In June, Paul McCartney revealed that he had recorded what he called the Beatles’ last song, made with the help of AI software. He also said that the track would be released sometime this year. That time has nearly arrived: The Beatles’ final song, “Now and Then,” is out November 2 at 10 a.m. Eastern (via Apple Corps Ltd./Capitol/UMe).
The single will be issued digitally and as a double A-side single (on 7" vinyl, 12" vinyl, and cassette) backed with the band’s first single, 1962’s “Love Me Do.” A 12-minute documentary about “Now and Then” will precede the song on November 1. Watch the trailer for the Oliver Murray–directed short film below.
“Now and Then” was written and sung by John Lennon, who recorded the track as a demo at his home in the Dakota in New York in 1978. The original recording featured just Lennon’s voice and piano. In 1994, Yoko Ono gave the demo to McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, along with Lennon’s demos for “Free as a Bird” and “Real Love.” Working with producer and Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) mastermind Jeff Lynne, the remaining three Beatles recorded new parts for a version of “Now and Then,” but technological limitations of the era prevented them from separating Lennon’s vocals from the piano on his original demo.
After shelving “Now and Then” for decades, McCartney and Starr revisited the project after working with director Peter Jackson on his Get Back documentary. Jackson and his sound team devised a method to isolate Lennon’s vocal on the original tape with the help of AI.
“There it was, John’s voice, crystal clear,” McCartney said of the experience in a press release. “It’s quite emotional. And we all play on it, it’s a genuine Beatles recording. In 2023 to still be working on Beatles music, and about to release a new song the public haven’t heard, I think it’s an exciting thing.”
“It was the closest we’ll ever come to having him back in the room, so it was very emotional for all of us,” Starr added. “It was like John was there, you know. It’s far out.”
In 2022, McCartney and Starr completed “Now and Then,” which features electric and acoustic guitar laid down by Harrison in 1995, a new drum part and backing vocals from Starr, and bass, guitar, and piano by McCartney, who added a slide guitar solo inspired by the late Harrison.
George Harrison’s widow, Olivia, wrote of “Now and Then”: “Back in 1995, after several days in the studio working on the track, George felt the technical issues with the demo were insurmountable and concluded that it was not possible to finish the track to a high enough standard. If he were here today, Dhani and I know he would have whole-heartedly joined Paul and Ringo in completing the recording of ‘Now and Then.’”
John Lennon’s son Sean Ono Lennon added: “It was incredibly touching to hear them working together after all the years that Dad had been gone. It’s the last song my dad, Paul, George and Ringo got to make together. It’s like a time capsule and all feels very meant to be.”
“Now and Then” and “Love Me Do” are mixed in stereo and Dolby Atmos, with original cover art by Ed Ruscha. A music video for “Now and Then” will debut on Friday, November 3. In addition to the new song, expanded reissues of 1962-1966 (The Red Album) and 1967-1970 (The Blue Album) will be released November 10 with updated mixes and the addition of “Now and Then.”
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