In a captivating revelation, technology has breathed life into the voices of John Lennon and the guitar melodies of George Harrison in The Beatles' upcoming release, "Now and Then." Set to hit the airwaves this Thursday, this musical masterpiece is being hailed as the band's "last song."
A recently released short documentary on the band's YouTube page provides insights into the process of bringing this unique composition to fruition. Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, the surviving members of The Beatles, share the intriguing tale of how they meticulously extracted Lennon's voice from an unfinished demo tape recorded in his New York apartment.
The magic behind "Now and Then" owes much to the efforts of New Zealand director Peter Jackson and his technical team, renowned for the documentary 'Get Back,' which showcased real images from the recording sessions of The Beatles' final album. Their work involved reviving an old cassette featuring Lennon's contributions.
Reflecting on the band's journey, McCartney acknowledges the definitive closure they felt after Lennon's tragic death in 1980. However, a surprising opportunity emerged in 1994 when the three remaining members reunited to explore unreleased songs. McCartney recollects the pivotal moment when Yoko Ono shared a tape of John's vocals, marking the beginning of their posthumous collaborations.
Although the trio successfully recorded "Free as a Bird" and "Real Love," their attempt at "Now and Then" faced challenges. The piano overwhelmed Lennon's voice, rendering the song incomplete and shelved in 1995. The passing of George Harrison in 2001 added further complexity, momentarily dampening The Beatles' spirits.
Fast forward almost a quarter of a century, spurred by the triumph of 'Get Back,' McCartney approached Starr with the idea of resurrecting "Now and Then." The duo, along with preserved guitar parts from Harrison's 1995 recording, carefully reconstructed the song. The addition of arrangements by Harrison, featuring hidden musicians, completed the long-awaited track.
Lennon's son, Sean, is convinced that his innovative and experimental father would have embraced the idea of reviving his voice from an old cassette for a new Beatles song. McCartney affirms, "'Now and Then' is probably the last Beatles song. We all worked on it; it's genuinely a Beatles recording." This revelation adds a poignant chapter to the legendary band's legacy, allowing fans to savor the magic of The Beatles once more.
