Now and Then

"Now and Then" is a single by the English rock band the Beatles, released on 2 November 2023 as a double A-side single, paired with a new mix of the band's first single, "Love Me Do" (1962). Dubbed "the last Beatles song", it is also to be included on the expanded re-issue of the 1973 compilation 1967–1970, to be released on 10 November 2023.

The song was originally written and recorded by John Lennon around 1977 as a solo piano home demo, but was left unfinished. After Lennon's death in 1980, the song was considered as the third Beatles reunion single for their 1995–1996 retrospective project The Beatles Anthology, following "Free as a Bird" and "Real Love", both based on Lennon's demos. Instead of being included on Anthology 3, the song was shelved for nearly three decades. It was later completed by surviving bandmates Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr with overdubs, as well as guitar tracks by George Harrison from the abandoned 1995 sessions.

The finalised version also features additional lyrics by McCartney, and Lennon's voice "extricated" from the original demo using the AI-backed audio restoration technology commissioned by Peter Jackson for his 2021 documentary The Beatles: Get Back. Jackson also directed the music video for "Now and Then".

The song received acclaim from critics, who felt it was a worthy finale for the Beatles. It reached the number one position in the most listened songs on Spotify in the UK and number 15 globally. It also reached number one on iTunes in the global top as well as in the United States and United Kingdom.

Personnel
The Beatles


 * John Lennon – lead and backing vocals
 * Paul McCartney – lead and backing vocals, bass, lap steel guitar, piano, electric harpsichord, shaker
 * George Harrison – backing vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar
 * Ringo Starr – backing vocals, drums, tambourine, shaker

Production


 * Paul McCartney, Giles Martin, Ben Foster – string arrangement
 * Produced by Paul McCartney and Giles Martin, with additional production by Jeff Lynne
 * Mark "Spike" Stent – stereo mix
 * Giles Martin, Sam Okell – Atmos mixes
 * Miles Showell – vinyl mastering
 * Oli Morgan – Atmos mastering
 * Bruce Sugar, Steve Genewick, Greg McAllister, Geoff Emerick, Keith Smith, Mark "Spike" Stent, Steve Orchard, Jon Jacobs – engineering

Orchestra


 * Neel Hammond, Adrianne Pope, Charlie Bisharat, Andrew Bulbrook, Songa Lee, Serena McKinney - violin
 * Ayvren Harrison, Caroline Buckman, Drew Forde, Linnea Powell - viola
 * Mia Barcia-Colombo, Giovanna Clayton, Hillary Smith - cello
 * Mike Valerio - double bass
 * Jerome Leroy - conductor