Arguably the biggest Rock-n-Roll band ever to grace planet Earth, The Beatles’ cultural impact has been far-reaching. Releasing music over a decade, between 1960 and 1970, their songs, image, and stylistic changes, in many ways, informed the flow of popular culture. An impact that astoundingly transcends their active period, it seems that everyone – from those who were present during The Beatles’ rise to stardom to the youth of today – knows, loves, and appreciates what the band has offered.
To some, a phenomenon of epic portions, in truth, it is the songs that define The Beatles… and there surely are plenty of them to enjoy. The combined talents of leading songwriters Paul McCartney and John Lennon, later joined by the quiet, yet immensely talented George Harrison, as well as Ringo Starr, made The Beatles truly an all-star band.
With all this in mind, their legacy seems to always remain eternally in the spotlight after all these years. Something that can really trace back to 1995, when they released the career-spanning documentary series The Beatles Anthology, followed by three separate CD sets, but also very unexpected and special… new music! Something to ignite an entirely new generation of Beatles fans’ interest, the first came the track “Free As a Bird,” followed by “Real Love.” Tracks assembled by the surviving Beatles (McCartney, Harrison, and Starr) used unreleased Lennon material. Done with the permission of Lennon’s widow, Yoko Ono, many did not realize there was actually a third song from these archives. A very curious discovery, sadly, it was never made into anything… until now.
Entitled “Now and Then,” it was apparently written by Lennon and recorded around 1977 as a solo home demo, but was left unfinished. From here, the song was seriously considered for work by The Beatles; however, due to the poor quality of the recording, they opted to leave it be. To many, something thought to be lost forever, thanks to modern audio restoration technology, the idea of finishing “Now and Then” became a legitimate possibility. Given that they were working on the 2021 The Beatles: Get Back documentary with Peter Jackson at the time, it became apparent they could very well make something of the song.
So, with much anticipation, it was announced that “Now and Then” would finally reach the public, followed by a delay. At last, on November 2nd, it was released digitally and as a double A-side vinyl single, paired with a new stereo remix of the band’s first single, 1962’s “Love Me Do.”
Beyond this, the ‘lost’ song also became a part of the newly expanded reissues of the 1973 compilations 1962–1966 and 1967–1970; both of which were re-released on November 10th. Now the big question is, what does all this mean for Beatles fans?
Well, it means that you get what is now regarded as the final Beatles song ever with “Now and Then.” A kind of bittersweet feeling, it features the entire band members, including, of course, Lennon, and even Harrison, who, while passed away in 2001, was still around for the original, yet abandoned reworking sessions in 1995.
With all this in mind, anyone who misunderstands what “Now and Then” is should clear up that this is not artificial intelligence, Beatles. Something that might confuse some: the song includes all the real members, only with technology assisting in using Lennon’s original vocals. And in the end, it is a lovely song, and not just one to throw away after one listen. It is thoughtful, emotional, and filled with the signature Lennon/Beatles sound everyone knows and loves.
Which leads us to the expanded and re-issues of 1962-1966 and 1967-1970. Both are offered in several formats and include the original hits, along with plenty of additional content. A lot to cover; some highlights include the version of “Love Me Do” with Starr on drums, a part of 1962-1966, which was originally issued only on first pressings of the 1962 UK single. Beyond this, you get a total of 21 new tracks between the two sets, collectively with new stereo mixes for many, some of which are more recent mixes over the years, including those from re-releases such as 2022’s Revolver: Special Edition set.
All sounds really quiet, clarified, without being overly modern or loud. Any edition of these new reissues would be perfect for a Beatles fan of a certain age. However, if you are someone who owns so many Beatles releases and want just to add “Now and Then” to your collection, you can opt to pick up the new track on the vinyl edition of the single, or pick up the newly reissued 1967-1970 album.
Whichever way you go, any of them is a good choice, because these new sets are really essential. Furthermore, if you truly appreciate the intricate nature of vinyl, the new pressings are cut at half-speed from a 180-gram master, which is breathtaking. Only adding to The Beatles’ history, “Now and Then” is a standout song, and these repackaged editions of 1962-1966 and 1967-1970 are stellar. That is why Cryptic Rock gives everything involved here 5 out of 5 stars.
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