The Beatles - Now and Then - Progressive Rock Music Forum

That it was, though it was in actuality the B side. I love and respect George and the often brilliant takes on early electronica he had but "No Time Or Space" is indeed the mostly ripped off demonstration of the Moog's versatility.

As to "Now and Then" I love both the lo-fi demo and the new sort of "full band" version. Paul and Ringo did an excellent job of cleaning up and building on John's original version, making it a sort of late Beatles pop cut that might fit on Abbey Road more or less. I as an audio engineer remain in awe of how far musical restorative tech has come to give us "Now and Then" as we now know it, which is not simply a job from iZotope's RX 10 which I'm familiar with but a product of Peter Jackson's own unique tool?! I'm not only pleased but fascinated and humbled by the track we've received, aside from how atrocious the associated music video is.

moshkito wrote:

I rather think that unlike Paul and John, GH was probably the first that didn't care what anyone thought of his music. He just did it, and that was that ... and you might even remember that he even put together an electronic album ... as a way to teach himself something else, and sadly, he did not continue that at all, and I think him having to play "hits" and not exactly appreciated for being the experimental person he wanted to be, might, in the end, be the bigger problem.

Most, or some of this is probably true. But sometimes a genuine artist gets tired of putting together something like an electronic album. Perhaps for George being a true experimental person meant that from there he needed to move in the opposite direction. Maybe have a go at composing a tune that everyone can sing a long to, or whatever. Just because you hardly approve of anything resembling a hit, doesn't nessecarily mean that the artist is dishonest for creating it.

To me, for someone like George Harrison, Electronic Sound comes across as something he had to get out of his system. Except for the fact that it was made by a Beatle it's completely unremakable and about as interesting as me releasing an album where I'm toying around with a trumpet, a cembalo - or some other instrument I haven't taught myself to play. It didn't even need to be released as an album imo. I'm glad there's only the one.

Edited by Saperlipopette! - November 15 2023 at 13:52

^ i totally agree but it does show how the hunger for The Beatles is still strong some 60 years later.

Not a #1 worthy song IMHO but then again not much is these days in the world of pop music.

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“If there were ever any doubts that the Beatles are the greatest band of all time, they have surely consigned them to history this week.”
- Martin Talbot, Chairman of The Official Charts Company

The Wheel of Time Turns, and Ages come and pass. What was, what will be, and what is, may yet fall under the shadow.

Let the Dragon ride again on the winds of time...

If they have had enough faith in Now and Then back when they was fab, it wouldn't have ended up as conventional-sounding as this. It's the kind of uninventive arrangement I would expect from Oasis or some modern mainstream rock band. Like a less talented gang of four who loves The Beatles very much. Basic, boring drums that I actually find very annoying and a super predictable composition, where nothing really happens. They just add stuff, like a (nice) guitar part and strings. None of which are horrible or anything. But it doesn't really introduce or add anything interesting or meaningful - like you know it always would have in 1966-1969. I much prefer The Rutles to this.

Frets N Worries wrote:

I've just had the chance to listen to it, I like it, the vocals are better than Real Love and Free as a Bird, some of the harmonies sound a bit off to me, Paul's Slide solo isn't half bad, it fits the song.

'The Medley' (Which does NOT include Because) is their true end, however, I will say 'Now and Then' is a solid record, and the last 'NEW' Beatles song we'll ever get, it's sad, I had no idea I'd get a new song by Rock's greatest group in my lifetime, so it will always hold a special place in my heart.

Oh, I don't know. I think John saying "I'd like to thank you on behalf of the group and ourselves, and I hope we passed the audition." at the end of "Let it Be" is great.

Not only is it a little dig at the whole idea of the rooftop performance, but it could also be taken as a sardonic wrap-up of The Beatles whole career.

Edited by Hugh Manatee - November 08 2023 at 20:17

I should have been a pair of ragged claws
Scuttling across the floors of uncertain seas

Over produced, but a nice addition to the Beatles canon

I do prefer the original Lennon demo, which have the excellent "I dont wanna loose you" theme intact

moshkito wrote:

Atavachron wrote:

"It's rubbish." --George Harrison

Hi,

Considering GH's sardonic humor ... this comment would probably be followed with a laugh!

No I don't think it was followed by a laugh... maybe a cynical grin.

You don't become one of the most important songwriting teams in history without very high standards. I don't think George Harrison liked every George Harrison song or wanted to record something he thought was not good enough, and he felt the same toward his band mates.

"Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." -- John F. Kennedy

Atavachron wrote:

"It's rubbish." --George Harrison

Hi,

Considering GH's sardonic humor ... this comment would probably be followed with a laugh!

Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told!
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Frets N Worries wrote:

^My conclusion is, Now and Then will always be sentimental to me, seeing as it's the only thing I'll ever get as a 'new' Beatles song in my lifetime, The Medley is their true studio ending, and nothing will ever change that. I say it's a good song (Better than 'Real Love' and 'Free as a Bird' in my opinion) it's technically a Beatles song, so I don't know what to think of it, it's not their best, it's not their worst, it's a mid-tier song (if the Beatles have such a thing), so it's a Mid-Tier Beatles song.

If I had to sum up my thoughts in a sentence, i'd say:

It's interesting, good, and I'm glad it came out, and I hope it doesn't mar what was meant to be their Swan Song.

Of course.

"Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." -- John F. Kennedy

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The Beatles - Now and Then

The Beatles set record 54-year gap between No 1 singles as Now and Then tops UK chart