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Beatles forums => Songs => Topic started by: Bobber on December 19, 2006, 10:10:26 AM

Title: Now And Then
Post by: Bobber on December 19, 2006, 10:10:26 AM
Paul McCartney regrets not finishing third Beatles reunion song

Paul McCartney recently shed some light on one of the unfinished mid-'90s Beatles reunion tracks that was left unreleased.
Macca spoke to Britain's Q magazine about the unreleased John Lennon song, titled "Now And Then," explaining that, "There was one more that we didn't do (for The Beatles Anthology), which was a pity. It didn't have a very good title, it needed a bit of reworking, but it had a beautiful verse and it had John singing it. But George (Harrison) didn't wanna do it. The best thing about it all was to work with John again. Hearing him in the headphones, it was like he was in the next room -- 'f***, I'm singing harmony with John.' It's like an impossible dream."
We asked Harrison's widow Olivia Harrison how she feels about any unfinished Beatles Anthology reunion songs being released: "Well, I don't know that much about it. But I know that if they thought something wasn't good enough then that's probably the reason no one's heard it. You know, if they never got around to it -- sometimes that's it, time runs out."
The then-surviving Beatles, McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, dubbed "The Threetles" by the British press, spent four sessions between February 1994 and March 1995 attempting to flesh out "Now And Then" along with the eventually released reunion songs "Free As A Bird," and "Real Love." The songs were recorded at Macca's home studio, The Mill, in Sussex, England with producer and ELO co-founder Jeff Lynne.
The trio eventually abandoned the track, due in large part to a persistent buzz found on the demo tape that couldn't be erased. Lennon's demo for "Now And Then" -- also known as "I Don't Want To Lose You" -- has been available on the underground circuit for years.
In May 1995, the group allegedly started work an all-new McCartney-Harrison collaboration called "All For Love," which also remains unreleased.
In October 2005, Lennon's widow Yoko Ono talked about a further "electronic" Beatles reunion using the unfinished Lennon track. She explained to The Washington Post that, "I sent those songs to them when the situation was quite different. Now that George is gone, I don't know if the same would apply."
The Beatles' reunion single "Free As A Bird" peaked at number six in 1995, with the group's second reunion single "Real Love" topping out at number 11 in 1996.
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: GreenApple on December 19, 2006, 03:10:55 PM
Is there a bootleg of Now And Then?

Seems from the sound of it that there are no more tapes of Lennon songs Yoko could have handed over after all.
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: Bobber on December 19, 2006, 03:34:50 PM
Quote from: 139
Is there a bootleg of Now And Then?
There is. I'll upload it in the bootlegforums. Available now.
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: raxo on January 04, 2007, 01:53:46 AM
McCARTNEY EYES ONE LAST BEATLES SONG

Sir Paul McCartney is planning to reunite with his late Beatles bandmate John Lennon and finish an unreleased track the pair sang together.

The Fab Four abandoned "Now And Then" during their prime. McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr tried to resurrect the track when they put together their Beatles Anthology albums ten years ago, but guitarist Harrison claimed it was not good enough.

But McCartney wants to go back and finish the job.

A source tells British newspaper the Daily Express, "It has always niggled a bit with Paul that they didn't finish Now And Then.

"While George wasn't keen, Paul always though the song had a lot of potential. He is now hoping to complete it after all, with him singing the harmonies to John's lead vocal. It would obviously be very moving to hear the pair of them singing together one last time." McCartney himself recently said of the song, "It needed a bit of reworking but it had a beautiful verse."
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: The End on February 23, 2007, 11:01:00 AM
Yoko Ono has granted permission for an unfinished track by her late husband John Lennon to be finished by his Beatles bandmates.

The song, called Now And Then, will be completed by Sir Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr after Ono - who owns the rights to Lennon's solo material - gave the project a cautious green light.

She says, "It's up to them. But no, I'm not against it."

McCartney and Starr previously tried to revive the track more than a decade ago for inclusion in The Beatles Anthology. However, George Harrison vetoed the idea.
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: djinn on March 06, 2007, 04:39:23 PM
Sad days!

I know john was working on his next songs!!

Free as a bird ect were (not for the Beatles!)
I have the solo accustic he did & piano stuff!

John was not ready for the Beatles as --It as a the band--Did not allow
freedom of self!
This is why George left also!

John said it on one of his songs--
I don't beleave in Beatles--I beleave in me--Yoko & Me! I am John!

He just wanted to be seen for him & not as a beatles!That was a
product & could be sold!
Buttons-postes-socks-ect!!
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: on March 16, 2007, 05:49:26 AM
Who cares? Doing it don't add nothing to the beast and don't take anything from it. I'd like to hear it, I hope there is something of George though.
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: raxo on March 18, 2007, 05:08:46 PM
Welcome back, TheMasterOfGoingFaster!!! :) :) :)
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: Andy Smith on March 19, 2007, 12:12:42 PM
I heard the demo to this song and thought it was one of
the best songs Lennon ever wrote.
I can imagine how the song would sound but it woundn't work i think,
not without John & George (obviously!)
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: raxo on March 19, 2007, 12:26:56 PM
It sounds somewhat mournful to me ...
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: on March 22, 2007, 12:47:57 AM
Im listening to it, if they have any George put him on to it and rerecord the rest of it. It'll sound good, the lyrics kinda fit the situation. Any situation. Maybe a new chorus? Who knows. As I said I'd like to hear it, but it's not that important.
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: thefadedline on March 30, 2007, 03:30:56 AM
Whatever they decide, I hope they don't get Jeff Lynne! Lennon's vocals sound so thin and 'phasey' on FAAB and Real Love, like there's 2 or 3 playing simultaneously or something.
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: tangerine on March 30, 2007, 03:07:36 PM
Quote from: 4
Whatever they decide, I hope they don't get Jeff Lynne! Lennon's vocals sound so thin and 'phasey' on FAAB and Real Love, like there's 2 or 3 playing simultaneously or something.

