Beatles - Now & Then
Printed From: Top 40 Music on CD
Category: Top 40 Music On Compact Disc
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URL: https://top40musiconcd.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=10010
Printed Date: 31 May 2025 at 7:04am
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Topic: Beatles - Now & Then
Posted By: PopArchivist
Subject: Beatles - Now & Then
Date Posted: 26 October 2023 at 1:16pm
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Set to be released November 2, 2023.
https://pitchfork.com/news/the-beatles-final-song-now-and-th en-announced/ - https://pitchfork.com/news/the-beatles-final-song-now-and-th en-announced/ A few key points: Absolute last new Beatles track A Beatles song has not charted since Real Love in 1996. Meaning it was before Billboard's late 1998 rule change. Its the last chance for the Beatles to add to their #1's. If it hits #1 it would be almost 60 years from their first #1 in January 1964. Not sure if that is a record but no one who had a #1 on Billboard before 1964 is likely to get another one anytime soon in this streaming age/download age My prediction: It hits #1, stays there for many weeks. My understanding is Love Me Do will be issued in stereo for the first time and the Blue and Red albums are going to be expanded. If anyone has any additional info I would love to know about it. ------------- Favorite two expressions to live by on this board: "You can't download vinyl" and "Not everything is available on CD." |
Replies:
Posted By: Michaeldila
Date Posted: 26 October 2023 at 4:48pm
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This is from today:
https://theseconddisc.com/2023/10/26/now-and-then-unheard-ou ttake- new-mixes-added-to-classic-beatles-compilations/ |
Posted By: aaronk
Date Posted: 26 October 2023 at 9:52pm
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Interesting news. I'm not predicting it will hit #1, but anything is possible. ------------- Aaron Kannowski http://www.uptownsound.com" rel="nofollow - Uptown Sound http://www.919thepeak.com" rel="nofollow - 91.9 The Peak - Classic Hip Hop |
Posted By: Paul Haney
Date Posted: 27 October 2023 at 4:24am
While I would love to see it hit #1, it's not gonna happen. Taylor Swift's 1989 rerecording will dominate the streaming world for the next few weeks. Even if the Beatles somehow managed to hit #1, it would only be for a single week and it would then drop like a rock. |
PopArchivist wrote:Posted By: Paul C
Date Posted: 27 October 2023 at 7:18am
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I think the ‘new’ Beatles song has a chance to reach #1 only if it features
Drake. George Harrison considered the song ‘rubbish’. |
Posted By: Brian W.
Date Posted: 27 October 2023 at 8:42am
I thought I read that George Harrison considered the sound quality rubbish, not the song itself. |
Posted By: PopArchivist
Date Posted: 27 October 2023 at 11:16am
The ability now vs then to isolate Lennon's vocals via AI is the difference. Technology finally allowed them to do it. By isolating it, it allowed Paul and Ringo to actually do their part, add Harrison's additions and finish the song. The buzz on the track from what I understand was the original complaint. Harrison was speaking of the quality of the recording. Unlike Real Love and Free As A Bird which had the three Beatles complete what was already demos that were somewhat lyrically polished by Lennon. ------------- Favorite two expressions to live by on this board: "You can't download vinyl" and "Not everything is available on CD." |
Posted By: LunarLaugh
Date Posted: 28 October 2023 at 3:03pm
Actually, "Real Love" was the most finished of the three tracks attempted as John had the whole lyrical structure completed. Comparitively, John's "Free As A Bird" demo had him mumbling along during what became the bridge section which that Paul and George fleshed out (and sang on The Beatles rendition). Going off John's demo which circulates, the lyrics for "Now and Then" were even less finished and the words John does sing on the demo ("I know it's true, it's all because of you...") sound a bit like temporary aka 'dummy' lyrics, to me. I am eager to see how well they pulled it off. It would be nice if they do achieve another number one. I think the public is so nostalgia hungry these days that it wouldn't surprise me. ------------- https://thelunarlaugh.bandcamp.com/ - Listen to The Lunar Laugh! |
Posted By: PopArchivist
Date Posted: 01 November 2023 at 6:25pm
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Just heard and watched the 12 minute video. Incredible. Anyone who wants to see how good technology has come should watch it. Lennon's voice isolated sounded just like he was there. Amazing! ------------- Favorite two expressions to live by on this board: "You can't download vinyl" and "Not everything is available on CD." |
Posted By: PopArchivist
Date Posted: 02 November 2023 at 8:24am
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Some thoughts now that it is released:
1) John's vocal is crystal clear. Fantastic job with the new AI. 2) The orchestral arrangement was needed. It gives a nice lift to the song. 3) The count-in well I can do without that. 4) The Ringo talking at the end, could do without that. 5) It has all the classic Beatles sounds but its like I can't put my finger on it, its missing something. Still better than most of the rubish that they put out today. There is depth to the song. Is it Strawberry Fields Forever? No. Still I see this hitting #1 shortly. Itunes and youtube views should do it. Thoughts anyone? ------------- Favorite two expressions to live by on this board: "You can't download vinyl" and "Not everything is available on CD." |
Posted By: Brian W.
