Less known by it's full title, 'Instant Karma! (We All Shine On)', this song is one of three John Lennon songs in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Lennon's third solo single for Apple Records, it is also one of the fastest released songs in music, having been written and recorded on the same day, and released about ten days after that.
The single debuted on February 10, 1970, and managed to reach number 3 on the US Hot 100 chart and number 5 on the UK Singles chart.
In 2006, Amnesty International released an album to support their fight against suffering in the Sudanese region of Darfur, entitled 'Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur'. Yoko Ono donated the rights and royalties to Lennon's songs to Amnesty for use in the 'Make Some Noise' project, of which this album was a part.
Duran Duran's cover of 'Instant Karma' was not on the initial release of the album. It was made available as an iTunes bonus track, and then made it's way on to Disc Two of the international (non-US) album.
The band performed the song live a number of times while on tour in 2006, and it has the 'honour' of being the last studio recording featuring guitarist Andy Taylor before he quit Duran Duran. Again.
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