Back catalogue: 50s/60s

Review: Initially put forward as a potential Beatles single during the mid 1990s 'Anthology' period but shelved due to objections from George Harrison, 'Now and Then' has been trailed as the iconic band's 'final single'. It's re-emergence now in finished form (it was completed partially using AI, but also some studio trickery by Giles Martin) ties in with the reissue of the band's two 1973 'best of' compilations (the so-called 'Red' and 'Blue' collections). Like their two singles of the 90s, it features Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and the late George Harrison finishing off an early 70s John Lennon demo, with a little help from producer Jeff Lynne. It comes backed with a freshly remixed, 'proper' stereo version of their debut single, 'Love Me Do', thus completing the band's musical journey once and for all.

Review: Billed as "the last Beatles song", though originally stemming from a solo piano home demo recorded by John Lennon in 1979, 'Now & Then' was first considered to be used as the band's third reunion single for their 1995-96 retrospective The Beatles Anthology, following 'Free As A Bird' and 'Real Love'. Shelved for decades before eventually being completed by Lennon's surviving bandmates, the recording now finally sees the light of day, on a variety of limited double A-side 7" vinyl complimented by the band's debut single 'Love Me Do', as well as this CD single and retroactively being included on the tracklist for the upcoming half-speed remaster of their 1967-1970 Blue Album compilation. With additionally penned lyrics from McCartney, and Lennon's voice extracted from the original demo recording using the same AI-backed audio restoration technology that was commissioned by director Peter Jackson for his acclaimed 2021 documentary The Beatles: Get Back, this is one final slice of audible greatness.