Yoko Ono discography explained

Artist:Yoko Ono
Studio:14
1Option:8
1Option Name:Collaborative albums
Singles:40

Japanese multimedia artist, singer and songwriter Yoko Ono has released 14 studio albums, eight collaborative albums, and 40 singles as a lead artist. Married to English singer-songwriter and the Beatles member John Lennon until his murder in 1980, she has contributed several B-sides to his singles from late 1960s to the 1980s. Ono released her debut studio album Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band in December 1970, faring poorly in the United States. Similar moderate success was achieved with her follow-up records Fly (1971) and Approximately Infinite Universe (1973).

Simultaneously, she released several collaborative albums with Lennon, starting with their Unfinished Music series spawning Two Virgins (1968) and Life with the Lions (1969). Double Fantasy, released three weeks prior to Lennon's murder in 1980, went on to gain widespread commercial success worldwide, topping the charts in the United Kingdom and the United States, among others. Apart from winning the 1981 Album of the Year award at the 24th Annual Grammy Awards, it was certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) and triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Another album with Lennon, Milk and Honey, would be posthumously made available in 1984.

Ono released her fifth studio album Season of Glass in 1981, to moderate success in Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States. The same year saw the single "Walking on Thin Ice" reaching number 58 on the US Billboard Hot 100; it marked Ono's first single to reach a major ranking and further peaked within the top 40 on the UK Singles Chart. Starting with 2001, the singer began re-releasing several remixes of her or Lennon's old material as singles, alongside new original songs. She has since then reached number one 13 times on Billboard Dance Club Songs component chart, the last one being in 2017 with "Hell in Paradise 2016". In December 2016, Billboard named Ono the 11th most successful dance club artist of all time.[1]

Albums

Studio albums

Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;"
Album detailsPeak chart positionsSales
AUS
[2]
NOR
[3]
SWE
[4]
UK
[5]
US
[6]
Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band
  • Released: 11 December 1970
  • Label: Apple
  • Format: LP, CS, CD
182
Fly
  • Released: 20 September 1971
  • Label: Apple
  • Format: 2×LP, 2×CS, 2×CD
199
Approximately Infinite Universe
  • Released: 8 January 1973
  • Label: Apple
  • Format: 2×LP, 2×CS, 2×CD
193
Feeling the Space
  • Released: 23 November 1973
  • Label: Apple
  • Format: LP, CS, CD
Season of Glass
  • Released: 8 June 1981
  • Label: Geffen
  • Format: LP, CS, CD
62 31 35 47 49
It's Alright (I See Rainbows)
  • Released: 29 November 1982
  • Label: PolyGram
  • Format: LP, CS, CD
98
Starpeace
  • Released: 18 February 1985
  • Label: PolyGram
  • Format: LP, CS, CD
Rising
  • Released: November 1995
  • Label: Capitol
  • Format: CS, CD

11,000[7]

A Story
  • Released: July 1997
  • Label: Rykodisc
  • Format: CD
Blueprint for a Sunrise
  • Released: 9 November 2001
  • Label: Capitol
  • Format: CS, CD
  • US: 3,000
Between My Head and the Sky
  • Released: 21 September 2009
  • Label: Chimera
  • Format: 2×LP, CD
Take Me to the Land of Hell
  • Released: 17 September 2013
  • Label: Chimera
  • Format: 2×LP, CD, 2×CD
Warzone
  • Released: 19 October 2018
  • Label: Chimera
  • Format: LP, CD
"—" denotes a release that did not chart in that territory.

Collaborative albums

Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;"
Album detailsPeak chart positionsSales
JPN
[8] [9]
AUS
CAN
[10] [11]
GER
[12]
NLD
[13]
NOR
NZ
[14]
SWE
UK
[15]
US
[16]

  • Released: 11 November 1968
  • Label: Apple, Track
  • Format: LP, CS, CD
190 124

  • Released: 9 May 1969
  • Label: Zapple
  • Format: LP, CS, CD
174
Wedding Album
  • Released: 20 October 1969
  • Label: Apple
  • Format: LP, CS, CD
178
Some Time in New York City
  • Released: 12 June 1972
  • Label: Apple
  • Format: 2×LP, 2×CS, 2×CD, CD
15 10 77 2 11 48

20,000

Double Fantasy
  • Released: 17 November 1980
  • Label: Geffen
  • Format: LP, CS, CD
2 1 1 2 4 1 1 1 1 1

300,000[18]

250,000[19]

3,000,000[20]

