The first of three Beatles anthologies featuring rarities, outtakes, early live performances, and songs with original drummer Pete Best and bassist Stuart Sutcliffe was released 25 years ago today.

The collection also debuted “Free as a Bird” as the band’s first single in a quarter-century.

Originally a home demo written and recorded by John Lennon three years before his murder, the surviving Beatles reunited in early 1994 to contribute additional vocals and instrumentation.

ELO’s Jeff Lynne, who collaborated with George Harrison on both his album Cloud Nine and as part of the Traveling Wilburys, also co-produced the track.

Anthology 1, and “Free as a Bird” more specifically, was very much a reintroduction for 19-year-old me. The second anthology, released the following March, featured more songs that I personally enjoyed. But the first served in large part as an invaluable origin story of the biggest band that will likely ever exist.