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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 29 ก.ย. 2024
- 28 years since Paul, George and Ringo went into the studio to finish off John's 1979 demo, Now and Then will finally be released on November 2nd 2023. In this video we look at how John's demo was recorded and how it caused issues for the tam in 1995 and why George Harrison gave up on it. We also look at contemporary reaction in the press about its absence from Anthology 3 and discuss if Now and Then will be better received than Free As A Bird.
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Real Love and free as a bird were both beautiful songs they sure warmed our hearts when released! Great job Andrew!
Both songs made me SOOOO angry, too - "We were CHEATED out of this quality of songwriting for the 10 years from Breakup to John's murder." I appreciated their solo works but, jeez, I'd have loved to see them get back together for occasional albums. Just too much baggage, I know, but that's a lesson to all future bands and composers.
Thanks for such an informative video! Can’t wait to hear Now and Then. I’ve always hoped there could be at least one more Beatles song released - maybe something they decided to delay and release at some point in the future. Maybe this is it.
Thank you for watching, Bruce!
Enjoyed this fine video but please don’t recycle the recent Apple claptrap about Harrison being frustrated with the technical issues or sound quality of the demo tape. Paul on several occasions across the years has left us in no doubt that George vetoed the song as he didn’t rate it. There has been a lot of convenient revisionary narrative spun up about this from Apple this week.
Free As a Bird is Fantastic 😊
Great video, very interesting and informative, great to look back on Michael Jackson over The Beatles in the charts. Why don't they clean up Free As A Bird and Real Love and possibly release Anthology 4
Thank you for this measured, detailed account of the back-story to Now and Then. At least it distracted me from your unexplained flat cap ...!
That cover art is hideous... What a shame for their last single.
I had no idea so many people didnt like FREE AS A BIRD. I always thought it was phenomenonal!
I think the emotional side plays a big part for long time hardcore fans. I remember loving FAB and Real love, but I also reckon they are probably not particularly "great" songs in Beatle standards. Thank you again Andrew for a straightforward, insightful piece 😊
Both Free As A Bird and Real Love came out when I was 15 and 16 and thought they were beautiful. And I still think they're beautiful and we'll crafted. Cheers! 😊
agree 100%
@@BeatlemaccaARThe snare drum, click track and fact we couldn't hear Paul & George singing together for more than one or two moments.
I love it - but the thing that I love the most about it is the quality of John’s vocal - the otherworldly feel to it. The video and song always feel very poignant to me.
You have to laugh at an industry where having the 2nd highest selling album or single is seen as a disaster. Free As A Bird and Real Love were huge hits that were in the charts for ages, at least in Australia. Even if they never actually got to number 1, they still sold a lot of copies and were up against some stiff competition. Free As A Bird did actually make it to number 1 in some countries I believe. But it's like when people look at The Monkee's Headquarters album being a flop because it only got to number 2...behind Sgt. Pepper.
I agree. Who are "Robson and Jerome?" Living in the United States, this is the first I have ever heard of them. I also looked up Michael Jackson's "Earth Song." I had never heard this song either. Maybe they were played in the United States, but I have always tried to avoid the radio for the same reasons George Harrison did.
This is a quote from Harrison on Jim Ladd's 1979 "Innerview" program, "I listen to a bit of radio. I don't listen to too much. Drives me crazy, ya know... all the commercials, all the time. After a while, I just get dizzy with it. I probably got the only car in LA with no radio in it."
The concept of 'charts' today makes me laugh. At this point in time, chart relevance is an artifact of the past. I think it was barely relevant in the mid-1990s when "Real Love" and "Free as a Bird" were released.
Actually The Monkees "Headquarters" did get to no.1 for one week before dropping to no.2 when Sgt. Pepper was released.
@@evanstair1262 The charts have always been "rigged" to a certain degree anyway. I know in Australia, for a long time it was based on the number of copies sent out to stores and not actually the amount that sold. That's how Idol contestants had triple platinum albums when they didn't sell anywhere close to that number.
@@theneonchimpchannel9095 even for a band as legendary as The Beatles, twenty-five years (1970 to 1995) is a long time to be out of the charts. The fact The Beatles could still make a showing in the top five in 1995 is impressive. Here we are fifty-three years after the breakup. Will The Beatles continue to outperform as an anachronism to contemporary music? We shall see!
@@evanstair1262 Robson & Jerome are both actors. They were in a British series, Soldier, Soldier. There was an episode where they sang together as part of the plot which prompted Simon Cowell to chase them to make a record of Unchained Melody. They only made two albums, both of which were massively successful but, despite Simon Cowell wanting more, they went back to acting.
It turns out it’s a truly beautiful song. It’s been an earworm in my head all day, tears flowing down my cheeks. John’s voice is so poignant to hear. Brilliant
This channel is a breath of fresh air, especially in rare moments like these when The Beatles are doing something that everyone in the music community is aware of. Anthony Fantano recently uploaded (and then quickly deleted) a video of him talking about how the new Beatles song was all AI. The most popular music critic on TH-cam is not supposed to be a tabloid. Thanks for all the great and thoroughly researched videos!
He what?
Lol.
Serious question: was this an actual, honest, one-time mistake? or is he know to get things wrong like this?
@@IsuiGtz he tried to make another audio to get used like his slices one and it horribly back fired
Thanks Andrew, whatever about the music the cover looks terrible 80s crap. Am I missing something about the significance of the image?