Date Posted: 02 November 2023 at 10:03am
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Meh. I don't think it's a particularly good song, actually. If Lennon had completed the song as a solo artist, I doubt it would have ever been a single, maybe an album track. It feels like an unfinished song to me.
But the sound quality is certainly better than "Free as a Bird." They should try re-extracting his vocal from the "Free as a Bird" demo and remixing it. |
Posted By: kaqueno
Date Posted: 02 November 2023 at 10:12am
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Amazing and emotional song.
I agree with Richie that it was a fantastic job with the AI, I love the orchestral arrangement, it reminds me of "real love" and "free as a bird", which in fact is from the same time when the Lennon recorded. I want it to reach the position at No. 1, time will tell. ------------- Marcelo - Argentina https://www.mixcloud.com/marcelo-guzman4/ - https://www.discogs.com/user/kaqueno/collection |
Posted By: garye
Date Posted: 02 November 2023 at 10:02pm
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Lennon sings some very simple yet introspective lyrics.
I have read in the late 70's by John's own admission, he was going through alot in his head. This song seemingly born from that. Considering the source demo, remarkable remixing job with cutting edge software. A great song? No, but a good song to listen too. Now to Love Me Do remix. have mixed feelings about the stereo remix. I read where Giles used Dolby Atmos in the remix. The sound in my thought so-so. Should have stuck with a basic mono remix. Worked in 1962, and the sound was better in some ways than the remix. My 2 cents. |
Posted By: Paul Haney
Date Posted: 03 November 2023 at 4:11am
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I love The Beatles (both together and as soloists) as much as anybody, but this "new" single does nothing for me. Just plain
dull, IMO. No way it makes #1 on the Hot 100. Streaming competition from Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo and Jung Kook (of BTS) will most likely keep The Beatles out of the Top 10, let alone the #1 spot. That said, I will be interested to see just where it does debut. Either way, the novelty will wear off quickly and it won't stay on the Hot 100 very long. Sorry, but that's the way it is these days. |
Posted By: Archives Guy
Date Posted: 03 November 2023 at 6:10am
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I also love The Beatles. After all of the hype for "Now &
Then," I was disappointed with the song. Not as good as "Free As A Bird" and "Real Love." Also, I wonder why the recording was "brickwalled." |
Posted By: Hykker
Date Posted: 03 November 2023 at 6:17am
| Didn't do a lot for me either. To my ears it sounds like a late 70s low charter, I barely made it thru one listen. |
Posted By: EternalStatic
Date Posted: 03 November 2023 at 7:49am
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I find "Now and Then" to be good, not great. I didn't love it at first listen although it has grown on me quickly. If you have access to the Dolby Atmos mixes via Apple Music, I did find the Atmos mix to
be superior to the standard stereo. It had a tad more clarity. What I am excited about is the new stereo remix of "Love Me Do" on the B-side :-) ... Methinks that the upcoming reissue of 1962-1966 is a dry run to see how folks feel about new remixes of the early Beatles material, which personally, I would love to see/hear. If the Beatles gimmick their way into a #1 slot or a Top 10 placing, even for a single week, surely that would be something to add to the record books? Longest span between first Top 10 hit and final Top 10 hit, etc.? I think that's all they're after here. And they'll probably get it in the UK. |
Posted By: mjb50
Date Posted: 03 November 2023 at 11:44am
With good reason. The official stereo mix is obscenely brickwalled (DR 4). Who signed off on that, I wonder? If you mix down the Atmos mix to stereo, it's quite a bit better (DR 11). |
Posted By: EternalStatic
Date Posted: 04 November 2023 at 7:14am
That’s a real shame. I wonder if the Hi-Rez download versions will be sourced from the same masters as for the CD-quality. Sometimes they’re a mild improvement. |
Posted By: mjb50
Date Posted: 04 November 2023 at 10:10am
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The DR 4 was the 24/96 stereo mastering from Qobuz, sadly.
