Free as a Bird

Last updated

"Free as a Bird"
Beatles-singles-freeasabird.jpg
Single by the Beatles
from the album Anthology 1
B-side "Christmas Time (Is Here Again)"
Released4 December 1995 (1995-12-04)
Recordedc. 1977
  • February–March 1994
Studio
Genre
Length4:26
Label Apple
Songwriter(s) Original composition by Lennon; the Beatles version by Lennon, McCartney, Harrison and Starkey [1]
Producer(s)
The Beatles singles chronology
"Baby It's You"
(1995)		"Free as a Bird"
(1995)		"Real Love"
(1996)
Music video
"Free as a Bird" on YouTube

Certifications

Certifications and sales for "Free as a Bird"
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI) [85] Silver200,000^
United States (RIAA) [86] Gold500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Free as a Bird"
RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)Ref.
United States21 November 1995 Contemporary hit radio [46]
United Kingdom4 December 1995
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
Apple [47]
United States12 December 1995
  • Apple
  • Capitol
 [49]
Japan1 January 1996CD [87]

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References

  1. ↑ Anthology 1 (Media notes). The Beatles. Apple Records. 1995. CDP 7243 8 34445 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  2. ↑ The Beatles Anthology DVD 2003 (Special Features: Recording Free as a Bird and Real Love – 0:00:50–0:01:04) Starr talking about the idea of recording incidental music for the Anthology project.
  3. ↑ The Beatles Anthology DVD 2003 (Special Features: Recording Free as a Bird and Real Love – 0:01:25–0:01:46) Harrison talking about their agreement that if one of them wasn't there, they could be not replaced, and that only Lennon could be the fourth Beatle. There was some consideration however to having comedian Lee Hurst on lead vocals but Hurst was too busy with his television career to accept the offer.
  4. ↑ The Beatles Anthology DVD 2003 (Special Features: Recording Free as a Bird and Real Love – 0:02:07-0:02:17) Starr talking about McCartney asking Ono for unreleased songs by Lennon.
  5. ↑ "Bands tempted by reunion lucre". BBC News . 20 December 2001. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  6. 1 2 3 Corliss, Richard (24 June 2001). "Free as a Beatle". Time . Archived from the original on 14 April 2008. Retrieved 22 February 2008.
  7. 1 2 3 "The Beatles' biography". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on 16 February 2008. Retrieved 19 February 2008.
  8. ↑ Everett 1999 , p. 8
  9. ↑ Harry 2002 , p. 346
  10. ↑ Du Noyer, Paul, "They Were the Most Brilliant, Powerful, Lovable Pop Group on the Planet ... But Now They're Really Important", Q Magazine, December 1995, in Sawyers 2006 , p. 179
  11. ↑ Norman, Philip. Paul McCartney: The Life (2016)
  12. ↑ The Beatles Anthology DVD 2003 (Special Features: Recording Free as a Bird and Real Love – 0:02:17–0:02:28) McCartney talking about how Lennon versions of "Free As A Bird" and "Real Love" were released and heard by fans even before the surviving ex-Beatles had heard them.
  13. ↑ The Beatles Anthology DVD 2003 (Special Features: Recording Free as a Bird and Real Love – 0:02:28–0:03:10) Starr talking about how emotional the recordings were.
  14. 1 2 MacDonald 1997, p. 331.
  15. ↑ Doggett, Peter (2011). You Never Give Me Your Money: The Beatles After the Breakup. New York, NY: It Books.
  16. ↑ The Beatles Anthology DVD 2003 (Special Features: Recording Free as a Bird and Real Love – 0:03:10–0:03:32) McCartney talking about the quality of Lennon's demo cassette.
  17. ↑ The Beatles Anthology DVD 2003 (Special Features: Recording Free as a Bird and Real Love – 0:03:33–0:04:00) Lynne talking about the quality of, and working with Lennon's demo cassette.
  18. ↑ The Beatles Anthology DVD 2003 (Special Features: Recording Free as a Bird and Real Love – 0:02:28–0:03:10) Starr talking about the absence of Lennon during the recordings.
  19. ↑ The Beatles Anthology DVD 2003 (Special Features: Recording Free as a Bird and Real Love – 0:03:33) Starr talking about the musical gaps in the song.
  20. ↑ The Beatles Anthology DVD 2003 (Special Features: Recording Free as a Bird and Real Love – 0:03:50) Harrison talking about changing chords and arrangement in the song.
  21. ↑ The Beatles Anthology DVD 2003 (Special Features: Recording Free as a Bird and Real Love – 0:06:47) McCartney talking about recording and finishing the song.
  22. ↑ Pytka, Joe (September 2020). "Free as a Bird" . Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  23. ↑ Montagne's, Renee (26 November 2002). "Paul McCartney Gets Back to The Beatles". NPR. Retrieved 28 January 2008.
  24. ↑ O'Hagan, Sean (18 September 2005). "Macca beyond". The Observer . Retrieved 28 January 2008.
  25. ↑ The Beatles Anthology DVD 2003 (Special Features: Recording Free as a Bird and Real Love – 0:06:26) Starr talking about how the finished song sounded "just like them".
  26. ↑ The Beatles Anthology DVD 2003 (Special Features: Recording Free as a Bird and Real Love – 0:06:47) Lynne and Harrison talking about how the finished song sounded "just like them" (the Beatles).
  27. ↑ The Beatles Anthology DVD 2003 (Special Features: Recording Free as a Bird and Real Love – 0:08:09) McCartney talking about recording "Real Love".
  28. ↑ Ingham, Chris (2003). The Rough Guide To the Beatles. Rough Guides. p. 93. ISBN   1-84353-140-2.
  29. ↑ The Beatles Anthology DVD 2003 (Special Features: Making the Free as a Bird video – 0:00:17) Pytka and Aspinall talking about the idea of a bird and song titles on the "Free as a Bird" video.
  30. ↑ The Beatles Anthology DVD 2003 (Special Features: Making the Free as a Bird video – 0:01:06) Pytka talking about the agreement for his ideas.
  31. ↑ The Beatles Anthology DVD 2003 (Special Features: Making the Free as a Bird video – 0:02:01) Pytka talking about the locations.
  32. ↑ The Beatles Anthology DVD 2003 (Special Features: Making the Free as a Bird video – 0:04:44) Pytka talking about the storyboard. The video alludes to Lennon and Yoko's involvement in the campaign for James Hanratty, hanged in 1962, by using the murder car's registration for a police van in the A Day in the Life crash scene – 847BHN.