Yeh I've wondered about that. But is that just because the recording of John's voice they used was pretty poor quality? I don't really know much about production. I think the fact that lennon's voice is to thin and phasey kind of makes the songs more atmospheric. Sorry bit off topic!
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: thefadedline on April 01, 2007, 06:37:53 PM
Well I have heard the original FAAB demo's and, without being big-headed, I feel I could do a better job of his vocals myself... I dunno.
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: Bobber on May 01, 2007, 11:39:02 AM
From contactmusic.com:

Quote
The surviving members of THE BEATLES are to release a new single compiled from archive recordings. The track, called Now And Then, is based on a John Lennon recording given to MCCartney by the late musician's widow Yoko Ono. Archive tracks from George Harrison will also be woven into the new song, along with vocals from Sir Paul MCCartney and drumming from Ringo Starr, reports British newspaper the Sunday Express. ELO musician Jeff Lynne, who produced the track's original sessions, says, "The song had a chorus but is almost totally lacking in verses. We did the backing track, a rough go that we really didn't finish. "It was sort of a bluesy sort of ballad, I suppose, in A minor. It was a very sweet song; I liked it a lot, and I wish we could have finished it."
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: Sebastian on May 05, 2007, 09:32:43 PM
i'm new and do not yet have permission to the bootleg-forum, could someone post that tune here?
or is it against the rules? thanks!

sebastian, sweden.
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: raxo on May 05, 2007, 10:09:19 PM
Quote from: 686
i'm new and do not yet have permission to the bootleg-forum, could someone post that tune here?
or is it against the rules? thanks!

sebastian, sweden.


Try this  ;):
http://rapidshare.com/files/21668027/Now_And_Then.mp3.html

... for the password to the bootlegforums you can send a private message to Bobber, somedude210 or The End.
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: Sebastian on May 05, 2007, 10:15:43 PM
Quote from: 297

Try this  ;):
[url]http://rapidshare.com/files/21668027/Now_And_Then.mp3.html[/url]

... for the password to the bootlegforums you can send a private message to Bobber, somedude210 or The End.



thank you!
i've sent a message to the end, just waiting for a response.
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: raxo on May 05, 2007, 10:26:41 PM
Quote from: 686
thank you!
i've sent a message to the end, just waiting for a response.
A pleasure ... I'll see you there then!  ;)

Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: sewi on May 10, 2007, 04:03:24 PM
An awful choice, if you ask me. The demo sounds badly and boring. I wish Paul and Ringo do a cover of it instead of overdubb it.
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: sewi on May 10, 2007, 04:05:36 PM
Quote from: 686
sebastian, sweden.
I'm not you, I'm Sebastian, from Spain, heheheh. What a surprise to find one member with my name here!. Well, it's yours too, obviosly, heheheh.

Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: Sebastian on May 10, 2007, 11:36:30 PM
Quote from: 564
I'm not you, I'm Sebastian, from Spain, heheheh. What a surprise to find one member with my name here!. Well, it's yours too, obviosly, heheheh.


i stole it from you. buggers!  :K)
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: Bobber on November 21, 2007, 01:59:38 PM
Is this the song as far as The Threetles made it?

tz5i2gjyxmM (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tz5i2gjyxmM)
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: BlueMeanie on November 21, 2007, 02:59:55 PM
The vocal sounds terrible. Personally I think it just proves one thing, that Jeff Lynne was never the best person to produce The Beatles.
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: on November 21, 2007, 04:46:04 PM
Whether or not the demo ever reaches final phase of completion, the Fab legacy is intact. Granted, it would be nice to have a "final" final Lennon/McCartney piece, but if the song sounded tinny or "thin", it wouldnt be worth the effort. I for one would hate to end this historic collaboration on a flawed note. I've heard the demo--there are some beautiful moments there--but unless technology advances a bit further, a better digital enhancement of John's voice is sorely needed for salvaging this gem. Too bad John laid his vocals down on (by today's standards)home-made, poor -quality analog. Perhaps if Paul could get permission to record it himself...but then on second thought, that wouldnt do (*shrugs*)--I figure the whole thrill for Macca would be to do it with his old best mate (albeit posthumously). If they can find a way to fix the technical shortcomings, it would absolutely marvelous to hear Paul sing with John again... :'(
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: on November 21, 2007, 04:50:29 PM
Quote from: 483
The vocal sounds terrible. Personally I think it just proves one thing, that Jeff Lynne was never the best person to produce The Beatles.

I tend to agree w/ this..although I'm a MAJOR Lynne fan (in a separate sense), being addicted to ELO in the 70's and 80's (and even his earlier work w/ Roy Wood and Wizzard)

I never thought I'd miss Phil Spector....but...

Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: BlueMeanie on November 21, 2007, 05:13:57 PM
Quote from: 829

I tend to agree w/ this..although I'm a MAJOR Lynne fan (in a separate sense), being addicted to ELO in the 70's and 80's (and even his earlier work w/ Roy Wood and Wizzard)


Didn't know he produced Wizzard.

