
Feature Photo: Gregor Tatschl from Österreich, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Yoko Ono’s career has spanned multiple disciplines, from avant-garde art to experimental music. Born in Tokyo, Japan, on February 18, 1933, she came from a wealthy family with strong artistic and academic traditions. After moving to the United States in the 1950s, Ono studied at Sarah Lawrence College and became deeply involved in the New York avant-garde scene, particularly in conceptual and performance art. Her early works, including Cut Piece (1964), challenged conventional boundaries and earned her recognition in the international art community.
Her music career began in the 1960s when she collaborated with leading experimental composers such as John Cage and La Monte Young. However, her most significant musical partnership began in 1968 when she met John Lennon. The two bonded over their shared interest in avant-garde music and conceptual art, leading to a series of experimental albums, including Unfinished Music No. 1: Two Virgins (1968) and Wedding Album (1969). These unconventional projects were followed by the formation of the Plastic Ono Band, through which Ono and Lennon merged rock with experimental sounds. The band’s first major release, Live Peace in Toronto 1969, featured the now-famous “Give Peace a Chance,” a protest anthem that became one of Ono’s defining contributions to music.
Ono launched her solo career in 1970 with Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band, an album that pushed the boundaries of rock and avant-garde music. Over the next few decades, she released a series of albums that challenged mainstream conventions, including Fly (1971), Approximately Infinite Universe (1973), and Feeling the Space (1973). Despite early skepticism from critics and audiences, her work later gained appreciation for its innovative fusion of rock, electronic, and feminist themes. After Lennon’s tragic murder in 1980, Ono continued making music, with albums like Season of Glass (1981) offering deeply personal reflections on grief and resilience.
Her influence in dance and electronic music became more evident in the 2000s, as her reworked songs found success on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart. Tracks like “Walking on Thin Ice” and “Everyman… Everywoman…” became club hits, introducing her work to a new generation. Albums like Rising (1995) and Yes, I’m a Witch (2007) showcased her continued evolution, as she collaborated with artists such as The Flaming Lips and Peaches.
Ono’s contributions to music have been recognized with numerous accolades, including the Grammy Award for Album of the Year for her work on Double Fantasy (1981), which she co-produced with Lennon. She has also received lifetime achievement awards for her impact on both music and art. Her ability to fuse conceptual ideas with music has earned her a reputation as one of the most daring artists of her time.
Beyond music, Ono has been a lifelong activist, using her platform to promote peace, feminism, and environmental awareness. Her Imagine Peace campaign, along with public installations such as the Wish Tree and the Imagine Peace Tower in Iceland, has furthered her commitment to global activism. She has also been a patron of numerous charities and has continued to advocate for nuclear disarmament and human rights.
(A-B)
7th Floor – Take Me to the Land of Hell (2013)
Ai – Take Me to the Land of Hell (Japanese Edition) (2013)
Airmale – Fly (1971)
Air Talk – Approximately Infinite Universe (1973)
Amsterdam – Wedding Album (1969)
Angela – Some Time in New York City (1972)
Angry Young Woman – Feeling the Space (1973)
AOS – Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band (1970)
Approximately Infinite Universe – Approximately Infinite Universe (1973)