  33. ↑ The Beatles Anthology DVD 2003 (Special Features: Making the Free as a Bird video – 0:05:50) Pytka talking about the greenscreen.
  34. ↑ The Beatles Anthology DVD 2003 (Special Features: Making the Free as a Bird video – 0:07:06) Pytka talking about the elephant and the sitar.
  35. ↑ The Beatles Anthology DVD 2003 (Special Features: Making the Free as a Bird video – 0:07:38) Pytka talking about the Akela crane and the remote-controlled toy helicopter.
  36. ↑ The Beatles Anthology DVD 2003 (Special Features: Making the Free as a Bird video – 0:10:16) Pytka talking about Harrison and the ukulele player.
  37. ↑ "Awards Winners & Nominees: Best Short Form Video". Official Grammys Website. 31 August 2023.
  38. ↑ Gilmore, Mikal (5 December 2005). "Lennon Lives Forever". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 13 February 2008. Retrieved 22 February 2008.
  39. ↑ "Sir Paul McCartney – Singer/Songwriter". BBC h2g2. Retrieved 22 February 2008.
  40. ↑ Sullivan, Caroline (21 November 1995). "Do they believe in yesterday?". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 October 2011.
  41. ↑ Gill, Andy (22 November 1995). "Money can buy you love". The Independent. Archived from the original on 15 June 2008. Retrieved 10 March 2008.
  42. ↑ Willmott, Ben (25 November 1995). "Singles". NME . p. 40. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  43. ↑ Rense, Rip (21 August 2005). "One More Beatles Song, or Should They Just Let It Be?". The Rip Post. Retrieved 10 March 2008.
  44. ↑ "Awards Winners & Nominees: Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal". Official Grammys Website. 31 August 2023.
  45. ↑ Ingham, Chris (2003). The Rough Guide to the Beatles. Rough Guides. p. 92. ISBN   1-84353-140-2.
  46. 1 2 "Selected New Releases" (PDF). Radio & Records . No. 1121. 17 November 1995. p. 37. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  47. 1 2 "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week . 2 December 1995. p. 48. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
  48. ↑ British Hit Singles and Albums. Guinness World Records. 2006. p. 49. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
  49. 1 2 Rosen, Craig (16 December 1995). "More Beatles Product Promised in Wake of 'Anthology' Series" (PDF). Billboard . Vol. 107, no. 50. p. 116. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
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  51. ↑ "John Lennon book art, poems going to auction". USA Today . 29 May 2014. Archived from the original on 29 May 2014. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  52. ↑ MacDonald 1997, p. 330.
  53. ↑ "The Beatles – Free as a Bird". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  54. ↑ "The Beatles – Free as a Bird" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  55. ↑ "The Beatles – Free as a Bird" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  56. ↑ "The Beatles – Free as a Bird" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  57. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2864." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  58. ↑ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 2859." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  59. 1 2 "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 13, no. 1. 6 January 1996. p. 11. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  60. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 13, no. 1. 6 January 1996. p. 9. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
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  62. ↑ "The Beatles – Free as a Bird" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  63. ↑ "The Beatles – Free as a Bird" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  64. ↑ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 13, no. 5. 3 February 1996. p. 13. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  65. ↑ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (9.12. '95 – 15.12. '95)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 9 December 1995. p. 58. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
  66. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Free as a Bird". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  67. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 51, 1995" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  68. ↑ "The Beatles – Free as a Bird" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  69. ↑ "The Beatles – Free as a Bird". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  70. ↑ "The Beatles – Free as a Bird". VG-lista. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  71. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  72. ↑ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN   84-8048-639-2.
  73. ↑ "The Beatles – Free as a Bird". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  74. ↑ "The Beatles – Free as a Bird". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  75. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  76. ↑ "The Beatles Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  77. ↑ "The Beatles Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
  78. ↑ "The Beatles Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
  79. ↑ "The Beatles Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
  80. ↑ "The Beatles Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
  81. ↑ "Årslista Singlar, 1995" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan . Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  82. ↑ "Top 100 Singles 1995". Music Week . 13 January 1996. p. 9.
  83. ↑ "RPM Year End Top 100 Hit Tracks". RPM . Retrieved 1 March 2019– via Library and Archives Canada.
  84. ↑ "RPM Year End Top 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks". RPM . Retrieved 1 March 2019– via Library and Archives Canada.
  85. ↑ "British single certifications – Beatles – Free as a Bird". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  86. ↑ "American single certifications – The Beatles – Free as a Bird". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  87. ↑ "フリー・アズ・ア・バード | ザ・ビートルズ" [Free as a Bird | The Beatles] (in Japanese). Oricon . Retrieved 21 September 2023.

Bibliography

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