New Beatles song 'Now and Then' released today 11-02-2023

WGH · « **on:** 2 Nov 2023, 05:58 pm »

The Beatles came together one last time to finish a John Lennon piano-and-vocal demo recorded in the late 1970s.

Check it out, sounds like the Beatles to me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOjuqmZzul4

The Beatles - Now And Then - The Last Beatles Song - 12 Minute Documentary
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APJAQoSCwuA

Here is a couple of articles how the song was made
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/02/arts/music/beatles-now-and-then-last-song.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/26/arts/music/beatles-final-song-now-and-then.html

Alain Arseneault · « **Reply #1 on:** 2 Nov 2023, 06:26 pm »

Quote from: WGH on 2 Nov 2023, 05:58 pm

The Beatles came together one last time to finish a John Lennon piano-and-vocal demo recorded in the late 1970s.

Check it out, sounds like the Beatles to me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOjuqmZzul4

The Beatles - Now And Then - The Last Beatles Song - 12 Minute Documentary
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APJAQoSCwuA

Here is a couple of articles how the song was made
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/02/arts/music/beatles-now-and-then-last-song.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/26/arts/music/beatles-final-song-now-and-then.html

Hi WGH,
even if I am a French Canadian I am a BIG fan of the Beatles.
Thanks for sharing the above links.
It almost made me cry because I love them so much.
I discover them when I was 16 years old with the song : I want to hold your hand.
The Beatles to me are the group that bring so much to the music world.

Double A

Charles Xavier · « **Reply #2 on:** 2 Nov 2023, 06:31 pm »

Thanks for posting.

ctviggen · « **Reply #3 on:** 2 Nov 2023, 09:36 pm »

That was a lot better than I thought it was going to be.

SteveFord · « **Reply #4 on:** 2 Nov 2023, 10:33 pm »

Yes, that turned out really well.

charmerci · « **Reply #5 on:** 3 Nov 2023, 03:10 am »

I've listened to the Beatles since before I can remember thanks to my older brothers. Even though the song was written by John, it sounds like a Jeff Lynne production of a solo Paul song with mediocre drumming by Ringo. Meh.

FullRangeMan · « **Reply #6 on:** 3 Nov 2023, 04:40 am »

Lyrics seems love song to Yoko.

Letitroll98 · « **Reply #7 on:** 3 Nov 2023, 10:20 am »

I saw it on some TV news show. They played a short cut that in no way encouraged me to listen to any more of it. And I'm a big Beatles fan.

charmerci · « **Reply #8 on:** 3 Nov 2023, 01:35 pm »

Quote from: Letitroll98 on 3 Nov 2023, 10:20 am

I saw it on some TV news show. They played a short cut that in no way encouraged me to listen to any more of it. And I'm a big Beatles fan.

The whole song is on The Beatles' YouTube channel.

WGH · « **Reply #9 on:** 3 Nov 2023, 04:16 pm »

Quote from: charmerci on 3 Nov 2023, 03:10 am

Even though the song was written by John, it sounds like a Jeff Lynne production of a solo Paul song...

There is a lot of cross pollination going on, the Beatles and Jeff Lynne have influenced each other. Jeff first heard the Beatles when he was 15 years old and has been heavily influenced by their music.

"During the 1980s and 1990s, Lynne collaborated on various projects with former members of the Beatles. The band had been a major influence on Lynne since the release of their debut album, Please Please Me, in 1963, and have continued to influence him throughout his career to date."

"In 1968, while performing with The Idle Race, Lynne and the other members of the band were invited to a Beatles session at Abbey Road Studios. While there, he met the Beatles during the making of The White Album, witnessing the band making it together. He spent an hour at the session, before going back to the sessions with the Idle Race. Years later, he admitted that being in the same room "caused me not to sleep for, like, three days." The original aim of Electric Light Orchestra was to take up "where the Beatles had left off, and to present it on stage." John Lennon praised the group, calling them the "sons of the Beatles" on a radio station when discussing the group's 1973 single "Showdown" on the New York radio station WNEW."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Lynne

HD Tracks has a 96kHz/24bit hi-res download of 'Now and Then' paired with 'Love Me Do". Beatles fans will see the symmetry: the last Beatles song paired with their first, which was released in 1962.
The 45 of Love Me Do/P.S. I Love You cost about $1 in 1962, accounting for inflation the same 45 would cost $10 today. HD Tracks is selling the 2 song download for $3.98.

