Rare footage shows the magical moment John Lennon first heard ‘Imagine’ playback

A video that surfaced two weeks ago has captured a moment in music history that’s as poignant as it is magical. The clip from 1971 shows Beatles legend John Lennon listening to the playback of “Imagine,” a song that would later become the best-selling single of his solo career.

The moment of realization

About 24 seconds into the video, Lennon swivels in his chair and breaks into a broad smile. Could this have been the instant he realized he had created a masterpiece? The clip captures the raw emotion and perhaps even the self-awareness of an artist hearing his future hit for the first time.

Watch the rare footage below