Controversial "Ballad" tops charts despite ban - "The Ballad of John and Yoko" is being banned by at least half of the Top 40 AM stations around the country, but it's Number One anyway. And another Lennon-Ono peace record is on the way.

When "Ballad" was released in late May, dozens of stations immediately announced a ban, citing the refrain, "Christ, you know it ain't easy, you know how hard it can be; The way things are going -- they're gonna crucify me." Program directors have called the casual reference to the deity "profane," "sacrilegious," "offensive," and generally "objectionable."

In San Francisco, Bill Gavin, influential record programmer, turned thumbs down on the Beatles record -- "I personally found it offensive," he explained -- while admitting, in his newsletter, that "the instrumental track is great and Lennon sings with conviction." He is keeping the record off his "Recommended Playlist."

Among stations banning the record, Gavin said, were WMCA in New York, WLS in Chicago, and almost all of the Bill Drake-consulted stations around the country. In an informal poll of his 112 correspondents taken a couple of weeks ago, Gavin found only 21 stations playing the single. Now, he says, it's about 50 percent, "but some of them are playing edited versions -- they've beeped out the objectionable parts or cut out the lines about 'peace in bed.'" (The line, sung in answer to reporters' questions at John and Yoko's Amsterdam bed-in, goes, "We're only trying to get us some peace." For some listeners, it's just a little too close to "trying to get us a piece.")

KFRC, the top rated rock station in San Francisco, is not airing the record or including it in their Big 30 listings despite heavy sales -- because, as program director Ted Adkins put it, "Good God, if we did, the Program Director'd have to answer all those calls from irate listeners who have their own crosses to bear!" KFRC is a Drake-consulted station, but Atkins said there has been no blanket order regarding "Ballad" from Drake. Down the street, meanwhile, KYA found Atkins' explanation objectionable. "It's a good record, so we're playing it -- that's all," said the record librarian there. "We've received maybe one call protesting it."

In Chicago, WCFL is the only station playing the record. Jim Stagg, musical director, said the line in question didn't offend anyone at his station making programing decisions. "We feel we had an obligation to Beatles fans as well as others to allow them the opportunity of hearing it," he said.

Lennon himself explained the meaning of the "Christ" line while calling U.S. radio stations from his bed-in site in Montreal.

"It has two meanings," he told Bob Lewis of WABC-FM in New York. "It's like a prayer. You know, 'Jesus, you alone should know it ain't easy.' And it has that street language connotation, too. But even when it's used irreverently, it's in effect a prayer, too. It's a gospel song. I'm a big Christ fan -- the song is a prayer." Why is it being banned? "Man, you know why," Lennon replied. All hubbub aside, the Beatles' latest (actually done by only Lennon and McCartney, with Paul doubling on drums), despite being released on the heels of "Get Back," is headed straight for Number One, having reached Number 24 in the national charts in only its second week aboard. And it is Number One in all major cities in America, not to mention London.

Meanwhile, the pace of the Lennon-Ono peace drive seems to be only accelerating. A tune called "Give Peace a Chance," recorded by the pair in their Montreal hotel suite, is scheduled for release July 4th.

The song, to be released on Apple, is by the Plastic Ono Band, comprised of John, Yoko, and "about 40 other people" -- including a Jewish rabbi and Tom Smothers. The song is described as a "hypnotic chant" -- a cross, perhaps, between "Oh Happy Day" and "All You Need Is Love." It was recorded with a four-track machine borrowed from Capitol Records.

BEN FONG TORRES