Beatles final song ‘Now and Then’ to release after 50 years in iconic Red album | Watch teaser
- More than 50 years after The Beatles broke up, the band have announced the release of their "last song"
- Called Now And Then, it is based on a 1970s demo recording by John Lennon, and was completed last year by Paul McCartney
- Sir Paul teased the song saying AI technology had been used to "extricate" Lennon's vocals from an old cassette
The Beatles, more than half a century after their breakup, have unveiled the release of their “final song” titled “Now And Then.” This extraordinary revelation is based on a 1970s demo recording by John Lennon and was recently finalized by Sir Paul McCartney and Sir Ringo Starr.
Sir Paul had hinted at the song’s existence during a BBC interview earlier this summer, mentioning that AI technology had been employed to extract Lennon’s vocals from an old cassette. The song is set to premiere on November 2nd at 14:00 GMT.
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Additionally, “Now And Then” will be featured on newly remastered versions of The Beatles’ iconic Red and Blue albums, scheduled for release on November 10th. These compilations, originally released in 1973, span the band’s extensive career and are regarded as some of the most influential greatest hits albums in history, according to Rolling Stone magazine. The Red Album encompasses the Beatles’ early mop-top era, while the Blue Album represents their later, more experimental period.
In a press release, the surviving Beatles expressed their sentiments about completing the song, describing it as a surreal and emotional experience. Sir Paul McCartney shared, “There it was, John’s voice, crystal clear… It’s quite emotional. And we all play on it; it’s a genuine Beatles recording. In 2023, to still be working on Beatles music and about to release a new song the public haven’t heard, I think it’s an exciting thing.” Ringo Starr added, “It was the closest we’ll ever come to having him back in the room, so it was very emotional for all of us. It was like John was there, you know. It’s far out.”
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“Now And Then” was originally penned by John Lennon after the Beatles disbanded in 1970 and had circulated as a bootleg for many years. The song, an apologetic love letter, is addressed to an old friend or lover, with Lennon expressing, “Now and then, I miss you / Now and then, I want you to return to me.” Following Lennon’s tragic shooting outside his New York apartment in December 1980, his widow Yoko Ono presented the song to Sir Paul.
The song was part of a cassette labeled “For Paul,” which also included early versions of “Free As A Bird” and “Real Love.” The surviving Beatles later refined and released these songs as singles in 1995 and 1996 as part of their Anthology project. The band had previously attempted to record “Now And Then,” but the session was abandoned due to the subpar quality of Lennon’s original recording, according to guitarist George Harrison.
For years, Sir Paul had aspired to complete the song, and recent advancements in audio technology have finally made that dream a reality. The release of this “final song” stands as an emotional and historic moment for Beatles fans worldwide.
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