The new mix of "Free As A Bird" doesn't fix the problems inherent to it being a Jeff Lynne production, obviously, but John's voice is so much clearer now, and because of that it's also easy to tell how much Paul was subtly doubling him at points.
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I love Lynn’s work. And I understand that his involvement was necessary to bring George to the sessions. But everything Lynn touches sounds like Jeff Lynn (just listened to the 500 songs on Del Shannon). I wanted to hear the Beatles. Another mark for the touch of George Martin.
aug 23, 2025, 1:04 pm • 11 0 • view
I find it funny that George’s last album, doesn’t sound anything like a Jeff Lynne production, despite George having died before its completion leaving Lynne and Dhani to finish it from guides he left. Did Dhani keep him in line? Was Lynne not willing to override the wishes of a dead man?
aug 24, 2025, 2:09 am • 4 0 • view
Unfortunately, the snare wasn’t de-gated for the remix.
aug 23, 2025, 1:19 pm • 4 0 • view
The new mix is a *lot* better, but you're right about the production. It's why I always thought Brian Eno was a much better producer than Jeff Lynne: the former lets his musical mind be absorbed by the bands he produces, while with Lynne it's reversed.
aug 23, 2025, 9:26 pm • 1 0 • view
Makes me appreciate the craft that Paul and George, particularly, put into the record, even as the song itself is not even really a song, more a sort of vague quarter-thought-out doodle. If only Paul had been brave enough to do the radical songwriting surgery in 1995 he later did on "Now and Then"
aug 23, 2025, 12:50 pm • 10 1 • view
Enjoyed this from Pete earlier. bsky.app/profile/pete...
aug 23, 2025, 12:52 pm • 1 1 • view
My guess is he probably would have done but worried that George would think he was overstepping. In all the footage Paul seems very nervous of George, possibly thinking that if anyone was going to drop out and cancel the project it was George.
aug 23, 2025, 12:52 pm • 9 0 • view
I think you are spot on there.
aug 23, 2025, 12:58 pm • 4 0 • view
The new mix very much sounds like a collection of strummed acoustic guitars with drums and synth way in the background. Also, the harmonies sound like they were singing to the old recording – they don't seem to "blend" as well as in the '95 version. Still, fascinating.
aug 23, 2025, 1:05 pm • 0 0 • view
It sounds super weird not to have the double track on a John vocal. Somehow feels even wrong-er than the '90s record.
aug 23, 2025, 1:48 pm • 1 0 • view