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Post by historywak on Jul 31, 2010 9:06:55 GMT -5
Do you think 'Free as a Bird' and 'Real Love' should have been included in the remastering project? Where do you stand in terms of how those songs should be viewed and respected in the Beatles song catalog?
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Post by beatleroadie on Jul 31, 2010 11:03:33 GMT -5
I would have had no issue with those two tracks being remastered and added to Past Masters. That did not happen obviously, and probably for the best...But I do think Apple should remix every Beatles single and put out 2-disc set that would include "Real Love" and "Free as a Bird". With today's recording technology, engineers can make John's vocals and piano on those tracks sound a TON better than they do on the mid-90s versions.
I'm sure Paul, George, Ringo and Yoko went through many discussions and ideas for some type of reunion and how John could be included for the Anthology project, and those two songs are what they collectively came up with. They were recorded and released as THE BEATLES, so who are we to argue?
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Post by mikev on Jul 31, 2010 11:32:55 GMT -5
I think they were both pretty much "commercials" for Anthology, but I might feel differently if someone were to improve John's tinny vocals on the first and munchkin sped up voice on the second. Point being- they should be remastered because of the updated technology.
Historically, I would rather have them than nothing at all. I still think they (Threetles) should have also performed a live concert with a full orchestra, covering their best Paul. George and Ringo material for prosterity, while preserving a tribute (but not medley) of John's songs at the end. I'm sure it was discussed then dismissed.
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Post by beatleroadie on Jul 31, 2010 16:08:20 GMT -5
One can only hope their remix/remastering/updating is on the drawing board at Apple. It would be very easy for those two songs to be included on a new SINGLES compilation, as well as re-issuing the three Anthology albums with the updated versions of FAAB and RL and a few bonus tracks on each disc.
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lowbasso
A Hard Day's Knight
Posts: 2,776
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Post by lowbasso on Jul 31, 2010 21:48:02 GMT -5
I would have had no issue with those two tracks being remastered and added to Past Masters. That did not happen obviously, and probably for the best...But I do think Apple should remix every Beatles single and put out 2-disc set that would include "Real Love" and "Free as a Bird". With today's recording technology, engineers can make John's vocals and piano on those tracks sound a TON better than they do on the mid-90s versions. I'm sure Paul, George, Ringo and Yoko went through many discussions and ideas for some type of reunion and how John could be included for the Anthology project, and those two songs are what they collectively came up with. They were recorded and released as THE BEATLES, so who are we to argue? Ditto.
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Post by John S. Damm on Aug 1, 2010 12:15:50 GMT -5
Yes, FAAB and RL should have been part of the Remasters. Updated versions of these two songs would have been perfect on Past Masters as that album has no real tradition in Beatles' history(Volumes 1 & 2 created in 1987 with just one volume now).
That clearly tells me Apple and it shareholders are distancing themselves from these two songs. One has to really hunt them down now because I rarely see the Anthology albums at music retail stores. If Apple was proud of these songs, they'd be remastered and right on Past Masters. As singles, both were disappointing, especially FAAB which was all but hand-picked a #1 spot with all of the hype and failed to get there.
For the record, I love FAAB, so-so on RL.
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Post by vectisfabber on Aug 1, 2010 13:07:40 GMT -5
Now that the remasters are out there - hooray, bla bla bla - perhaps Apple might like to put together an archive series of chronological remixes.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2010 5:20:56 GMT -5
These 2 songs were promotional pieces for the Anthology project.. they served their purpose....they shouldn't be resurrected on any future Beatles releases...... why....... they AREN'T Beatles songs....they are Lennon solo songs embellished by the Threetles....songs Lennon would never have released in the state they were in when the Anthology got a hold of them......
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Post by Joe Karlosi on Sept 12, 2010 5:41:35 GMT -5
These 2 songs were promotional pieces for the Anthology project.. they served their purpose....they shouldn't be resurrected on any future Beatles releases...... why....... they AREN'T Beatles songs....they are Lennon solo songs embellished by the Threetles....songs Lennon would never have released in the state they were in when the Anthology got a hold of them...... I agree completely. I actually can barely tolerate either of these songs, but as a one-time promotional thing for the ANTHOLOGY, I guess I can stomach them. These were unfinished demos by John, and they were not very good at that. John's voice sounds like he's singing from inside a toilet. We don't know if Lennon would even have wanted them used like this.
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Post by winstonoboogie on Sept 12, 2010 10:20:34 GMT -5
I agree with beatleroadie and lowbasso - I would love to hear John's vocals improved.
