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4.50pm
11 November 2010
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Joe said
“I added some backing vocals from other Beatles tracks to create some coherence and to make sure that it sounds like the Beatles.” Sharp-eared listeners will detect harmonies borrowed from “Because ,” “Here, There & Everywhere” and “Eleanor Rigby .”
https://people.com/the-beatles…..en-8382741
So that fake from fifteen years ago was real. 
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6.57pm
2 May 2013
Offline I’m excited about a new Beatles track, absolutely, but I think Apple have screwed the punters royally again. Just putting Love Me Do as the 7″ B-side. Yes, a ‘new’ 2023 mix where presumably it’ll be in true stereo with something other than vocals out of one speaker, all instruments out of the other; but a chance to show what the de-mixing technology can do on (say) a Star Club track, or Granada TV’s Some Other Guy (which already has an almost acceptable fan version out there) and get the punters really excited for a future project. Or as suggested earlier, show the development of the track. And no CD single to make you buy the Blue Album if you want it on that format featuring a few new mixes, yes, but tracks you already own over and over (and over). Even putting Giles’ updated versions of the Jeff Lynne tracks on the Blue Album would have been better (and hopefully wiped away some of the awful Jeff Lynne production out of there – one style only, make everything sound like ELO).
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Von Bontee, Into the Sky with Diamonds12.10am
18 August 2021
Offline I can’t really put a good argument against what you’ve said. I don’t agree with you even though you are right. The Blue Album is almost completely what we, or at least me, has already bought in big shiny boxes with little shiny bank notes earnt in gaping holes that should be filled with family, friends and strangers who’ll help you see the width of this little star we breed on.
I do see the circle and the reason they’re buffing for dollars in adding the beginning to the end. And I know it’s part of the show.
But I’ve loved this little circus for almost 40 years now and I’ve looked outside from in here. And I can’t find anything that steals less and gives more.
10.41pm
23 May 2021
Offline KyleKartan said
What’s the difference between 12 and 7 inch?
Shamrock Womlbs said
Joe said
It seems that the Beatles store exclusives are white marble, light blue, and clear 7″ vinyl, and red 12″ vinyl. Not sure if the cassette is available elsewhere. I think the black vinyl versions are available elsewhere but I’m not 100% on that.
The red vinyl 12″ seems to not be available on https://ukstore.thebeatles.com/ – it’s shown on the front page of thebeatles.com, but when you click through to the UK store only the black 12″ is there.
The artwork looks so ugly…
I just took literally two minutes on my phone to create something much more appealing.
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1 May 2011
Offline I was hoping the artwork was temporary until the final cover was dropped. Apple’s artwork has been poor for a time and this continues it.
‘LMD’ is there to push the ‘Red’ album and it’s the first single (as noted by others). I think a true stereo ‘SLY’ would have been a far better choice; 50 years on etc. If played on the radio/anywhere you do get the power of the drums followed by the vocals. ‘LMD’ doesn’t have the same immediate impact.
Any arguement of not agreeing with whatever which uses anything to do with what would John think is immediately redundant as I highly doubt he’d want a crappy home demo to be used in the first place. He was all in favour of pushing boundaries and experimenting tho so who knows. Plus he’s simply not here to have any input at all. If removing the piano is what needs done then so be it. Same as with whatever George actually contributed (I know Apple say guitar). But here we are and this is what we’re getting. I actually do like the idea of weaving in original Beatles backing vocals from elsewhere tho, incorporating the ‘Love’ approach.
I just want it to be a good song, justifying the name ‘Beatles’, as this is it. The end. Unless in 29 years time their great great grandkids start tapping devices to give us yet another final song.
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8.14am
24 March 2014
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that thing about adding voices from other tracks creating a Beatles omelet is just another thing that put me totally off of this release.
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4.15pm
14 December 2009
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Shamrock Womlbs said
that thing about adding voices from other tracks creating a Beatles omelet is just another thing that put me totally off of this release.
Indeed. So we’re gonna get this “new” record full of bits recorded in 1966, 1969, 1979, 1995 and 2023?! And they had to do all this patchwork – including removing John’s piano so that Paul could replace it with his own – just to come up with a result that’ll be sonically presentable? This project is starting to sound more like an experiment for Paul and Giles to play around with, than an attempt to realize John’s song.
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4.41pm
24 August 2021
Offline Von Bontee said
Shamrock Womlbs said
Indeed. So we’re gonna get this “new” record full of bits recorded in 1966, 1969, 1979, 1995 and 2023?! And they had to do all this patchwork – including removing John’s piano so that Paul could replace it with his own – just to come up with a result that’ll be sonically presentable? This project is starting to sound more like an experiment for Paul and Giles to play around with, than an attempt to realize John’s song.
To be fair, couldn’t you argue that that’s what Free As A Bird and Real Love were? Sonic playgrounds to experiment on and not so much realizing John’s work? A lot of people especially said that about Jeff Lynne at the time, especially by a lot of the most hostile critics in the press. Hence being part of the reason why the singles didn’t set the world on fire the way all previous Beatles singles had.
