The single was released as part of the promotion for "The Beatles Anthology" video documentary and the "Anthology 1" compilation album. For the "Anthology" project, McCartney asked Lennon's widow Yoko Ono for unreleased material by Lennon to which the three remaining ex-Beatles could contribute. "Free as a Bird" was one of two such songs (along with "Real Love") for which McCartney, Harrison, and Starr contributed additional instrumentation, vocals, and arrangements. Jeff Lynne, who had worked with Harrison on Harrison's album "Cloud Nine" and as part of the Traveling Wilburys, co-produced.