By Elliott West
“On John’s demo tape, the piano was a little hard to hear. And in those days, of course, we didn’t have the technology to do the separation … we kind of ran out of steam a bit, and time. Now and Then just languished in a cupboard.”
Paul McCartney
Introduction
It’s 50 years since one of the most iconic pop bands split up but thanks to AI technology, a haunting, dusty demo track by John Lennon and added instrumentals from George Harrison, the remaining Beatles, John and Ringo have released a brilliant new track that is a fitting eulogy to the band and friends departed. An added collaboration of The Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson and George Martin’s son, Giles, conducting a string section on the track. A song that brings back so many memories of this Liverpool Fab Four and a brilliant way to mark a final exit to their catalogue of music.
Standing the Test of Time
Anyone who has heard the original demo track made by John Lennon will vouch that it wasn’t of the best quality with a muffled piano accomplishment. It comes from John’s private collection, dating from the last years of his life. Lennon had all but given up on his rock and roll status but was still experimenting with lyrics until his untimely assassination in 1980. Taken from a cassette that Yoko Ono kept and passed to Paul McCartney in 1994 and handwritten on the cassette sticker ‘For Paul’, this is a musical project that had many bumps in the road before finally being released.
If it had a file, Now And Then would be labelled ‘Top Secret’. This reel of music had already seen two songs being released off it, Free As a Bird and Real Love, both reached a top 5 spot in the charts in 1995/1996. Free As a Bird reached No 2 in December 1995 and Real Love made No 4 in March 1996. However, Now And Then, the reworked third track of the trilogy from a reunion session in 1995 of the remaining trio sadly wasn’t to be at the time. Despite new vocals and guitar add-ons, the track never saw the light of day. A track that George Harrison privately hated and said should never be released.
The main reason though was that the technology wasn’t up to speed at the time. The final product wasn’t as sharp and crisp as it should be. It is only recently that audio restoration allows for a much superior product to be produced. One that gives a haunting rendition of Lennon’s vocals and punchy electric and acoustic guitar recordings from George Harrison woven into the piece. These techniques were utilised in Peter Jackson’s 2021 documentary about The Beatles, entitled Get Back. A documentary about the making of the band’s last album Let It Be.
Flooding Back
This is a song inspired by memories and when listened to, those memories come flooding back. For anyone to be lucky enough to be alive when this band was in its pomp. One whose music went from screaming rock and roll to psychedelic chill-out music. Suits were replaced by clothes of the times and the hair and beards just kept growing. The brilliance of the Lennon/McCartney songwriting partner was unique and produced a product that took the world by storm. Even this new song is instantly recognisable as one by these Liverpudlian legends. Lennon’s voice dominates the piece, one that is delightful, and charismatic and grows more mature with age. It touches the heart and brings a tear to your eye. A rare talent who could be emotional, and empathetic away from his brash ultra ego.
This music will never die. It is immortalised in music and will be played long after the remaining two Beatles leave this mortal coil. Epitaphs in time portray life in joyful and sombre moments and ones that fit many occasions in life. The beauty of The Beatles is that they dared to dream and made their dreams come true. All succeeded after the split, going to other great things. A band that pushed the nuclear button when the zing was gone.
End of the Road
This final swan song is fitting and you could almost imagine the four crossing the road at Abbey Road as they sang it. A joyful lament to what could have continued to be but was extinguished at the right moment. Fresh till the end and woven with words of inspiration and wisdom. This was music that grew from their youth and was fine-tuned in The Cavern, Hamburg and India. A band much copied, revered and idolised in Liverpool. Working class lads who came good and showed a wealth of talent in their work. So as this plays to a conclusion, the music plays on and continues to gain a new audience as the years roll by.