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lowbasso
A Hard Day's Knight
Posts: 2,776
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Post by lowbasso on Sept 12, 2010 12:11:47 GMT -5
These 2 songs were promotional pieces for the Anthology project.. they served their purpose....they shouldn't be resurrected on any future Beatles releases...... why....... they AREN'T Beatles songs....they are Lennon solo songs embellished by the Threetles....songs Lennon would never have released in the state they were in when the Anthology got a hold of them...... I agree completely. I actually can barely tolerate either of these songs, but as a one-time promotional thing for the ANTHOLOGY, I guess I can stomach them. These were unfinished demos by John, and they were not very good at that. John's voice sounds like he's singing from inside a toilet. We don't know if Lennon would even have wanted them used like this. Of course John would not have wanted his vocals dubbed from Demos onto a finished recording had he been alive. But the whole point of the songs is the surviving three Fabs wanted to produce songs with John involved in some way. There wasn't much else they could do, and given that Yoko approved the idea and the other three went ahead, who are any of us fans to say they are not Beatles songs? You may not like them or care for them, that is your choice, but they ARE Beatles songs; because PGR said they are. Just about every song The Beatles created started out as a solo demo by one of the members which was elaborated on by the rest in the studio.
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Post by Joe Karlosi on Sept 12, 2010 14:39:19 GMT -5
You may not like them or care for them, that is your choice, but they ARE Beatles songs; because PGR said they are. But John was also one of The Beatles, and he didn't give his approval. So they can bill it as a "Beatles Song" all they want, and I'll never consider it one, I mean "officially". That includes Yoko speaking for John. And back in the Beatles, did they use a dreary old, lousy-sounding demo tape and just record over it? No. The four of them went into the studio and recorded it "properly". I like John a lot, but I thought his rough FREE AS A BIRD demo tape was sh#t. I recall when there was the talk of the Threetles doing a new song and the FREE AS A BIRD title was mentioned, thinking to myself that it had better not be that slow, plodding, funeral dirge that I heard on THE LOST LENNON TAPES series. It sounded so miserable. I thought they did better with REAL LOVE, which was a bit more up tempo and upbeat. It was okay with me that they did it as a one-time shot to accompany the ANTHOLOGY project, but I'm glad they wisely stopped there. Those two songs didn't do the Beatles' Legacy any favors.
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Post by ursamajor on Sept 19, 2010 11:19:29 GMT -5
As songs I thought both were quite good for what were essentially unfinished demos. Problem was the quality of the FAAB demo was really quite bad and that they made something out of it is quite commendable. Secondly, the Jeff Lynne production does not evoke Beatles to me, I really hate it more on RL than FAAB. I cannot consider these Beatles songs because the guy who was the main writer had no say as to the overall direction of either song.
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Post by brothermichael on Sept 19, 2010 12:19:01 GMT -5
I agree completely. I actually can barely tolerate either of these songs, but as a one-time promotional thing for the ANTHOLOGY, I guess I can stomach them. These were unfinished demos by John, and they were not very good at that. John's voice sounds like he's singing from inside a toilet. We don't know if Lennon would even have wanted them used like this. Of course John would not have wanted his vocals dubbed from Demos onto a finished recording had he been alive. But the whole point of the songs is the surviving three Fabs wanted to produce songs with John involved in some way. There wasn't much else they could do, and given that Yoko approved the idea and the other three went ahead, who are any of us fans to say they are not Beatles songs? You may not like them or care for them, that is your choice, but they ARE Beatles songs; because PGR said they are. Just about every song The Beatles created started out as a solo demo by one of the members which was elaborated on by the rest in the studio. Agree completely. They're Beatles songs. As for the production, I'm not bothered by it (I like Jeff Lynne) and thought that the harmonies alone sound like an extension of Abbey Road. Free as a Bird is probably in my top 10 of Fab songs.
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Post by beatleroadie on Sept 20, 2010 12:45:01 GMT -5
If they can only work on sweetening John's "demo" vocals on both these tracks, which modern technology will definitely allow (or even use a better source tape which we know now exists from Yoko) to recut Lennon's vocals, then these would be perfectly fine! I still find them enjoyable regardless, but for a re-master/remix I think they are begging for a little tinkering. I just hope these tracks are in the works for a future singles compilation or re-issue of the ANTHOLOGY albums, and not forgotten about at Apple HQ.
For my money, the Beatles version of "Real Love" is a great pop single, and "Free as a Bird," though not single material, has many charms, including the swooping harmonies, George's slide work and the uniqueness of George and Paul both having a lead vocal on the bridges. It would have made a solid, though not stellar, album track on Abbey Road or the White Album.
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