Random Beatles moment: Real Love demo by John Lennon...

In 1996, The Beatles released the second (and last) single to coincide with the release of the Anthology 2 discs. The single, Real Love was a reworked version of one of John Lennon's composition in the final days prior to his assasination in 1980.

From wikipedia:

"Real Love" is a song written by John Lennon. Lennon made six takes of the song in 1979 and 1980 with "Real Life", a different song that merged with "Real Love". The song was ignored until 1988 when the sixth take was used on the documentary soundtrack Imagine: John Lennon. The song was well received and many considered it to be one of Lennon's best.


"Real Love" was subsequently reworked by the three remaining members of The Beatles (Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr) in late 1995, an approach also used for another incomplete Lennon track, "Free as a Bird". "Real Love" was released as a Beatles single in 1996 in the United Kingdom, United States and many other countries; it was the opening track on The Beatles' Anthology 2 album. It is the last "new" credited Beatles song to originate and be included on an album. To date, it is the last single by the group to become a Top 40 hit in the U.S.

I came across this version, purportedly being one of the earliest demo version recorded by John accompanied only by his piano on youtube...and instantly felt 'real love' (pun intended) upon hearing the bare/raw incarnation of the song. I love this version more than the official Anthology version for its' simplicity and raw emotion! :)



For the record, although as big of a fan of The Beatles myself, I've always thought that Lennon's vocals were too squeaky in the Anthology 2 (1996) version, though the music video really brings out that nostalgic feeling for the fab 4. Hear it for yourself here in the official video:



Comments