The new single and video that just premiered brought a tear to my eye as well as listening to the new single yesterday. It was like having John and George back with Paul and Ringo and they recorded a song in 1973!
I love the new song and think it’s been put together beautifully. I bought the black 7” single and I’m really pleased with it. The video however hit me the hardest. Seeing them all together again was incredible and the technology to do that was used so tastefully. I have to say, it brought a tear. Thank you for the contributions you make Andrew, I think your videos really help to bring fans together - long may it continue.
For all those fans (and there are many) who were disappointed by the front cover of the sleeve for the “Now and Then” single, created by acclaimed American graphic artist Ed Ruscha, perhaps you’ll find the back side of the cover more satisfying. It’s a clock featuring the words “Now and Then.” According to a post on Twitter that appears to show a portion of the sleeve notes, the piece of art was created by another American artist, Chris Griffin, which was bought by George Harrison in 1997 from a shop in Providence, RI and kept for years in the home he shared with his wife Olivia. Last year, apparently, Olivia decided to have a closer look at the clock. “I put it on the mantelpiece,” she recalled. “Then the phone rang. It’s Paul, and he begins to remind me of this third song with ‘Real Love’ and ‘Free As a Bird.’ I said, ‘I remember it.’ He said, ‘It’s called “Now and Then.”’ I’m standing there with the phone in one hand, looking at the clock that said Now and Then. I was sort of dumbfounded. I said, ‘I think this is George saying it’s OK.’
In the beginning I expected the background vocals to be greater and the guitar to be louder. However, after several listens it really is an excellent song. It’s also mind boggling this was taken from John Lennon’s demo and transformed into this beautiful song.
When Free as a bird was announced and Real Love came out later, I was pretty pleased like any fan should be. They weren't the best songs, but I enjoyed them every bit as much as the Anthology stuff. As I went to uni to study audio engineering on the basis of learning the Beatles Compelte Reecording stuff, that should speak volumes. But now this song has come out, it hits REALLY hard for me and I truly don't know why. I initially thought it wasn't that great of a song, but for some reason I can't stop thinking about it, which I havenm't done for any song in many decades. I don't know why, if it's just nostalgia and me being sentimental as this is truly a swansong, or whether it's truly a magnificent piece of work that speaks to me.
I think the song, as well as the cover, are real growers. With the song, a lot of it is the significance of it to Paul and its somber feel. It’s quite melancholic but in places like Latin America they absolutely love that feel. People in western countries often don’t like it initially, or our immediate reaction is that it’s too depressing.
This is what I read about the image of the clock : It’s a clock featuring the words “Now and Then.” According to a post on Twitter that appears to show a portion of the sleeve notes, the piece of art was created by another American artist, Chris Griffin, which was bought by George Harrison in 1997 from a shop in Providence, RI and kept for years in the home he shared with his wife Olivia. Last year, apparently, Olivia decided to have a closer look at the clock. “I put it on the mantelpiece,” she recalled. “Then the phone rang. It’s Paul, and he begins to remind me of this third song with ‘Real Love’ and ‘Free As a Bird.’ I said, ‘I remember it.’ He said, ‘It’s called “Now and Then.”’ I’m standing there with the phone in one hand, looking at the clock that said Now and Then. I was sort of dumbfounded. I said, ‘I think this is George saying it’s OK.’”
The thing I like about Now & Then, is it's understated production. Not as bombastic as the production of Free as a Bird or Real Love. But that was probably to hide the imperfections in John's demo tapes. Hopefully they give these 2 songs the demixing treatment soon (Anthology 1,2 & 3 remixed & expanded?). I bought the CD single of N&T from the British Beatles site. I'm from Australia.
Great video Andrew, loving both the new song and the video and great to hear it after all this time and a fitting coda. My 20th anniversary 12 inch reissue of Love Me Do from 1982 also had MPL in the middle of the left hand side of the label above the words ‘A Side’.
Hello Andrew!!!!!! Loving your channel!!!!! Like a few others on here have mentioned about the MPL connection, Paul has owned "Love Me Do" and "P.S. I Love You" for some time now. And more recently Paul scored a victory back in 2017!!!! In 2017, Paul McCartney filed a federal lawsuit in New York seeking a declaratory judgment to begin reclaiming his copyright interests in his Beatles’ songs, which stem from Love Me Do (1962) to The Long and Winding Road (1970). It was a clever move by McCartney and his legal team to use an obscure part of the Federal Copyright Act of 1976 to get back the rights to the music. Section 304(c) of the Act creates a non-waiveable claw-back right for authors to reclaim their ownership interests in any works assigned by them prior to January 1, 1978. An author may reclaim their copyright ownership interest by serving a termination notice on the rights-holder between 56 and 61 years after the copyright registered. That means for the songs that McCartney wrote with the Beatles in 1962, and which Sony currently owns, 2018 was the first year he began clawing-back his ownership interests. So he can do that each year now until 2026 when he can regain the copyrights to all of his Beatles’ songs. Cheers!!!!!!!!!!!👍✌🕉
I'm not entirely sure, but I have a sneaking suspicion Yoko has all of the bases covered in regard to John's half for the Nothern Songs catalog, or at least their legal representatives do. Cheers!!!!!!@@liverpoolstreetvideos2712
Paul has owned the rights to Love Me Do and PS I love you since the 1980’s, as it was published through a different company. Once they were under his control, he recorded ‘’PS Love me do’ on the flowers in the dirt sessions
'Love Me Do' and 'P.S. I Love You' were originally published in the UK by Ardmore & Beechwood Ltd, a subsidiary of EMI Records Ltd. Dick James never got hold of those two songs. Paul's company MPL acquired the publishing rights in 1982. The 20th anniversary 7" and 12" singles of 'Love Me Do' released in late 1982 listed MPL Communications as the publishers of both songs.
