View source for Tight A$

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2013}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2013}}
{{Infobox song
| name     = Tight A$
| cover    =
| alt      =
| type     =
| artist   = [[John Lennon]]
| album    = [[Mind Games (John Lennon album)|Mind Games]]
| released = 16 November 1973
| format   =
| recorded = July–August 1973
| studio   =
| venue    =
| genre    = [[Rock music|Rock]]
| length   = 3:37
| label    = [[Apple Records|Apple]]
| writer   = [[John Lennon]]
| producer = [[John Lennon]]
| tracks   = {{Mind Games tracks}}
}}
"'''Tight A$'''" is a song written by [[John Lennon]] released on his 1973 album ''[[Mind Games (John Lennon album)|Mind Games]]''.<ref name="The_Beatles_Bible">{{cite web|title=John Lennon: Tight A$|publisher=The Beatles Bible|url=http://www.beatlesbible.com/people/john-lennon/songs/tight-as/|accessdate=6 September 2011}}</ref><ref name=mind>{{cite web|title=Mind Games|author=Erlewine, S.T.|author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/mind-games-mw0000651897|publisher=[[Allmusic]]|accessdate=18 December 2012}}</ref> The song is also included in the 2010 compilation album, ''[[Gimme Some Truth (album)|Gimme Some Truth]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Gimme Some Truth|author=Erlewine, S.T.|author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/gimme-some-truth-mw0002026686|publisher=[[Allmusic]]|accessdate=18 December 2012}}</ref> A tongue-in-cheek rocker, Lennon managed to get the phrase "tight ass" past the censors.

==Lyrics & music==
The title of "Tight A$" is a [[pun]] on the expressions "tight as" and "tight ass."<ref name=words>{{cite book|title=The Words and Music of John Lennon|author1=Urish, B. |author2=Bielen, K. |pages=48–49, 61|year=2007|publisher=Praeger|isbn=978-0-275-99180-7}}</ref>

"Tight A$" is in a [[rockabilly]] style with a 1950s sound, along the lines of earlier rockabilly songs that inspired Lennon in his youth.<ref name=words/><ref name=complete>{{cite book|title=The Complete Guide to the Music of John Lennon|author=Rogan, J.|author-link=Johnny Rogan|page=79|year=1997|publisher=Omnius Press|isbn=0711955999}}</ref><ref name=america>{{cite book|title=Lennon in America: based in part on the lost Lennon diaries, 1971–1980|author=Giuliano, G.|page=[https://archive.org/details/lennoninamericab00giul_0/page/54 54]|year=2004|publisher=University of Michigan|isbn=9780815410737|url=https://archive.org/details/lennoninamericab00giul_0/page/54}}</ref> Lennon biographer Geoffrey Giuliano describes the music as "funky."<ref name=america/> It is reminiscent of [[Elvis Presley]]'s 1954 single "[[That's All Right]]."<ref name=words/> Pop music historian Robert Rodriguez also finds influences from [[Carl Perkins]] and [[Doug Sahm]].<ref name=faq/>

Lennon developed the [[riff]] for his later [[instrumental]] "[[Beef Jerky (John Lennon song)|Beef Jerky]]" by toying with [[variation (music)|variations]] on the music of this song and "[[Meat City]]."<ref name=words/><ref name=blaney>{{cite book|title=Lennon and McCartney: together alone : a critical discography of their solo work|author=Blaney, J.|page=81|year=2007|publisher=Jawbone Press|isbn=9781906002022}}</ref> Du Noyer particularly praises the [[pedal steel guitar]] playing of [[Pete Kleinow]], as does music critic [[Johnny Rogan]].<ref name=complete/><ref name=night>{{cite book|title=John Lennon: Whatever Gets You Through the Night|author=du Noyer, P.|pages=73–74|year=1999|publisher=Thunder's Mouth Press|isbn=1560252103}}</ref> Pop culture historian Robert Rodriguez praises the "standout" extended [[guitar solo]] performed by [[David Spinozza]].<ref name=faq>{{cite book|title=Fab Four FAQ 2.0: The Beatles' Solo Years 1970–1980|author=Rodriguez, R.|pages=206, 348|year=2010|publisher=Hal Leonard|isbn=978-0-87930-968-8}}</ref>

Lennon recorded the song at [[Record Plant East]] over many takes.<ref name=blaney/> Take four was the version that was edited for release on ''Mind Games''.<ref name=blaney/><ref name=eight/> The backing track for the released version was composed of four separate segments spliced together.<ref name=eight/> The production uses [[echo (phenomenon)|echo]] to compress Lennon's vocal performance.<ref name=complete/>

In 1975, Lennon wrote a letter to country singer [[Waylon Jennings]], suggesting that Jennings record the song.  Lennon believed the song would be a hit single for Jennings.  Lennon had met Jennings, who had played in the final iteration of Buddy Holly's backup band, The Crickets, at the Grammy Awards several months earlier.