Never judge a record by its cover, Seamus 😉
When ANY "Singles" are thought to be "Misses" by reaching only #2 and #4 on the "Singles Chart" it shows You how SAD Critics and Fans can be...
I’m 66 years old. Lived for the Beatles. I can’t stop watching the music video of Now & Then & can’t stop getting emotional. When the Beatles bow at the end - I lose it. What they have done with this on multiple levels is nothing short of incredible!
I'm 71 years old and was 11 when they first appeared on Ed Sullivan. You echo all of my feelings as well. Now and Then is a true masterpiece in every way. The Beatles bowing at the end was...perfect...perfect.
Man, this is great!! 😊 I remember, back then when my mother woke me up one saturday morning in spring 1995 and the newspaper in her hand, to tell me, that after 25years a new Beatles song is released. This was so exciting and still means much to me. 🖤☮️ Peace and Love and a new Beatles song to our troubled world!! Thanxalot for your nice video! Nifty greetings 👋😎 from Germany
Thank you Andrew for all your videos throughout the year, and this one in such a precise moment. Your contribution to the Beatles community is enormus!
My pleasure, Sir!
Agreed - Parlogram has become my ‘go to’ Beatles channel - superb and insightful content. I thought I knew a great deal about my favourite band - Andrew consistently proves that there is always more to learn about this fascinating band! Thank you!
I totally love the idea of Now and Then being released! "It's been a long, long, long time", quoting George's Long, Long, Long. However, I think the new single should have included a remastered version of both Free as a Bird and Real Love on Side B, considering AI could have further enhanced John's voice from the original cassette recording where these three songs came from. Furthermore, the visual concept of the cassette (which appears in the promo) would have fit perfectly to group these three songs together. Another possibility that I would've expected (although I know it was much less likely) is that Carnival of Light would have been on side B. That would've been cool, too.
Another expensive time coming up. I would have liked to have seen 2023 stereo mixes of "P.S. I Love You" and "I'll Get You" included somewhere in these releases, if they exist that is. I am looking forward to "Now And Then" though and whatever version of "Love Me Do" they decide to use. I must say this is by far the best video on TH-cam regarding this event. Well done Andrew...brilliant!
Cheers Steve. I'm looking forward to hearing the remixes of those early track the most.
Steve Kirk 7066, yes, l would like to hear better versions of: "P.S. I Love You" and "I'll Get You", also. Maybe one day they (the powers that be) will release a lot of the Beatle 45 'B'-side tunes in better Stereo and/or AI. 'What Goes On' and 'Old Brown Shoe' are great possibilities for that, l believe. [ one tune from Ringo, one from George as "B"-side remasters ]
Both 'B'-sides you mentioned above in your post are 2 of my favorite "B"-sided tunes the Beatles did, early on. I have always liked: "P.S. I Love You" better than "Love Me Do", anyway. ("She Loves You" is my favorite Beatles song of all time.) "I'll Get You" is another favorite from their early catalog. Just a few thoughts on your post, sir.
I am actually more intrigued by the use of AI to separate the sound than the fact that it is a "new" Beatles song. Combining the tech with the music will be a treat for all.
Hi Andrew, I always thought Paul would get this song out lol. Glad that George is on it too so it does have all 4 Beatles on it. When the anthology singles came out I liked Free as a bird but always thought Real Love was MUCH better. I think if they had put out Real Love and Free as a bird as a double A side I am certain it would have reached number 1 whenever it was released. I know there is much debate about using AI technology for me I am up for Giles remixing old tracks using technology like on Revolver and for separating sounds on things like demos or live shows like the star club or stowe school so we can hear them as good as possible but I would hate any artificial work done on any Beatles songs. I am looking forward to hearing these songs but I hope the integrity of the recordings is done as it has been to now with respect and honesty. Great upload as usual Andrew, cheers Tim
I hope so too, Tim!
@@stepheng8779 everyone has their own opinion. I happen to love both Free as a bird and Real Love.
I agree, Tim, that double-sided single would’ve been perfect.
@@stepheng8779There's potential for more music if they're produced like a Beatles record. That was my issue with FAAB. Jimmy Fallon Lynne turned the sessions.into. his own personal Space Camp. lol
I liked real love much better than free as a bird
Since I (A retired radio DJ in the US) never heard of (nor heard) Earth Song by Michael Jackson, I'd say it was the true Thanksgiving Turkey here! At least Free As A Bird made the Top Ten (#6) here.
The Beatles are still the greatest band of all time.....this proves it ...they are like a new band all the time.... always something new!!!
Eh, why name one band the greatest? There are so many out there. This just shows you don’t listen to much music.
Paul McCartney can't let an idea pass. He completed the song, hopefully as a tribute to John. Rather than let it be a product of technology.
Yes I believe that he did it as tribute to John Lennon and George Harrison he just use the AI technology to make the music sound a lot better especially John Lennon‘s home demo tape.
To my Beatle trained ears, Free As a Bird is simply Majestic; What particularly blew me away - and still does to this day, is that Paul managed to sound as he did in 1969 and George, even more pleasingly, sounds as he did on my fave love song, Something. It was fulfilling that Ringo included, they managed to round out and realise John's demo as a complete song. I suggest it be played immieditely after Abbey Road and loud and proud!
Paul's bridge that he wrote for Free As A Bird is darn near perfect, as well.
