Today in 1980, John Lennon returned to the world of music with his worldwide #1 album ‘Double Fantasy’. Winning the 1982 Grammy for Album of the Year, the album came about after Lennon put his musical career on hold in 1975 to raise his son Sean.
The genesis of the album took place in June 1980 when Lennon embarked on a sailing trip from Newport, Rhode Island to Bermuda. During the journey, the 43-foot schooner named Megan Jaye encountered a severe storm.
One by one, the crew of five were overcome with fatigue and seasickness save for Lennon, who was eventually forced to take the wheel alone for six hours. It had the effect of both renewing his confidence and making him contemplate the fragility of life.
As a result, he began to write new songs and reworked earlier demos. He commented later, "I was so centred after the experience at sea that I was tuned in to the cosmos – and all these songs came!"
Lennon was also inspired to return to music by his former songwriting partner within the Beatles. Upon hearing former bandmate Paul McCartney's 1980 single "Coming Up", Lennon deemed the song "a good piece of work." According to McCartney, the track prompted Lennon to return to recording later that year.
Three weeks after the albums release, John Lennon would be murdered outside his New York apartment on December 8th.
