RICK B writes
I remember when ‘Free As A Bird’ first came out, my God it was mind blowing. It was the Beatles sounding like the Beatles and OMG those delicious harmony vocals, I mover thought I'd hear that sound again. I just kept listening to it over and over again. Oh and of course there was George's magical guitar break. It almost felt like a spiritual experience.
MARK J writes ...
Not at all. It is a curiosity rather than a proper Beatles track. John's vocal is so low-fi that it never gels with the rest.
That doesn't mean that it was not worth the effort that Paul, George, Ringo, and Jeff Lynne devoted to it. First of all, the videos for “Free as a Bird" and “Real Love" are terrific. More important, however, is that both tracks put to rest all thoughts of a Beatles reunion. That the notion that they could have been “The Beatles" without John —- without any one of them —- is ridiculous. As Paul says in the Anthology, “What are you talking about?”
DYLAN B writes ...
\From what I’ve researched, yes it did. Though it probably didn’t impact their legacy as much as it would have done, had the song been recorded and released in the 60’s. Apparently it only peaked at No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart. Had it been written, recorded, and released in the 60’s, it most likely would have peaked at No. 1.
