I have been hyped about this because I’m not old enough to remember The Beatles when they were together. In the 90s when Free As A Bird came out I was so excited because it was the first time I ever heard a “new” Beatles song. I’ve been waiting for Paul to finish this song for 27 years. I thought it would end up just being him finishing it or not at all. My son Bailey is excited also. He was born in 2000 so he didn’t even get to hear Free As A Bird much less The Beatles as an active band. I think he is more excited than I am.
The thing that I’m happy about the most after listening to it is the great sound. They didn’t try to make it fit with everyone else now. The mix sounds lively and not flat and compressed to death like a lot of recordings. I’m listening through headphones and they did a hell of a job on it.
Over 700 radio stations will play the song when it’s released.
This song is not one of John’s best but it sounds great hearing John Lennon again. This will be the last single from them and for me, this is my musical event of the year.
This came about because of Peter Jackson’s advancements in audio technology while working on Get Back. He took John’s voice off of the 1978 cassette tape and it’s clean. They ran into a buzz on the tape before and could not finish it in the 90s.
Is this the best song ever by them? No, it’s not but it’s a nice send-off. On the single version, the B-Side is appropriately their first single Love Me Do. The video (out tomorrow) was directed by Peter Jackson.
What a long road this song took to get here.
12-Minute Bio on the song.
Now and Then
I know it’s true, it’s all because of you
And if I make it through, it’s all because of you
And now and then, if we must start again
Well we will know for sure, that I love you
I don’t want to lose you – oh no, no, no
Lose you or abuse you – oh no, no, no, sweet doll
But if you have to go, away
If you have to go
Nda-da-doo, doo-doo-doo
Now and then, I miss you
Oh now and then, I want you to return on me
And now return to me…
I know it’s true, it’s all because of you
And if you go away, I know you you’ll nev’… stay
I don’t want to lose you – oh no, no, no
Abuse you or confuse you – oh no, no, no, sweet darl’
But if you had to go,
Well I won’t stop you babe
And if you had to go, well you believe in that love
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I agree, it’s a nice send off.
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It really is…I have heard the demo for years so I didn’t think I’d like it as much as I did…I really did.
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Pretty cool song.
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❤️
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Beautiful song, and good to hear Lennon’s voice, even if tinged with a bit of sadness. If he were still alive, I think it would’ve released sooner.
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Yes…it is sad because it takes me back to when that happened. I didn’t think I’d like this one as much…but I love the overall sound.
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Great minds, LOL! Yes, I’ve only heard it once so far, and rather quietly through computer, but initial reaction is pretty good, both as a song and a recording. I’m glad they did this! and look forward to hearing it better a little later today, maybe like you through headphones.
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Like I said in the other…headphones is the way to go…as our friend Paul would say to listen to the bloody Beatles lol.
I’m happy they mixed it like the 20th Century…that alone makes me incredibly happy.
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I’ll put on my Bose and see what’s what for sure. It’s great your son was looking forward to it, that kind of anticipation seems to be exclusively reserved for TS these days! Over 700 stations, Wow!
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Bailey has talked about it ever since the website had that blank tape on. He was counting down Monday lol. I understand because I was like that in the 90s because I wasn’t around for the original.
They did a great job from a cassette tape made in the seventies.
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That’s so cool, yeah the back story really make you appreciate it more. Bless Jackson for having that software developed, amazing technology. He was the right man for the job or is that my LOTR bias showing again!
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I’m looking forward to the video coming out tomorrow with Jackson directing it. That is a marriage of talent that I’m thankful for…I mean when Peter Jackson is your video-audio guy…you are doing pretty good lol.
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I think they are trying to sound too much like that band, Oasis. 😉
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Lol…
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What I like best is they mixed it like the 20th Century. I’m not a fan of modern mixes
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It’s very Johnish in structure. It’s catchy; the more I listen the more it will hook in; that’s usually the way with Beatles songs, they have mini moments in them.
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I’m so happy…the reason I am is the mix. I didn’t want them to sound like the Foo Fighters…and I like the Foo Fighters…this song sounds like the 20th Century…which it should sound like. I’ve heard the demo for years and I was ready not to like it…but I love what they did the recording…and yes…it’s hooked me now.
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Awesome! I need to check this out. Super cool your son was looking as much to this track like the old man was! Power to the music!
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YES…Deke they got it right. The mix sounds like it came from the 20th Century…they don’t sound like the Foo Fighters…and I like the Foo Fighters….but I did not want them to try to go modern…they actually sound like The Beatles.
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Thats the best thing Max. They did what they did and I get what you’re saying about the Foo’s. Besides Grohl will never get close to that scream that Lennon put down at the beginning of Revolution.
