TO CELEBRATE THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SONG
‘HAPPY XMAS (WAR IS OVER), YOKO ONO AND SEAN ONO LENNON ANNOUNCE RELEASE OF 50 RARE AND STRICTLY LIMITED-EDITION VINYL ACETATES TO SUPPORT UK GRASSROOTS MUSIC CHARITIES, NON-PROFITS, CARE ORGANISATIONS AND RECORD STORES FROM DECEMBER 5.
25 OF THE EDITION WILL GO TO HAND-PICKED MUSIC CHARITIES AND NON-PROFIT ORGANISATIONS FOR THEIR FUND-RAISING.
THE OTHER HALF WILL BE AVAILABLE AT RECORD SHOPS ACROSS THE UK, LAUNCHING AT TIM BURGESS’S VINYL ADVENTURES RECORD FAIR IN MANCHESTER.
THE ICONIC TRACK WAS FIRST RELEASED FIFTY YEARS AGO.
Yoko Ono and Sean Ono Lennon have made available an extremely rare and collectable strictly Limited Edition of 50 vinyl acetates of John Lennon & Yoko Ono’s iconic single ‘Happy Xmas (War is Over)’ (with The Plastic Ono Band and The Harlem Commmunity Choir) which will be released on December 5, 2021 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the original recording and release in 1971.
The first twenty-five of these vinyl acetates will be given to a selection of hand-picked music charities, non-profits and grassroots organisations undertaking great work across the UK music scene, ranging from venues and music education programmes to initiatives promoting gender equality, music therapy and more. Yoko and Sean have gifted these specially produced artefacts to allow each organisation to sell or auction the rare, highly collectable items to raise funding.
The other half of these vinyl acetates will be available at select record shops across the UK, in cities including Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Edinburgh, Dundee, Belfast, London and more. The launch will take place at Tim Burgess’ Vinyl Adventures Record Fair in Manchester on December 5, with one edition available at his stall.
In a note accompanying each record, Sean Ono Lennon says:
‘Happy Xmas. This is one of only fifty Limited Edition acetates hand-cut at Abbey Road, it’s yours – to sell, auction, raise money to help your business or your favourite charity or to fund your Xmas party – to spread Xmas cheer. We’d love to see the journey these acetates take, and the goodwill that they spread – please use the hashtag #HappyXmasVinyl and we’ll retweet and share their progress on Social Media to help promote the good causes and good vibes.’
The 50 one-sided 12” acetates were hand-cut on the lathe at the legendary Abbey Road Studios by mastering engineer Alex Wharton. These rare vinyl acetates are the 2020 ‘Ultimate Mix’, produced by Sean Ono Lennon, mixed by Paul Hicks and executive produced by Yoko Ono Lennon.
Each edition is stickered and numbered out of 50 and includes a machine printed signature from Yoko, making them incredibly collectable.
Originally released in December 1971 ‘Happy Xmas (War is Over)’ has evolved to become an iconic global Christmas classic and is now one of the most played and popular Christmas songs of all time. The song’s WAR IS OVER! (IF YOU WANT IT) chorus echoes an ongoing campaign of activism by John & Yoko who also used the title for billboard and flyer campaigns in prominent positions around the world, an initiative Yoko continues to the present day. Find out more at warisover.com.
ABOUT JOHN LENNON
John Lennon is arguably the greatest songwriter of his generation. As founder and leader of The Beatles and also as a solo artist, Lennon has won seven GRAMMY® Awards, including two Lifetime Achievement Awards, Five BRIT Awards including two Special Awards for Outstanding Contribution to Music, 21 NME Awards, 15 Ivor Novellos and an Oscar (Academy Award). He has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2008, Rolling Stone ranked Lennon in the Top 5 of the magazine’s “100 Greatest Singers Of All Time” list.
johnlennon.com / @johnlennon
ABOUT YOKO ONO
Originally from Tokyo, Yoko Ono was the first woman admitted to the philosophy program at Gakushuin University in Tokyo, where she studied for a year before moving to New York, where she studied writing and music at Sarah Lawrence College. Ono became an influential conceptual and performance artist prior to her marriage and artistic partnership with John Lennon. George Macunias, founder of the Fluxus collective, gave Ono her first solo gallery show in 1961. From the 1970s to the 1990s, Ono worked on music, both solo and in collaboration. The Whitney Museum of American Art presented a retrospective of her work in 1989, as did the Japan Society Gallery in 2000, and the Museum of Modern Art in 2015. She received a Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the 2009 Venice Biennale. Yoko Ono lives and works in New York City.
imaginepeace.com / @yokoono
ABOUT SEAN ONO LENNON
Sean Ono Lennon is a British-Asian-American musician, songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist, artist, actor and polymath. He is the son of John Lennon and Yoko Ono and brother to Kyoko Ono and Julian Lennon. He has been a member of Cibo Matto, Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger, The Claypool Lennon Delirium, Plastic Ono Band and guested with many other bands. He is a prolific songwriter, film score composer and producer and runs independent record label Chimera Music with partner Charlotte Kemp Muhl.
chimeramusic.com / @sean_ono_lennon (Instagram) @seanonolennon (Twitter)
Further information on the UK charities, non-profits and music organisations receiving the vinyl acetate of ‘Happy Xmas (War is Over)’ below:
UK Charities, Non-Profits and Music Organisations
Abram Wilson Foundation – abramwilson.com
We inspire, connect & open doors to the music industry so that underrepresented young talent has an equal chance to realise their creative potential.
Attitude Is Everything – attitudeiseverything.org.uk
Improving deaf and disabled people’s access to live music
Coda Club – jazzprofessional.com/CodaClub/index.html
London-based meeting & support network for retirement-aged classical/jazz/session musicians to reconnect and meet and combat loneliness.