It's a shame about the quality of the vocal. And a bit of a surprise. I've just been listening to the Strawberry Fields demo's recorded at Kenwood, and the quality of the vocal recording is mostly far superior.
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: harihead on November 21, 2007, 05:30:16 PM
What a beautiful song! I'm sorry it's such a bad recording. It does sound unsalvagable for a commercial release.
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: Kevin on November 21, 2007, 05:35:12 PM
For the first time in many moons I'm impressed by a Lennon song. It sounds very contempory, far better than anything on Double Fantasy.
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: BlueMeanie on November 21, 2007, 05:37:39 PM
I would like to hear it reworked with a different producer. But then, I suppose that Lynne's 'big sound' masks the poor quality of the original tape.
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: on November 21, 2007, 05:51:37 PM
Quote from: 483

Didn't know he produced Wizzard.

It's a shame about the quality of the vocal. And a bit of a surprise. I've just been listening to the Strawberry Fields demo's recorded at Kenwood, and the quality of the vocal recording is mostly far superior.

sorry, I wasnt clear on that point--I meant Jeff Lynne's older association w/ Roy Wood, not producing.

and as far as SFF demo...of course it sounds better

I think some of those final demos of John's sounded like they were recorded up in the Dakota's bathroom  w/ some cheap Phillips tape recorder propped up on the sink--a far cry from Kenwood, or for THAT matter, the "cavern"ous (sorry for pun),Abbey Road.

Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: BlueMeanie on November 21, 2007, 05:55:15 PM
Yoko probably locked him in!!
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: on November 21, 2007, 06:02:01 PM
Quote from: 483
Yoko probably locked him in!!

 :o ;D

(and John screaming "Aisumasen! Aisumasen! (sp?) let me out! My bread is burning in the oven!!")

Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: harihead on November 21, 2007, 10:19:42 PM
*reads the above with awe*

I feel as if I was there.
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: Andy Smith on November 21, 2007, 10:31:10 PM
it sounds very ELO!! great song though but John's voice sound's more
like Julian Lennon's.
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: Paul Doherty on December 03, 2007, 02:06:19 PM
I think this is an amazing song...the demo sounds a little unfinished,but i heard macca was gonna do something with this song.
Wouldnt it be great if he released it along with the launch of all the beatles albums on i-tunes.
We live in hope eh?
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: JimmyMcCullochFan on January 14, 2008, 05:41:12 PM
http://www.whatgoeson.com/blog/the-beatles/now-and-then-leaked-to-youtube.html
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: Bungalow Bill on January 15, 2008, 01:25:11 AM
I can't wait for the real thing
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: Whoever on January 23, 2008, 02:26:22 PM
Any ideas?

http://iamaphoney.blogspot.com/2008/01/now-and-then-is-spreading.html

February 9?
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: Bobber on January 23, 2008, 02:34:10 PM
I'd go with this idea:
Quote
The Abbeyrd's Beatles News Page described it this way: While this sounds very professionally produced, we don't think this is anything more than a clever, but unauthorized, mash, thanks to the overuse of echo and the audio from Beatle songs woven through it. A mash, but a well-done one, at that.
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: BlueMeanie on January 23, 2008, 02:50:09 PM
I would have thought that the tapes are well and truly under lock and key. Probably in a farmhouse in Sussex! I don't recall hearing any booted outtakes from Real Love, and Free As A Bird (but then I haven't looked for them, so I may be wrong), so I wouldn't have thought that this would have got out. A good fake, I'd say.
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: Whoever on January 23, 2008, 08:15:17 PM
I was actually refering to the Iamaphoney series of Paul is dead videos and that there is to be some kind of resolution on February 9th. Not the Now and Then thing.
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: BlueMeanie on January 23, 2008, 09:02:22 PM
The link you provided takes us straight to 'Now And Then'.
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: Whoever on January 23, 2008, 09:46:18 PM
Sorry about the confusion, this 'Now and Then' video and arrangement originally comes from Iamaphoney, whoever that is. He claims to have cracked the 'Love' album code and has reported it to Apple and will be collecting his prize on 9th of February, that's what I assume anyway.  ::)

The videos are very profesionally edited, the hypnotic splices he creates by using the reversed "backmasking" bits really are good.

It's an interesting curio.
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: Bungalow Bill on March 08, 2008, 07:30:04 PM
has there been any news on Now and Then of late? is it planned for the remasters or Paul solo or what?
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: Geoff on March 14, 2008, 12:30:42 AM
Quote from: 597
has there been any news on Now and Then of late? is it planned for the remasters or Paul solo or what?


I heard a rumor last summer that Paul wanted to finish it off and put it on one of his solo albums, but it was probably one of those News Of The World celebrity gossip type stories. The rumor about a deal with iTunes to release  a remastered Beatles catalog very likely falls into the same category:

http://abbeyrd.best.vwh.net/news/308itunesdivorce.html
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: BlueMeanie on March 14, 2008, 01:13:59 PM
Quote from: 1161

I heard a rumor last summer that Paul wanted to finish it off and put it on one of his solo albums, but it was probably one of those News Of The World celebrity gossip type stories. The rumor about a deal with iTunes to release  a remastered Beatles catalog very likely falls into the same category:

[url]http://abbeyrd.best.vwh.net/news/308itunesdivorce.html[/url]


(http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g299/paulk58/pigs_flying.jpg)
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: Geoff on March 16, 2008, 07:46:53 AM
Quote from: 483

([url]http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g299/paulk58/pigs_flying.jpg[/url])


Bingo! (Should have taken the more direct approach myself).
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: Geoff on April 03, 2008, 01:40:48 PM
I thought Tuesday was April Fool's Day....



'Lost' John Lennon-written Beatles song to be released?
The Beatles

Will Sir Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr get together to finish the song?

     Apr 2, 2008
 

'Now And Then', a song written by John Lennon in the 1970s but never completed, could surface again as a tribute release to Neil Aspinall, the producer/record executive often described as 'the fifth Beatle', who died last month (March 24).

