The Beatles' Historic Release of "Now and Then" with AI

Representing a historic intersection of music and technology, The Beatles have introduced their initial "fresh" track since 1995, titled "Now and Then." This release has captured the fascination of fans worldwide due to the groundbreaking use of innovative technology and machine learning to complete a song that had remained unfinished for decades.

#NowAndThen is now available to listen to worldwide!https://t.co/jQtFaz5rfG pic.twitter.com/bXEgL8dGJJ

— The Beatles (@thebeatles) November 2, 2023

The journey of "Now and Then" dates back to the mid-1990s when Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr reunited to work on what would be categorized as "new" songs for The Beatles' Anthology albums. These albums featured tracks crafted by layering full-band arrangements atop John Lennon's original demos. Two such songs, "Free as a Bird" and "Real Love," received critical acclaim and were successfully completed.

However, "Now and Then" presented a unique set of challenges. Technical issues, mainly related to the quality of the original tape recording, complicated the process. McCartney explained that in Lennon's demo tape, the piano track was barely audible, and during that era, technology capable of isolating audio components was lacking. McCartney elaborated, saying, "Every time we attempted to bring out more of John's voice, the piano track would overpower and muddy the overall sound." Ultimately, the collaborative session of McCartney, Harrison, and Starr concluded without the song being finalized, relegating "Now and Then" to a figurative musical vault. George Harrison's death in 2001 added more doubt to whether the song would ever be released.

The turning point came in the early 2010s when director Peter Jackson began crafting the extensive Get Back documentary for Disney Plus. Jackson's team developed pioneering technology that could dissect and separate the audio components of music, even from ancient demo recordings, through the utilization of machine learning. Realizing this as their chance to revive "Now and Then," McCartney contributed a bassline, Starr provided the drums, and producer Giles Martin composed a string arrangement in the style of his father's classic pieces.

The accompanying documentary, while not extensively exploring George Harrison's contributions, reveals that Harrison had reservations about the unfinished Lennon song. Nevertheless, McCartney affirmed that they incorporated Harrison's contributions from the Anthology sessions. Additionally, McCartney performed a slide guitar solo in Harrison's signature style, paying tribute to the late legend's musical legacy.

Despite initial concerns from fans, all parties involved in the project, including the estates of the deceased Beatles members, express profound contentment with the final outcome. Sean Ono Lennon, the son of John Lennon, conveyed his enthusiasm, stating, "My dad would've appreciated this, as he was always open to experimenting with recording technology. I find it truly beautiful." McCartney echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the significance of continuing to work on Beatles music in 2023 and experimenting with state-of-the-art technology. He hailed "Now and Then" as potentially the last Beatles song, considering the participation of all living members, rendering it a genuine Beatle recording.

This achievement underscores the immense potential of AI and advanced technology to resurrect and revitalize recordings from various eras. The capability to deconstruct and reconstruct songs opens a portal to countless musical treasures awaiting rediscovery and enjoyment by future generations.