The evolution of the Beatles and their music
You all know them, the four boys from Liverpool who revolutionized the music scene. John Lennon, George Harrison, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. The development of the Beatles can be divided into three phases. From their formation to 1962, from 1963 to 1966 and from 1967 to their break-up in 1970. The first phase was characterized by experimental dance and youth culture, while the second phase describes the rise to pop icons. In the last phase, the Beatles ventured into bold musical experiments, mixing rock with classical elements to create their unforgettable records such as “Sgt. Pepper” and “The White Album”. But what about the treasures that have not yet been released? “Now and Then” is definitely one of them.
The genesis of “Now and Then”:
The song “Now and Then” was written more than 30 years ago. It was one of the rare occasions when John Lennon captured his creative process on tape. It was written together with two other songs, “Free as a Bird” and “Real Love”. Lennon recorded the three demos on his piano at home in New York. They are incomplete, often interrupted by Lennon’s comments, and the quality has suffered through the decades on cassette.
Why George Harrison was against the release
Despite the obvious musical beauty of the song, the Beatles, especially George Harrison, were against its release. Why? There were several reasons. The main reason was probably that John Lennon was no longer alive and therefore the song could not be completed. In addition, George was not convinced by the song and had concerns about the poor sound quality.
The restoration of “Real Love” and “Free as a Bird”
1995 saw another Beatles wave of frightening intensity. That year, the still-living Beatles restored the two songs “Real Love” and “Free as a Bird”, demos recorded by Lennon, and turned them into fully finished songs. Under the production of Jeff Lynne, the sound quality was improved, new instruments were added and the vocal tracks of the remaining three Beatles were added.
The revival of “Now and Then” with the help of AI
Thanks to the latest technologies, in particular artificial intelligence, “Now and Then” has now been restored and completed to the delight of all Beatles fans. The artificial intelligence was able to analyze the original sound of the song, remove the background noise and reconstruct missing parts.
What does the song “Now and Then” sound like?
And what does “Now and Then” sound like? It’s a sentimental song that is typical of Lennon’s soulful numbers. John’s voice sounds clear and present, much clearer than on the demo. The melody is just as catchy as ever, supported by the characteristic Beatles harmonies. It’s as if the Beatles had never left. It’s a song that every Beatles fan is sure to love.