On 5th October 1962 The Beatles released their first single “Love Me Do” to a lukewarm reception. On 3rd November 2023, just over 61 years later they release their last ever single “Now & Then” to a somewhat differing reception. So what has happened and why?

The Peter Pan of Pop?

You may have heard of The Beatles; they were a popular beat combo in the swinging 60’s who revolutionised pop music for the western world. After them popular music was never quite the same again. Before, it was Cliff and the Shadows, crooning and twanging, Guy Mitchell and Johnnie Ray, the easy listening pioneers. After, it was Pink Floyd, Bowie, Zeppelin and Roxy Music. Things certainly changed in the 60’s.

So, for anyone who’s not permanently wired into news of the day (I include myself in that category), here’s what’s been happening in the Beatleverse this week.

Let It Be

This story begins in January 1969, when the Beatles wrote and recorded what would be the final album they would release as a band, “Let It Be“¹.

The Beatles (McCartney probably) had had the bright idea of writing, recording, performing an album all in four weeks and making a feature film of the whole process (all of which they pretty much managed to accomplish), culminating in the now legendary “Rooftop Performance” in Savile Row, London on January 30th 1969. The output of this project became the album Let It Be.

Split

After they acrimoniously split in 1970, the four loveable mop-tops went their separate ways, each carving out a successful career as ex-Beatles. During the 90’s the surviving three (McCarney, Harrison and Starr – Lennon died in 1980) were asked to assist in putting together a definitive history of the band which they agreed to do. And the Beatles Anthology documentary series was born.

From this, their ‘previous’ last ever single “Free as a Bird” c/w “Real Love” was released in 1995, the songs were both John Lennon demos², to which the rest of the band added their own parts to.

Now & Then

Another song though was lurking in the shadows, “Now and Then“. Another Lennon demo but with lesser quality than the previous two songs. The boys worked on it but it was decided to shelve the idea of releasing it since the technology didn’t exist to improve it to the level needed to release it as a song from the Beatles canon.

Then, a few years ago, someone had the bright idea of reviewing the 1969 film of Let It Be, and releasing a new, extended version. Enter Lord of the Rings film maker Peter Jackson.

AI

He and his team developed technology (generally referred to as AI)³ that could be ‘taught’ to separate different elements of a sound recording into its constituent parts and then be re-recorded, removed, added to etc.

Scouse or Blind Scouse?

Now this might sound like a load of old wishy-washy technical mumbo-jumbo, designed to confuse and discombobulate, but let me tell you once and for all, that’s exactly what it is. However, what I think it means is this. When the band had recorded songs for the film in ’69, Jackson had a single recording to work with which included, a bass guitar, a set of drums, two guitars and often three voices, plus occasionally piano and/or electric keyboards all mashed up together like a big plate of scouse⁴.

What Jackson’s team was able to do was get the AI system to listen to the overall sounds on the recording and separate them into different tracks for each instrument and voice. So, like unmincing the unminceable. And this meant that revisiting Lennon’s “Now and Then” demo was now possible.

Tape Hiss

Because the AI could clean up Lennon’s voice (remove the age old ‘hiss’ of a cassette tape) and separate and isolate his vocal and piano accompaniment, the Beatles were then able to overdub Bass, Drums, Guitars and Vocals on top of his vocal and piano. And the result is the last ‘ever’ single by the Beatles.

On the ‘B’ Side of the single is… “Love Me Do” also treated to the Jackson AI, to turn it into a full Stereo recording (also not available until now as in 1962 Mono was the modern equivalent). The single is available on general release from 3rd November 2023. It comes as a 7″, 10″, 12″ single, CD and a Cassette Tape. So, just like the old days then.

Extended Red & Blue

Now, while they’ve been busy with putting that single together Giles Martin, son of Beatles producer George Martin, has also been busy “AI’ing” the compilation Red and Blue albums (released in 1973) with additional tracks and additional remixing and remastering. They have put on weight (the albums, not the Martins’ ⁵) and have morphed into triple albums (6 LP’s if you buy both the Red and Blue), and they also include the single Now & Then.

You can buy a box set, LP’s, CD’s, all sorts. T-Shirts, bags, everything. All available from November 10th.

Fillers?

And with Christmas around the corner (gasp!) are the albums stocking fillers? Well, the 6LP Box Set is retailing at around £140, but the lunchbox (above) is only £38 (see link). So, probably not then.

The Beatles – Official Store – Shop Exclusive Music & Merch

The limited edition coloured vinyl box set sold out its pre-order allocation in a few hours. So, there are no shortage of takers jumping on the nostalgia train to penury central (me included).

Solid Opinion Based On Knowledge & Experience

So, why the differing response to the single release? Well, you know how it is. Everybody thinks they know the Beatles and everybody wants a piece of them. And if you ever go anywhere near (Anti) Social Media you might be aware that many people are not averse to airing their opinions in a very direct manner.

Some Beatles related opinions:-

Was the artwork designed by a YTS trainee?

Why is the release information next door to useless?

Does McCartney just want more money?

Why is Love Me Do on the B Side?

Why can’t they release Carnival of Light?

Who the hell do they think they are?

Yes, who indeed.

Happy Days

Me? I’m happy there’s a new release coming out and they’ve added to the Red and Blue albums and included the greatest song of all time “Tomorrow Never Knows.” Perhaps I’m easily pleased. However, a Facebook comment that stated this release was “Just another money grab!!!” (angry emoji), was met with the response, “Well, they don’t force anyone to buy it.” Which is a fair reflection of reality. And they don’t. Except I did. Buy it that is.

Addicted to Vinyl

So, should you buy Now and Then or the newly extended albums? Well I will, but you have to make up your own mind. I’m a bit of a freak when it comes to a.) The Beatles, b.) Vinyl, and c.) The Beatles on Vinyl, so I didn’t have a choice really. I’m addicted. But some of these releases do fetch a pretty penny eventually, especially when some versions are limited to a few thousand units worldwide, as with the Red & Blue albums on coloured vinyl.

So, if I burn through the pension a bit too quickly, I’ve always got The Beatles vinyl catalogue to fall back on.

Thank you for your time

PS. On YouTube (and other sites) you can watch a 12 minute documentary about the making of Now and Then. See below.

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1. Abbey Road was recorded later in the same year and was released in 1969, but due to disagreements regarding Let It Be, it wasn’t released until May 1970.
2. A roughly recorded song used to sketch out a musical idea
3. AI – Artificial Intelligence
4. A meat stew from Liverpool
5. Sadly George died in 2016