The opening drums sound quite cool when butted up to the end of "Her Majesty"
I have always loved the recording of Free As A Bird for all the reasons stated here. It was really a joint effort and was very moving and satisfying to hear after all those years had gone by.❤
Real Love was a puzzle to me, however. The crappy recording they worked with kept me from listening to it more than a few times. With John's vocal locked in with his original piano part, it was noticable on every line when the vocal was faded up, so was the trebley piano right along with it. 😖🙉 Have they fixed that yet! They Really REALLY need to do that now!
Real Love had already been released in a much, much better form on the Imagine: John Lennon movie soundtrack. No honky piano issues with that one. That acoustic guitar version is superior to the piano Beatle version.
I am confident Now and Then won't have any sound quality issues thanks to the advancements in technology and Giles' keen ear. 👂🔊🎶🎵
I am really excited to hear it!! Trying to decide which vinyl version I might want to buy.. 💰
The voice is always the last to go so no big deal there. William Shatner and Dick Van Dyke as well as Barbara Eden still sound the same too as they did in their youth. And they're all in their 90s now!
They don't you know - they sound similar, but clearly older (try listening to Harrison Ford youngified on the last Indy Jones film. Then put any of the younger Indy films on). Some of Macca's albums over the last 25 years had his voice 'sweetened' a bit to sound younger/more like audience expectations. It's very obvious when he stopped doing it. @@kentduryea7109
Trust me as I’m over 4 days later…
The song is haunting and amazing.
The video is fantastic including the song.
I WANT MY MTV!!!
I think "Real Love" and "Free as a Bird" are as good as good Beatles songs. Beautiful!!
"Free as a Bird" is a great song, hoping "Now and Then" will turn out nice 🙂
I hope so too!
Totally agree. Whoever that reviewer was that said, "Free as a Bird" wouldn't have made it on any other Beatles album, is basically saying it's the worst song they ever did. I think we can all pick at least a few tracks, if not quite a few, that we each think are not as good as "Free as a Bird." I love that song.
"Real Love" was good too.
If the Beatles managed to remix Free as a Bird and Real Love using the new technology, I would surely consider to buy the expanded versions of Red and Blue.
You should listen to the 2015 remasters from 1+. They are used for the official TH-cam The Beatles channel which has better mixing of both Free as a Bird and especially Real Love. I hope you enjoy! Sounds great in the headphones! -fire
@@wasawizard thanks a lot!
‘Now and Then’ is a fabulous song and I absolutely love it!
I loved the first two songs back in 1995/96 and am very much looking forward to “Now and Then”. I am disappointed there will be no CD single this time. Thank you, as always, for a great episode! - Roger
There will be now
Nobody does it better than The Beatles, and nobody covers it like @Parlogram! ☮️ 💜
To add, it makes me think of what has been said to be John’s last words to Paul: “Think about me every now & then, my old friend.”
This, in my view, is a perfect example of the right way to use AI in music: not to "create" a performance that never happened, but to salvage performances that were previously unusable due to tech limitations of the time. As long as no autotune or pitch correction was used, I'm looking forward to hearing it.
I'm surprised that they de-mixed "Love Me Do" and made a proper official stereo version. It's fascinating the technology that is being used to achieve this. I would love to see a documentary on that alone.
She's Loves You and others as well. The Red album will be quite a splendid time for all!
Yeah, that would be quite interesting
Take a listen to the difference channel (left minus right) of the new "Love Me Do" mix.
Or play the stereo mix through your front speakers, with the difference channel fed to a rear speaker (or two rear speakers, if you have a 5.1 or greater setup). Back in the 70s, this was the poor man's quad system.
We need an AI rejiggered Star Club Tape.
We'll take whatever original Beatles songs they decide to release to us. Our love for the Beatles will always be there. Thanks Andrew.
I have to admit that Paul was so right in going ahead with this song, despite George's not liking it. The lyrics are simple to remember and the orchestral accompaniment really adds to what I think is a great song. I give it 10 out of 10
Great story on "Now And Then". I will be curious to hear it completely finished. I enjoyed "Free As A Bird" and "Real Love" although I have to admit I could see Real Love appearing on a Beatles album while they were still together. This was fun and informative. Thank you!
Today’s the day, just listened to it.
I’ve got goosebumps. Hauntingly beautiful❤
Great info here. Now and Then takes its place as a great Lennon song with additions by Paul, George, and Ringo. To extract John's voice leaves us marveling once again at the beauty of the Beatles music.
For me, what should have happened this year is a twin package of their first 2 albums, sixty years after they were released. Lots of exciting studio performances which outshine the released versions in most cases. I think the choice of red and blue was because Paul wanted to get the new song out and this format was the best fit other than a reissue of Anthology 3.
I agree about the '1963' box of PPM and WTB. Been saying that all year
A year by year set (1963, 1964,...1970) - something most people made themselves as playlists (or CDs back in the day) putting singles, b-sides, album tracks and rarities together also provides an opportunity for a better (and perhaps, less reverential) remix - in the same tradition as the wonderful Yellow Submarine Songtrack remixes.
And - of course - more product to sell for another decade of anniversaries!@@beatleytonesbeatleschannel
LOL, I like the little jab you gave about the lame "Now and Then" cover, "Judge a Record By It's Cover".
All three anthology albums, reached number one in the United States easily. They were lines out the door to buy each album. Once they came out, I can attest I was there.
Myself as well. And also for the DVD box set .
Seriously. Given I was only born in 81, I don't think any other singular music release has EVER caused the same type of culture-wide wave as the anthology set did here.