According to The Sun, the song, a home recording of which was made by Lennon, may see the light of day, although the tapes would require a lot of work on them to restore them to full quality.

The newspaper quotes an anonymous source who claims that discussions about releasing the song have been undertaken, but it is not clear whether Lennon's former bandmates, Sir Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, have been involved in the talks or are interested in adding newly-recorded music to the song.

"There have been discussions about finishing 'Now And Then'," the source is quoted as saying: "It would be quite a task. It will need a significant amount of work to get it into a condition where it could be released."

http://www.nme.com/news/the-beatles/35605


(sleep2)
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: Bobber on April 03, 2008, 02:09:42 PM
It's a rumor that's coming back every now and then. There's been some discussing here: http://www.dmbeatles.com/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?m-1166523026/
It would be interesting to see if Paul and Ringo would really get it released. But I'm not holding my breath.
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: Geoff on April 03, 2008, 02:21:39 PM
Sorry- should have gone digging for the old thread. I just saw that this morning and thought, one more time with the old story, eh, guys? "Anonymous" sources!
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: BlueMeanie on April 03, 2008, 02:36:06 PM
I wish Paul or Ringo would actually say something to quash the rumours, either way. Wasn't quite a lot of work already done to it? George's guitar for instance?
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: Geoff on April 03, 2008, 03:22:29 PM
Found this in Wikipedia:

In January 1994, Paul McCartney was given two tape cassettes by John Lennon's widow Yoko Ono, which included home recordings of songs Lennon never completed or released commercially. The songs on the tape included the eventually completed and released "Free as a Bird" and "Real Love", in addition to two other songs "Grow Old With Me" and "Now and Then". In March 1995, the three surviving Beatles began work on "Now and Then" by recording a rough backing track that was to be used as an overdub. However, after only two days of recording, all work on the song ceased and plans for a third reunion single was scrapped permanently.

According to Paul McCartney, George Harrison "didn't want to do it," possibly because new verses would have had to been written. Producer Jeff Lynne reported that "It was one day – one afternoon, really – messing with it. The song had a chorus but is almost totally lacking in verses. We did the backing track, a rough go that we really didn't finish." An additional factor behind scrapping the song was a technical defect in the original recording. Like Real Love, a 60 cycles mains hum can be heard throughout Lennon's demo recording. However, it was much louder on the Now and Then recording, therefore making it much harder to remove.

Throughout 2005 and 2006, press reports speculated that McCartney and Starr would release a complete version of the song in the future. On April 29, 2007, it was reported in the Daily Express[1] that the song may be released to coincide with the Beatles catalogue being released for the first time via digital download. At the time of this writing, the only available recording of this song is Lennon's original demo(complete with the "electronic buzz" embeded in the recording). The overdubs added in 1995 by the other surviving members have yet to surface.

In 2007, reports circulated[2] that Paul McCartney was hoping to complete the song as a "Lennon/McCartney composition" by writing new verses, laying down a new drum track recorded by Ringo, and utilizing archival recordings of George Harrison's guitar work.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Now_and_Then_(song)

There may be something about it in Keith Badman's The Beatles After The Break Up, too, but I'm not at all sure. The surviving demo, even leaving aside the loud tape buzz, doesn't strike me as being at all promising.
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: Bobber on April 07, 2008, 12:28:17 PM
I thought today that Now And Then may have been optioned for inclusion on Anthology 3. I mean, Anthology 1 and 2 both contain a 'new' song, 3 does not. Or was that the plan all the way?
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: Geoff on April 07, 2008, 01:52:34 PM
Quote from: 63
I thought today that Now And Then may have been optioned for inclusion on Anthology 3. I mean, Anthology 1 and 2 both contain a 'new' song, 3 does not. Or was that the plan all the way?


I think that was the plan, but the bits of news I heard about it at the time were pretty muddled: "Grow Old For Me" and a new George and Paul collaboration entitled (I think) "All For Love" were also reported as being intended for Anthology 3. They should have just issued "Come and Get It" or "While My Guitar gently Weeps" as a single.

The demo of "Now and Then" is here:

hhCKdqz2ekw (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhCKdqz2ekw)
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: DarkSweetLady on April 07, 2008, 08:39:29 PM
It is such a nice song....the video makes it so sad...i do wish they would release it...and make it a big release that would be so nice....another #1 single for The Beatles...now that would be amazing!!!!
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: Bobber on April 08, 2008, 07:23:41 AM
Quote from: 668
It is such a nice song....the video makes it so sad...i do wish they would release it...and make it a big release that would be so nice....another #1 single for The Beatles...now that would be amazing!!!!

It may be the way to stay ahead of Mariah Carey.
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: theBEATLESrock_on on April 10, 2008, 05:58:09 AM
I really hope they finish the song, but, if they are anything like me, itll never get done!
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: PaulieBear on April 10, 2008, 07:22:08 PM
good song.
nice voice John at about 1:11
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: BlueMeanie on April 11, 2008, 09:21:22 AM
I really hope that this never sees the light of day. Some things should be left well alone, and this is one of them. What are we to call them now - The Twotles?
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: Bobber on April 11, 2008, 11:59:36 AM
I don't know about that. I say let's have it. Why not? It looks like it's practically ready to release.
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: BlueMeanie on April 11, 2008, 12:24:22 PM
Quote from: 63
I don't know about that. I say let's have it. Why not? It looks like it's practically ready to release.

