John Lennon released his first solo album in 1970. Titled John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band, it was issued by Apple Records on December 11, 1970, after the Beatles had effectively broken up. The album is widely regarded as one of Lennon's most candid and influential solo recordings.
The record grew out of Lennon's personal and artistic separation from the Beatles. Its songs are notably stripped down and autobiographical, addressing childhood trauma, grief, disillusionment, and the pressures of fame. Tracks such as “Mother,” “Working Class Hero,” and “God” helped establish a more confessional style than Lennon had generally used within the Beatles.
The backing group was the Plastic Ono Band, featuring Lennon on guitar, Ringo Starr on drums, and Klaus Voormann on bass. Yoko Ono contributed to the creative and production process, and Phil Spector was also involved in production.
A common mix-up is the 1968 date, which refers to Lennon's first experimental recordings with Ono rather than his first conventional solo studio album. His next major solo album, Imagine, followed in 1971.