New Beatles Single

[SunKing]

- 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."



Really looking forward to this and hoping it will be as good as "Free As A Bird" or "Real Love". Pity they didn't finish it at the time of the others but apparently George didn't want to.

 

[ManWithNoName]

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 to have 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 much harder to remove.

In 2007, reports circulated 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.

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 that the song may be released to coincide with the Beatles catalouge being released for the first time via digital download. As of the time of 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 has yet to surface.

 

[SunKing]

Looking forward to the video almost as much as the song!

The clips for "Free As A Bird" & "Real Love" were awesome.

 

[materamagic]

Although it will be intruiging and nice, I don't see the need for another one, especially as George said he didn't think it was right for the particular song to be released. But his estate agreed, as did the Lennon estate.

It is no suprise that Paul, and to a lesser extent, Yoko drives for these things to finally surface. Ringo as he always has will go along with anything.

George even had doubts about putting out "Real Love". There better be some nice guitar work from George, his work on the 2 other tracks was sublime.

Personally I am more excited about Paul's next album and the Travelling Wilburys collection.

 

[johnnyhoward]

Have they been able to get a decent quality sound out of Lennon's vocals this time? I know they tried hard to clean it up, the recording must have been pretty bad in its original form.

I liked "Free as a Bird", "Real Love" was nothing special. Won't hurt to have it as a companion to the remastered collection if it's released this year, but not expecting too much from it. Scraping the ABSOLUTE bottom of the barrel here

 

[SunKing]

Agreed but it will be very nice to have. And let's face it John's vocals on "Free as a Bird" were barely there sometimes.

But you bring up another point,the remastered catalogue which I heard about a few months back and this is something I'm really looking forward to.

I'd like bonus tracks,like Rain for eg on Revolver but that probably won't happen.

 

[johnnyhoward]

"Whatever happened to, the life that we once knew, it always makes me feel. So. Free, as a bird."

Anyway was just thinking that with the new remastered catalogue they should release the 27-minute take of "Helter Skelter"

 

[SunKing]

No need to be a smart alec

But you must admit they are far from clear. The lennon vocals in "Real Love" are a lot better.

Agree about the full "Helter Skelter",also the still unreleased "Carnival of Light" which wasn't released with the anthology as it was considered too weird. Is this the same band that released "Revolution 9"

 

[ManWithNoName]

I have a 20 minute version of "Revolution 1". Pity Yoko's talking over the entire f**king thing

 

[johnnyhoward]

No need to be a smart alec

But you must admit they are far from clear. The lennon vocals in "Real Love" are a lot better.

Haha, nah, I agree with ya

Agree about the full "Helter Skelter",also the still unreleased "Carnival of Light" which wasn't released with the anthology as it was considered too weird. Is this the same band that released "Revolution 9"

Will Paul even see "Carnival of Light" released in his lifetime? Surely it can't be worse than Revolution 9. It would also be good to hear the lead up to when Ringo says the famous "blisters" quote.

 

[SunKing]

What about the full version of "What's The New Mary Jane",weirdness..and agreed nothing is stranger then "R9".

Cmon Paul release it!!!!