Expectations – they’re a bear.

Today the so-called last Beatles song hits the airwaves for the first time with a few month’s worth of intense speculation and about a week’s worth of media hype.

I do love that the premiere of this song has been turned into an event but I also know that this level of media scrutiny has people sharpening their knifes if the song doesn’t hit them in 30 seconds as the next “Ticket to Ride” or “Hey Jude” or whatever.

I’ve seen a lot of good and a lot of fairly nasty reports on “Now and Then” so here’s my take on the song and the fun of the last two days.

Basically “Now and Then” strikes me as a sweet coda to a brilliant musical career and loving tribute to two fallen friends by tow other friends who speak the language of music. What better way then to say I love and miss you than through a song – and what an emotional and sweet journey this song has already taken me on – in the best way of course.

I’m going to do something a bit different today as I’ve posted below the last two days of my first impressions of the unfolding “Now and Then” saga as I saw it plus my thoughts on hearing the physical 45 for the first time as well.

November 1, 2023 – The Mini Documentary:

Now that the moment is almost here I have to say I’m excited. I feel that whether or not the song/performance is any good unfortunately we live in the culture of “nothing is what I thought it would be so let’s tear it down” which is the way it is.

I’m to a point in my life where I try to seek out the positivity in most things so whatever the situation may be I try to find the positive perspective especially in music.

For me the fact that there’s any last Beatles song is a major win. I like the melancholic nature of the song but “Now and Then” doesn’t set itself up as a radio kind of staple in this day and age which is fine. Personally I don’t think it’s meant to be hit I think it’s meant to be a coda to a long and illustrious career.

To me the song is a wink and a nod to a dear old friend who died over forty years ago whom you still love and respect and what better tribute to The Beatles than to create one last song.

Who cares if it hits number 1? I’m all in for a new Lennon/McCartney collaboration anyway I can get it as long as McCartney is in charge and it’s not an AI concoction.

I’m prepared for the backlash but again that’s not a biggie. If you don’t like it fine. I’m sure a lot of folks will.

As for the new Red and Blue sets it’s also probably the last big Beatles physical release so great. I for one LOVE physical releases. I do think that this set will appeal to the newer vinyl folks more as a set as it’s a great one stop Beatles dip in a physical media form.

This mini-documentary (approximately 12 minutes long) is filled with terrific footage of the three Beatles recording in 1994/95. Supposedly there is over 14 hours of this footage so here’s to a much larger dip into that particular video pool as this would be as interesting to watch as the recent Peter Jackson “Get Back” film.

This documentary was the perfect way to lead up to the full audio release of the song and by itself was worth the media hype.

Anyway, it’s all good IMHO. Haters hate if you want I’m just sitting here watching the wheels go round and round and quite frankly even the negativity is nothing compared to a war or a broken democracy. Bring on some momentary glimpse of the past and a few words from Lennon reaching out from the beyond.

Maybe it’s Lennon’s spirit calling out to make love not war in protest to the times we live in. That works for me …

November 2, 2023 – The Sirius Debut:

I heard it this morning at 10 a.m. on Sirius. I loved it! After yesterday’s 12 minute documentary I was really excited to hear it and it doesn’t disappoint. To me though I find “Now and Then” to be an encore, a sort of bow to the audience and a nice way to tie up a majestic career.

I think some folks are getting the same reaction as when they bought the first Beatles Anthology and were miffed it was outtakes; I feel the hype is leading people to believe it’s a lost “Hey Jude” Part 2.

That’s not to say it’s not a good song, I think it is but it was created from an unfinished John Lennon demo that has been miraculously turned into a lovely song with a lot of emotional heft and punch.

I for one like the production. I like the strings and sure enough the song sticks in my head in a good way. I also like tune and the sadness fits. The song is about longing. Again, this song fits the times we live in now way better than if it had been completed in 1996 as The Beatles originally intended.

Everyone I know is longing for some comfort in an old friend or love these days. “Now and Then” seems made for 2023 and like I said previously it feels like Lennon is singing from beyond urging for people to hold onto love in hard times.

A Lovely nod and a wink from The Beatles to 2023. What more can you ask for?

Later That Day, the 45:

The physical release of “Now and Then” comes tomorrow, November 3rd, but I happened upon two different colored 45’s at my trusty local record shop so I snagged them and brought them home today.

I wasn’t going to buy both colors but as I am a rabid collector and Beatles fever took hold of me today I thought I’d go ahead and get both. It’s a good thing I did as the blue vinyl version was cup warped and had a warbly sounding “Love Me Do” on Side Two. while the marble version played and sounded great.

The slight warped misstep aside I love the labels on this 45 and the back cover. I honestly don’t love the front cover but am getting used to it. The back should be the front but oh well. It’s so nice to have a vinyl 45 of the last Beatles single as it would feel just plain weird as only a ghostly digital recording – The Beatles belong in a physical format.

As for the sound I think that “Now and Then” holds together a bit better on the 45 as it’s warmer sounding than what I heard on Sirius and YouTube and on a decent stereo system the vocals mesh together much better and the backing harmonies stand out more.

Don’t get me wrong I loved what I heard on the radio I just love the sound of the physical record better.

It actually reminded me of a Phil Spector record for some reason when I play the 45 tonight. The sound isn’t widely stereo as it sounds on the radio. I hear the bass more and it isn’t quite as loud as the digital version. I think the whole thing just hangs together much better on the vinyl version.

Damn, I know this is going to make me want the vinyl versions of the new Red and Blue sets alas but I’ll wait and see how the CD’s hold up when they come out next week.

As for the new stereo 2023 mix of “Love Me Do” on the B-Side of this 45 I really enjoyed that as well. It’s not a wide stereo mix mind you but it does sound nice. I’m curious to see how the digital version sounds as this 45 version isn’t as boldy stereo as I thought it would be but very good.

There’s also a groovy inner sleeve inside with the story of “Now and Then” on one side (the blue side) and the songs credits on the other side (see photos above).

Truly after listening to the song about six or seven times my reaction is that it’s the best, or most enjoyable, of the three reunion tracks for me anyway. I love the aching sound of Lennon’s voice and the production of this 45 screams both early and late Beatles to me.

Really this is the tonic I needed for the totally shit ridden 2023!

Well that’s all for now. I’ll update here on this blog my thoughts on the “Now and Then” music video that comes out tomorrow and the CD’s of the “1962-1966” and “1967-1970” sets that come out on November 10th.

Until next time be well and if you haven’t heard “Now and Then” what are you waiting for – it’s a must listen in my book.

See you soon.