The video of John and Oko "bed-in" in Montreal Canada singing "Give Peace a Chance." It was recorded by John Lennon and Yoko Ono under the name The Plastic Ono Band. It was recorded on 1 June 1969 at the famous "Bed-In" to promote peace, in Room 1742, Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Canada. The recording session was attended by dozens of journalists and various celebrities, including Timothy Leary, Rosemary Woodruff Leary, Petula Clark, Dick Gregory, Allen Ginsberg, Murray the K and Derek Taylor. John played acoustic guitar and was joined by Tommy Smothers of the Smothers Brothers, also on acoustic guitar.
Several takes were recorded on a portable eight-track tape machine, and when he returned to London, Lennon polished up the song, including a backbeat by Ringo Starr and strengthening the vocals. It was released on July 4, not as a Beatles record, but under the name the Plastic Ono Band.
One thing was certain: no one who listened to it could deny that Lennon still had his pop moves down. Although the verse was basically rhythmic talking, the chorus, "All we are saying is give peace a chance," was instantly memorable, easily harmonized, and infinitely repeatable.
"Give Peace a Chance" was a hit song written by John Lennon and originally credited to Lennon-McCartney. However, when Lennon's live album with Yoko Ono and Elephant's Memory, Live in New York City (recorded in 1972), was reissued in the 1990s, "Give Peace a Chance" was credited solely to Lennon.
