A flawless love song that finds Sir John figuratively on contrite, bended, knobby knee asking for forgiveness and love from Yoko. The sentiment is simple yet beautiful (I write “yet” because simplicity isn’t usually what I’m after), but unfortunately the timing of the single—less than one month after his murder—was surreal. On a lighter note, I used to play the B side (Yoko’s “Beautiful Boys”) in the diner all the time, constantly confusing it with “Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)” and then being disappointed when I realized it wasn’t. Must’ve happened half a dozen times. Here’s to hoping I don’t come back in my next life as a lab rat. Ozzy Osbourne later did a cover version of this song for his album, Under Covers. John Lennon covering “Goodbye To Romance”—now that would have been interesting.
Original 7-inch single version
A1. Woman (John Lennon) (3:30)
B1. Beautiful Boys (Yoko Ono) (2:54)
Back-to-back hits single reissue
A1. (Just Like) Starting Over (John Lennon) (3:54)
B1. Woman (John Lennon) (3:30)
Clear vinyl 7-inch promotional single version
A1. Woman
B1. Walking On Thin Ice
The Plastic
Released on 7-inch and cassette single on January 12, 1981 in the US and Canada (Geffen, GEF49644), on January 16, 1981 in the UK (Geffen, K79195/M), and in 1981 in Australia (Geffen, GEF 49644), Belgium and France (Geffen, 79334), Germany (Geffen, GEF 79195) and Japan (Geffen, P-1502J) with picture sleeve; reached #2 on the US charts (RIAA-certified gold record) and #1 on the UK charts.
- Re-released with “(Just Like) Starting Over” as back-to-back hits 7-inch single on July 6, 1981 in the US (Geffen, GGEF0408).
- Re-released on clear vinyl 7-inch jukebox single in 2000 in the US (Capitol, 588957) with “Walking On Thin Ice” as the B side.
