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]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Get Back</span> 1969 single by the Beatles with Billy Preston

"Get Back" is a song recorded by the English rock band the Beatles and Billy Preston, written by Paul McCartney, and credited to the Lennon–McCartney partnership. It was originally released as a single on 11 April 1969 and credited to "The Beatles with Billy Preston". The song is one of the few examples of John Lennon featuring prominently as lead guitarist. The album version of this song contains a different mix that features a studio chat between Paul McCartney and John Lennon at the beginning, which lasts for 20 seconds before the song begins, also omitting the coda featured in the single version, and with a final dialogue taken from the Beatles' rooftop concert. This version became the closing track of Let It Be (1970), which was released just after the group split up. The single version was later issued on the compilation albums 1967–1970, 20 Greatest Hits, Past Masters, and 1.

The Beatles Anthology is a multimedia retrospective project consisting of a television documentary, a three-volume set of double albums, and a book describing the history of the Beatles. Beatles members Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr participated in the making of the works, which are sometimes referred to collectively as the Anthology project, while John Lennon appears in archival interviews.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hey Jude</span> 1968 single by the Beatles

"Hey Jude" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles that was released as a non-album single in August 1968. It was written by Paul McCartney and credited to the Lennon–McCartney partnership. The single was the Beatles' first release on their Apple record label and one of the "First Four" singles by Apple's roster of artists, marking the label's public launch. "Hey Jude" was a number-one hit in many countries around the world and became the year's top-selling single in the UK, the US, Australia and Canada. Its nine-week run at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 tied the all-time record in 1968 for the longest run at the top of the US charts, a record it held for nine years. It has sold approximately eight million copies and is frequently included on music critics' lists of the greatest songs of all time.

Apple Records is a British record label founded by the Beatles in 1968 as a division of Apple Corps Ltd. It was initially intended as a creative outlet for the Beatles, both as a group and individually, plus a selection of other artists including Mary Hopkin, James Taylor, Badfinger and Billy Preston. In practice, the roster had become dominated by the mid-1970s with releases of the former Beatles as solo artists. Allen Klein managed the label from 1969 to 1973, then it was managed by Neil Aspinall on behalf of the Beatles and their heirs. Aspinall retired in 2007 and was replaced by Jeff Jones.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Let It Be (song)</span> 1970 single by The Beatles

"Let It Be" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles, released on 6 March 1970 as a single, and as the title track of their album Let It Be. It was written and sung by Paul McCartney, and credited to the Lennon–McCartney partnership. The single version of the song, produced by George Martin, features a softer guitar solo and the orchestral section mixed low, compared with the album version, produced by Phil Spector, featuring a more aggressive guitar solo and the orchestral sections mixed higher.

<i>Abbey Road</i> 1969 studio album by the Beatles

Abbey Road is the eleventh studio album by the English rock band the Beatles, released on 26 September 1969. It is the last album the group recorded, although Let It Be was the last album completed before the band's break-up in April 1970. It was mostly recorded in April, July, and August 1969, and topped the record charts in both the United States and the United Kingdom. A double A-side single from the album, "Something" / "Come Together", was released in October, which also topped the charts in the US.

<i>Anthology 1</i> 1995 compilation album by the Beatles

Anthology 1 is a compilation album by the Beatles, released on 20 November 1995 by Apple Records as part of The Beatles Anthology series. It features rarities, outtakes and live performances from the period 1958–64, including songs with original bass player Stuart Sutcliffe and drummer Pete Best. It is the first in a trilogy of albums with Anthology 2 and Anthology 3, all of which tie in with the televised special The Beatles Anthology. It contains "Free as a Bird", the first new Beatles song in 25 years, which was released as a single two weeks after Anthology 1.

<i>Anthology 2</i> 1996 compilation album by the Beatles

Anthology 2 is a compilation album by the Beatles, released on 18 March 1996 by Apple Records as part of The Beatles Anthology series. It features rarities, outtakes and live performances from the 1965 sessions for Help! until the sessions immediately prior to their trip to India in February 1968. It is the second in a trilogy of albums with Anthology 1 and Anthology 3, all of which tie in with the televised special The Beatles Anthology. The opening track is "Real Love", the second of the two recordings that reunited the Beatles for the first time since the band's break-up. Like its predecessor, the album topped the Billboard 200 album chart and has been certified 4× Platinum by the RIAA.