Are You Looking for Me? – A Blueprint for a Sunrise (2000)
Ask the Dragon – Rising (1995)
Ask the Elephant! – Don’t Stop Me! (2009)
Atlas Eets Christmas – The Flaming Lips with Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band (2011)
Attica State – Some Time in New York City (1972)
Au – Some Time in New York City (1972)
Baby’s Heartbeat – Unfinished Music No.2: Life with the Lions (1969)
Bad Dancer – Take Me to the Land of Hell (2013)
Beautiful Boys – Double Fantasy (1980)
Between My Head and the Sky – Between My Head and the Sky (2009)
Between the Takes – Fly (1997)
Blink – Standalone Single (2015)
Born in a Prison – Some Time in New York City (1972)
Brain of Heaven – The Flaming Lips with Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band (2011)
(C-D)
Calling – Don’t Stop Me! (2009)
Cambridge 1969 – Unfinished Music No.2: Life with the Lions (1969)
Cape Clear – Starpeace (1985)
Cheshire Cat Cry – Take Me to the Land of Hell (2013)
Children Power – Starpeace (1985)
Coffin Car – Feeling the Space (1973)
Day of the Sunflowers (We March On) – Scars (2009)
Death of Samantha – Approximately Infinite Universe (1973)
Do It! – The Flaming Lips with Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band (2011)
Don’t Be Scared – Milk and Honey (1984)
Don’t Count the Waves – Fly (1971)
Don’t Frack My Mother – Standalone Single (2013)
Don’t Worry Kyoko (Mummy’s Only Looking for Her Hand in the Snow) – Cold Turkey (1969)
Dogtown – Season of Glass (1981)
Dream Love – It’s Alright (I See Rainbows) (1982)
(E-F)
Early in the Morning – Yokokimthurston (2012)
Extension 33 – Season of Glass (1981)
Even When You’re Far Away – Season of Glass (1981)
Every Man Has a Woman Who Loves Him – Double Fantasy (1980)
The Fear Litany – The Flaming Lips with Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band (2011)
Feel the Sand – Don’t Stop Me! (2009)
Fly – Fly (1971)
Forgive Me, My Love – Onobox (1992)
Franklin Summer – Rising Mixes (1996)
(G-H)
Georgia Stone – A Chance Operation – A John Cage Tribute (1993)
Give Me Something – Double Fantasy (1980)
Goodbye, My Love – Rising (1995)
Goodbye Sadness – Season of Glass (1981)
Greenfield Morning I Pushed an Empty Baby Carriage All Over the City – Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band (1970)
Growing Pain – Feeling the Space (1973)
Hanako – Between My Head and the Sky (2009)
Happy Xmas (War Is Over) – Standalone Single (1971)
Hard Times Are Over – Double Fantasy (1980)
Hashire, Hashire – Between My Head and the Sky (2009)
Have You Seen a Horizon Lately? – Approximately Infinite Universe (1973)
Hawk’s Call – Take Me to the Land of Hell (2013)
Healing – Between My Head and the Sky (2009)
Heartbeat – Mutations: Sonic City (2001)
Heartburn Stew – Onobox (1992)
Hell in Paradise – Starpeace (1985)
Higa Noboru – Between My Head and the Sky (2009)
Hiroshima Sky Is Always Blue – Standalone Collaboration (1995)
Hold Me – Standalone Single (2013)
(I)
I Don’t Know Why – Season of Glass (1981)
I Felt Like Smashing My Face in a Clear Glass Window – Approximately Infinite Universe (1973)
I Have a Woman Inside My Soul – Approximately Infinite Universe (1973)
I Lost Myself Somewhere in the Sky – John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band (Ultimate Collection) (2021)
I Love All of Me – Starpeace (1985)
I Love You, Earth – Starpeace (1985)
I Missed You Listening – Yokokimthurston (2012)
I Never Told You, Did I? – Yokokimthurston (2012)
I Remember Everything – Blueprint for a Sunrise (2001)
I See Rainbows – It’s Alright (I See Rainbows) (1982)
I Want My Love to Rest Tonight – Approximately Infinite Universe (1973)
I Want You to Remember Me ‘A’ – Blueprint for a Sunrise (2001)
I Want You to Remember Me ‘B’ – Blueprint for a Sunrise (2001)
If Only – Feeling the Space (1973)
I’m Alive – Between My Head and the Sky (2009)
I’m Dying – Rising (1995)