Collage Arts – collage-arts.org
Artist studios, creative enterprise training, young people’s arts programme, live music and events
Earth Per Cent – earthpercent.com
Raising money from the music industry for the most effective environmental charities. Co-Founded by Brian Eno.
Glasgowbury, Northern Ireland – glasgowbury.com
Northern Ireland emerging music festival, established from a need to support and develop homegrown artists at a time when a music industry in Northern Ireland was barely in its infancy. Over the years it expanded throughout the creative landscape delivering a host of creative and practical projects and initiatives for the rural area of Mid Ulster.
Help Musicians UK – helpmusicians.org.uk
An independent UK charity that provides help, support and opportunity for professional musicians of all genres and career stages.
Hen Hoose – henhoose.com
Female & non-binary songwriting collective.
In Harmony Liverpool – liverpoolphil.com/about-us/in-harmony-liverpool/
Launched in February 2009, In Harmony Liverpool uses orchestral music making to improve the life chances of children by increasing confidence, wellbeing, skills and resilience, enhanced by opportunities to travel, learn, perform and collaborate with professional musicians, international artists and other young people.
Karousel Music CIC – karouselmusic.com
A London-based music industry hub promoting collaboration amongst artists, songwriters, musicians and industry, fighting to put good souls around great independent artists.
Movimientos – facebook.com/ovimientosUK
A non-profit. Our events combine new wave Latin and global live acts, top DJs and performances to create a unique dance floor led, festival atmosphere. Our programming reflects the diversity and passion of our audiences.
Moving On Music – movingonmusic.com
Established in 1995, we are an independent, not-for-profit organisation and registered charity. We provide an eclectic mix of music and education services to the entire community in Northern Ireland. We are dedicated to ideals of innovation and originality, championing new developments in music, inspiring and nurturing musical talents, and providing opportunities for everyone to get involved in music.
Music Broth – musicbroth.org
Scotland’s musical instrument and equipment library. Social enterprise and charity improving access to music making for all.
Music Venue Trust – musicvenuetrust.com
UK registered charity which acts to protect, secure and improve Grassroots Music Venues.
MusicPlace North West – musicplacenorthwest.org
A charity based in Liverpool providing music therapy across Merseyside and the North West in a variety of schools, healthcare settings and our music therapy room in Liverpool.
Nordoff Robbins – nordoff-robbins.org.uk
As the UK’s largest music therapy charity, we use music to enrich the lives of people with life-limiting illness, disabilities or feelings of isolation.
Oh Yeah Music Centre, Belfast – ohyeahbelfast.com
Belfast’s dedicated music hub, social enterprise, venue space, rehearsal studio and registered charity.
Phoenix Arts Club – phoenixartsclub.com
London’s home of Cabaret, Live Music, Musical Theatre, Burlesque and LGBTQ+ Entertainment, supporting musicians, artists and apprentices.
SWIM – scottishwomeninventingmusic.com
A collection of music creators and industry professionals who identify as women, committed to achieving a level playing field for women, pushing for gender equality.
The Brain Charity – thebraincharity.org.uk
Liverpool charity helping those affected by neurological conditions to live longer, healthier, happier lives.
The Glad Foundation – thegladfoundation.co.uk
A charity based in Shawlands, in the southside of Glasgow, providing a wide range of free and affordable music workshops for people of all ages and abilities.
Vibe Music Therapy – musictherapy.co.uk
As the leading Music Therapy company in the North West and Cheshire, we provide a range of services visiting hospitals, care homes, local authorities, schools and private home settings.
Youth Music – youthmusic.org.uk
Creating a world where every young person can make, learn and earn in music, whatever their background or goal.
UK Vinyl Shops:
Tim Burgess’s stall at Vinyl Adventures Festival, Manchester
Assai Records, 33 Union St, Dundee DD1 4BS
Clampdown Records, 9-11 Paton St, Manchester M1 2BA
Dig Vinyl, 1st Floor, 27 Bold St, Resurrection, Liverpool L1 4DN
Diverse Vinyl, 10 Charles St, Newport NP20 1JU
Five Rise Records, 30c Park Rd, Bingley BD16 4JQ
Independent Label Market, The Royal Exchange, Manchester
Jacaranda Records, The Jacaranda, 21-23 Slater St, Liverpool L1 4BW
Kellys Records, 212-226, Central Market, Cardiff CF10 1AU
Kingbee Records, 519 Wilbraham Rd, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester M21 0UF
Monorail Music, 95 King St, Glasgow G1 5RB
The Musical Box, 457 W Derby Rd, Liverpool L6 4BL
Piccadilly Records, 53 Oldham St, Manchester M1 1JR
Probe Records, 1 The Bluecoat, School Lane, Liverpool, L1 3BX
Resident Music, 28 Kensington Gardens, Brighton BN1 4AL
Rough Trade East, 91 Brick Ln, London E1 6QL
RPM Records, 4 Old George Yard, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 1EZ
Sister Ray, 75 Berwick St, London W1F 8TG
Skeleton Records, 11 Oxton Rd, Birkenhead CH41 2QQ
Spillers Records, 27, Morgan Arcade, Cardiff CF10 1AF
Spinning Discs, 107-109 Chesterfield Rd, Meersbrook, Sheffield S8 0RN
Starr Records, 22-24 Berry St, Belfast BT1 1SX
Vinyl Revival, 5 Hilton St, Manchester M4 1LP
The Vinyl Whistle, 12 Otley Rd, Headingley, Leeds LS6 2AD
Wax And Beans, 16 Market St, Bury BL9 0AJ
For more information please contact Murray Chalmers PR:
murraychalmers.com
sarina@murraychalmers.com
murray@murraychalmers.com