“Now And Then”

About “Now And Then”

Over the course of five decades, the realization of “Now and Then” was a journey filled with events, shaped by ongoing discussions and collaborations among the four Beatles that continue to this day. The legendary John Lennon demo, steeped in myth, saw its initial efforts in February 1995 when Paul, George, and Ringo worked on it as part of The Beatles Anthology project. However, it remained incomplete, largely due to the formidable technological hurdles posed by John’s recorded vocals from the 1970s. For years, it seemed like the song would never reach completion.

Then, in 2022, a stroke of serendipity occurred. A software system developed by Peter Jackson and his team, integral to the production of the documentary series “Get Back,” finally allowed for the separation of John’s vocals from his piano part. Consequently, the original recording came to life, and all four Beatles contributed to its revitalization.

This extraordinary tale of musical archaeology mirrors The Beatles’ boundless creative curiosity and mutual fascination with technology. It signifies the culmination of the final recording that John, Paul, George, and Ringo will ever create together, and pays tribute to the enduring legacy of the preeminent and most influential band in the history of popular music.

On November 1, 2023, the Beatles’ YouTube channel premiered ‘Now and Then – The Last Beatles Song,’ a 12-minute documentary film written and directed by Oliver Murray. This short film delves into the backstory of the song, featuring insights from McCartney, Starr, Harrison, Sean Lennon, and Jackson. Additionally, it offers a sneak peek of an upcoming release.

Personnel

The Beatles

• John Lennon – lead and backing vocals
• Paul McCartney – lead and backing vocals, bass, lap steel guitar, piano, electric harpsichord, shaker
• George Harrison – backing vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar
• Ringo Starr – backing vocals, drums, tambourine, shaker

Production

• Paul McCartney, Giles Martin, Ben Foster – string arrangement
• Produced by Paul McCartney and Giles Martin, with additional production by Jeff Lynne
• Giles Martin, Sam Okell – stereo and Atmos mixes
• Miles Showell – vinyl mastering
• Oli Morgan – Atmos mastering
• Bruce Sugar, Steve Genewick, Greg McAllister, Geoff Emerick, Keith Smith, Mark “Spike” Stent, Steve Orchard, Jon Jacobs – engineering

Orchestra

• Violin: Neel Hammond, Adrianne Pope, Charlie Bisharat, Andrew Bulbrook, Songa Lee, Serena McKinney
• Viola: Ayvren Harrison, Caroline Buckman, Drew Forde, Linnea Powell
• Cello: Mia Barcia-Colombo, Giovanna Clayton, Niall Ferguson
• Double bass: Mike Valerio