Original composition by:Â John Lennon
Beatles version by:Â John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr
Recorded:Â 1979; 20, 21 March 1995; 2022; 2023
Producers:Â Paul McCartney, Giles Martin
Additional production:Â Jeff Lynne
Engineers:Â Geoff Emerick, Steve Orchard, Greg McAllister, Jon Jacobs, Steve Genewick, Bruce Sugar, Keith Smith
String arrangement:Â Paul McCartney, Giles Martin, Ben Foster
Released:Â 2 November 2023
Available on:
1967-1970Â (2023 reissue)
Personnel
- John Lennon: vocals
- Paul McCartney: vocals, guitar, bass guitar, piano, electric harpsichord, shaker
- George Harrison: vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar
- Ringo Starr: vocals, drums, tambourine, shaker
Based on a 1970s demonstration by John Lennon, ‘Now And Then’ briefly underwent consideration for inclusion on Anthology 3; however, it was later omitted from the compilation.
The song’s official announcement came on October 26, 2023, when it was declared as “the final Beatles song.” It became available on streaming platforms on November 2, with a physical release following on the next day.
‘Now And Then,’ also recognized as ‘I Don’t Want To Lose You’ and ‘Miss You,’ was recorded by Lennon in his residence at the Dakota Building in New York City.
In January 1994, Yoko Ono presented Paul McCartney with two cassettes containing John Lennon’s home recordings, including several incomplete and previously unreleased songs such as ‘Free As A Bird,’ ‘Real Love,’ ‘Grow Old With Me,’ and ‘Now And Then.’
On March 20 and 21, 1995, the surviving three Beatles embarked on the task of creating a backing track to complement Lennon’s ‘Now And Then’ demo. Regrettably, work on the song was halted on the second day.
According to McCartney, George Harrison was reluctant to proceed, possibly due to the extensive revision required before releasing the song. Additionally, there was an issue with a humming sound in Lennon’s demo that proved challenging to address.
Jeff Lynne, discussing the 1995 studio notes for ‘Now And Then,’ mentioned, “It was one day – one afternoon, really – messing with it. The song had a chorus but is almost totally lacking in verses. We did the backing track, a rough go that we really didn’t finish.”
‘Now And Then’ was considered for inclusion as a third reunion single in 1996. Ultimately, it was replaced on Anthology 3 by the orchestral track ‘A Beginning,’ originally recorded in 1968 as an unused introduction for ‘Don’t Pass Me By.’
Since 2006, there have been speculations about McCartney’s intention to complete ‘Now And Then,’ adding new verses and a drum track recorded by Ringo Starr.
In June 2023, during an interview with BBC Radio 4’s Today, McCartney revealed that artificial intelligence (AI) had been employed to complete “the last Beatles record,” which was then believed to be ‘Now And Then.’
He emphasized the significance of AI in contemporary music production and its potential to enhance and manipulate audio recordings. McCartney acknowledged that AI had played a role in extracting John Lennon’s voice from a low-quality cassette recording and completing the song.
The AI used for this purpose was Peter Jackson’s neural network MAL (machine-assisted learning) AI, named after The Beatles’ road manager Mal Evans. It was initially employed in the 2021 documentary ‘Get Back.’
The string arrangement for ‘Now And Then’ was a collaborative effort involving McCartney, Giles Martin, and Ben Foster. It was recorded at Capitol Studios in Los Angeles on May 1, 2022, with session musicians unaware that it was for a Beatles recording, assuming it was a McCartney solo project.
The release
‘Now And Then’ was eventually released as a single on streaming platforms on November 2, 2023, and included in the remixed reissue of the 1967-1970 compilation, also known as the ‘Blue album.’
On November 3, 2023, the song was issued as a double A-side single, featuring a new ‘true stereo’ remix of ‘Love Me Do.’ The single was available in various formats, including white marble, light blue, clear, and black 7″ vinyl, red 12″ vinyl, black 12″ vinyl, and cassette.
A day prior to the single’s release, on November 1, 2023, a short film documenting the making of the song was unveiled. It incorporated footage from the 1995 recording sessions and the 21st century, along with contributions from key figures involved in its creation.
The video
The music video for ‘Now And Then,’ directed by Peter Jackson, was released on November 3, 2023. It showcased previously-unseen footage of The Beatles, including their performance in Birkenhead on February 10, 1962, in their leather stage attire. The video also featured material from the 1995 Anthology sessions and previously-unseen archive footage.
In a press release dated October 26, 2023, it was officially announced that “Now And Then” would be released globally on November 2, marking the culmination of the Beatles’ enduring legacy. The double A-side single paired this final Beatles song with their debut UK single from 1962, “Love Me Do.” Both songs were presented in stereo and Dolby Atmos, with original cover art created by renowned artist Ed Ruscha. A new music video for “Now And Then” was scheduled to premiere on November 3, with further details to be disclosed.
Additionally, a 12-minute documentary film titled “Now And Then – The Last Beatles Song,” directed by Oliver Murray, was set to premiere on November 1, featuring exclusive footage and commentary from key figures involved in the song’s completion. The global online premiere was scheduled for November 1 on The Beatles’ YouTube channel.