The Beatles announce release of “final” song ‘Now And Then’ and expanded ‘Red’ and ‘Blue’ albums

nme.com:

The Beatles have finally announced details of the release of their “final song” ‘Now And Then’, along with news of expanded reissues of their ‘Red’ and ‘Blue’ albums.

See all information below, along with a trailer for a new documentary about the project.The long-mooted single was created by Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, who joined forces to create the final ever Beatles track to feature all four members, with the help of AI.Having been teased this week with images of a cassette tape across social media and internet as well as projections across the Fab Four’s native Liverpool, the band have now shared details of ‘Now And Then’ and when fans can expect to hear it.Lennon first wrote and recorded a demo of ‘Now And Then’ with just his piano and vocals in the late ’70s at his home in New York’s Dakota building.

Following his death, wife Yoko Ono would later give the recording to McCartney, Harrison and Starr in 1994, along with the demos for ‘Free As A Bird’ and ‘Real Love’ – which were both completed and released as ‘new’ Beatles in the mid ’90s as part of The Beatles ‘Anthology’ project.The surviving members, along with producer Jeff Lynne, recorded new parts and completed a rough mix for ‘Now And Then’ but “technological limitations” meant that Lennon’s vocals and piano were not able to be separated for a clear enough mix.Then 2021 saw director Peter Jackson’s acclaimed Get Back docu-series use WingNut Films’ MAL audio technology to de-mix the film’s mono soundtrack, isolate instruments and vocals, and hone in on individual voices conversations.

The band then used this technology for the 2022 remix of their seminal album ‘Revolver‘, before deciding to do the same with Lennon’s original home recording of ‘Now And Then’.