Sold Date: March 23, 2016
Start Date: March 16, 2016
Final Price: £28.00 (GBP)
Bid Count: 1
Seller Feedback: 4164
Buyer Feedback: 75

"FREE AS A BIRD" (J. Lennon* / P. McCartney / G. Harrison / R. Starkey, *1977 & 1994.)
Free as a bird,
It's the next best thing to be,
Free as a bird.

Home, home and dry,
  Like a homing bird I'll fly,
  As a bird on wings.

Whatever happened to,
  The life that we once knew?
  Can we really live without each other?

Where did we lose the touch,
  That seemed to mean so much?
It always made me feel so...
 
Free as a bird,
Like the next best thing to be,
Free as a bird.
 
Home, home and dry,
  Like a homing bird I'll fly,
  As a bird on wings.

Whatever happened to,
  The life that we once knew?
Always made me feel so free.

Free as a bird,
  It's the next best thing to be.
  Free as a bird,
Free as a bird,
Free as a bird......
  BEATLES: "Free As A Bird" / "Christmas Time (Is Here Again") UK SINGLE, ISSUED 4th DECEMBER, 1995.

APPLE: R 6422.

MAITRIX: R 6422   A - 2 - 1  Q 4/ R 6422   B - 2 - 1  Q 4

THE FRONT OF THE THICK CARD PICTURE SLEEVE HAS A 1960's JOHN LENNON DRAWING, THE BACK AN
'Anthology' PACKING CASE DESIGN, WITH FULLY DETAILED SLEEVE NOTES ABOUT BOTH SIDE'S TRACKS.

THE UNUSED COVER ONLY HAS A GENTLE RECORD IMPRESSION AND THE MEREST POSSIBLE STANDING
TRAITS, IN OUTSTANDING, UNWORN, UNAGED AND UNSCUFFED MINT- CONDITION, SO OUTSTANDING,
I SHOULD REALLY GRADE THIS AS MINT BECAUSE IT COULD NOT BE IMPROVED IN ANY WAY,

THE RECORD IS UNPLAYED,MINT CONDITION

The "Free As A Bird" single became a final link of a chain we will never see the like of again, right from the 1962, "Love Me Do"
Beatles debut single, it completed the circle.   A 'circle' that took 33 years, John Lennon's five years of 'retirement' from the
music business to bring up his son Sean from 1975, did not mean he neglected his songwriting gifts, mostly while sitting at the
piano in his Dakota home, songs flowed from him.  Anyone into bootlegs will have the full length tape of the songs written during
1977, they included "Real Love" which would also be chosen to become a part of the 'Beatles' when the "Anthology" project had
the go-ahead from Paul, George, Ringo and Yoko, the then three surviving Beatles were asked to record a song for their re-union.
They felt it was not possible to record as 'The Beatles' without John, so Paul asked Yoko if there were any of his songs unissued,
  she handed them John's cassette with the piano demo's and from that they heard a partially written song with a deeply beautiful
melody. The main lyrics concerned freedom and he sounded very content being out of the public and media's eyes for the first time
since 1962 (cue that debut single!)   Paul, George and Ringo worked on the song and supplied the 'missing 'lyrics and  the verses
like these to fit in with John's original's:
  Whatever happened to,
  The life that we once knew?
  Can we really live without each other?

Where did we lose the touch,
  That seemed to mean so much?
It always made me feel so.......
  They provided the arrangement and almost instantly with those distinctive Beatles vocals back together again with George's lead
  guitar, Ringo's drums and Paul's bass, etc. "Anthology" now had all four on a stunning sounding 'Beatles' recording.  George had
  been a member of The Traveling Wilburys and his fellow Wilbury and ex Move & ELO, Jeff Lynne acted as the record producer.
With such good intentions it became  an overwhelming success, I realise how well known this is, I will not go into great detail.
  The video went beyond my own expectations, it created a wave of nostalgia for both John Lennon and a band who had last made a
  record together 26 years earlier in 1969.  We all had mixed feelings at first but musically "Free As A Bird" had the same magical
feel as all the wonderful records they made during the 1960's.  John singing on the same record with Paul and George' was more
than anyone dared believe was possible, it also ended any of the bad feeling left over from 1970 and did not allow the legend to
end with unsettled business.
 
