Beatles hit the dancefloor

Sir Paul McCartney "This is an outbreak from my normal stuff"

Sir Paul McCartney is to release a Beatles dance track 30 years after the legendary group split up.

Called Free Now, the song uses out-takes from the Beatles' recording sessions from the 1960s and features a sound collage from the Fab Four's home city of Liverpool.

The record, which is being made available to DJs, is a collaboration with cult Welsh band Super Furry Animals.

It will be the first Beatles release since Sir Paul, George Harrison and Ringo Starr re-grouped to record Free as a Bird and Real Love over the late John Lennon's vocals in 1995.

'Manic'

Announcing the release Sir Paul called the 3½-minute track a "manic Beatles single" which is "not to be confused with my other work".

Sir Paul has been sending out a promotional single for DJs only

"It's more underground than what you usually hear from me but I like to be free enough to do this sort of thing," he said.

On the record fans will be able to hear all four members of the group chatting.

John Lennon can be heard saying: "OK Paul, you ready boy? This is it," and Paul replies "I feel it, I feel free now, free now."

Ambient soundtrack

Free Now is not expected to be released as a single but will be available on an album entitled Liverpool Sound Collage, described as an ambient soundtrack of Merseyside life.

Welsh group Super Furry Animals approached Sir Paul at the NME awards

Various local voices can be heard on the CD including shoppers, students at the Liverpool Fame School and a woman at McCartney's local fish and chip shop, as well as the lapping of the River Mersey.

Sir Paul recorded the sounds for the artist Peter Blake - best known for designing the Sergeant Pepper album cover - whose exhibition, About Collage, is currently at the Tate Liverpool gallery.

Former Killing Joke band member Youth produced the track.

The Super Furry Animals got involved after the band's Cian Ciaran approached the Beatles legend when he picked up his Best Band Ever gong at this year's NME Awards.

"I asked Cian Ciaran to mix something from it, which he kindly did, and my mate Youth used his talents to add a final touch," Sir Paul said.