Now and Then really got me, it's classic Beatles with a Modern twist
Now and then instantly became one of my favorite songs. It’s usually very unlikely when something gets a large amount of hype that it will live up to it, usually never even coming close. I tempered my expectations with the release of “Now & Then” but I can’t deny that it blew me away. The melody is top notch Beatles quality, gray bass work and all around a great sound. Couldn’t be more happy.
Yes it blew me away too! I kinda got choked up so hauntingly beautiful
A thorough and entertaining explanation of the history and recording of Now and Then, Andrew! You are such a great asset to us Beatles fans with your well produced and well researched videos!
Thanks Nick. Much appreciated!
There are at least two projects that Peter Jacksons restoration skills could still make possible, the now historic recordings of The Beatles in concert, the Stowe School recording and the Star Club Hamburg recording. When The Beatles release a 1963 boxed set then I would expect that Apple will finally want to own masters of those recordings, with master recordings that they are happy with. I also wonder if Peter Jackson's restoration skills could improve the BBC recordings, and give us more of them.
And what about a remixing of Carnival of Light.
@@DoctordoompapitoThis one will never see the light again. If PAUL of all people is against it, no one will go ahead and aprove a release.
I thought the Beatles hated the Star Club tapes and vowed to never release them since Paul now owns the tape.
Sounds like to me "now and then" is better musically & emotionally than "free as a bird" just a way too simple! But both great! Love it anyway! Thrilling!
Great video. I’m looking forward to the single this week. Like a lot of fans, I’m a little disappointed that Free As A Bird and Real Love weren’t included on 1967-1970. Only having Now And Then on there makes it feel like a mere bonus track, rather than having a place in the Beatles canon. Adding the 1990s reunion tracks would have bridged that gap in the catalog.
Capitol played the track via a zoom call to a gathering of independent record store owners here in the U.S. this week and while we were sworn to secrecy I’m pretty sure it’s okay for me to say it was a magical experience to hear. It was real love. ❤
Is there any truth to what Penn Jillette said about the song sampling vocals from Because?
@@WinkDaMan07This fact is mentioned in the video
I had already heard Real Love as a demo on Imagine (Soundtrack CD) before it was released as a revamped 'Beatles' single. As with Free As A Bird, these tracks were solo works recorded by John as demo recordings.
15 years after John's death, Paul, George and Ringo added their own parts to make the song 'whole.' But the magic of nearly-every Beatles track is that they were developed by all four Beatles in the studio and they all contain that spontaneous magic that make Beatles tracks so special. (See Let It Be/Get Back films)
When these 'Beatles' singles were released in the mid-90s, I felt that magic was missing from these songs and I think they only served to emphasise the fact that John was no longer with us and that there could never be a Beatles getting together again. (The suggestion of which had been a major theme during the 1970s).
I believe that the three remaining Beatles, or possibly Yoko got the idea for this from Natalie Cole who had decided to re-edit her late-fathers 'Unforgettable' track with her vocal added to make it a duet. I remember at the time thinking the idea was a bit creepy, but each to their own.
On reflection now in 2023, I am glad that the three remaining Beatles got to work on these tracks as it did give them a purpose to get back together again in those years before we lost George as well.
The 90s Beatles Singles definitely are good songs, but they don’t quite feel like Beatles songs. Jeff Lynne’s style of producing doesn’t fit as well as George Martin’s style of producing.
I still love those two singles, but I would’ve loved to have heard what a George Martin-produced Free As A Bird and Real Love would’ve sounded like.
@@doodledangernoodle2517 I agree. Having listened to the new Now and Then track though, I think it does sound more like The Beatles than those tracks did.
Looking forward to hearing Now and Then next week. I just hope that is not the final cover art, for it is truly crap. Why did they not commission Klaus Voorman for the job? That would've been more fitting for what is supposed to be the final single from the Band. I've pre ordered the Red and Blue CD box set and looking forward to hearing the 2023 mixes, esp the stereo mixes of She Loves You and This Boy. I'm expecting the first listen to now and then to be an emotional one as a fan of nearly fifty years now. It's what we all need right now, a little bit of joy amidst all the crap that's going on in the world around us, and let's face it, The Beatles never failed to bring us all so much joy and so many smiles with their music.
It's great to have so much to look forward to!
I wonder why they didn’t use Peter Jackson’s software to “clean up” John’s vocals in Real Love and Free as a Bird?
I can’t wait to hear how Now & Then sounds. I love the idea of using backing vocals from different Beatles songs. It’s insane to the mink of what technology can do. If only technology could have made an interesting single artwork for Now & Then.
I'm sure Sir Paul has the same idea on his mind to clean up John's vocals from these earlier releases. Who knows - maybe it's already in process?
@@rasotis Let's hope so. The weakness of the earlier singles was being forced to use John's vocal and piano "as is". Now, his voice can be extracted, Paul can redo (or drop) the piano and the production can be brightened up a bit as it no longer needs to compensate for this (getting rid of some of the Jeff Lynn-isms would help too). I'd love to see FAAB finally hit #1.
I go all the way back to the beginning with John, Paul, George and Ringo. I can't wait to hear John's voice again.
They made the 60's for me.
Thank you so much for updating us up on the much anticipated "Now and Then". It's very strange that the British public do not seem to appreciate or fully acknowledge The Fabs.
Thank you for watching!
