On This Day: The day John Lennon asked us to Imagine

One word. A white piano. And a song that would follow generations.

On October 8, 1971, John Lennon’s Imagine album was released in Britain.

Fifty-five years later, its title track remains the song most closely associated with his life after The Beatles.

Lennon asks the world to Imagine

Lennon recorded much of the album at his home studio at Tittenhurst Park in England, working with Yoko Ono and producer Phil Spector.

Alongside Imagine were songs including Jealous Guy, Oh My Love and How?

The album had already been released in the United States a month earlier, but arrived in Britain on October 8 and went on to top the UK album chart.

The title song would take on a life of its own, played at concerts, memorials and public gatherings around the world.

Interestingly, Imagine wasn’t released as a UK single at the time. That didn’t happen until 1975.

Australians fight along the Kokoda Trail

On October 8, 1942, Australian troops of the 25th Brigade made contact with the Japanese rear guard at Templeton’s Crossing during the Kokoda campaign.

The Japanese were retreating north along the trail, but the Australian pursuit was anything but easy. Templeton’s Crossing became the scene of hard fighting as Australian troops pushed towards the northern coast of Papua.

The location had been named after Captain Sam Templeton of the 39th Battalion, who had disappeared during the earlier retreat from Kokoda.

The fire that devastated Chicago

On the evening of October 8, 1871, a fire began in or near a barn belonging to Patrick and Catherine O’Leary in Chicago.

Over the next two days, the Great Chicago Fire tore through the city.

Around 300 people died, more than 17,000 buildings were destroyed and an estimated 100,000 people were left homeless.

And that famous story about Mrs O’Leary’s cow kicking over a lantern? The true cause of the fire was never established.

Born on this day

Here’s today’s birthday challenge.

Sigourney Weaver turns 77 today. Born on October 8, 1949, Weaver became one of cinema’s great female action heroes as Ellen Ripley in the Alien films, while also appearing in favourites including Ghostbusters, Working Girl and Gorillas in the Mist.

Chevy Chase turns 83, while Good Will Hunting and The Bourne Identity star Matt Damon turns 56.

Do you remember?

Where were you in life when you first heard Imagine? And which John Lennon song still takes you straight back?