  The B-side has a real gem of a Beatles rarity from 1967 "Christmas Time (Is Here Again)," it was recorded for the flexi disc sent
annually to their Fan Club members.  Originally the song was over 6 minutes long and only a fraction made it onto the Christmas
disc, mixed together with a play being performed.  The psychedelic elements in the song were embellished with a really memorable
anthem like quality, no too far removed from the sounds on "Hey Jude",  if anything, the track acted as a blue print for extended
and improvised endings, where "Hey Jude" originated from.  This single has approximately half of the original song's duration and
the sound quality is that of Abbey Road's master tape, not quite flexi disc limitations and every bit as essential as the Beatles
finished version of  "Free As A Bird" .  As a bonus and being  Christmas 1995, you still have a Christmas greeting from all four.
 
  1995 labels were not made from from paper but printed onto silver plastic, so the streaks in the silver seen in my pictures are
  not from wear or handling, just how they came.  The record has not been played and I will leave it like that because these were
made in very small amounts, in 1995 the vast majority of sales went to CD singles, not the vinyl.  Being vinyl, the records were
  handled in EMI's pressing plant and like every copy I have seen in unplayed condition, this has feather light to near invisible
  traces of handling.
  This cover was more like that of a 1960's EP than any standard 7" picture sleeve, made from card not thin paper, the record
  accessed from the side like an EP and is far, far superior to the CD single's presentation.  With only a gentle record impression
  and without any form of ageing, in Mint- condition. {Roy}
  R & M RECORDS.

My lifetime's love of music and records began at a very young age, the arrival of the Beatles and the 1960's decade
  in general had a very profound effect. It was only natural to bring all my first hand experience of collecting vinyl
  into becoming a professional record seller.  Nearly thirty years ago we entered into the wonderful atmosphere
of record fairs with the highest possible standards set. When the Internet became the world's new market place for
  vinyl, in 2001 it was time to join ebay. Those standards were rigidly adhered to as they will always continue to be,
the basics of honesty and integrity were very much part of the era the music I love originated in, so here is our friendly
and very efficient service we are proud to provide;

EVERY RECORD IS FULLY PLAYED AND COMES WITH A 'NO ARGUMENT' MONEY BACK GUARANTEE.
  I USE GOOD OLD COMMON SENSE AS WELL AS A GLOBALLY ACCEPTED GRADING TERMINOLOGY
  FROM THE U.K. "RECORD COLLECTOR PRICE GUIDE" BOOK.
THERE IT CLEARLY STATES "Sound Quality" AFFECTS EVERY GRADING LEVEL AND THAT IS THE ONE
AND ONLY POSSIBLE WAY TO ACCURATELY GRADE RECORDS. i.e. COMBINING A STRICT VISUAL
INSPECTION WITH VERY CLOSELY LISTENING TO EVERY SECOND, UNLESS PERHAPS IN THE CASE
OF GENUINELY UNPLAYED VINYL.  EVEN THEN WE STILL TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR A RECORD
WHEN A CUSTOMER RECEIVES EITHER A SEALED OR AN UNPLAYED RECORD.
 

  We take 100% responsibility after an item has been posted and offer our fullest support in the event of any problems.
"There Are No Problems, Only Solutions" (John Lennon)
MY DESCRIPTIONS WILL ALWAYS BE 100% HONEST AND TOTALLY ACCURATE ON ALL GRADINGS
FROM 'V.G.' ( VERY GOOD), TO THE ULTIMATE 'MINT' CONDITION.


ANY QUESTIONS ON OUR ITEMS ARE WELCOMED AND WILL BE PROMPTLY REPLIED TO.
 

WE ARE FULLY EXPERIENCED AT SHIPPING WORLDWIDE AND NO EFFORT IS SPARED TO PROTECT
RECORDS AND COVERS ETC.  WE WELCOME BIDDERS FROM ANY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD.