Andrew, fantastic video. Made my day! Can't wait for Now and Then. I wish they had done Grow Old too. George Martin did a wonderful job with it on the Lennon Anthology. I've ordered the single in red vinyl and the Red & Blue from Japan. The footage you used with Paul and George working with their guitars together warmed my heart. Thanks!!
Yes I also wish they would have done Grow Old Along With Me, maybe one day Paul will do this
Glen Campbell did a great version of it too.
I've always liked Free as a bird much more than Real Love. FAAB sounded like more of a group effort. You could hear each members voice in the arrangement. RL always struck me as a John song with the others backing him up.
I am looking forward to the release of Now and Then. I hope it comes out well. I won't buy the single though. I'll wait for the red & blue best of releases, & get it on that compilation. Until then, I can make due with youtube.
I predict that this song will be amazing. Many Beatles fans will know it well and the various bootleg “completed” versions of it that have circled the collectors market for years. It’s got some beautiful chord progressions and a very ambitious passionate vocal from John. The lyrics too are beautiful and very fitting for a final Beatles single.
I am, however, just a bit bewildered by the strangely stark artwork for the single and it’s inclusion on a reissued version of ‘1967-1970’. It seems odd to not produce an EP with the three 1990s Beatles tracks, as was probably originally intended, or at least include them with new mixes on the “blue” album. Surely Peter Jackson’s technology should have been used to bring ‘Real Love’ and ‘Free As A Bird’ up to the same sonic standard? It just seems like a bit of a missed opportunity to me.
Adding it to the Blue album without Free as a Bird/Real Love appears designed to draw attention to the omissions and annoy fans in equal measure. Not changing the '1967-1970' title is also a little...er..problematic. Would have made more sense 1) to put out a CD single and add it to a revised, remastered Anthology 3 - after all that AI tech can now be applied to a lot more material than the original 1990s Anthology series would have considered appropriate.
But since the lossy only streaming atmos Revolver, annoying fans seems to be the new mission statement.
It's pointless to put more tracks on the blue album. Leave it as it is, an absolutely strange compilation from EMI. Beatles lovers could do better.
(As for the Red album - All songs could fit on One CD)
Just been listening to the song on repeat. It was well worth the wait. hauntingly beautiful 💋❤
Amazing video as usual, Andrew! And maybe, who knows, they could use AI to remake Free as a Bird and Real Love...
I love FREE AS A BIRD. I've now listened to and watched the new release of NOW AND THEN and love it as well. I've been a Beatles fan since 1963! Love them! Now I have to go listen to FREE AS A BIRD again.
Growing up in 90s Britain, I can confirm that we bought at least one, possibly 2 copies of Free as a Bird when it came out - and wouldn't have touched the MJ or R&J releases with a bargepole!
At this point, I would not mind already if The Beatles do not manage to reach the #1 spot on the charts with Now And Then. All I care about is that this going to be the first, final, and only Beatles single to be released in my lifetime as a Gen Z fan. So yes, this is going to be an emotional rollercoaster
Free as a Bird is an awesome track! It just didn't sound like a "single" to a lot of people at first. But if it was an album track on Abbey Road or the White Album, it would be considered a classic today. I really wish they would have remixed Free as a Bird and Real Love, and just made an EP of those two with Now and Then, all those on Side A and perhaps the Love version of While My Guitar Gently Weeps (which had new strings by George Martin done) and the FAAB b-side mix of Christmas Time is Here Again as the fifth song on Side B, for a Christmas EP! Even at just 5 tracks, that mini-album would have been a big seller, imho. As is, I'm kind of ignoring the expanded Red and Blues (although I'll stream the new mixes), and just looking forward to hearing Now and Then!
Can you make a video about the fan mix of Now and Then that floated on TH-cam since 2009. I've been listening to it for a decade and it's safe to say it has garnered cult status from Beatles fans. It's been the only version of the Beatles" Now and Then we've heard and it's soo good! Can't wait to compare when the official mix comes out!
Yes that version is excellent. I haven't looked for it recently. I'd assumed that maybe Apple had banned all non copyright versions from TH-cam.
I’m interested in hearing it and I hope Paul adds a verse of bridge to truly make it a Lennon/McCartney song. I heard the demo tape of Now & Then and it seemed so sad. I’m sure after John was Murdered the other 3 were sad that they couldn’t put their egos and anger away to get back together occasionally. We all missed out on that. From the time I first heard them on the radio I became a fan. I was 9 when they hit America, I’m 69 now and still a Beatle nut.
To take a demo song by John, and turn it into an incredible song, is simply amazing!
I can't believe how much of the history of the Beatles is shared with the history of AI :
1940-1943 : Birth of John, Ringo, George and Paul in England. Meanwhile, the British mathematician Alan Turing starts to work on the theory behind computers
1956 : John, George and Paul form a rock&roll band. Meanwhile, in the USA, a mathematician named John Mccarthy during the Dartmouth workshop founds the field of AI
1960 : The Beatles officially form. Meanwhile, the American psychologist Frank Rosenblatt invents the artificial neural network to enable image recognition by computers.
1960s : Beatlemania. AI quickly gets funding from the American and British governements and new advances in machine translation, image recognition and robotics are made.
1969-1970 : Tensions within the Beatles band start to arise and Paul declares to the press that he will not continue working with the others. Meanwhile, the computer scientist Marvin Minsky discredits the concept of artificial neural networks and the Lighthill report shows that advances in AI are slower than expected.
1970s : The Beatles have broken up. The field of AI goes into hibernation.