Anyway, I kinda like the song. But I also agree it's very much got that dreary late-Lennon vibe. It would've been a decent album-ender or B-side for "Watching the Wheels". I also wish Jeff Lynne were capable of having a lighter touch. |
Posted By: RoknRobnLoxley
Date Posted: 04 November 2023 at 10:36am
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Likewise, I find Now And Then to be good not great. I'm amazed though at how well they extracted John's vocal, and how good it sounds !! But then they buried it in the mix 2/3 of the way thru. Too much volume of too many instruments or something = too dense.
What Apple should have done was give us a CD maxi-single with 4 versions, a John only extracted demo, a Beatles only with voices and instruments, then add on the other instruments but at a softer volume, then the full blown mix as is. Plus the new stereo Love Me Do. Speaking of which, it's most fab to have Love Me Do in stereo, but I've heard other stereo extracted versions of this on the internet which sounded better, with slightly more separation. Still, I'm looking forward to the Red album and all the other new 'stereo' versions. |
Posted By: Paul Haney
Date Posted: 04 November 2023 at 1:23pm
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Now that the song has been released, I'm seeing more and more stories (hype?) that it actually could debut
at #1 on the Hot 100. While I'd love to see it happen, I'm still thinking it will fall short. Since it was actually released a day early, the first day (Thursday-11/2) numbers will actually make it eligible to chart on this coming week's Hot 100 (dated 11/11), though I don't see it happening (possibly "Bubbling Under"???). The full impact will come on the Hot 100 dated 11/18. The streaming numbers are fairly strong as of now, but it's the physical sales that could push it all the way to the top. It's times like this when I wish Joel Whitburn was still around. He'd be so excited to watch this all unfold! Stay tuned... |
Posted By: Brian W.
Date Posted: 04 November 2023 at 3:04pm
It's currently only at #65 on Apple Music streaming and it's only #24 on Spotify, though it is the #1 seller on the iTunes store. Since neither "Free as a Bird" nor "Real Love" made it anywhere near #1, I don't know why "Now and Then" would. Then again, those songs were available on the "Beatles Anthology" albums, and this is only available as a single, so maybe I'll be surprised. |
Posted By: JMD1961
Date Posted: 04 November 2023 at 4:36pm
Actually, it will be included on the expanded version of the Red Album coming out next week. Which is crazy, since "Free As A Bird" nor "Real Love" are not being included. |
Posted By: Paul Haney
Date Posted: 05 November 2023 at 5:09am
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Keep in mind that YouTube views also count towards the streaming numbers, and those are already over 7 million. All
indications are that it could break Adele's largest digital song sales week of 1.1 million (for "Hello"). It's also being sold as a physical CD single, which could help push it up the chart. I noticed that they are still holding off all of the Jung Kook singles at the iTunes store this morning. No small feat, seeing as how rabid the BTS fan base can be, LOL! |
Posted By: PopArchivist
Date Posted: 05 November 2023 at 9:13am
If The Beatles manage to land in the top 10 they would be just shy of 60 years between their first top 10 (Jan 1964) and their last top 10 (Nov 2023). The only group active is the Rolling Stones that would have any chance to come close to that and they haven't had a Top 10 since the Regan administration.... ------------- Favorite two expressions to live by on this board: "You can't download vinyl" and "Not everything is available on CD." |
Posted By: PopArchivist
Date Posted: 05 November 2023 at 9:18am
From what I have read it will enter the top 10 based on streaming/itunes/youtube and physical sales and probably fall off quickly in 2-3 weeks... ------------- Favorite two expressions to live by on this board: "You can't download vinyl" and "Not everything is available on CD." |
Posted By: PopArchivist
Date Posted: 05 November 2023 at 9:28am
This is a different era. In 1995-1996 it was all about sales. Now it is all about streaming/purchases and views. Free as a Bird made it to #6 and Real Love #11 in a time where sales via soundscan was still a thing.