As far as I'm concerned The Beatles finished in 1970, and that should be that. I was all for Anthology, and anything else that's in the vaults to be released, and Love is a good excercise in bringing the music more up to date for a new audience. Although I thought Real Love, and Free As A Bird were OK, I think it's too much messing with the past. If all the band were alive, I'd say go for it, but from what I've heard they'd have to sample some of George's guitar from existing songs in order to finish it. Even taking into account that The Beatles is now a brand, and not a band, I happen to think that's an unnecessary travesty, and a cheapening of the name.
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: Geoff on April 11, 2008, 01:41:07 PM
Quote from: 483
I think it's too much messing with the past. If all the band were alive, I'd say go for it, but from what I've heard they'd have to sample some of George's guitar from existing songs in order to finish it.

Agreed. The contortions required are getting to be too much. Besides, exhuming half finished demos and now even guitar licks strikes me as being a rather ghoulish enterprise with vaguely Frankenstein-ish overtones. If Paul wants to do another John leftover, my suggestion would be to start from scratch and do the whole thing himself; maybe with Ringo's help, if that suits both of them.
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: Andy Smith on April 11, 2008, 01:49:11 PM
i was never up on the free as a bird / real love thing anyway.  :-/
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: Geoff on April 11, 2008, 01:54:55 PM
Quote from: 614
i was never up on the free as a bird / real love thing anyway.  :-/

Neither was I. Back when those came out, I used to make jokes about how the demand for Beatles reunions had finally evaporated. ;)

Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: PaulieBear on April 11, 2008, 03:17:36 PM
those songs were good but...it wasn't really exciting.
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: Geoff on April 12, 2008, 04:59:01 AM
Quote from: 977
those songs were good but...it wasn't really exciting.

I think they did a decent enough job with those two songs, but having to work with half finished (and badly recorded) demos really limited what Paul, George, and Ringo could do. They might have been better off recording a couple of Cavern-era oldies or something like that. George and Paul reportedly tried to write a new song called "All For Love," but nothing came of it if the song ever in fact existed.
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: awc1967 on April 15, 2008, 05:01:15 AM
there have been on going rumors since a year ago, but neither paul or ringo has commented on those rumors, but jeff lynnes manager has denied that the song is even being worked on.
i do love the fan remix on youtube.
a nice guy there sent me an mp3 version of the song, now i listen to it in the car.
i really love this song.
 :)
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: BlueMeanie on April 15, 2008, 05:53:35 AM
Merged thread 15/04/08. BM.
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: awc1967 on May 08, 2008, 01:03:44 AM
Please forgive me, if i'm wrong for this, but i think Apple needs a wake up call on Now and then,The same way, they got one on the Beatles live at the bbc, 2 cd set back in 1994.
This song was done in very good taste by iamaphoney on youtube, and it sounds like it could have fit on the love cd, in my opinion.
I  have heard it quite a few times and it has really blown me away, Apple could make millions by releasing it with the downloads or on it's own, or even on a greatest hits cd.
this is just my opinion , but      http://www.thepetitionsite.com/5/release-the-beatles-now-and-then-song          
might be the way to get Apple's attention.
The Beatles did originally plan on releasing this for the anthology series, but technology needed to progress a bit more.
I  truly feel that with what we have here in 2008, it can be achieved.
just my opinion, and i understand that there are those who oppose it, but it would be the final gift that the Beatles could give us.
 ;)
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: fendertele on May 08, 2008, 01:16:32 AM
just thought id through a video up of a song i cant help but think of when hearing Then and Now.

it is by a very underrated English band called The Doves

it starts to come together after the first verse.

SDslk2xMuCI (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDslk2xMuCI)


the video has absolutely nothing to do with the song and was just used to accompany it.
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: awc1967 on May 09, 2008, 12:51:23 PM
An enterprising and talented fan has created a virtual Beatles reunion album and posted his results on youtube.com, according to the Beatles fan website Abbey Road Best (abbeyrd.best.vwh.net).

A man identified as Octavio (actually it is 2 guys)has taken rare Beatles and solo demo tracks and added appropriate "Beatlesque" sounding instrumentation to essentially create the album that never was. One of Octavio's "outfakes" of the third unfinished mid-'90s Beatles reunion track "Now And then" recently duped some longtime fans into thinking that they were actually hearing an unreleased Beatles reunion performance.

Among the demos that have been overdubbed are such rarities as Paul McCartney's 1968 version of "Goodbye" which morphs his 1968 demo with Mary Hopkin's 1969 version; George Harrison's All Things Must Pass-era demos of "Nowhere To Go" and "I Don't Wanna Do It"; John Lennon's late '70s and 1980 demos of "India," "You Saved My Soul," "Help Me To Help Myself," "Grow Old With Me," and others.

All of the tracks are created to sound very much like the Beatles' Anthology reunion tracks "Free As A Bird" and "Real Love," which were produced by ELO's Jeff Lynne.
Octavio has started his own blog virtualbeatles.blogspot.com which provides the audio to the tracks. The videos, which mainly consist of photo montages, can be accessed by logging on to youtube.com/user/gaius476.

they do sound preety good, but "Now and then" would sound so much better if Paul and Ringo were to finish it, or maybe, it's already done.
But these demo's with newly added instruments do sound very enjoyable, i hope Apple, Paul, Ringo, Olivia, and Yoko are seeing the interest being generated for "Now and then".

those newly worked on songs are also available on these 2 guys blog space and they can be downloaded too for free.
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: Andy Smith on May 09, 2008, 10:48:19 PM
Quote from: 1267
An enterprising and talented fan has created a virtual Beatles reunion album and posted his results on youtube.com, according to the Beatles fan website Abbey Road Best (abbeyrd.best.vwh.net).


yes, i've heard these, very good i must admit.

Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: awc1967 on May 11, 2008, 07:38:30 PM
Whenever I mention, now and then, i'm not trying to be Sid Bernstein, it's just that Paul actually started all this by saying he would like to finish it, since then it has became a giant internet rumor, but then again, is it really a rumor?
I  beleive, even those opposed or even those who don't care, would love the finished version.
The melody and meaning has really got me hooked on it, it's in me bloody head and i can't get it out'.
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: Mellotroniac on May 16, 2008, 01:26:36 AM
I'd love to see it resolved as well.
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: BlueMeanie on May 22, 2008, 12:04:32 PM
Listening to 'Now And Then' I think they did well to drop it. It's a very similar tempo to 'Real Love' and 'Free As A Bird', and pretty uninspiring to my ears.
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: Geoff on May 22, 2008, 12:21:41 PM
Quote from: 483
Listening to 'Now And Then' I think they did well to drop it. It's a very similar tempo to 'Real Love' and 'Free As A Bird', and pretty uninspiring to my ears.

I agree. It would have to be- or should be- completely rethought with a new recording begun from scratch. No one would be interested in that, though: it's not a Beatles "reunion."

Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: BlueMeanie on May 22, 2008, 12:38:44 PM
Quote from: 1161

I agree. It would have to be- or should be- completely rethought with a new recording begun from scratch. No one would be interested in that, though: it's not a Beatles "reunion."


Lennons voice sounds awful in it, as it does on the other two. Though a top engineer might be able to get something better out of it. It's a shame that - given all his experiences with the sound guys at Abbey Road, and all the technological innovations that came about, partly because of him - he doesn't seem to have embraced technology very much in the 70's. He could at least have had a little home studio for his demo's instead of singing into a cassette recorder!
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: Geoff on May 22, 2008, 12:56:32 PM
Quote from: 483
Lennons voice sounds awful in it, as it does on the other two.


It's surely a very provisional work-in-progress demo, and the surviving tape is probably a couple of generations removed from the original. John's vocal is tentative at best; he's just feeling his way though a half finished song and recording it to get some idea of where he's at with it. Good point about him not having some sort of home studio; that is odd, because he did have them at Kenwood at Tittenhurst Park, didn't he?

By the way, here's the youtube for "Now and Then" again if anyone's interested. I don't see this original take elsewhere in the thread.

hhCKdqz2ekw (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhCKdqz2ekw)
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: Paul Doherty on May 23, 2008, 08:37:59 AM
I think Johns method of recording in the dakota was a pretty simple one........just like when he came up with s.fields,he had an idea and put it to tape right away.
Juts as a writer would scribble an idea down on a piece of paper...this would be how ideas would be kept for a later date....to go back on and progress the track.
Its something i do...and i remember hearing a great story from Fran Healy the Travis singer......he said that he was sitting with the guitar one night when he came up with that famous tune they had(rain on me?).......so he grabbed a little tape recorder and sang the melody and played the guitar parts etc.He then put the recorder and guitar down and made himself a cuppa....totally forgetting the tune he had just wrote..
So half an hour later,he came back to the tape recorder all excited to hear wht this great new song sounded like,only to find that he didnt actually record the song properly...he had the pause button on and only released this when he had finished recording........BUT(the point is coming).....its ends up he was whisteling the song when he was making the tea,and the recorder picked this up.......so Travis had their hit.......phew


Sorry that has no relevance really.....

Now and then......great song,great melody.....but just an idea around the piano......john is making it up as he goes along......there is only one take of this song also just to add to the fact.

Macca should do something with it,as i think it kind of relates to them both....it would be nice to hear paul bouncing off johns verse with a vocal etc....

the end

sorry  :-)
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: harihead on May 24, 2008, 03:36:41 AM
Love the Travis story, Paul!

I think John's demos were often pretty rough, and the band would work on knocking them into shape. Unfortunately, I just don't see how this can happen when the John contribution is frozen in time on a bad recording. I do think Paul would be better off taking it as inspiration and creating something fresh from it. But what do I know?
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: Paul Doherty on May 29, 2008, 09:32:24 AM
Hope he does one day
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: DarkSweetLady on May 29, 2008, 07:24:46 PM
The song is good, but sad. The way my mind interprets it though isn't the same intent John wrote the songs with. He wrote it for Yoko right? It makes me think of The Beatles, and John especially not being here, and stuff like that. Good song, but it makes me a little sad.

I want them to release it though, I want a big release. I WANT A NUMBER ONE HIT!!!!
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: The Swine on November 19, 2008, 08:33:11 AM
carnivals b-side?  ;D
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: Bobber on December 02, 2008, 11:45:50 AM
Quote from: 611
Sad days!

I know john was working on his next songs!!

Free as a bird ect were (not for the Beatles!)
I have the solo accustic he did & piano stuff!

John was not ready for the Beatles as --It as a the band--Did not allow
freedom of self!
This is why George left also!

John said it on one of his songs--
I don't beleave in Beatles--I beleave in me--Yoko & Me! I am John!

He just wanted to be seen for him & not as a beatles!That was a
product & could be sold!
Buttons-postes-socks-ect!!

Priceless!  ;D  Anyway, djinns last sentence made me wonder. He should pay a visit to the John Exploiting thread!
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: BlueMeanie on December 02, 2008, 11:48:12 AM
Quote from: 63

Priceless!  ;D  Anyway, djinns last sentence made me wonder. He should pay a visit to the John Exploiting thread!

That would make my year!!
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: NoNameR on December 02, 2008, 05:09:53 PM
That's some damn smart work. I'm certain that some clever bootlegger has touched up the Lennon demo (rather than having access to the Threetles' version), but that is bloody good. Nicely sampled Ringo drums and shimmery George backing. Brilliant stuff, indeed!

Quote from: 63
Is this the song as far as The Threetles made it?

tz5i2gjyxmM ([url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tz5i2gjyxmM[/url])


Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: dylanjohn on January 14, 2009, 04:39:56 AM
Here is the solution to release it.

