I’ve only just come across this, a fan’s Lynne-style polishing off of the 3rd song Yoko passed on to Macca and co which was (apparently) vetoed by George from Anthology III following the UK press reaction to Free As A Bird and Real Love. Thought I’d share it, in case others haven’t seen.
Number 3 from The Threetles
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Here’s the original demo:
https://youtu.be/0yYRWnzKow8
I’m with George. The demo itself should easily have qualified for inclusion as it is; it’s a deeply poignant glimpse into the heart of what the Anthologies were all about. There’s that voice, those lovely Satie-esque chord progressions, that voice again, and that exquisite sense of floating pace, and the melody leaves all sorts of opportunities for gentle embellishments. It could very easily have been another cracker. I’d rather hear John being John, basically. Thanks very much for sharing this – I’d never have heard it otherwise.
It couldn’t really be included in the Beatles’ Anthology as it stood as it is a Lennon solo piece, but I’m surprised it isn’t in the Lennon Anthology box. This is a great read – I found it today while delving around – the whole story of the Threetles sessions.
http://wogew.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/the-threetles-recording-sessions.html
Utterly fascinating – thanks for posting the link @NigelT. I think Now and Then sounds incredible above and hope one day it gets completed/released.
I have heard it before and tried to obtain a copy, because I loved it, without auccess now thanks to you @Bartleby I`m going to have to keep searchin` (thanks Del) because I love it even more.
I like it better than the other two!
Me too!
Me three(tles)!
Threatles ! Free as a Bird has grown on me. I think John’s demo for this one is quite nice, but apparently it just didn’t work in the studio. Don’t think it was to do with reception for first 2 singles.
It was tried and abandoned 18 months before Real Love was released so certainly not a result of reaction to the first two singles. According to Nigel’s link above, they spent one afternoon trying to do a backing track and then gave up, so does any of the rebuild in the OP actually come from them?
Jeff Lynne has recently been talking about the work that went into the song. There’s a fair bit of speculation (60 pages on the SH forum) to say that more than a day’s worth of work.
Two sources say that GH vetoed further work on the track after the UK press reaction to the first two, but as with many things Fab democracy related, we may never know.
Yes, my understanding is that it was unfinished but Lynne may have fiddled about with it afterwards.
Back to Free as a Bird, the part where George sings a “middle 8”, into guitar solo, into harmonies is one of the great Beatles moments
I really like Free As A Bird (which I’ve only just twigged has the acronym FAAB!), but I actually prefer Real Love, it’s got such a warm and yes, loving vibe. Makes my spirit soar every time I hear it.