That is a big oversight. I would have made room on the 2nd blue CD for them. There sure was enough time to add them for more completeness. ------------- Favorite two expressions to live by on this board: "You can't download vinyl" and "Not everything is available on CD." |
Posted By: Paul Haney
Date Posted: 05 November 2023 at 10:38am
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Billboard's practice of letting Christmas songs back on the Hot 100 each year really skews the record books. You've got
artists like Brenda Lee and Bobby Helms hitting the Top 10 every year and they both go further back than The Beatles and The Rolling Stones in chart history. Of course, it's not with anything new, still it is the current-day Hot 100. |
Posted By: PopArchivist
Date Posted: 05 November 2023 at 6:42pm
They might go further back but Mariah always hits #1 right around December. If the Beatles can make it to #1 they probably have a week or two before Mariah leaps to #1 with her 1994 hit All I Want For Christmas Is You. My understanding no Christmas Song outside Mariah and The Chipmunks ever hit #1 (Crosby's White Christmas was way before the modern era). By the time Mariah charts, the Beatles song will have lost steam. ------------- Favorite two expressions to live by on this board: "You can't download vinyl" and "Not everything is available on CD." |
Posted By: LunarLaugh
Date Posted: 05 November 2023 at 9:08pm
I remain hopeful that the 2 Anthology singles are excluded because there may be a revamped Anthology box set in the works which they are being held back for (complete with a totally remastered Anthology documentary on bluray and streaming). It would be nice if they could apply the same machine learning system employed on Now and Then to get a better Lennon vocal on "Free as A Bird" and "Real Love" while still maintaining the Jeff Lynne feel of the original mixes (I happen to really love Jeff's production style but YMMV). ------------- https://thelunarlaugh.bandcamp.com/ - Listen to The Lunar Laugh! |
Posted By: Hykker
Date Posted: 06 November 2023 at 6:05am
Not really a fair comparison since for many years Christmas songs were not eligible for the Hot 100. I'm sure "Happy Christmas (War Is Over)", "Step Into Christmas" or even "Grandma Got Run Over..." would have at least made the top 10. |
Posted By: davidlg1971
Date Posted: 06 November 2023 at 1:19pm
Agreed; I'd love to see a revamped Anthology that includes cleaned-up vocals for the first two songs. Apple have so far said that's not in their current plans. Which may be subterfuge, or it may be true: Jeff Lynne has already remixed both Free As A Bird and Real Love for their respective videos, back in 2015 for the 1+ DVD/Blu-Ray set. They touched up the vocals at the time, albeit with 2015-era tools. Would they attempt it one more time? Dunno - but I hope so. As for Now And Then - I do like it, it's a heartfelt tribute to Lennon and Harrison. But from a compositional standpoint, I feel like it's missing something in the verse that could have made it a stronger song - adding a second melody or vocal, more complex harmonies, etc. But I admit - that would be a tall order to achieve for McCartney, working essentially alone at age 81. |
Posted By: davidlg1971
Date Posted: 06 November 2023 at 1:24pm
Is the Atmos stereo mix available for purchase? I just ordered the CD-single, but I'm guessing it's highly compressed. (Also, as an FYI where it comes to appropriate credit/blame: Jeff Lynne didn't produce the finished Now And Then, save the surviving George Harrison contributions from 1995. Everything else was produced by McCartney with Giles Martin.) |
Posted By: Paul Haney
Date Posted: 07 November 2023 at 4:51am
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As I suspected, the Beatles debuted at #5 on this week's Bubbling Under chart (dated 11/11), based on releasing the
song one day early. Where will they debut on the Hot 100 next week? Stay tuned... |
Posted By: Paul C
Date Posted: 07 November 2023 at 3:36pm
#79 on the Canadian Hot 100. |
Posted By: RoknRobnLoxley
Date Posted: 08 November 2023 at 6:01am
| In the UK, debuted at #42, trending/expected to hit #1 on the next chart in 2 days. |
Posted By: PopArchivist
Date Posted: 08 November 2023 at 8:12pm
