Get back indeed. On November 2, 2023, more than 25 years after the release of two new Beatles songs for the group’s multipart Anthology documentary series (“Free As a Bird” and “Real Love,” which featured surviving members Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr lending accompaniment to sparse John Lennon ’70s-era demos), comes what is being described as the last Beatles song ever, “Now and Then.” During the Jeff Lynne-helmed reunion sessions, McCartney, Harrison and Starr spent a little time laying down some ideas over Lennon’s demo of “Now and Then” before work ceased. Decades later, employing Peter Jackson’s demixing technology, which allowed clear separation of Lennon’s vocals on his rudimentary demo, “Now and Then “ — produced by McCartney and Giles Martin with additional production by Lynne — is given the grandiose Fab Four treatment. Using Harrison’s acoustic and electric guitar from the aborted mid-’90s session, alongside newly recorded contributions from McCartney, Starr and a sparkling string arrangement by McCartney, Martin and Ben Foster, The Beatles are back one last time.
[Record collector alert: The single will be issued on cassette and 7-inch and 12-inch black vinyl and colored 7-inch vinyl variants (light blue/clear/marbled blue and white). The cassette and marbled 7-inch vinyl are limited-edition Beatles Store exclusives.]
Also, manna from Fab Four heaven arrived a week later on November 10, 2023, with newly expanded versions (2-CD/4-CD/6-LP configurations) of the band’s commercial blockbusters, 1962-1966 (“The Red Album”) and 1967-1970 (“The Blue Album”). Both benefit tremendously from the same demixing technology first used for the group’s critically acclaimed Jackson Disney documentary, Get Back. Hearing the extraordinary sonic improvements — especially in early Beatles tracks like “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” “She Loves You,” “A Hard Day’s Night,” “I Feel Fine,” “Eight Days a Week,” “Help!’ and others — will be a revelation to most Beatles fans.
Join us for a “fab” conversation with producer Giles Martin, who shares insight on both historic releases.
