The Beatles last song ‘Now And Then’ finally released

After more than 50 years since their breakup, The Beatles have come together once again for one last track, marking the closing chapter of the band’s musical journey. 

The song, titled “Now and Then,” was broadcasted on the radio at 2 p.m. local time and simultaneously released on streaming platforms. Using advanced digital technology, it brings back the voices of John Lennon, who tragically passed away in 1980, and George Harrison, who succumbed to lung cancer in 2001.

With new contributions from Paul McCartney, 81, and Ringo Starr, 83, this song stands as the final musical release from possibly the most influential and bestselling group of the 20th century. The enduring popularity of the band was evident as some listeners expressed their excitement on social media, though a few reported minor glitches when playing the song on Spotify.

In a documentary film released ahead of the song’s launch, McCartney reminisced about the creative process, stating, “We listened to the track and there’s John in his apartment in New York City, banging away at his piano, doing a little demo.” McCartney also shared that he had reservations about using Lennon’s voice but ultimately believed that Lennon would have approved, saying, “Yeah!”

The journey to bring “Now and Then” to life began when McCartney announced in June that he was collaborating with director Peter Jackson to enhance a low-quality cassette tape of John Lennon’s recordings from the late 1970s. The tape, given to the surviving members by Lennon’s widow, Yoko Ono, in 1994, led to the release of the songs “Free as a Bird” and “Real Love” in the 1990s as part of the “Anthology” album series.

Although Harrison initially rejected “Now and Then,” the song now boasts a signature Harrison slide guitar solo, recorded in 1995. The track also includes a string section conducted by Giles Martin, son of George Martin, the legendary producer of the Beatles’ albums.

The restoration process involved cutting-edge technology, including artificial intelligence tools, used by Peter Jackson to bring hundreds of hours of documentary footage from the making of the “Let It Be” album in 1969 back to life. This footage became the acclaimed “The Beatles: Get Back” series on Disney+, offering fans a unique look into the band’s creative process and their sometimes tumultuous relationships.

McCartney and Starr were both amazed at the result. McCartney said, “Since Peter took John off [the cassette] and gave him his own track, it’s like John’s there. It’s far out.” Starr added, “I think it’s really beautiful,” echoing the sentiment of John and Yoko’s son, Sean Ono Lennon, who believed his father would have appreciated the technological experiment.

“Now and Then” will be released as a double A-side single alongside the band’s first single, “Love Me Do,” which made its debut to the unsuspecting British public in 1962.