<i>Anthology 3</i> 1996 compilation album by the Beatles

Anthology 3 is a compilation album by the Beatles, released on 28 October 1996 by Apple Records as part of The Beatles Anthology series. The album includes rarities and alternative tracks from the final two years of the band's career, ranging from the initial sessions for The Beatles to the last sessions for Let It Be and Abbey Road in 1969 and early 1970. It is the last in a trilogy of albums with Anthology 1 and Anthology 2, all of which tie in with the televised special The Beatles Anthology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All Those Years Ago</span> 1981 single by George Harrison

"All Those Years Ago" is a song by the English rock musician George Harrison, released in May 1981 as a single from his ninth studio album Somewhere in England. Having previously recorded the music for the song, Harrison tailored the lyrics to serve as a personal tribute to his former Beatles bandmate John Lennon, following the latter's murder in 1980. Ringo Starr is featured on drums, and Paul McCartney overdubbed backing vocals onto the basic track. The single spent three weeks at number 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100, behind "Bette Davis Eyes" by Kim Carnes, and it peaked at number 13 on the UK Singles Chart. It also topped Canada's RPM singles chart and spent one week at number 1 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary listings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Real Love (Beatles song)</span> 1979 song by John Lennon

"Real Love" is a song written by the English musician John Lennon, formerly of the Beatles. He recorded six demos of the song in 1979 and 1980 with "Real Life", a different song that merged with "Real Love". In 1988, the sixth take was posthumously released for the documentary soundtrack Imagine: John Lennon. In 1995, his demo was completed by his former Beatles bandmates as part of the Beatles Anthology project, along with "Free as a Bird".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yer Blues</span> 1968 song by the Beatles

"Yer Blues" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles, from their 1968 double album The Beatles. Though credited to Lennon–McCartney, the song was written and composed by John Lennon during the Beatles' retreat in Rishikesh, India. The song is a parody of blues music, specifically English imitators of blues.

<i>Back in the U.S.</i> 2002 live album by Paul McCartney

Back in the U.S. is a double live album by Paul McCartney from his spring 2002 Driving USA Tour in the US in support of his 2001 release Driving Rain. It was released with an accompanying DVD to commemorate his first set of concerts in almost ten years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Girl (Beatles song)</span> 1965 song by the Beatles

"Girl" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1965 album Rubber Soul. It was written by John Lennon and credited to Lennon–McCartney. "Girl" was the last complete song recorded for that album. "Girl" is considered to be one of the most melancholic and complex of the Beatles' earlier love songs.

The Beatles were an English rock band, active from 1960 until 1970. From 1962 onwards, the band's members were John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. Their break-up is attributed to numerous factors, including: the strain of the Beatlemania phenomenon, the 1967 death of manager Brian Epstein, bandmates' resentment of McCartney's perceived domineering, Lennon's heroin use and his relationship with Yoko Ono, Harrison's increasingly prolific songwriting, the floundering of Apple Corps, the Get Back project, and managerial disputes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Now and Then (Beatles song)</span> 2023 single by the Beatles

"Now and Then" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles, released on 2 November 2023. Dubbed "the last Beatles song", it appeared on a double A-side single, paired with a new stereo remix of the band's first single, "Love Me Do" (1962), with the two serving as "bookends" to the band's history. Both songs were included on the expanded re-issues of the 1973 compilations 1962–1966 and 1967–1970, released on 10 November 2023.

"Grow Old with Me" is one of the final songs written by John Lennon. It was first recorded by Lennon as a demo while in Bermuda. A handwritten lyric sheet for the song is dated July 5, 1980 Fairyland Bermuda. The song was first released on the posthumous album Milk and Honey in 1984. It was also rumored to be among the songs planned as a possible reunion single by his former bandmates during the making of The Beatles Anthology.

The Beatles Anthology is a documentary television series on the career of the Beatles. It was broadcast on UK television in eight parts on ITV between 26 November and 31 December 1995, while in the United States it was seen as three feature-length episodes on ABC between 19 and 23 November 1995. It was released in greatly expanded form as an eight-volume VHS set and an eight-disc LaserDisc set on 5 September 1996. The series was re-released on DVD in 2003, with an 81-minute special-features disc.

<i>Imagine: John Lennon</i> 1988 film

Imagine: John Lennon is a 1988 documentary film about English musician John Lennon. It was released on 7 October 1988, two days before Lennon's 48th birthday.

After the break-up of the Beatles in April 1970, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr enjoyed success as solo artists and collaborated with each other on numerous occasions, including on both studio and live recordings. However, none of these collaborations included all four members, with the exception of "Free as a Bird" (1995), "Real Love" (1996) and "Now and Then" (2023).

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 Akila 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.
  50. ↑ "Free as a Bird chart position". Billboard. Archived from the original on 15 June 2013. Retrieved 8 March 2008.
  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.
  61. ↑ "The Beatles: Free as a Bird" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  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

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.