==Reception==
[[Allmusic]] critic [[Stephen Thomas Erlewine]] describes "Tight A$" as a "forced, ham-fisted rocker."<ref name=mind/> Author Tim Riley describes it as "dross."<ref>{{cite book|title=Tell me why: a Beatles commentary|author=Riley, T.|page=[https://archive.org/details/tellmewhybeatles00rile/page/381 381]|year=2002|publisher=Da Capo|isbn=9780306811203|url=https://archive.org/details/tellmewhybeatles00rile|url-access=registration}}</ref> Du Noyer criticised it for having little to say, lacking energy and being an example of Lennon's ability for "knocking off songs to fulfil the album's quota."<ref name=night/> John Blaney also criticizes the song for having little to say, but acknowledges that the song's "jokey wordplay was a timely reminder of what Lennon was capable of."<ref name=blaney/> Chip Madinger and Mark Easter regard the fact that the song isn't "about something" to be refreshing, given Lennon's "political ranting and raving" in the period just before the song's release and praise the song as "a rockin' little tune."<ref name=eight>{{cite book|title=Eight Arms to Hold You|author1=Madinger, C.  |author2=Easter, M. |name-list-style=amp |page=87|year=2000|publisher=44.1 Productions|isbn=0-615-11724-4}}</ref> [[PopMatters]] describes the song as a "throwaway" but appreciates that it provides some "mindless fun."<ref>{{cite web|title=John Lennon 101 – Day 4: The Lost Weekend (1972–1973)|url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/feature/133545-day-4-the-lost-weekend-1972-1973/P1|publisher=PopMatters.com|accessdate=2013-01-07}}</ref> Lennon himself described the song as "a bit of a throwaway."<ref>{{cite book|title=But Is It Garbage?: On Rock and Trash|author=Hamelman, S.L.|pages=72–73|year=2004|publisher=University of Georgia Press|isbn=9780820325873}}</ref>

Robert Rodriguez, however, regards it as one of the "best unsung John" Lennon songs and "one of the highlights of ''Mind Games''."<ref name=faq/> Rodriguez considers it a rocker of the sort that [[the Beatles]] used to play in their early days, sounding like an American song sung by an Englishman.<ref name=faq/> Although Rodriguez agrees that the song isn't about much, it represents the type of writing Lennon had often done earlier in his career "when a string of words that scanned nicely was enough," and also praises the band's tight playing on the song.<ref name=faq/> [[Johnny Rogan]] also praises the song as "one of the more interesting moments" of ''Mind Games'', although acknowledging that it does not have the "greatest tune."<ref name=complete/> [[Keith Spore]] of ''[[The Milwaukee Sentinel]]'' called the song a "smashing serpentine rocker" which serves as a reminder of Lennon's past brilliance.<ref>{{cite news|title=Beatles Reflected in Lennon Genius|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dM0wAAAAIBAJ&pg=5918,1568696&dq=tight-a+lennon&hl=en|author=Spore, K.|newspaper=[[The Milwaukee Sentinel]]|date=7 December 1973|page=25|accessdate=20 December 2012}}</ref>  ''[[Rolling Stone Magazine]]'' critic Stephen Holden regards "Tight A$" as one of the two highlights of ''Mind Games'', along with [[Mind Games (John Lennon song)|the title track]].<ref name=holden>{{cite web|title=Lennon's Music: A Range of Genius|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/lennons-music-a-range-of-genius-20101207|author=Holden, S.|date=7 December 2010|accessdate=2012-12-20|publisher=[[Rolling Stone Magazine]]}}</ref> Journalists Roy Carr and Tony Tyler also regard it as one of the best songs on ''Mind Games'', saying it demonstrates the return of Lennon's "cockiness and irreverence," which they consider to possibly be his best qualities.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Beatles: An illustrated record|page=108|year=1978|publisher=Harmony Books|isbn=0-517-53367-7|author1=Carr, R.  |author2=Tyler, T. |name-list-style=amp }}</ref>

==Personnel==
The musicians who performed on the original recording were as follows:<ref name=faq/><ref>{{cite book|last=Noyer|first=Paul Du|title=John Lennon: The Stories Behind Every Song 1970–1980|year=2010|publisher=Carlton Books Ltd.|location=London|isbn=978-1-84732-665-2|edition=Rev.|page=82|chapter=Mind Games}}</ref>

*[[John Lennon]] – vocals, acoustic guitar
*[[David Spinozza]] – guitar
*[[Ken Ascher]] – keyboards
*[[Gordon Edwards (bassist)|Gordon Edwards]] – bass guitar
*[[Jim Keltner]] – drums
*[[Pete Kleinow]] – [[pedal steel guitar]]<ref name=Stories88>{{cite book|last=Noyer|first=Paul Du|title=John Lennon: The Stories Behind Every Song 1970–1980|year=2010|publisher=Carlton Books Ltd.|location=London|isbn=978-1-84732-665-2|edition=Rev.|page=88|chapter=Mind Games}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

{{John Lennon}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tight A}}
[[Category:John Lennon songs]]
[[Category:Songs written by John Lennon]]
[[Category:1973 songs]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by John Lennon]]
[[Category:Plastic Ono Band songs]]