My 11th nominee in the Beatles Solo Project is John Lennon's Walls and Bridges album. It was released during a tumultuous period in his life and career, which he referred to as his Lost Weekend. He and Yoko Ono separated in 1973, and he stopped doing political material after releasing the panned Some Time in New York City album. The songs on Walls and Bridges explore his depression and gradual acceptance of the single life. The album's biggest hit was "Whatever Gets You Thru the Night" (performed with Elton John). The lyrics came to John while watching late-night sermons on TV made by prosperity preacher Reverend Ike. "Nobody Loves You When You're Down and Out" was described by John as his Lost Weekend anthem. John's personal favourite, however, according to friends, was "#9 Dream." It is based on a dream he had that put him in a peaceful state. In regards to the album's title, John said, "Walls keep you in either protectively or otherwise, and bridges get you somewhere else." The cover art is a collage of drawings John made as a child. Shortly after the album reached #1 in 1974, John and Yoko reconciled.
Trivia: Julian Lennon, John's son from his first marriage, is the drummer on "Ya Ya." John would record a more polished cover of the Lee Dorsey song on the follow-up album, Rock 'n' Roll, in 1975.
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