Heart Play: Unfinished Dialogue
  • Released: 16 December 1983
  • Label: Polydor
  • Format: LP, CS
50 94
  • JPN: 3,000
Milk and Honey
  • Released: 9 January 1984
  • Label: Polydor, Geffen
  • Format: LP, CS, CD
3 4 15 20 4 7 34 3 3 11
  • JPN: 106,000[21]
  • BPI: 100,000
  • RIAA: 500,000
Yokokimthurston
  • Released: 25 September 2012
  • Label: Chimera
  • Format: 3×LP, CD
"—" denotes a release that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Other albums

Live albums

Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;"
Album detailsPeak chart positionsSales
JPN
AUS
[22]
NOR
US
Live Peace in Toronto 1969
  • Released: 12 December 1969
  • Label: Apple
  • Format: LP, CS, CD
78 7 19 10

5,000

Let's Have a Dream: 1974 One Step Festival[23]
  • Released: 24 August 2022
  • Label: Super Fuji Discs
  • Formats: LP, CD

Compilation albums

TitleAlbum details
The Many Sides of Yoko Ono[24]
  • Released: June 1974
  • Label: Apple
  • Format: LP (Promo)
Onobox
  • Released: 1992
  • Label: Rykodisc
  • Format: 6×CD
Walking on Thin Ice
  • Released: 7 May 1992
  • Label: Rykodisc
  • Format: CD, CS

Remix albums

TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positions
US
Dance/
Elec.

[25]
Rising Mixes
  • Released: 3 June 1996
  • Label: Capitol
  • Format: CD, LP (Promo)
Yes, I'm a Witch
  • Released: 6 February 2007
  • Label: Astralwerks, Apple
  • Format: CD
11
Open Your Box
  • Released: 24 April 2007
  • Label: Astralwerks
  • Format: CD
Onomix
  • Released: 18 September 2012
  • Label: Mind Train
  • Format: 2×CD (Promo)
Yes, I'm a Witch Too
  • Released: 19 February 2016
  • Label: Manimal Vinyl
  • Format: CD, 2×LP
"—" denotes a release that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Tribute albums

TitleAlbum details
Every Man Has a Woman
  • Released: 1984
  • Label: PolyGram
Mrs. Lennon[26]
  • Released: 2010
  • Label: Discobertas
Cut Pieces[27]
  • Released: 13 January 2015
  • Label: Main Man
SuONO[28]
  • Released: 8 February 2019
  • Label: Labellascheggia
Ocean Child: Songs of Yoko Ono[29]
  • Released: 4 February 2022
  • Label: Atlantic

Extended plays

TitleEP details
Song for John
  • Released: 1970
  • Note: Flexi-disc included with Aspen magazine no. 7.[30]
A Blueprint for a Sunrise
  • Released: 2000
  • Note: Included with the book Yes Yoko Ono[31]
Don't Stop Me!
  • Released: 9 June 2009
  • Label: Chimera
The Road of Hope
  • Released: 2011
  • Note: Included with the book The 8th Hiroshima Art Prize: The Road of Hope - Yoko Ono 2011[32]
The Flaming Lips with Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band[33]
  • Released: 31 December 2011
  • Label: Lovely Sorts of Death

Singles

As lead artist

style="background-color:#bfffc0"
Indicates remixed re-release
of (own) older single or album track
Title! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:1em;"
YearPeak chart positionsAlbum
JPN
[34]
AUS
[35]
CAN
[36]
NZ
[37]
SWE
[38]
UK
[39]
US
[40]
US
Dance/
Elec.

