The Beatles "Now And Then" will be released next week.
The Fab Four, the legends, the icons – The Beatles have dropped a seismic musical bombshell that’s sending waves of excitement across the globe. Announced for release on Friday, November 3rd at 1 AM AEDT, “Now And Then” will mark the closing chapter in the storied career of one of the world’s most celebrated bands.
The Beatles have always been synonymous with the unexpected, and their latest surprise is nothing short of extraordinary. “Now And Then” is the swan song of the iconic group, written by John Lennon, nurtured by Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, and finally polished by McCartney and Starr over four decades.
This final Beatles creation will make its worldwide debut at 2 PM GMT on Thursday, November 2nd. It will be accompanied by the band’s 1962 debut UK single, “Love Me Do,” in a double A-side release – a fitting full-circle counterpart to “Now And Then.” Both tracks have been mixed in stereo and Dolby Atmos®, with original cover art designed by the acclaimed artist Ed Ruscha.
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Moreover, the release of the new music video for “Now And Then” is scheduled for Friday, November 3rd, promising an immersive visual experience. Additional details, including global premiere plans, will be revealed in due course.
But the excitement doesn’t stop there. An exclusive 12-minute documentary film titled “Now And Then – The Last Beatles Song,” written and directed by Oliver Murray, is set to premiere on November 1st. The global online premiere will be hosted on The Beatles’ YouTube channel at 7:30 PM GMT. This poignant film delves into the backstory of the final Beatles song, featuring exclusive footage and commentary from Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, George Harrison, Sean Ono Lennon, and Peter Jackson.
Adding to the excitement, fans can pre-order and pre-save the “Now And Then”/ “Love Me Do” double A-side single in various formats, including digital, streaming, 7-inch black & colored vinyl, and limited edition Beatles Store-exclusives like cassettes and 7-inch blue & white marbled vinyl. The Dolby Atmos mixes will also be available digitally and for streaming.
The story of “Now And Then” traces back to the late 1970s when John Lennon recorded a demo with vocals and piano at his New York home. Fast forward to 2022, and advancements in audio restoration techniques opened the door to completing the song. Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr took the helm, adding their contributions to create a genuine Beatles recording. The finished track was produced by McCartney and Giles Martin and mixed by Spike Stent.
Paul McCartney shared his emotions about the project, saying, “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, reflecting on the recording process, 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.”
“Now And Then” arrives following the release of “The Beatles: Get Back” docuseries, directed by Peter Jackson, which captivated viewers with its audio and visual restoration. This achievement opened the door to revisiting the “Now And Then” demo, leading to the current project.
John Harris, a journalist and author, has penned new essays for both “1962-1966 (‘The Red Album’)” and “1967-1970 (‘The Blue Album’)” collections. These albums, originally introduced 50 years ago, have received expanded 2023 Edition packages. The tracklists for both have been extended, with all songs mixed in true stereo and Dolby Atmos. Fans can look forward to new 4CD and 180-gram 6LP vinyl collections.
The expanded collections aim to introduce new generations to The Beatles’ timeless music. As part of the 2023 Edition releases, “Love Me Do” kicks off “1962-1966 (2023 Edition)”, and “Now And Then” completes “1967-1970 (2023 Edition)”. These sets offer a comprehensive overview of The Beatles’ remarkable career.
With “Now And Then” serving as the final testament of The Beatles’ musical journey, fans across the world are counting down the days until the historic release on November 3rd. This is the last gift from the legends, a treasure trove of music and memories, all meant to be heard as The Beatles intended.
This musical revelation is a momentous occasion that marks the end of an era, but it’s far from a farewell. It’s a celebration of a legendary band’s extraordinary journey, one that continues to inspire and captivate generations. The Beatles are gone, but their music remains timeless, and “Now And Then” is set to etch their legacy in the annals of history, one last time.
Preorder/pre-save “Now And Then”/ “Love Me Do” double A-side single here
