I'm Stepping Out

"I'm Stepping Out" is the third and last single^[3] from the final John Lennon and Yoko Ono album Milk and Honey. In it, Lennon celebrates his enthusiasm for the night life of New York City, and makes tongue-in-cheek reference to his "househusband" period. It reached No. 88 in the UK Singles chart, and in the US it peaked at No. 55 in the US Billboard Hot 100^[4] and number 57 on the Cashbox Top 100.^[5]

"I'm Stepping Out"
US picture sleeve
Single by John Lennon
from the album Milk and Honey
B-side	"Sleepless Night" (Yoko Ono)
Released	15 March 1984 (1984-03-15) (US)[1] 13 July 1984 (UK)[2]
Recorded	6 August 1980
Genre	Rock
Length	4:05
Label	Polydor
Songwriter(s)	John Lennon
Producer(s)	John Lennon Yoko Ono
John Lennon singles chronology
"Borrowed Time" (1984) "I'm Stepping Out" (1984) "Every Man Has a Woman Who Loves Him" (1984)

The B-side features Ono's "Sleepless Night."

Recording

"I'm Stepping Out" was the first song to be recorded when the sessions for Double Fantasy/Milk and Honey began at The Hit Factory in New York City on 7 August 1980.^[6]

Reception

Cash Box said that the song "was a celebration for Lennon — to escape from the mundane lifestyle of a house-husband — and it is also a musical celebration for the listener which exhibits Lennon's innate talent for articulating universal emotions on three-and-a-half minutes of vinyl."^[7] Cash Box also commented on the "accessible lyrics and a tight chorus that Lennon sings with abandon" and noted that the prologue and ending express Lennon's "witty side."^[7]

Muriel Gray at Smash Hits said, "For an extraordinary man, John Lennon managed to write a lot of very ordinary material before he died. This is basic and dull, it barely merits criticism."^[8]

Personnel

This is the personnel as said.^[3][9]

• John Lennon – vocals, rhythm guitar
• Earl Slick, Hugh McCracken – lead guitar
• Tony Levin – bass guitar
• George Small – keyboards
• Andy Newmark – drums
• Arthur Jenkins – percussion