Music Review: “Now and Then” by the Beatles
By Joe Shuron
The four boys out of Liverpool who redefined pop music released their new single, “Now and Then.”
There’s a difference in this release, however — it is the first after George Harrison’s death in 2001. The late John Lennon put together a home demo tape of songs labeled “For Paul” in 1977. The remaining three men decided to come together to refine Lennon’s songs in 1995 as a way of continuing Lennon’s legacy after his dramatic and untimely death.
Two new Beatles songs came as a result of these sessions: “Free as a Bird” and “Real Love,” which were released on the Anthology 1 and Anthology 2 albums. The newly released “Now and Then” was worked on during those sessions but ultimately dismissed due to the poor sound quality of Lennon’s voice.
Recently, The Beatles lost break-up movie “Let It Be” was revisited by “Lord of the Rings” director Peter Jackson. Jackson went through hundreds of hours of Beatles footage taken during the “Get Back” sessions that took place in January of 1969. The original “Let It Be” movie showed these sessions as tumultuous and almost unbearable. The rerelease of the same footage as Jackson’s “The Beatles: Get Back” showed four friends enjoying the creative process of making music while dealing with a looming deadline from a record company.
Part of Jackson’s editing involved isolating voices to improve the sound quality of the original footage. In order to do so, Jackson used AI software to assist in isolating voices. In early 2022, Jackson used the same AI to isolate Lennon’s vocals from the homemade “Now and Then” recording. Jackson then approached Paul McCartney with his version of the demo.
A shocked McCartney approached Ringo Starr about finishing their late bandmate’s song. He agreed and with a little help from the late long-time Beatles producer George Martin’s son Giles Martin, “Now and Then” was on its way to becoming a song.
Guitar parts from George Harrison recorded during the Anthology sessions appear on “Now and Then” as well. McCartney redid Lennon’s piano from the original tape and added bass and backing vocals. Starr added drums and backing vocals as well. Backing harmonies from “Here There and Everywhere”, “Because”, and “Eleanor Rigby” also appear on the track.
“Now and Then” will not be your favorite Beatles track, but it serves as a melancholy reminder of what the Beatles were and how they tragically ended. The assassination of John Lennon shut the door on any full Beatles reunion. The hook of “Now and Then and I Miss You” sung by John Lennon presumably speaking to Paul McCartney takes a new meaning as an older McCartney misses his old friend.
The perceived public bitterness between The Beatles during the late 60s and early 70s never allowed for The Beatles to have a final curtain call. “The End” off the last recorded Beatles album, “Abbey Road,” was supposed to fill the void, but “Abbey Road” ended up being released before “Let it Be.” “Now and Then” was strategically released on Nov. 2, 2023, marking 61 years since the release of their first single “Love Me Do.” Creating a linear connection to the band's public beginning and end.
The Fab Four never disappoints and “Now and Then” lives up to The Beatles' standard. On Nov. 10, 2023, the Billboard Hot 100 chart updates, and “Now and Then” will mark another number-one hit for The Beatles. On the rock and roll charts, The Beatles currently hold the No. 1 spot with “Now and Then” and the No. 2 spot with “Love Me Do.”
A song that spans six decades fully represents the staying power of the lads from Liverpool. “Now and Then” honestly addresses the tragedies surrounding The Beatles and their eternal message of peace and love. Now, then, and forever, The Beatles will be remembered for their remarkable music and miraculous story of how they came to fame and how we miss them as much as they miss each other.
You can watch a documentary about the making of “Now and Then” here.