1987 : Some members get together (e.g. Ringo and George in When We Was Fab). The field of AI starts to rise again with French computer scientist Yann Le Cun making handwriting recognition software and German universities starting the developpement of self-driving cars.
I'm really excited about this release. It takes me back when I saw Anthology 1 on TV. and heard their new song "Free as a Bird" I must say that back then, I really got emotional over it. It was a childhood dream come true. A Beatles reunion as close as we were able to get it was still satisfying. My only concern is that Ringo is doing backing vocals. I never felt his voice meshed well with the other three, and when he did sing along with the others, it seemed to over power the vocals of the other three so I'm a bit anxious about but also curious if they will really pull it off. I was never a fan of this song. I'm hoping that the production will help me like the song. I hope 🤞
Someone should take the technology that finally produced "Now And Then", and go back to "Free As A Bird" and "Real Love" to clean those songs up even more. I, as a Beatles fan, would buy them again, perhaps an EP?❤
Johns audio at the end of Free of a bird is aweful
Very entertaining and well researched! Some of the information we have heard about "Now and Then", but you have connected all the dots. I hope the single turns out well and is successful!
I never liked "Free as a Bird" and "Real Love" with Lennon's tired vocals and lackluster music over the top. It goes without saying that "Now & Then" gives me the same unpleasant feeling as the two previous tracks. It may say The Beatles on the cover, but clearly "Now & Then" like "Free as a Bird" and "Real Love" are not Beatles songs but John's demos from the late 70s with additional instruments and vocals added by Paul, George and Ringo in the mid 90s. It can't be a new Beatles song since they broke up in 1970 and Lennon passed away in 1980. I would have understood the process of bringing out unreleased Beatles songs from the 60s from the archives, but this is a completely different process! (I imagine the next big thing will be to take George Harrison demos and add Paul's bass parts and Ringo's drums to it... but that won't make it a Beatles song to me). Sorry for not getting excited about what is just a global marketing operation.
Scraping together some kind of master from a rough cassette demo of a song from John Lennon's reject bin. I know, I know, I'm a heretic, but I think it's barrel scraping and money grubbing and someone should say so. As for all the re-issues, it's about updating copyrights and protecting them from falling into the public domain.
It’s the nostalgia of the video that makes it great. Even George referred to it as f******* rubbish
True, but I resent Apple's ruthless exploitation of their demographic. They don't need the money. It's just tasteless. This is still sub-standard music@@Nina5144
I want to be happy, I am not.
What I was, as a consumer, is to keep adding to my collection of remixed/ Remastered Beatles album deluxe boxes sets. Things were going great. And now, they have broken the chain. I fully expected the "Rubber Soul" boxed set for this Christmas.
Putting out "Now And Then" seems like a publicity gimmick- right at the moment when The Beatles have regained ultimate respect, and the public is generally familiar with them because of the original albums, and not questionable projects that were once necessary to stir up attention.
I learned not to judge a product by it's cover when I was 10 years old. I don't need that lesson again, I need beautifully packaged items to add to my collection.
I feel almost as let down, with another round of Red And Blue albums. I would never have suggested that, as a good idea.
I would have have seen an expanded "Collection Of Oldies", or even expanded "Reel Music", than Red and Blue again.
How about an official 10 disc Complete BBC Recordings? How about a multi-disc set that cleans up the live recordings with AI technology?
I would love to see a documentary with real footage,showing the meetings that take place, where those in power seriously discuss what products to put on the market.
In 100% honestly, rather than this single, and Red and Blue albums, I would rather have a 2 CD set detailing the sessions for Yoko's track "Kiss Kiss Kiss" with every available scrap of unused vocals and variations and studio chatter.
Here's what will really happen in my house, this year: The holidays are coming, and there is no worthwhile new Beatles stuff to buy. So, this year, the money normally spent on Beatles will go towards buying the giant Frankie Valli/ 4 Seasons box I've been wanting. That's really what will happen. I wonder what others, like me, will direct the holiday money towards?
You asked what we thought, but I just wonder what John would think. I mean every artist has rough drafts, yucky paintings or fragmented works of some type lying around and most would likely be appalled to have affectionados giving what they consider junk a critical appraisal. It was probably just a thought he had for a song, but it will be interesting to hear what it has become with a little help from his friends! Looking forward to hearing it.
On the other hand, One After 909 was a really early composition that John suggested they revisit in 1969, so maybe he'd be fine with it.
i have and always will love the Beatles 60s and 70s were my youth but as years past you tealize the sayimg YOU CAN NEVER GO HOME AGAIN IS TRUE
Great video once again, and thank you! With regard to the apparently universally disliked cover for Now and Then, I'd like to offer an opinion. Ed Ruscha is one of the world's leading contemporary artists. He emerged as a leader of the Pop Art movement at the same time as the Beatles began topping the charts. He is also a contemporary of Peter Blake (who did the Sgt Pepper cover with Jan Hayworth) and of Richard Hamilton (who made the White Album cover and fold-out poster). Ruscha currently has a career survey at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, entitled (intriguingly) Now Then! He has done album covers for other artists too, such as Sand in the Vaseline for Talking Heads, as well as Paul's Three.
I agree! Only The Beatles are worthy of having a true giant of contemporary art like Ed Ruscha design their final single cover. Unfortunately, most of The Beatles' usual pop/rock fans aren't likely to be as knowledgeable about visual culture as Paul McCartney.