It's all in the name.

Release it as a John Lennon song.  Which it is...
A Lennon song with help from Starr/McCartney...

If George recorded any parts during 1995 that Olivia wants used,
then use them.

Let's just hear the song, not as a Beatles song....but as it truly is.
A Lennon song with help from his friends.

I think that is the best solution.
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: dbone828 on February 05, 2009, 01:57:16 PM
Remember how back in the '90s, Paul, George and Ringo "reunited" with John via recorded cassette, remixed a few songs, and released them as hit singles as a part of the Anthology series?

Well, the first single, "Free as a Bird" was included on Anthology 1, and its follow-up, "Real Love," opened Anthology 2.  There were plans on following this pattern by including a new song ("Now and Then") as an opening to Anthology 3, but for various reasons, the boys didn't feel like finishing the song, and thus the idea was scrapped.

On April 29, 2007, it was reported in the Daily Express that the song may be released to coincide with the Beatles catalogue being released for the first time via digital download. Additional reports circulated that same year that Paul McCartney was hoping to complete the song as a "Lennon/McCartney composition" by writing new verses, laying down a new drum track recorded by Ringo, and utilizing archival recordings of George Harrison's guitar work.

In January of 2008, a "fan remix" was made of "Now and Then," dubbed the "1995 Edit," and appeared on YouTube:
7G17A10TA2c (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7G17A10TA2c)

As far as I know, nobody ever came into the light as to who made this remix.  Since then, the video has been added as official videos to the following YouTube user accounts:
PaulMcCartney
Y0KOONO
RINGOSTARR

All three of these accounts seem to be the real deal, but I could be wrong.

I have two theories:

Theory #1: Paul McCartney, Yoko Ono, and Ringo loved this remix so much, that they promoted it to gauge a response.  See if it was popular enough to release the remix as an official digital download, or perhaps record their own version of it.

Theory #2: This is the real deal.  The one Paul was talking about releasing.  Yet it never became a huge YouTube phenomenon (the most viewed incarnation of this video is currently at 137,000 views, which is a lot, but not for a song by a popular recording artist).  Perhaps they want to wait until it gains in popularity before even considering releasing it as a single.

What are your thoughts?

Either way, I find it suspicious (yet promising) that this video has been added to Paul's official lineup.

What do I propose?

Spread this video like wildfire.  If this manages to get a million hits, we could be seeing the release of "Now and Then" as a digital download, and even speed up the process of releasing the Beatles' catalog on iTunes by cranking up the demand another notch.  Although I'm not sure which version of the video would benefit from more viewings.  The original has far more views.  But Paul would be more likely to notice any change in his own personal account.  And Ringo isn't nearly as popular as Paul for this to have such an effect.
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: BlueMeanie on February 05, 2009, 06:54:42 PM
It's not coming out. Full stop.
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: Whoeveriam on August 20, 2009, 02:46:15 AM
Now & Then - John Lennon (cleaned up version) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIElbx16dc8#normal)
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: Nelson_Wilbury on August 20, 2009, 03:09:30 AM
Which is the problem if one or two of them wasn't in the tape? Many songs were recorded by three, two or one member and everybody knows that ARE Beatles songs

Release it with or without George. What can we lose?
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: georgeharrisonluver on August 20, 2009, 04:37:23 AM

Quote
As far as I know, nobody ever came into the light as to who made this remix.  Since then, the video has been added as official videos to the following YouTube user accounts:
PaulMcCartney
Y0KOONO
RINGOSTARR

All three of these accounts seem to be the real deal, but I could be wrong.



PaulMcCartney is not Paul's offical channel...It's this one http://www.youtube.com/user/paulmccartney?blend=1&ob=4 (http://www.youtube.com/user/paulmccartney?blend=1&ob=4)

the others seem legit though. I do hope Now and Then is released  :)
Title: Re: Now And Then
Post by: Tamara on August 28, 2009, 01:58:43 PM
Which is the problem if one or two of them wasn't in the tape? Many songs were recorded by three, two or one member and everybody knows that ARE Beatles songs

Release it with or without George. What can we lose?

Nothing. You are absolutely right. Let's have it!
Title: NOW AND THEN Finished! New Beatle single!
Post by: I am the Paulrus on September 02, 2009, 01:17:01 AM
NOW AND THEN Finished! New Beatle single!

I saw this on the George Harrison Forum. Is this true?! Can anyone confirm this? Could this be the 45th and mystery song in The Beatles: Rock band game? From whobeatle on the GH Forum:

http://www.georgeharrison.com/board/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=15612 (http://www.georgeharrison.com/board/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=15612)

NOW AND THEN Finished! New Beatle single!



by whobeatle on Sun Jul 26, 2009 1:15 am

Numerous reports all over the world last week claimed the Beatle reunion song
NOW AND THEN based on a Lennon demo had been finished.

THat report is TRUE---All four Beatles appear on the track. George as I understand it
plays at least one guitar part and sings back up.

Ringo of course plays drums

JOhn Lennon plays piano and sings lead

Paul McCartney plays several instruments and sings harmony, possibly lead or colead
vocals in certain sections of the song...Possibly new sections were written by McCartney
to flesh out the song a little...Though it was originally a Lennon song...It is unclear whether
Paul actually wrote some additional lyrics or added a musical bridge or something.