[41]
US
Dance Club

[42]
"Mrs. Lennon"/"Midsummer New York"1971Fly
"Mind Train"/"Listen, the Snow Is Falling"1972
"Now or Never"/"Move on Fast"Approximately Infinite Universe
"Death of Samantha"/"Yang Yang"1973
"Josejoi Banzai (Part 1)"/"Josejoi Banzai (Part 2)"72
"Woman Power"/"Men, Men, Men"Feeling the Space
"Run, Run, Run"/"Men, Men, Men"
"Yume O Motou (Let's Have a Dream)"/"It Happened"1974rowspan="2"
"Walking on Thin Ice"/"It Happened"198118 22 48 6 35 58 13
"No, No, No"/"Will You Touch Me"Season of Glass
"Goodbye Sadness"/"I Don't Know Why"
"My Man"/"Let the Tears Dry"1982It's Alright (I See Rainbows)
"Never Say Goodbye"/"Loneliness"
"Hell in Paradise"198512Starpeace
"Cape Clear"/"Walking on Thin Ice"
"Open Your Box"‡2001144 25rowspan="16"
"Kiss Kiss Kiss"‡200220
"Yang Yang"‡17
"Walking on Thin Ice"‡200335 1
"Will I"/"Fly"‡
"Hell in Paradise"‡20044
"Everyman... Everywoman..."‡1
"You're the One"‡20072
"No, No, No"‡1
"Give Peace a Chance"‡20081
"I'm Not Getting Enough"‡20091
"Give Me Something"‡20101
"Wouldnit (I'm a Star)"‡1
"Move on Fast"‡20111
"Talking to the Universe"‡1
"She Gets Down On Her Knees"‡20125
"Early in the Morning"Yokokimthurston
"I'm Moving On"‡4rowspan="8"
"Hold Me"
(featuring Dave Audé)
201319 1
"Walking on Thin Ice 2013"‡23 1
"Angel"201422 1
"Woman Power"‡201539 6
"I Love You, Earth"/"I'm Going Away Smiling"
(with Antony and the Johnsons)
"Blink"
(with John Zorn)
"Happy Xmas (War Is Over)"/"Atlas Eets Christmas"
(with the Flaming Lips)
"Hell in Paradise 2016"‡201629 1Yes, I'm a Witch Too
"Listen, the Snow Is Falling" (Reissue)2021rowspan="2"
"Who Has Seen the Wind?" (Reissue)2022
"No, No, No"/"Nobody Sees Me Like You Do" (Reissue)[43] Season of Glass
"Yume O Motou" (Live)[44] Let's Have a Dream – 1974 One Step Festival
"Move on Fast" (Live)[45]
"—" denotes a release that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Other appearances

Title! scope="col"
YearMain single
"Remember Love"1969"Give Peace a Chance"
"Don't Worry, Kyoko""Cold Turkey"
"Who Has Seen the Wind?"1970"Instant Karma!"
"Why"1971"Mother"
"Open Your Box""Power to the People"
"Touch Me"
"Listen, the Snow is Falling""Happy Xmas (War Is Over)"
"Sisters, O Sisters"1972"Woman Is the Nigger of the World"
"Kiss Kiss Kiss"1980"(Just Like) Starting Over"
"Beautiful Boys"1981"Woman"
"Yes, I'm Your Angel""Watching the Wheels"
"O'Sanity"1984"Nobody Told Me"
"Your Hands""Borrowed Time"
"Never Say Goodbye""Borrowed Time" (12")
"Sleepless Night""I'm Stepping Out"
"Loneliness""I'm Stepping Out" (12")
"It's Alright"1985"Every Man Has a Woman Who Loves Him"

Guest appearances

Title! scope="col"
YearOther performer(s)Album
"Day of the Sunflowers (We March On)"2009Basement JaxxScars
"The Fear Litany"2011The Flaming LipsThe Flaming Lips with Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band
"Do It"
"Brain of Heaven"
"Atlas Eets Christmas"
"I'm Ready to Move On / Wild Heart Reprise"2014BleachersStrange Desire
"Utopia"Chicks on SpeedArtstravaganza
"In Love with Life"2016Hifi SeanFt.
"This Cities Undone"2017The MoonlandingzInterplanetary Class Classics
"Occidental Front"Black LipsSatan's Graffiti or God's Art?

Songwriting contributions

List of songwriting contributions, with lead artists, showing year released and album name
SongYearArtist(s)AlbumNotesRef
"3 Tearz"2019Danny Brown featuring Run the JewelsU Know What I'm Sayin?Contains elements from "Why" from Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band.[46]
"Bonds"2015Daye JackSoul GlitchSamples "I Have a Woman Inside My Soul" from Approximately Infinite Universe.[47]
"Do the Oz"1971Elastic Oz BandJohn Lennon/Plastic Ono Band (2000 Reissue)B-Side of "God Save Us".[48]
"Fim Da Linha"2014Easy B--[49]
"God Save Us"1971Elastic Oz Band--
"Gold Rush"2018Death Cab for CutieThank You for TodaySamples "Mind Train" from Fly.[50]
"I'm Ready to Move On / Wild Heart Reprise"2014BleachersStrange Desire-[51]
"Imagine"1971John LennonImagineReceived songwriting credit in 2017.[52]
"Look at the Sky"2015Olly MursNever Been Better (Japan Version)Cover of "Sukiyaki" with English lyrics written by Ono.[53]
"Oh My Love"1971John LennonImagine-[54]
"This Cities Undone"2017The MoonlandingzInterplanetary Class Classics-
"Woman is the Nigger of the World"1972John LennonSome Time in New York City-