In that sense then, this is basically more or less the same, then. Where do you draw the line to say “not a real song but an experiment and ego run amok?”
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Von Bontee6.03pm
14 December 2009
Offline Toxic34 said
Von Bontee said
Shamrock Womlbs said
Indeed. So we’re gonna get this “new” record full of bits recorded in 1966, 1969, 1979, 1995 and 2023?! And they had to do all this patchwork – including removing John’s piano so that Paul could replace it with his own – just to come up with a result that’ll be sonically presentable? This project is starting to sound more like an experiment for Paul and Giles to play around with, than an attempt to realize John’s song.
To be fair, couldn’t you argue that that’s what Free As A Bird and Real Love were? Sonic playgrounds to experiment on and not so much realizing John’s work? A lot of people especially said that about Jeff Lynne at the time, especially by a lot of the most hostile critics in the press. Hence being part of the reason why the singles didn’t set the world on fire the way all previous Beatles singles had.
In that sense then, this is basically more or less the same, then. Where do you draw the line to say “not a real song but an experiment and ego run amok?”
Well, the previous two projects were reasonably straightforward, just Ringo, George and Paul adding 1994 overdubs to John’s demo. Now with this one, aside from having the new AI tool to work with, they’ve also got to incorporate George’s 1990s contributions, as well as John’s original 1979 recording, PLUS whatever Paul (and Ringo?) chose to add in 2023, so it can’t help but be a more complicated piece of work.
Were “Real Love ” and “Free As A Bird ” experiments in recording, too? Sure, basically; and we could say the same about “Yesterday “, and “Tomorrow Never Knows ” and a lot of other things the Beatles successfully tried; I really don’t have a problem with experimentation per se.
However, I have a *huge* problem with this idea of Giles repurposing bits of archival 1960s Beatles vocal recordings and sprinkling them into a “new” creation, and this is by far my chief objection – I’m not sure why I find that decision so appalling, only that I do. Like, if Paul and Ringo can’t make a finalized satisfactory record out of John’s ’79 demo, plus the P/G/R additions of ’94-5, plus whatever Paul and Ringo have done in the meantime…if all those efforts still isn’t enough, and they feel they have to dig through the EMI tape catalog to add *actual* Beatles recordings to make the final result sufficiently Beatlish; then I have to wonder if the whole thing was worth it.
Who knows, maybe the result will turn out to be an enjoyable record to the ears, in the end, but I’m not gonna pretend I’m expecting that, sorry.
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8.17pm
2 May 2013
Offline meanmistermustard said
I highly doubt he’d want a crappy home demo to be used in the first place.
Au contraire:
And the cassette with Now And Then on was marked “For Paul” with instructions to do something with it.
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28 July 2023
Offline I’m choosing to look at all of this through a more sentimental lense. I like to believe that Paul truly does just want to be with his brothers again and make music with them, just like old times. To me it doesn’t matter whether this was necessary, or whether it’ll feel like a “real” Beatles song. All that matters is these four guys loved each other, and as long as Paul and Ringo are around, George and John will always be loved. I don’t know. Maybe it’s not true, but I like to think it is.
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8.34pm
2 May 2013
Offline Parlogram appear to have a copy:
Now & Then | The Full Story Behind The Beatles’ Final Single – YouTube
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Richard, Rube11.38pm
6 May 2018
Offline his weeping guitar said
I’m choosing to look at all of this through a more sentimental lense. I like to believe that Paul truly does just want to be with his brothers again and make music with them, just like old times. To me it doesn’t matter whether this was necessary, or whether it’ll feel like a “real” Beatles song. All that matters is these four guys loved each other, and as long as Paul and Ringo are around, George and John will always be loved. I don’t know. Maybe it’s not true, but I like to think it is.
Yes, I agree with your sentiments.
I generally trust Paul and Ringo’s judgement and, from the information I’ve read so far, I think I’m going to be impressed with Now And Then . I’m looking forward to hearing it.
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1 May 2011
Offline Old Soak said
meanmistermustard said
I highly doubt he’d want a crappy home demo to be used in the first place.
Au contraire:
- The Wedding Album
And the cassette with Now And Then on was marked “For Paul” with instructions to do something with it.
‘GPAC’ isn’t a crappy home demo.
The latter three were from the johnandyoko avant garde unfinished music series. Very different to the commercial music that was put out.
I’ll give you ‘My Mother ‘s Dead’ but that was done for a specific closing statement on the LP.
As for writing ‘For Paul’ on the cassette presumably it was for John’s purpose when he was alive to give to Paul as an idea for a collaboration or whatever. Call it a filing system. I highly doubt John was thinking Paul could work the actual demo into something. He did the same with demos for Ringo.
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8.52am
14 June 2016
Offline Ahhh Girl said
How many of you (us) will need a full box of Kleenex when we listen to the song for the first time?
