Yoko Ono vs. Alex Chilton
I had never heard the Yoko Ono song, “Mrs. Lennon,” before. But Alex Chilton certainly has. In a 1987 interview with Dawn Eden, he admitted that “it’s just like [Big Star's] ‘Holocaust.’ Exactly.”
The Bob: Did you have that song in mind when you wrote “Holocaust”?
CHILTON: I don’t know. I think that it was one of those instances of plagiarism that you sort of are aware of somewhere in your mind, but not…I think that, at the time I was doing the tune, I didn’t realize that I was copying it.
Decide for yourself: Yoko Ono – “Mrs. Lennon”
Stream: Big Star – “Holocaust” from Third/Sister Lovers.
“Mrs. Lennon” was originally released as the first single from Yoko’s 1971 album, Fly.
Via a fascinating thread on the Velvet Rope that includes scandalous stories from producer Jon Tiven and a heated argument with Howlin’ Wolf‘s guitarist’s manager!
Todd Totale
1310 days ago
“Holocaust” is one of my favorite Big Star tunes. It sounds just like this and I’m totally putting these two songs next together on a future mix tape.
scotty
1309 days ago
Wow! Dick Cavett, complete with guests smoking on camera. Gotta love the 70s, man.
Makes me think, “why the fuck did John hook-up with that ho?”
DJMurph
1309 days ago
The two songs are definitely peas in a pod. I think “Holocaust” has more depth to it, but I’m a shameless Chiltonian. And yes, at one point, Yoko was an attractive lady. But imagine it; one of the moptops falling madly in love with an avant-garde artist. That would be like Justin Timberlake falling for Lene Lovich. And then JT releasing a tribute album to Anne Frank.