Music videos

Notes and References

  1. Greatest of All Time Top Dance Club Artists : Page 1. Billboard. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170707003540/http://www.billboard.com/charts/greatest-top-dance-club-artists. 7 July 2017.
  2. Book: Kent, David. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. illustrated. Australian Chart Book. St Ives, N.S.W.. 1993. 0-646-11917-6. 223.
  3. News: Search – Yoko Ono. VG-lista. 15 August 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180816025529/https://norwegiancharts.com/search.asp?cat=a&search=yoko+ono. 16 August 2018. live.
  4. News: Search – Yoko Ono. Sverigetopplistan. 15 August 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180816025845/https://swedishcharts.com/search.asp?cat=a&search=yoko+ono. 16 August 2018. live.
  5. Web site: Yoko Ono – Chart history. Official Charts Company. 15 August 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180816031037/http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/18836/yoko-ono/. 16 August 2018. live.
  6. https://www.billboard.com/biz/search/charts?f[0=ts_chart_artistname%3Ayoko%20ono&f[1]=itm_field_chart_id%3ABillboard%20200&f[2]=ss_bb_type%3Achart_item&type=2&artist=yoko%20ono Yoko Ono – Billboard 200 chart history]. Billboard. 15 August 2018.
  7. Ask Billboard: Madonna, Yoko Ono, Gospel. Billboard. 18 September 2009. Trust, Gary. 15 August 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180714100140/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/267333/ask-billboard-madonna-yoko-ono-gospel. 14 July 2018. live.
  8. Web site: オノ・ヨーコ>売上ランキング. 2022-06-22 . www.oricon.co.jp . ja.
  9. Web site: Yamachan Land (Archives of the Japanese record charts) – Albums Chart Daijiten – The Beatles . ja . 30 December 2007 . 29 June 2022 . dead . https://archive.today/20120214060626/http://www7a.biglobe.ne.jp/~yamag/album/al_beatles.html . 14 February 2012 . dmy .
  10. Top Albums/CDs – Volume 34, No. 7, January 24, 1981. RPM. 23 November 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20130607115140/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.0278&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=c6btf3r8hs459qqt5ln3o3dcv5. 7 June 2013. dead.
  11. Web site: RPM 100 Albums February 18, 1984. Library and Archives Canada. 17 July 2013. November 23, 2020.
  12. For chart positions in Germany:
  13. News: Search – Yoko Ono. MegaCharts. 15 August 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180816025813/https://dutchcharts.nl/search.asp?cat=a&search=yoko+ono. 16 August 2018. live.
  14. News: Search – Yoko Ono. Recorded Music NZ. 15 August 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180816061702/https://charts.nz/search.asp?cat=a&search=yoko+ono. 16 August 2018. live.
  15. Web site: John Lennon – Chart history. Official Charts Company. 15 August 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20150919033540/http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/27904/john-lennon/. 19 September 2015. live.
  16. https://www.billboard.com/biz/search/charts?f[0=ts_chart_artistname%3Ajohn%20lennon&f[1]=itm_field_chart_id%3ABillboard%20200&f[2]=ss_bb_type%3Achart_item&type=2&artist=john%20lennon John Lennon – Billboard 200 chart history]. Billboard. 15 August 2018.
  17. Book: Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005. Oricon Entertainment. Roppongi, Tokyo. 2006. 4-87131-077-9.
  18. United Kingdom. Yoko Ono. 15 August 2018.
  19. Germany. John Lennon/Yoko Ono. 15 August 2018.
  20. News: Search – Yoko Ono. Recording Industry Association of America. 15 August 2018.
  21. Book: Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970-2005. Oricon Entertainment. Roppongi, Tokyo. 2006. 4-87131-077-9.
  22. Book: Kent, David. Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book. St Ives, NSW. 1993. 0-646-11917-6. Kent Music Report.
  23. Web site: Let's Have a Dream -1974 One Step Festival Special Edition-. cdjapan.co.jp. 7 July 2022.
  24. Web site: Yoko Ono – Welcome: The Many Sides of Yoko Ono (1974, Vinyl). . June 1974 .