John really could express real feeling especially in his demos like Real Love . “Art is only a way of expressing pain.” I’m super interested to see how the new version differs and how much of a ballad it is.
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9.19am
2 May 2013
Offline meanmistermustard said
Old Soak said
meanmistermustard said
I highly doubt he’d want a crappy home demo to be used in the first place.
‘GPAC’ isn’t a crappy home demo.
No, it’s a crappy hotel bedroom demo John decided to put out as is. 4 track recorder or no, about all the sonic clarity of Barry Biggs’ Sideshow. A real AI clear up candidate.
3.56pm
10 August 2011
Offline @his weeping guitar I agree with the concept that Paul’s been jazzed at the thought of working with John again – and also keeping the Beatles in the public eye (and ear).
The thing I find striking about this song – just listening to John’s demo – is that it sounds like a Paul song!!!
It’s a variation on “Dear Friend” and “From a Lover to a Friend.”
That’s what you get when 2 guys have been working together since teenagers.
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5.36pm
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20 August 2013
Offline Thanks to a question from @Into the Sky with Diamonds, I found these threads…
Do you think “Now and Then” will be released soon? which is in the John section of the Forum. Due to the circumstances of its official release, we will keep this thread in the Songs section.
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20 August 2013
Offline KyleKartan said
From Instagram:12 Minute documentary on YouTube release date November 1st 7:30 PM GMT/3:30PM EDT, 12:30 PM PDT
Now And Then Release on November 2nd
{snip}
I got a little confused there for a moment (slow down and read properly, AG). There are two (2) videos coming out about the song.
The documentary @KyleKartan mentioned earlier that is coming on November 1st…
A 12-minute “Now And Then – The Last Beatles Song” documentary film, written and directed by Oliver Murray, will debut on November 1. The film’s global online premiere will be hosted on The Beatles’ YouTube channel at 7:30pm GMT / 3:30pm EDT / 12:30pm PDT. This poignant short film tells the story behind the last Beatles song, with exclusive footage and commentary from Paul, Ringo, George, Sean Ono Lennon and Peter Jackson. (from https://www.thebeatles.com/announcement)
AND
a music video for the song coming on November 3rd at 10 a.m. ET.
From The Guardian ‘Earliest known film of the Beatles’ to feature in Peter Jackson-directed music video
a little bit from the article…
Following his acclaimed documentary Get Back , director Peter Jackson is continuing his relationship with the Beatles by directing his first ever music video for the band’s final song, Now And Then .
It will feature unseen footage of the band, including what Jackson describes as “a few precious seconds of the Beatles performing in their leather suits, the earliest known film of the Beatles and never seen before.”
Jackson has now announced the Now And Then music video, saying the prospect of making it “produced a collection of anxieties almost too overwhelming to deal with. My lifelong love of the Beatles collided into a wall of sheer terror at the thought of letting everyone down. This created intense insecurity in me because I’d never made a music video before, and was not able to imagine how I could even begin to create one for a band that broke up more than 50 years ago, had never actually performed the song, and had half of its members no longer with us.
In a lengthy statement, Jackson explains that he ended up having plenty of footage to work with, much of it taken in 1995 as Harrison, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr attempted to work up a version of Now And Then that was never completed. Lennon’s son Sean and Harrison’s widow Olivia provided “some great unseen home movie footage” while Pete Best (yay Pete!
It was going to be far easier to do a runner. I just needed a little time to figure out a good reason for turning the Beatles down.”
), the Beatles’ original drummer, provided the leather-suited performance footage.From Billboard Peter Jackson-Directed Video for Final Beatles Song ‘Now and Then’ Sets Global Premiere
The clip was directed by Peter Jackson and is described in a release as a “poignant and humorous” visual that “invites viewers to celebrate The Beatles’ timeless and enduring love for one another with John, Paul, George and Ringo as they create the last Beatles song;…
Both the documentary and the music video will be on The Beatles YouTube channel.
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1 May 2011
Offline The Daily Beatle has an entry of Peter Jackson talking about the process of making the video.
I think it’s really cool that Pete Best has become involved in this, it gives it more of a completing the circle event.
The CD single is now on sale at The Beatles site and will be available on Amazon and elsewhere so I have bought a copy (even from the official site). One reason is, as someone else said, it will look good next to the other reunion tracks; another is I want the single to do well. In a day when selling 20 copies gets you into the top 5 in the UK, it would be quite horrible if ‘NAT’ didn’t get high up. I really want this to go well and streaming it isn’t anywhere similar. Hopefully a lot of fans will be buying physical copies, makes me think folk are giving back (I know most folk have bought 73 copies of ‘Pepper’ and own ‘She Loves You ‘ 493 times over on all the releases).
I have no idea how to do that linking thing where Joe gets some percentage so I’d leave that to someone else.
I might actually get excited about this. Will certainly be listening on Thursday.
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