Today (Oct. 9) marks what would have been John Lennon’s 75th birthday. A masterful songwriter, Lennon quickly converted the powerful creative momentum of his Beatles days into a flourishing solo career that produced iconic Hot 100 smashes, from 1970’s “Instant Karma” and 1971’s anthemic ballad “Imagine” all the way to 1980’s hopeful “(Just Like) Starting Over” and “Nobody Told Told Me” (a posthumous hit in 1984). Take a listen to John Lennon’s 10 biggest Billboard hits and pay homage to the working class hero who created one of the most profound legacies in music history.
The Beatles’ 50 Biggest Billboard Hits
Paul McCartney’s Top Hits | George Harrison’s Top Hits | Ringo Starr’s Top Hits
How The Beatles Went Viral in 1964
50 Years Ago: The Beatles’ First Hot 100 Appearance
The Beatles’ American Chart Invasion: 12 Record Chart Feats
This tally of John Lennon’s 10 Biggest Hot 100 hits is based on actual performance on the weekly Hot 100 chart. Songs are ranked based on an inverse point system, with weeks at No. 1 earning the greatest value and weeks at No. 100 earning the least.
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"Power To The People" - John Lennon & Plastic Ono Band Hot 100 Peak: 11, Debut Date: 4/3/1971
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"Mind Games" - John Lennon Hot 100 Peak: 18, Debut Date: 11/10/1973
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"Watching The Wheels" - John Lennon Hot 100 Peak: 10, Debut Date: 3/28/1981
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"#9 Dream" - John Lennon Hot 100 Peak: 9, Debut Date: 12/21/1974
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"Nobody Told Me" - John Lennon Hot 100 Peak: 5, Debut Date: 1/21/1984
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"Imagine" - John Lennon Hot 100 Peak: 3, Debut Date: 10/23/1971
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"Whatever Gets You Thru The Night" - John Lennon & the Plastic Ono Band Hot 100 Peak: 1, Debut Date: 9/28/1974
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"Instant Karma (We All Shine On)" - John Lennon / Yoko Ono Hot 100 Peak: 3, Debut Date: 2/28/1970
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"Woman" - John Lennon Hot 100 Peak: 2, Debut Date: 1/17/1981
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"(Just Like) Starting Over" - John Lennon Hot 100 Peak: No. 1, Debut Date: 11/1/1980
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"Power To The People" - John Lennon & Plastic Ono Band Hot 100 Peak: 11, Debut Date: 4/3/1971
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"(Just Like) Starting Over" - John Lennon Hot 100 Peak: No. 1, Debut Date: 11/1/1980
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"Woman" - John Lennon Hot 100 Peak: 2, Debut Date: 1/17/1981
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"Instant Karma (We All Shine On)" - John Lennon / Yoko Ono Hot 100 Peak: 3, Debut Date: 2/28/1970
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"Whatever Gets You Thru The Night" - John Lennon & the Plastic Ono Band Hot 100 Peak: 1, Debut Date: 9/28/1974
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"Imagine" - John Lennon Hot 100 Peak: 3, Debut Date: 10/23/1971
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"Nobody Told Me" - John Lennon Hot 100 Peak: 5, Debut Date: 1/21/1984
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"#9 Dream" - John Lennon Hot 100 Peak: 9, Debut Date: 12/21/1974
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"Watching The Wheels" - John Lennon Hot 100 Peak: 10, Debut Date: 3/28/1981
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"Mind Games" - John Lennon Hot 100 Peak: 18, Debut Date: 11/10/1973