It’s been a minute since the world first heard those haunting, minor-key piano chords of "Now and Then." By now, most of us have seen the music video—the one where a digital, 20-something John Lennon goofily dances next to an 81-year-old Paul McCartney. It’s weird, it’s heart-wrenching, and honestly, it’s a bit of a miracle.
For decades, this track was the "lost" holy grail of Beatles lore. We knew it existed on a cassette tape tucked away in John’s Dakota apartment. We knew the other three tried to fix it in the 90s and failed. But the journey of Paul McCartney Now and Then isn't just a story about a catchy tune; it’s a decades-long obsession by a man who refused to let his best friend’s voice fade into static.
The Junk Tape That George Hated
Let’s get one thing straight: George Harrison was not a fan.
Back in 1994, when Yoko Ono handed Paul a cassette labeled "For Paul," it contained three demos: "Free as a Bird," "Real Love," and "Now and Then." The first two were polished up for the Anthology project. But "Now and Then"? It was a mess.
John had recorded it in 1977 on a boombox. There was a loud, 60-cycle hum buzzing through the entire thing. Worse, the piano was so loud it practically swallowed John’s vocals. George Harrison reportedly called the recording "f***ing rubbish." Because the Beatles operated as a democracy, George’s "no" meant the song was shelved. It sat in a drawer for nearly 30 years.
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How Peter Jackson Saved the Day
You’ve probably heard people say "Now and Then" is an AI song. That’s kinda true, but not in the way you think. It’s not a deepfake. Paul didn't just type "write a song in the style of John Lennon" into a computer.
The breakthrough came from Peter Jackson. While working on the Get Back documentary, his team developed a technology called MAL (Machine Assisted Learning). Basically, they taught a computer to recognize the "fingerprint" of John’s voice and separate it from the piano and the background noise.
It was like taking a muddy glass of water and somehow pulling the dirt out until the water was clear again.
Once Paul had that "clean" vocal, he went to work. He didn't just slap a beat on it. He recorded a new bass line, Ringo added those signature "thumping" drums, and they even pulled George’s guitar parts from the failed 1995 sessions.
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What’s Actually New?
- The Bass: Paul’s 2022 bass lines are surprisingly adventurous for a man in his 80s.
- The Solo: Since George wasn't around to record a new solo, Paul played a slide guitar part in George’s specific style as a tribute.
- The Strings: Giles Martin (George Martin's son) wrote a string arrangement at Abbey Road that feels like a callback to Eleanor Rigby.
- The Lyrics: Paul actually tweaked a few lines to make the song feel more finished, though the core sentiment of "I miss you" remained untouched.
Why "Now and Then" Hit Number One in 2023 (and 2024)
People didn't just buy this out of nostalgia. Well, maybe they did, but the stats are wild.
When the single dropped in November 2023, it rocketed to Number 1 in the UK, making it the longest gap between an artist’s first and last chart-topper (60 years!). Even more impressive, the song won the Grammy for Best Rock Performance in early 2025.
It’s a weird feeling, seeing the Beatles compete with artists like Billie Eilish or Olivia Rodrigo. But it worked because it felt authentic. You can hear the age in Paul’s backing vocals—that slight gravel—blending with the ghost of a 37-year-old John. It’s a literal conversation across time.
Addressing the "Ghost in the Machine" Controversy
There’s still a lot of debate about whether we should have done this. Is it ethical to finish a dead man's demo?
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Honestly, the Beatles have always been tech nerds. They were the first to use feedback on "I Feel Fine" and the first to use a Moog synthesizer on Abbey Road. Paul’s argument has always been: "If I could ask John, he’d love it."
Critics have pointed out that the song is "middleweight" Lennon. It’s not "Imagine." It’s a simple, slightly melancholic love song. But that’s the point. It wasn't meant to be a world-shattering anthem; it was a goodbye.
What This Means for You (The Listener)
If you're a casual fan, you might just enjoy the melody. But if you're looking for the "true" experience, you need to look closer at the "Red" and "Blue" album reissues.
The 2023/2024 expanded editions of the 1962-1966 and 1967-1970 compilations use the same MAL technology to remix the early tracks. For the first time, songs like "Twist and Shout" actually have a stereo spread that doesn't sound like everything is shoved into one ear.
Actionable Insights for Fans
- Watch the Documentary: There’s a 12-minute short film on YouTube called Now And Then – The Last Beatles Song. It shows the actual moment Paul hears the isolated vocal for the first time. It’s arguably better than the music video.
- Compare the Demos: You can still find the "bootleg" version of John’s original demo online. Listening to it makes you appreciate the technical "cleanup" job even more.
- Check the "Blue Album" (2023 Edition): Don't just stream the single. Listen to it as the final track on the Blue Album. It functions as the "period" at the end of the sentence that started with "Love Me Do."
The story of Paul McCartney Now and Then is finally over. Paul has said this is the "final" Beatles record, and for once, I think he means it. He’s spent the last few years on his Got Back tour, even performing a "duet" with John’s isolated vocals from the rooftop concert. It’s a closing of the circle. We have the beginning, the middle, and now, finally, the end.
To fully appreciate the technical wizardry, listen to the Dolby Atmos mix on a good pair of headphones. You’ll hear things—breath, finger slides on strings, a stray piano pedal—that remind you that despite all the AI and machine learning, this started with four guys in a room (or at least, the memory of them).