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For those who are interested there is a radio edit of the track. It cuts of the 1,2,3,4 intro and the song actually fades instead of the talking at the end. I caught it the other day, so I can confirm it isn't an in-house edit due to the ending being extended a few seconds to a proper fade. ------------- Favorite two expressions to live by on this board: "You can't download vinyl" and "Not everything is available on CD." |
Posted By: Paul C
Date Posted: 13 November 2023 at 1:06pm
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It’s #7 on the Hot 100 this week, with 73,000 in sales, 11 million streams,
and 2.1 million in airplay ‘audience impressions’. What I’m now wondering is whether 83 year old Ringo is the oldest person to ever have a Top Ten hit. |
Posted By: kaqueno
Date Posted: 13 November 2023 at 1:15pm
I have the version with the intro, which comes in the proaudiousa service Does anyone have this version to share? ------------- Marcelo - Argentina https://www.mixcloud.com/marcelo-guzman4/ - https://www.discogs.com/user/kaqueno/collection |
Posted By: davidclark
Date Posted: 13 November 2023 at 8:27pm
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I listened to what is labeled the "Dolby Atmos" version on YouTube. I find it has
MUCH more dynamic range than the rather loud "regular" version. It is mixed a bit different also, unless the YouTube post does not faithfully reproduce the Atmos mix or it could be that I just can't listen to real Atmos as I don't have the necessary equipment. Anyway, I find it much more pleasing to the ears. I do like the song, but not how it sounds.' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kDrAE1028Y - Dolby Atmos ------------- dc1 |
Posted By: EternalStatic
Date Posted: 14 November 2023 at 6:16am
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Sorry if I'm repeating myself here (too lazy to go back a page and look at my last response, ha ha ha), but I perceived the Dolby Atmos mix to be superior as well, and I was listening on 2-channel stereo equipment, not true
"surround". Supposedly Atmos mixes will fold down to stereo easily, so what you heard is probably the real thing. |
Posted By: EdisonLite
Date Posted: 14 November 2023 at 11:32am
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I've been hearing about atmos but don't know too much. So you need special
equipment? meaning speakers? And if you don't have it, the surround sound will get folded to stereo, which will probably be different than the true stereo mix that was made of any song, and at times sound better than that mix? Is any of that a fair assessment? |
Posted By: davidlg1971
Date Posted: 14 November 2023 at 12:47pm
I generally agree - the Atmos stereo downmix sounds clearer than the super-compressed standard stereo version. But the Dolby downmix has its problems too - the strings, background vocals, bass and some of the non-cymbal drums are mixed a bit too far back. And Lennon's voice is a little loud. Also, McCartney shadows Lennon's lead vocals in several places, and replaces it altogether at the end of some lines. As a result in the Atmos stereo mix it's jarring whenever Lennon disappears, since McCartney is further back in the mix - such as at 1:04 in the video you posted. I think the balance between instruments is better in the main stereo version. But it's also a muddy mess - so hopefully they sort out both versions with better mixing/mastering at some point. |
Posted By: LunarLaugh
Date Posted: 14 November 2023 at 12:53pm
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It's the same general idea as Dolby Surround and Dolby Pro Logic once were, just with fancy new buzz words. ------------- https://thelunarlaugh.bandcamp.com/ - Listen to The Lunar Laugh! |
Posted By: EdisonLite
Date Posted: 14 November 2023 at 2:13pm
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Was Atmos used only on Now and Then? Or was it used for all the remixes on
the 2023 remixes of the red & blue CDs? |
Posted By: PopArchivist
Date Posted: 14 November 2023 at 5:45pm
Nope haven't been able to get it. Sorry. ------------- Favorite two expressions to live by on this board: "You can't download vinyl" and "Not everything is available on CD." |