ALL RECORDS ARE REMOVED FROM THEIR SLEEVES AND PLACED INTO NEW PROTECTIVE CARD
SLEEVES AND THEN PLACED INTO NEW, HEAVYWEIGHT PLASTIC OUTER SLEEVES.
THE GREATEST ATTENTION IS PAID TO MAKING THE PACKAGING EXTREMELY STRONG & SECURE.
EVERY POSSIBLE EFFORT IS MADE TO ENSURE A SAFE DELIVERY AND WE ONLY USE THE VERY BEST
QUALITY PACKAGING MATERIALS, THE COST OF THE ITEM IS IMMATERIAL, EVERY RECORD IS
TREATED EXACTLY THE SAME.

WE DO NOT TREAT POSTAGE AS A MONEY MAKING PROJECT, POSTAGE IS LESS THAN COST, USING
ONLY PROFESSIONALLY PACKED BOXES WITH SUBSTANTIAL PROTECTIVE PACKAGING THAT DOES
WEIGH A LITTLE EXTRA.

UNDER PAYPAL & EBAY'S GUIDELINES, ALL RECORDS WILL BE SENT VIA A FULLY INSURED TRACKABLE
SERVICE.


We have kept all our charges at the same level for years now, but due to the Post Office's new price increases, regretfully we
will have to increase the cost of LP's, however, singles will remain unchanged.  Ebay were aware of that happening and have
  increased their minimum postal cost for LP's to £7.00, that figure has been enforced by the UK Post Office and it will become
our UK First Class, Recorded Delivery cost for albums up to the value of £46.  A temporary reduction this week means we can
now post LP's for £5, but who knows how long before the Post Office return to £7?

For LP's valued above £46, the cost will be £9, we are unhappy about either increase but our high standard of packaging has meant
in 13 years of ebay trading, there has not been one record damaged, we are determined to maintain that in the present and future.

IN THE UK RECORDS UP TO THE VALUE OF £46 WILL BE SENT RECORDED DELIVERY, OVER £46 WILL BE
SENT SPECIAL DELIVERY.
  FOR THE REST OF THE WORLD ALL RECORDS WILL BE SENT VIA 'INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR.'

POSTAGE  COST FOR LP's
UK: UP TO VALUE OF £46, FIRST CLASS RECORDED DELIVERY  £5.00
UK: OVER VALUE OF £46, FULLY INSURED SPECIAL DELIVERY £9.00


EUROPE: FULLY INSURED VIA INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR  £15.00


USA,JAPAN & REST OF THE WORLD FULLY INSURED VIA INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR £20.00


POSTAGE COST FOR EP's & 7"
UK: UP TO THE VALUE OF £46 FIRST CLASS RECORDED DELIVERY £3.00
UK: OVER THE VALUE OF £46 FULLY INSURED SPECIAL DELIVERY £6.00
EUROPE: AIR MAIL VIA INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR £10.00
USA, JAPAN ETC. AIRMAIL VIA INTERNATIONAL SIGNED FOR £12.00


PAYMENT DETAILS.

WE WILL SEND ALL WINNING BIDDERS AN INVOICE WITH THE FULL PAYMENT AND POSTAL DETAILS,
AS NEAR TO THE AUCTION ENDING AS POSSIBLE.

OUR AIM IS TO MAKE YOUR PURCHASE SMOOTH AND TROUBLE FREE.


FOR UK BUYERS;

WE ACCEPT:  PAYPAL, CHEQUES, POSTAL ORDERS & BANK WIRES.


FOR OVERSEAS BUYERS;

WE ACCEPT:  PAYPAL, INTERNATIONAL MONEY ORDERS IN POUNDS STERLING ONLY.
OR BANK TO BANK WIRE TRANSFERS.

WE WILL NOT MAKE FALSE STATEMENTS ON CUSTOMS DECLARATION FORMS AND WILL ALWAYS
CONDUCT ALL OF OUR BUSINESS WITH TOTAL HONESTY.
AS MUCH AS WE SYMPATHISE WITH THE WAY SOME COUNTRIES CHARGE SUCH HEAVY IMPORT
DUTIES, WE WILL NOT LIE.


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