@@lennyhooper5572 Yes! To be honest the pile-on against it is doing my head in.
I cried when I first heard 'Free As A Bird' and thought how it was so true. To me it was Beatles through and through. I have no doubt that 'Now and Then' will also affect me in that same way. Solid Beatles.
I stopped spending money on post-Beatle marketing con tricks years ago. Those songs would have barely made B sides. In fact, George Martin would not have allowed them to be on their recordings.
Flogging a Dead Horse. These Demos were never meant to be released. There’s a reason for it. Because they aren’t very good.
So to have the other three play on them and call it Beatle music is not accurate and kind of sad.
Of course, Apple 🍏 love the idea of calling it new Beatles music. Now they have something new to hype. Just in time for the Holidays. Another Cash grab.
Apple 🍏 know that Beatles fans have deep pockets which they don’t mind raiding. Year after year.
I’ll pass on all this nonsense.
No thanks!
no, that's not that simple...
These demos were never completed by John, but that doesn't mean he did not want to... that's not like Lennon died of old age long after he recorded those demos..
Demos are just building blocks and are very seldom released without improvement. Your argument makes no sense.
@@stevebird9510 i was about to tell you that you were stupid because it's clear that the demo is not released without improvement... then i realised that you were replying to the first comment, and indeed, it makes no sense...
@@segments2156 What do you know about that? Do you think John would have approved of this given that The Beatles broke up in 1970 (ten years before he passed away)? "Free as a Bird", "Real Love" and "Now & Then" should never have carried The Beatles label anyway. The Beatles stopped in 1970 and that's how it is.
@@a.k.1740 what do i know about what? i'm not the one making stupid claims, you are... i just said that we don't know what John wanted to do with those songs since he died young....
You have no idea what creation is...
Maybe John would not have wanted these songs to be released... but that doesn't count... because creation doesn't work that way... Do you think, when a singer covers a folk song, that anybody cares wether the original author of the song would have approved? Do you think that when a Shakespear play is playe in a theater, that anybody cares if Shakespear would have approved? Do you think that when a movie about a biblical passage is released, anybody cares if the author would have approved? Nobody cares, because, once again, that's not how creation works.
John made those demos, and maybe he did not want them released, but the bands were given to Paul, and he was inspired to finish them, that's all that matters. Paul, George and Ringo, and other people, made finalized songs from John's demos, just like anyone can make a movie from a Shakespear's play, or a Victor Hugo book, or anything else. The only limitating factor could be right issues, but it was approved by John's heirs.
And call it a cashgrab if you want, do you really believe that any of the surviving beatles or their heir needs that money? Do you think McCartney needs that money? Do you know how rich he is?
He did that because he wanted to, because he's old, and he wanted to release one last song that would be his and John's. The song will probably not be a success, the song will probably not even be considered a great song, but he doesn't care, he did that because it was important to him. Yeah, there will probably be a bit of money for everyone involved, but, nobody is forcing you to buy it. Nobody is forcing anyone to buy it.
I think it might be a good idea to go back and use Peter Jackson's equipment and clean up the Lennon vocals on Free as a Bird and Real Love in a minimally invasive way.
I’ve been a fan for over 50 years so I can’t help but be stoked for this release. I felt the same way when “Anthology” was released and truth be told, when “Live at the Hollywood Bowl” was released in 1977, when at 13, was early in my record collecting days. Also looking forward to the new “Red” and “Blue” sets, as well as your no doubt scintillating and informative video analysis, Andrew. Cheers!
It’s a beautiful song and done just the way it should be. It made me cry and seeing them all together using AI was amazing. ❤
I’m forever grateful for the Beatles
Music through out my life. My children have embraced them in the modern era. How exciting that we can still find buried treasure.
Hmm, that cover is a bit shite, looks very 70s in a sad way... lets hope the actual song blows us away!
Thank you. I’ve known about these recordings since the Lost Lennon Tapes but never knew much about the recording machine itself. Quite illuminating.
Anything the beatles do is so much better than the frivolous drivel of today....f a b.....
Yoko has many tracks from John that Paul and Ringo know about. Now and Then is a gift from John at the opening of the Christmas season. Hearing The Beatles music releases at this time of year is a tradition. Thanks for making the new song a fun project from Ringo, Paul and Yoko.
Well……they don’t need the money, so I think it’s a nostalgic historic offering, which we should be grateful for, as with any Beatles creation. ❤️
Another great video from you. Thank you! As hideous as the cover for N&T is, I believe it's suppose to represent the balconies from the Red and Blue albums. Yes, you have to kinda squint to see it, but I am sure this cover is not going to change. It has been speculated it was a mock up, but I seriously doubt that. I am disappointed we are not getting both FAAB and RL too. While FAAB is already a great mix, RL really needs some attention to get rid of that awful fade up/down of Lennon's vocal w/piano. To me it's like fingernails on a chalkboard. Cheers!
YES 100% about Real Love. It's a good song but once you notice the piano of John cuts in and out you can't unhear it. I was really hoping for cleaned up versions of RL and FAAB.
@@Isi-1975 Very well said. Yes, once you notice it you can never unhear it and it's quite annoying.
now and then: what a wonderful thing- both track and video. the ending is sublime on both. Peace and Love✌️
For the most part this is awesome. I LOVE that the older material uses the de mixing technology and we get newer mixes (well needed). I also love that the 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021 & 2022 mixes are being used too for the later material. There was NO reason for Giles to remix the newer mixes with exception of the early material remixed in 2015 for the 1 album. Thumbs up Apple for sticking to this otherwise there would be confusion over the newer mixes. The older material on the remixed 1 DID need to be redone with the de mixing technology to center the drums etc. My ONLY gripe is Real Love and Free As A Bird aren’t on this compilation in new glorious stereo 😂. Overall A for apple on this release.