ACCORDING TO MY SOURCES "The record sounds very BEATLEY"

NO DOUBT WHATSOEVER PAul McCartney went in for several recording , and editing sessions
over the last two or three years and finished the song... More work had been done in the nineties
by the THREETLES than had been acknowledged. The reports how the THREETLES had just messed around
with NOW AND THEN for an afternoon were totally misleading and false. Perhaps the other new song ALL FOR LOVE
was only worked on for a couple of days. Now and Then was worked on by George Paul and RIngo quite a bit...But
Paul still had to do a lot of additional work to get it releasable...McCartney wants the record out badly..Thats a fact



OKAY--The part how the song is about to see an imminent release--THAT Is FALSE so far as I know

I HOPE TO GOD THE SONG COMES OUT THIS YEAR AS PART OF THE BEATLE REMASTER PROGRAM
but no one has said that to me, that knows what they are talking about

SMART MONEY SAYS THE HOLD UP IS THAT THE BEATLES HAVE NOT INKED A DEAL FOR DOWNLOADS
WHEN WE SEE DOWNLOADS WE WILL SEE THE LAST NEW BEATLE SINGLE IN HISTORY
NO WONDER THE BEATLES ARE PLAYING HARDBALL WITH THE DOWNLOAD PROVIDERS! INCLUDED
IN THE DOWNLOAD DEAL IS A BRAND NEW BEATLE SONG HOLY SMOKES

THE MYSTERY IS WHEN CAN WE HEAR NOW AND THEN! ---THE MYSTERY IS NOT IS THEIR A FINISHED
BEATLE SONG IN THE CAN CALLED NOW AND THEN


It has been verified by the highest possible sources that its true NOW AND THEN IS FINISHED IN THE CAN


the damm mystery is why the heck don't they put out the freaking song!

My sources tell me it has been finished on the shelf since at least 2008.
Title: Re: NOW AND THEN Finished! New Beatle single!
Post by: Bobber on September 02, 2009, 06:57:02 AM
My sources tell me to wait and see for myself.
Title: Re: NOW AND THEN Finished! New Beatle single!
Post by: alexis on September 02, 2009, 10:48:49 AM
NOW AND THEN Finished! New Beatle single!

I saw this on the George Harrison Forum. Is this true?! Can anyone confirm this? Could this be the 45th and mystery song in The Beatles: Rock band game? From whobeatle on the GH Forum:

[url]http://www.georgeharrison.com/board/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=15612[/url] ([url]http://www.georgeharrison.com/board/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=15612[/url])

NOW AND THEN Finished! New Beatle single!



by whobeatle on Sun Jul 26, 2009 1:15 am

Numerous reports all over the world last week claimed the Beatle reunion song
NOW AND THEN based on a Lennon demo had been finished.

THat report is TRUE---All four Beatles appear on the track. George as I understand it
plays at least one guitar part and sings back up.

Ringo of course plays drums

JOhn Lennon plays piano and sings lead

Paul McCartney plays several instruments and sings harmony, possibly lead or colead
vocals in certain sections of the song...Possibly new sections were written by McCartney
to flesh out the song a little...Though it was originally a Lennon song...It is unclear whether
Paul actually wrote some additional lyrics or added a musical bridge or something.


ACCORDING TO MY SOURCES "The record sounds very BEATLEY"

NO DOUBT WHATSOEVER PAul McCartney went in for several recording , and editing sessions
over the last two or three years and finished the song... More work had been done in the nineties
by the THREETLES than had been acknowledged. The reports how the THREETLES had just messed around
with NOW AND THEN for an afternoon were totally misleading and false. Perhaps the other new song ALL FOR LOVE
was only worked on for a couple of days. Now and Then was worked on by George Paul and RIngo quite a bit...But
Paul still had to do a lot of additional work to get it releasable...McCartney wants the record out badly..Thats a fact



OKAY--The part how the song is about to see an imminent release--THAT Is FALSE so far as I know

I HOPE TO GOD THE SONG COMES OUT THIS YEAR AS PART OF THE BEATLE REMASTER PROGRAM
but no one has said that to me, that knows what they are talking about

SMART MONEY SAYS THE HOLD UP IS THAT THE BEATLES HAVE NOT INKED A DEAL FOR DOWNLOADS
WHEN WE SEE DOWNLOADS WE WILL SEE THE LAST NEW BEATLE SINGLE IN HISTORY
NO WONDER THE BEATLES ARE PLAYING HARDBALL WITH THE DOWNLOAD PROVIDERS! INCLUDED
IN THE DOWNLOAD DEAL IS A BRAND NEW BEATLE SONG HOLY SMOKES

THE MYSTERY IS WHEN CAN WE HEAR NOW AND THEN! ---THE MYSTERY IS NOT IS THEIR A FINISHED
BEATLE SONG IN THE CAN CALLED NOW AND THEN


It has been verified by the highest possible sources that its true NOW AND THEN IS FINISHED IN THE CAN


the damm mystery is why the heck don't they put out the freaking song!

My sources tell me it has been finished on the shelf since at least 2008.


Well, this would be nice, wouldn't it!

That bit about George is intriguing ... why such a small contribution? If this were true, wouldn't he be all over the song as much as the other Lennon "cassette" songs (lots of rhythm, lead fills, etc.)?
Title: Re: NOW AND THEN Finished! New Beatle single!
Post by: JimmyMcCullochFan on September 02, 2009, 02:14:35 PM
I find it strange that people are going "IT SOUNDS VERY BEATLEY!"

Duh?  ???
Title: Re: NOW AND THEN Finished! New Beatle single!
Post by: freakchic9 on September 02, 2009, 09:12:03 PM
This is exciting! I want to hear it.
Title: Re: NOW AND THEN Finished! New Beatle single!
Post by: georgeharrisonluver on September 02, 2009, 09:54:04 PM
I hope so!!!! I swear I gasped when I saw this tread. I've fallin in love with this song after hearing the demo of it on YouTube.  ;D