn't go anywhere in my town that week without hearing this -- every radio station was playing it, and most stores at the time were tuned to local radio, not muzak.
- Ekristheh, Halath, United States

Recently (Dec. 2006) on XM Satellite Radio they played an episode of American Top 40 for the week ending December 13, 1980 - the first show produced after Lennon's death. This song was #4, but amazingly Casey Kasem made no mention of Lennon's death, either before this song or at any other point during the show.
- Joshua, Twin Cities, MN

It's a shame. Just as he was starting over, he died.
- Johnny, Los Angeles, CA

this song is awsome.. kinda freeks me about how he died so soon after it.
- Dee, khancoban, Australia

This song has sort of a fifties feel. I like it.
- Stefanie, Rock Hill, SC

Lennon said that he almost changed a line in the song because he was afraid people would think "Spread our wings and fly" would be taken as a reference to Paul McCartney.
- Ken, Louisville, KY

good song, very inspiring
- Brandon, Saskatoon, Canada

yeah,'starting over'.sadly, he never got a chance to.
- joe, los angeles, CA

aren't a lot of things that john said right before his death ironic? starting over, "i don't want to die at 40",....it's kinda creepy
- Liliana, Huntley, IL

George Martin's comment on "Double Fantasy" was "John hadn't been in a studio in a while and it showed."
- Ken, Louisville, KY

yeah john Lennon wrote some great music, didn't he?
- Stefanie magura, Rock Hill, SC

Earl Slick (on guitar) also played for Phantom, Rocket and Slick, and another great group called Silver Condor, who had a song called "You Could Take My Heart Away" in 1981.
- Rob, Phoenix, AZ

David-- My Dad ALWAYS left for work long before I woke-up. For some reason, he didn't one day and came in to get me up. "Hi Dad," I happily said. "Good morning. I'm heading off now. John Lennon was shot and died today. I thought you'd want to know." damn.
- Gregmon, Intelbuquerque, NM

The opening of this song still gives me chills. I remember the night that he was killed like it was yesterday. I was 16, had been a Beatle fan since I was old enough to know what that meant, and heared on the radio that he had been shot. I walked into my fathers den to tell him and heared Howard Cosell say that Lennon was dead.
- David, Waco, TX

John Lennon wrote better american rock music than most any american rock artist...
- Joseph, Manteca, CA