  25. https://www.billboard.com/biz/search/charts?f[0=ts_chart_artistname%3Ayoko%20ono&f[1]=itm_field_chart_id%3ATop%20Dance/electronic%20Albums&f[2]=ss_bb_type%3Achart_item&type=2&artist=yoko%20ono Yoko Ono – Top Dance/Electronic Albums chart history]. Billboard. 15 August 2018.
  26. Web site: MRS. Lennon - Canções de Yoko Ono (2010, CD). . 2010 .
  27. Web site: Cut Pieces: A Tribute to Yoko Ono (2015, CD). . 13 January 2015 .
  28. Web site: Italian Indie Tribute to Yoko Ono. Amazon UK . 2019 .
  29. Web site: Ocean Child: Song of Yoko Ono. amazon.co.uk. 21 February 2022.
  30. Web site: Aspen No.7. imaginepeace.com.
  31. Web site: Yoko Ono – A Blueprint for the Sunrise (2000, CD). . 2000 .
  32. Web site: Yoko Ono – the Road of Hope (2011, CD). . 2011 .
  33. Web site: The Flaming Lips with Yoko Ono / Plastic Ono Band – the Flaming Lips with Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band (2011, Colored, Vinyl). . 31 December 2011 .
  34. Web site: Yoko Ono Oricon Chart History. https://web.archive.org/web/20220629211309/https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/51822/rank/. 29 June 2022. Oricon. 21 February 2023.
  35. Book: Kent, David . . David Kent (historian) . Australian Chart Book . . 1993 . 0-646-11917-6.
  36. Web site: RPM 50 Singles March 28, 1981. Library and Archives Canada. 17 July 2013. November 23, 2020.
  37. News: Search – Yoko Ono – Singles. Recorded Music NZ. 16 August 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180816061821/https://charts.nz/search.asp?search=yoko+ono&cat=s. 16 August 2018. live.
  38. News: Search – Yoko Ono – Singles. Sverigetopplistan. 16 August 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180816025852/https://swedishcharts.com/search.asp?search=yoko+ono&cat=s. 16 August 2018. live.
  39. News: Chart Log UK – O. Official Charts Company. 16 August 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20110719120428/http://www.zobbel.de/cluk/CLUK_O.HTM. 19 July 2011. live.
  40. https://www.billboard.com/biz/search/charts?f[0=ts_chart_artistname%3Ayoko%20ono&f[1]=itm_field_chart_id%3AHot%20100&f[2]=ss_bb_type%3Achart_item&type=2&artist=yoko%20ono Search – Yoko Ono Hot 100 chart history]. Billboard. 16 August 2018.
  41. https://www.billboard.com/biz/search/charts?f[0=ts_chart_artistname%3Ayoko%20ono&f[1]=itm_field_chart_id%3AHot%20Dance/electronic%20Songs&f[2]=ss_bb_type%3Achart_item&type=2&artist=yoko%20ono Search – Yoko Ono Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart history]. Billboard. 16 August 2018.
  42. https://www.billboard.com/biz/search/charts?f[0=ts_chart_artistname%3Ayoko%20ono&f[1]=itm_field_chart_id%3ADance%20Club%20Songs&f[2]=ss_bb_type%3Achart_item&type=2&artist=yoko%20ono Search – Yoko Ono Dance Club Songs chart history]. Billboard. 16 August 2018.
  43. Web site: Yoko Ono - No, No, No b/w Nobody Sees Me Like You Do. Apple Music. 31 August 2022.
  44. Web site: Yoko Ono & Plastic Ono Super Band - YUME O MOTO. spotify.com. 25 July 2022.
  45. Web site: Yoko Ono & Plastic Ono Super Band - Move on Fast. spotify.com. 31 August 2022.
  46. Danny Brown. uknowhatimsayin¿. 2019. liner notes. Warp Records. WARPCD307.
  47. Web site: BMI Repertoire - Ono Yoko, page 2, BMI Work ID - 20997210. December 26, 2020. Broadcast Music, Inc.
  48. Elastic Oz Band. God Save Us. 1971. liner notes. Apple Records. 1835.
  49. Web site: BMI Repertoire - Ono Yoko, page 3, BMI Work ID - 14832873. December 26, 2020. Broadcast Music, Inc.
  50. Death Cab for Cutie. Thank You for Today. 2018. liner notes. Barsuk Records. BARK180.
  51. Bleachers. Strange Desire. 2015. liner notes. RCA. 88875086772.
  52. News: Jude . Rogers . Not the only one: how Yoko Ono helped create John Lennon's Imagine . . 6 October 2018 . 26 December 2020 .
  53. Web site: UKポップスター <オリー・マーズ>とオノ・ヨーコが新たな命を吹き込んだ、「上を向いて歩こう」の新しいスタンダード、「Look At The Sky(ルック・アット・ザ・スカイ)」が世界初披露!. Sony Music Japan. December 26, 2020.
  54. John Lennon. Imagine. 1971. liner notes. Apple Records. PAS 10004.