https://www.hdtracks.com/?trk_msg=U03PO76V8GU4911M7FGPN37D2K&trk_contact=MTVB4LCFH9NBKJMNFN8MJH1CAC&trk_sid=H1N8VMQ33TBDIIN748T63PE53G&trk_link=9L3IVEQTJO8KN95S8FHFLDSDCK&utm_source=listrak&utm_medium=email&utm_term=See+top+new+Hi-Res&utm_campaign=The+Beatles%27+Final+Song+in+Hi-Res+%7c+25%25+Off+All+New+Hi-Res#/album/65441f9ddd921814d6361ffd

charmerci · « **Reply #10 on:** 3 Nov 2023, 09:07 pm »

Nah, I wouldn't say that it's a Beatles song, again it's a McCartney "song" produced by Lynne, very much like the Traveling Wilburys sound.

Rocket · « **Reply #11 on:** 4 Nov 2023, 01:35 pm »

Hi,

I liked the song which is so hauntingly beautiful. They did a great job of isolating John Lennon's voice and piano parts. Considering it was just a demo and recorded at his home its a really nice arrangement.

Cheers Rod

gene9p · « **Reply #12 on:** 4 Nov 2023, 01:43 pm »

I downloaded a Hi rez version which included Love Me Do as well..I prefer Love Me Do..lol

S Clark · « **Reply #13 on:** 4 Nov 2023, 02:25 pm »

My first impression is that were it on an album, it would be a solid filler song. But as I listened multiple more times, it began to grow on me.
It's not a first tier Beatles song, but it's a good one.

FullRangeMan · « **Reply #14 on:** 4 Nov 2023, 10:42 pm »

Quote from: Rocket on 4 Nov 2023, 01:35 pm

Hi,

I liked the song which is a hauntingly beautiful song. They did a great job of isolating John Lennon's voice and piano parts. A really nice arrangement.

Cheers Rod

The piano sound was the same from Imagine song.
Certainly the same white piano showed on Imagine video clip.

Digi-G · « **Reply #15 on:** 6 Nov 2023, 09:30 pm »

Quote from: charmerci on 3 Nov 2023, 09:07 pm

Nah, I wouldn't say that it's a Beatles song, again it's a McCartney "song" produced by Lynne, very much like the Traveling Wilburys sound.

Not sure how you can call it a McCartney song when John wrote it and is singing lead on it. If McCartney or Harrison even have vocals on it, I have a hard time hearing them. Maybe some oohs and aahs here and there. If you don't like it that's fine, but you should probably blame John.

Personally, I think it's a grower.

charmerci · « **Reply #16 on:** 7 Nov 2023, 04:24 pm »

Quote from: Digi-G on 6 Nov 2023, 09:30 pm

Not sure how you can call it a McCartney song when John wrote it and is singing lead on it. If McCartney or Harrison even have vocals on it, I have a hard time hearing them. Maybe some oohs and aahs here and there. If you don't like it that's fine, but you should probably blame John.

Personally, I think it's a grower.

Have you listened to the post-Beatles catalog? The song sounds like it came from Red Rose Speedway rather than anything anything that John released.

Rocket · « **Reply #17 on:** 8 Nov 2023, 12:01 am »

Hi,

It definitely sounds like a John Lennon song. The song was recorded on a cassette tape in the late 1970's. They had to isolate John Lennon's voice from the television in the background and also the piano.

Considering all of the above I think they did a great job.

Cheers Rod

Digi-G · « **Reply #18 on:** 8 Nov 2023, 12:46 pm »

There's a new video for this. Well, new to me anyway. I didn't see this on release day. It's a lot of fun.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Opxhh9Oh3rg&list=RDOpxhh9Oh3rg&start_radio=1

WGH · « **Reply #19 on:** 8 Nov 2023, 08:13 pm »

A new Beatles box set has been released - it must be Christmas time again. This time out the Beatles last song "Now and Then" is included in the box set.

The 6LP, 180g LP Box Set of "Red" (1962-1966) and "Blue" (1967-1970) is $118.99. "Now and Then" is on Disk 6.
>Amazon link<

Vinyl fans can now buy "Now and Then" on both 7" clear and 12" black vinyl

>7" clear $18.98 link<

>12" LP $22.98 link<