They shoudve taken the cassette photo as the single cover instead of the simple blue green one.
Oh man! The best way to start the day is with this show and Andrew I tells ya!
Yes I’ve been waiting for this for quite awhile. And I do give the myriad of folks kudos for cleaning the track, embellishing the track and so on. This is before AI sprung on the market.
I’ve loved the song (& Grow Old With Me) for such a long time. The latter tune for the people my age and upwards because we have grown old with the Beatles, those voices and instrumentations.
It may be the last single, but who’s to say it’s not the last album? I’m sure there’s enough material to do an Lp’s worth of demos, variations of tunes from Anthology 3, and unreleased solo tunes from various solo releases.
Anyone for A Carnival Of Lights? Using Ai, Paul? b/w a long version of “MaryJane Had A Pain At The Party”?
😁
Great episode Andrew!
Thanks Brian. Let's hope there's still more to come!.
Hey Andrew have you done a video on Carnival of Light? Love it if you did!
I would love to have a carnival of light and the longer version of what’s the new Marie Janes that would be fantastic since I love our guard music my favorite avant-garde piece would have to be revolution nine one of the best tracks ever.
I absolutely love Now and Then. My new favorite Beatles song. It is hauntingly eerie, a little creepy but still awesome. I wish John and George could hear it, I’m sure they would love it.
I remember buying 'Free as a bird' in 95'. I didnt understand the whole story behind it but liked the song. The process of seperating instruments/vocals is now easy with the right software. Some artifacts are left with the vocal, but when put back in the mix you would never notice. It could also take out that hum too. 😊
The major problem with those songs is that they aren't Beatles songs, they are John's songs composed in his 1970 way of composing and then finished in a very 90s style. Saying so, I love both "Free as a bird" and "Real love" and I'm sure that I will love this single too.
I totally agree! These aren't even John demos from the 60s, when The Beatles were active! All this is a more than dubious process and makes no sense (and frankly, musically and vocally it's not very good and thrilling).
I doubt that John would frown upon the finished products. I’m sure he would smile, after all, Paul, George, and Ringo were lifetime friends!
@@mikewalsh1402 Over the years I have read various things about The Beatles, and my opinion on the question has changed quite a bit. The idea of eternal friendship is very nice but it is still a marketing trick (maintained by Paul who always had a tendency to embellish things to his advantage). This is not to say that the four hated each other (far from it) but each had distanced themselves a bit over the years and it should also be noted that George and John had not been in contact since around the mid-70s, and even if Paul saw John in late '79/early January '80, he was somewhat rebuffed by Lennon who replied that he now had a child to take care of and that Paul could no longer come to his house unexpectedly without telling him first. Some had hope that The Beatles might have reunited but that remains just a myth. I think this is something that would probably have suited Paul and Ringo to an extend but certainly not John and George who enjoyed their freedom.
@@a.k.1740
A reunion could very well have happened, despite all of them having moved on to solo careers. I do think, that as time went on, the wounds that separated them would have healed, somewhat. We will never know for sure. Their lifelong friendships would probably have endured.
@@mikewalsh1402 We will never know that... it remains speculation. And honestly, The Beatles belong to the sixties and that's fine. I've always been disappointed with bands that reunite, especially after a decade or more. This cannot bring anything good or new compared to what was done at the time when their youth and passion were involved. We have records and movies to remember them at their finest, and that's what count.
I find the McCartney's "nemesis" Michael Jackson comment interesting. Believe it or not, in Jackson's 1995 album 'HIStory' Paul and Linda McCartney are thanked in the liner notes for their friendship. Paul and Linda also hung out with Jackson on the set of 'Black or White' in 1991, long after he bought the catalogue. The way McCartney tells it is like they didn't see each other again after 1985 when MJ said "its just business, Paul!"
I can't explain how much I'm looking forward to this song. Free As A Bird and Real Love (as well as the Anthology collections) were the songs that got me into The Beatles in the nineties when I was a teenager and I always hoped and wished after many years of reading the rumours and reports that this song would have a proper release. I think those of us who have heard the demos and fan recreations over the years have a rough idea in our heads of what it may sound like but it's a good cause to enjoy and celebrate the joy this band has given us and get behind it.
Free As A Bird was, for me, a welcome surprise that I didn't see coming. Looking back, hearing the song for the first time gave me goosebumps. As the song played, my entire mind was filled with excitement, joy, happiness and heartbreak.
Moreover, I cannot imagine how any fan wouldn't embrace the song--even in the UK. Especially considering the boys were born/raised there and became a household sensation seemingly overnight.
As far as Real Love goes, it was another song to hold on to as a lifelong fan. Having gone through a semi-meltdown when the Beatles broke up, these two songs were a gift and so much more.
And now we've been given "Now and Then". Admittedly, it took a few listens before the words hit me like a ton d bricks.
And if you remember articles, other things that have been written about the foursome, you understand and appreciate what this song means.
I am, by no means, an expert. Just a little girl whose mom woke her to watch the band play on Ed Sullivan.
And that began my love affair with John, Paul, George and Ringo which--thanks to technology--continues today.