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LOL that is true…. you know Deke…it’s not that I don’t like newer music but I figured it out man…it’s the mix I hate so bad. It seems like everything is mixed flat now…no depth…I’m not sure if I’m saying it right.
I think it’s because they mix for cheap headphones and computer speakers now instead of the older great stereo systems?
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Check out the last two Rival Sons albums Max. Dark Fighter and Light Bringer. They nabbed a throwback sound from the 70s as far as the production goes.
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I’m listening to Rival Sons…yes…that is much better!
Deke is it just me or does that make sense what I’m saying? This Rival Sons song has depth.
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Yeah some new rock sounds so compressed almost generic
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Thank you!
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It’s very pleasant. To hear a new song with John singing is a special event for sure.
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The mix was perfect to me…you could hear things and some things were higher than the others…I’m so glad they didn’t go modern and end up sounding like the Foo Fighters…and I like the Foo Fighters.
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The local Los Angeles public radio station played the Now & Then with a few opening words from Paul. “Here is our new song. If you like it — great! If you don’t — too bad.” That sums up my feelings about the haters. But from the comments I’ve read the song is being very well received. And that’s great. I love it more with each listening. And I think my neighbors do, too, as I have been playing it at full volume, and no complaints yet.
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I share your sentiment and it appears how other folks who commented feel about “Now and Then”: A pretty pleasant song with an amazing sound quality!
I worked until pretty late today, so will have my take on it tomorrow.
Unless you know, there’s really no way to tell it’s based on a home demo by John, which apparently had such mediocre sound quality that George called f…ing rubbish. To be clear, he was referring to the sound quality, not the song.
That 12-minute documentary about the completion of the song, which took more than 40 years (starting from the time John recorded the demo), is pretty interesting.
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They got the sound so good…I know I’m going on and on about it but I was so afraid that they would try to go modern. That flat sound…
I’m looking forward to the video tomorrow! I can’t wait to see that. I kept saying…and I like the Foo Fighters but I’m glad they didn’t go that way mixing it.
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To me the sound quality is the real accomplishment here. I’ve heard using headphones and via my car stereo, and it just sounds amazing. The only thing I’m having trouble with is to recognize the backing vocals from “Here, There and Everywhere”, “Because” and a third Beatles song I can’t remember. It’s been a long day!😀
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I didn’t either but Bailey showed me. He said he listened to it at least 20 times lol
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There are some uhs and ahs in there, but I find it hard to recognize these Beatles songs.
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It’s clever how the put those other songs in there. It sounds so dang huge…that piano was really up in the mix also.
I checked around today on youtube and the net…it’s a mostly very positive reaction.
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I’ve only listened to it once, but it’s good. It shows how much technology has advanced in the twenty five or so years, since the last time they exhumed Lennon’s vocals!
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I’m almost sick of it…my son played it at least 30 times last night. Some people wanted another A Day in the Life or Something…lol…they had what they had to work with…there was no more. They did a good job and it’s lush and full….AND..most importantly…it’s NOT flat.
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It does sound a bit like a Beatles song created by AI…. Which it is, I guess. But what more can you expect at this stage? I like it, and it looks like it’s going to be a big hit, going by its streaming numbers!
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It’s mixed well…we were talking about this other night. They mixed it like it was older. It’s not flat.
The used AI is to get Lennon’s voice off of that cassette tape without the noise….which I’m glad they did. I was prepared not to like it…but I do.
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Whats odd when you think about it is when John recorded his voice 45 years ago with piano…little did he know it would be all over the world.
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I guess he hoped it would be, at some point. There is an ethical question in using dead people’s voices, and their images in those hologram shows… Though I don’t think Lennon would have objected to this.
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No…if it was an AI voice…then no I wouldn’t have wanted them to do it.
Yea he hoped it would be…but not in that format lol. It was recorded on a regular casette player.
It’s a good song to close the Beatles out on…. The cool…well not cool… In the 80s Paul said that the last words Lennon spoke to him was “think of me every now and then my friend”…. he must have just written song.
I think Lennon would have liked it…
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I’m taking a break until next week…but I didn’t think it would be a huge hit Stewart…I really didn’t…I thought top 40 maybe…but young people are liking it as well. I just read where it sold more than the top 5 combined in the UK and it’s almost certain going to be a number 1. I’m astonished! I really am. They didn’t do this in the 90s…not this high. That is why I didn’t think this would be a hit. I guess social media has pushed this one…plus the sound of it sounds so rich.