I’m Going Away Smiling – Between My Head and the Sky (2009)
I’m Moving On – Double Fantasy (1980)
I’m Not Getting Enough – Blueprint for a Sunrise (2001)
I’m Ready to Move On / Wild Heart Reprise – Strange Desire (2014)
Imagine – Warzone (2018)
In Love with Life – Ft. (2016)
Is This What We Do – Blueprint for a Sunrise (2001)
Is Winter Here to Stay? – Approximately Infinite Universe (1973)
It Happened – Yume O Motou (1974)
It’s Alright – It’s Alright (I See Rainbows) (1982)
It’s Been Very Hard – Onobox (1992)
It’s Gonna Rain (Living on Tiptoe) – Starpeace (1985)
It’s Time for Action! – Blueprint for a Sunrise (2000)
(J-L)
John and Yoko – Wedding Album (1969)
John John (Let’s Hope for Peace) – Live Peace in Toronto 1969 (1969)
Joseijoi Banzai – Standalone Single (1973)
The King of the Zoo – Starpeace (1985)
Kiss Kiss Kiss – Double Fantasy (1980)
Kite Song – Approximately Infinite Universe (1973)
Kurushi – Rising (1995)
Leaving Tim – Take Me to the Land of Hell (2013)
Left Turn’s the Right Turn – Onobox (1992)
Let Me Count the Ways – Milk and Honey (1984)
Let’s Get There – Yokokimthurston (2012)
Let’s Go On Flying – Aspen No.7 – British Box (1970)
Let the Tears Dry – It’s Alright (I See Rainbows) (1982)
Life – John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band (Ultimate Collection) (2021)
Listen, the Snow Is Falling – Happy Xmas (War Is Over) (1971)
Little Boy Blue (Your Daddy’s Gone) – Take Me to the Land of Hell (2013)
Loneliness – It’s Alright (I See Rainbows) (1982)
Looking Over from My Hotel Window – Approximately Infinite Universe (1973)
The Luck of the Irish – Some Time in New York City (1972)
(M-N)
Memory of Footsteps – Between My Head and the Sky (2009)
Men, Men, Men – Feeling the Space (1973)
Midsummer New York – Fly (1971)
Mildred, Mildred – Onobox (1992)
Mind Holes – Fly (1971)
Mind Train – Fly (1971)
Mindweaver – Season of Glass (1981)
Mirror, Mirror – Yokokimthurston (2012)
Move on Fast – Approximately Infinite Universe (1973)
Moving Mountains – Between My Head and the Sky (2009)
Mother of the Universe – Season of Glass (1981)
Mrs. Lennon – Fly (1971)
Mulberry – Unfinished Music No.2: Life with the Lions (1997 reissue)
Mum’s Only Looking for Her Hand in the Snow – Aspen No.7 – British Box (1970)
My Man – It’s Alright (I See Rainbows) (1982)
Namyohorengekyo – Onobox (1992)
Never Say Goodbye – It’s Alright (I See Rainbows) (1982)
New York Woman – Rising (1995)
A Night in Warsaw – Tribute to Gustav Metzger (2008)
No Bed for Beatle John – Unfinished Music No.2: Life with the Lions (1969)
Nobody Sees Me Like You Do – Season of Glass (1981)
No, No, No – Season of Glass (1981)
Now or Never – Approximately Infinite Universe (1973)
N.Y. Noodle Town – Take Me to the Land of Hell (2013)
(O-R)
Occidental Front – Satan’s Graffiti or God’s Art? (2017)
Ode to Meadow – Home on the Range (A Farm Animal Sanctuary Benefit) (2016)
Omae No Okaa Wa – John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band (Ultimate Collection) (2021)
One Way Road – Let’s Have a Dream – 1974 One Step Festival (2022)
Open Your Box – Power to the People (1970)
Open Your Soul to Me – Onobox (1992)
O’Oh – Onobox (1992)
O’Sanity – Milk and Honey (1984)
O’Wind (Body Is the Scar of Your Mind) – Fly (1971)
Paper Shoes – Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band (1970)
The Path – Onobox (1992)
The Paths – Blueprint for a Sunrise (2000)
Peter the Dealer – Approximately Infinite Universe (1973)
Potbelly Rocker – Onobox (1992)
Radio Play – Unfinished Music No.2: Life with the Lions (1969)
Rainbow Revelation – Starpeace (1985)
Remember Love – Give Peace a Chance (1969)
Remember Raven – Starpeace (1985)
Rising – Rising (1995)
Rising II – Blueprint for a Sunrise (2001)
Run, Run, Run – Feeling the Space (1973)
Running the Risk – Yokokimthurston (2012)
(S)
Scream – The Road to Hope (2011)
