Before “Now and Then”: The First “New” Beatles Song, ”Free as a Bird”

The Beatles’ Anthology yielded more than an audio trip through the group’s history, it also produced the first “new” Beatles song since the band’s breakup in 1970. Utilizing a demo recorded by John Lennon in the 1970s, “Free As a Bird” became a sensation, with many fans likening its premiere to the Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show. This is the story of how that track came to be, its reception, and the history behind its iconic music video. --------------------- +Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter/X for photos, videos, and more from this episode & past episodes — we’re @bcthebeatles everywhere. +Follow BC the Beatles on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you’re listening now. +Buy us a coffee! www.ko-fi.com/bcthebeatles +Contact us at [email protected].