Free as a Bird is a Beatles single released in December 1995 as part of the Anthology project and included on Anthology 1. It began as a 1977 home demo by John Lennon recorded at the Dakota in New York City, with surviving members Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr adding new backing and vocals in 1994 at McCartney’s Sussex studio. The track, produced by Jeff Lynne along with Lennon, McCartney, Harrison and Starr, is a rock to soft rock song about freedom and connection.
The single reached number 2 in the UK and number 6 in the US, and won the 1997 Grammy for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. Its accompanying music video, directed by Joe Pytka, features a bird’s eye view with numerous allusions to classic Beatles songs. The cover art is taken from John Lennon’s In His Own Write. The release also marked the first new Beatles material issued under their name since the 1970 era.