She Hits Back – Feeling the Space (1973)
She Gets Down on Her Knees – Season of Glass (1981)
Shine, Shine – Take Me to the Land of Hell (2013)
Shiranakatta (I Didn’t Know) – Approximately Infinite Universe (1973)
Silver Horse – Season of Glass (1981)
Sisters, O Sisters – Some Time in New York City (1972)
Sky People – Starpeace (1985)
Sleepless Night – Milk and Honey (1984)
Snow is Falling All the Time – Aspen No.7 – British Box (1970)
Something More Abstract – Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band (1997 reissue)
Song for John – Approximately Infinite Universe (1973)
Soul Got Out of the Box – Blueprint for a Sunrise (2001)
The Source – Rising Mixes (1996)
The South Wind – Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band (1997 reissue)
Spec of Dust – It’s Alright (I See Rainbows) (1982)
Starpeace – Starpeace (1985)
A Story – Onobox (1992)
Story of an Oak Tree – Take Me to the Land of Hell (2013)
Straight Talk – Feeling the Space (1973)
The Sun is Down! – Don’t Stop Me! (2009)
Sunday Bloody Sunday – Some Time in New York City (1972)
(T)
Tabetai – Take Me to the Land of Hell (2013)
Take Me to the Land of Hell – Take Me to the Land of Hell (2013)
Talking to the Universe – Rising (1995)
Telephone Piece – Fly (1971)
There’s No Goodbye Between Us – Take Me to the Land of Hell (2013)
This Cities Undone – Interplanetary Class Classics (2017)
A Thousand Times Yes – Feeling the Space (1973)
Toilet Piece/Unknown – Fly (1971)
Tomorrow May Never Come – It’s Alright (I See Rainbows) (1982)
Touch Me – Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band (1970)
Toyboat – Season of Glass (1981)
Turn of the Wheel – Season of Glass (1981)
Turned the Corner – Rising (1995)
Two Minutes Silence – Unfinished Music No.2: Life with the Lions (1969)
Two Virgins: Side One – Unfinished Music No.1: Two Virgins (1968)
Two Virgins: Side Two – Unfinished Music No.1: Two Virgins (1968)
(U-Z)
Unun. To – Between My Head and the Sky (2009)
Utopia – Artstravaganza (2014)
Waiting for the Sunrise – Approximately Infinite Universe (1973)
Waiting for the D Train – Between My Head and the Sky (2009)
Wake Up – It’s Alright (I See Rainbows) (1982)
Walking on Thin Ice – Standalone Single (1981)
Warrior Woman – Onobox (1992)
Warzone – Rising (1995)
Watching the Dawn – Take Me to the Land of Hell (2013)
Watching the Rain – Between My Head and the Sky (2009)
We Are Dying – Sing for China (Fight AIDS with Art) (2010)
We’re All Water – Some Time in New York City (1972)
What a Bastard the World Is – Approximately Infinite Universe (1973)
What a Mess – Approximately Infinite Universe (1973)
What Did I Do! – Approximately Infinite Universe (1973)
Where Do We Go from Here – Rising (1995)
Who Has Seen the Wind? – Instant Karma! (1970)
Whole Lotta Yoko – The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus (1996)
Why – Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band (1970)
Why Not – Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band (1970)
Will I – Rising (1995)
Will You Touch Me – Season of Glass (1981)
Winter Friend – Onobox (1992)
Winter Song – Approximately Infinite Universe (1973)
Woman of Salem – Feeling the Space (1973)
Woman Power – Feeling the Space (1973)
Wouldnit – Rising (1995)
Wouldnit ‘swing’ – Blueprint for a Sunrise (2001)
Yang Yang – Approximately Infinite Universe (1973)
Yellow Girl (Stand by for Life) – Feeling the Space (1973)
Yes, I’m a Witch – Onobox (1992)
Yes, I’m Your Angel – Double Fantasy (1980)
You – Fly (1971)
You and I – Starpeace (1985)
Your Hands – Milk and Honey (1984)
You’re the One – Milk and Honey (1984)
Yume O Motou (Let’s Have a Dream) – Standalone Single (1974)
Read More: Complete List Of John Lennon Songs From A to Z
Read More: Artists’ Interviews Directory At ClassicRockHistory.com
Read More: Classic Rock Bands List And Directory