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Yes it looks guaranteed #1 in the UK now… Putting my chart geek hat on, ‘Free as a Bird’ sold enough in 1995 to get number one pretty much any other week. Because they released it for the Xmas market, sales were really high, and Michael Jackson was huge competition. This time around, it’s a quieter week (last week they’d have had stiff competition from Taylor Swift’s new songs) and they’ve also released a load of vinyl and CDs so they’re not just relying on streaming. However it’s happened – it’s great!
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Yeah yeah yeah. I think the production is nicely done, but the song itself isn’t that crazy. But still, as the last song, of course historical and touching.
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I do think they did a good job on what they had to work with.
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This is very nice and poignant, the sound of John’s voice, and the harmonies. I really love the harmonies.
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Yes me also…some people I guess expected A Day In The Life…they had what they had to work with…and did a good job…like you said…hearing John’s voice is the best thing.
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At first I had mixed feelings about this, but after listening to “Now and Then” several times, I’ve concluded it’s a pretty good song that’s growing on me. It’s amazing how far technology has advanced to be able to pull the elements from John’s original demo and the three remaining Beatles’ 1994 sessions, then enhance and combine them with newly-recorded parts to create a decent-sounding track. I really enjoyed the mini-documentary about the making of the song, and love the rather nostalgic video.
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If they would have recreated his voice with AI I would not have liked it or even posted it. Some people thought that when they heard AI.
I like how full it sounds. I was happy it is #1 on the iTunes chart today. I do hope it gets into the top 40.
It is a great story of how it came to be. Pretty cool to have Peter Jackson as your video and audio guy.
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Love it. Bought it. Had it enter at 1 in my personal charts yesterday, the Fabs’ 32nd chart-topper since September 1968 when I started compiling my faves. The last time The Stones and The Beatles were in my chart at the same time with new songs was Summer Of ’69. I was 11, now I’m 65. Who could possibly have imagined that!
It’s on a par with Free As A Bird, which I also loved, and for the same reasons, great tune, nice production, and an immense sense of sadness and loss mixed with wistful wonder at having some of them still around and sounding great. It’s great for young music fans too, as they feel included in The Beatles story now, having no memory of even Anthology being new.
Stats. The Stones went top 40 with Angry in the official UK charts this year, 60 years on and still having hit records, and The Fabs now outdo them with 61 years, Love Me Do on the B side, and number 42 on one day’s sales, including streaming data, and topping the actual sales chart (downloads and vinyl) after one day’s sales. Hoping it goes up next week and does what ABBA managed on their comeback: top 10. That’s quite an achievement when most streaming is done by teenagers.
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Free As A Bird I loved as well…and yes I love this! They turned a hard to hear demo into a real song that only they could do.
My son is 23 and him and his friends are streaming it. Heck when I went to see McCartney in 2010 and 2014 there were more college kids there than older people.
I’m happy you like it…many Beatle fans who were old enough to hear them in real time are complaining they shouldn’t have done it and etc…I don’t understand that…because with people like me…Free As A Bird and Real Love were the first “new” Beatle songs we ever heard. My son and his friends…THIS is the first new Beatles song they heard.
I was hoping it would get into the top 40 at least. It looks like it might do that. The video is something also….having Peter Jackson as your video guy is pretty cool! It is a bit jolting at first when you see John and George join the now Pau and Ringo but I like it.
To sum it up…I think it was a great song to end it with. “Think of me every Now and Then my Friend” was the last words that Lennon ever said to Paul…so it fits.
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I’ll be honest, I expect most naysayers are fans who don’t listen to new music and are happy to stay in their 60’s bubble. Not me. New stuff is what I love most, was when I was 5 and 60 years later it still is. I had to extend my current chart to 85 this week, there’s so much I rate (and buy) 🙂
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I do like a lot of new alternative bands now. Like the band “Barbara” and others.
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Must have a listen, I often swap recommendations with friends of a similar vintage to me 🙂
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I reblogged this post by a guy named Jeff….he only covers new alt bands… you might like his blog.
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Thanks for the link Max, yes that’s very melodic Welcome Back-ish, pleasant, I think I’ll buy it. Followed Jeff’s blog too, the current chart he posted has quite a few I’ve bought and quite a few I need to hear 🙂 Thanks again, I may post my current charts again it’s been ages – mostly due to laptop problems for quite some time! Need to buy a new one 🙂
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I’m so happy they are #1 again in the UK…being introduced to another generation which is a cool thing.
I see them making the top 10 here….
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As with “Free As a Bird,” I like it more each time I hear it. I mean, a “new” Beatles song? Yeah, yeah, yeah!
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I totally agree…I was shocked some when it hit #1 in the UK…which was really cool.
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Wanted to like your comment, but couldn’t — WordPress is having a hissy.
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