Love Me Do/PS I Love You/Please Please Me/Ask Me Why were the first official tracks recorded. It was after Please Please Me LP was released that Northern Songs took control of the tracks from 62-69
Hi Andrew. My 7inch blue vinyl came from HMV today (Friday). I also snagged a 12inch copy but the HMV Red exclusive, all of which have now sold out, I really like Now and Then, it grows on you more and more, the more you listen to it. The video is brilliantly done
It’s a nice song. It will never be the best Beatles song but it grows on you and is definitely worthy. I’ve just seen the official video and my Mum (who is an original fan and saw them in 1963) was very upset by it as it makes Paul look like the lead singer. She feels he nudged John aside in the video and it would have been better to not show them singing. I see her point, although there’s also a lot to love about the video.
Thanks for the view of the 12" single. My 7" black vinyl arrived today. Also have the CD single and Red and Blue CD sets on order. The song itself was much better than I think we had any right to expect. I was not convinced it was strong enough but with the MAL extraction, new instrumentation, strings and subtle use of backing vocals I think that they have done an amazing job. Listening to it now was a very emotional moment, and you can see why Paul was so eager to complete it. The lyrics are so poignant and affecting in this new setting. Truly tear-jerking. I thought it would be a bit drab having been used to the demos that have circulated, but no, I think this is a worthy epitaph. I was not initially bowled over by the cover, but I think that it is OK. It sort of grows on you, and you do realize that it could have been quite difficult to find a representive band image to accompany this song. If the song itself brings a tear to the eye (and it really should do if you are a genuine fan) then the Peter Jackon video adds a range of emotions. Seeing the 1995 footage was very special, but so was the humorous juxtaposition of the band members, new and old in tbe central portion. John would have loved all of the mugging from Hello Goodbye. Typical John, deflating the moment with visual puns. The way the video moved through different phases I think was wonderful. It shows how much the band gave to the world right from the very beginning to, let's not say the end, but today. Now and Then. We do get it all and an appropriate bow at the end and the visual fade. There has been some negativity elsewhere but I think that they have done an amazing job of presenting what is being termed their final single.
I thought there wasn't a CD edition? Almost as if Apple wanted to make the fans invest in horribly overpriced vinyl editions (half of which will probably never be played) instead before announcing they'll be a CD after all, thus making even more money. Screw Apple and screw the fans for falling for the scam. What do I think of the song? Don't know, haven't heard it yet.
Not quite sure if you intended replying to my comment or not. Yes, there is a CD. I ordered it. Not sure why there was a delay in announcing it. At £4.99 delivered I don't really care. For the record. I think they did a good job with getting the single finished using new technology to separate the vocal from the piano and mains buzz. I think Peter Jackon did a good job with the video. It makes you laugh and cry. That's fine by me. I would have preferred Anthology as the setting but guess it will take more time to revamp the video and soundtracks. Red and Blue does appear to be an anniversary stop-gap. Not ideal but we will get a lot of remixes so I'm OK with that. Bring on Rubber Soul SDE and if MAL can enhance some other projects such as BBC recordings, live recordings, Star Club etc. Then we all win. Except for those who just like to moan! Mind you, it even gives them another reason for moaning so yep, bonus all round! Apologies if you were not replying to me!
Hello Andrew! Marcos, here, I'm living in Vancouver-BC, I'm brazilian, I would like to thank you for this short, but essential video. Thank you so much! I Love the Beatles, my son's name is Harrison.
Well done getting the rare 12 inch. If John had recorded Now and Then properly and put it on one of his solo albums, people would have listened to it and enjoyed it without all the fanfare. I like it but I'm not sure it's as strong as his songs on his first and second albums. Perhaps it will grow on me when my single arrives and is played on my system. It certainly didn't get to me on the first few hearings like Real Love did. Anyway, it's still exciting that we have a song from John after all these years, and the rest of the band are playing on it too which makes it so special. Do you feel a little bit melancholy as well, due to hearing John's voice on a fairly slow song that is probably going to be the very last "Beatles" track?
Look forward receiving the various configurations next week. Truly a very special song. It is a piece that elicits a variety of emotions. Unfortunately that doesn’t occur often for myself with many recordings over the last decade or so
"Love Me Do" has never been available in true stereo Andrew. The stereo master tape was wiped and reused in 1962, and the mono master tape was junked in 1963. This version derives from the best available vinyl single in the Abbey Road archives and then given the "MAL" treatment for a stereo mix. The same goes for She Love's You and both singles B Sides.
Andrew, the relevance of the image on the back of the cover is revealed in the text included in the glossy insert of the 12 inch version that you showed on screen. (Loving your channel - you've got a great and natural way of sharing your enthusiasm for the subject matter)
beautiful video as usual! i snagged the black 12 inch online as well as the clear 7 inch from hmv today to put in my singles box. i had the chance to get the 10'' and now i'm kicking myself I didn't but we sadly can't have it all. I'm hoping a handful of copies will go back on sale but it's not looking too likely ahaha!
I seem to remember that Dick James owned the publishing to the first two Beatles singles. Some time ago Paul bought Love Me Do / PS I Love You, leaving Please Please Me / Ask Me Why with James. Thanks for the review, I have ordered the 7" black vinyl, can't wait. Cheers.
Andrew, you're really testing my resolve to not buy every variant of the Now and Then single, but now I'm thinking I need to pick up at least one version the 12-inch too.
Hey Andrew, hope your well my friend, I just received my same 12inch black vinyl copy of this today, you enjoyed the sound of this version.? It’s a really nice pressing and variant of this.?
Great video! I preordered the 12 inch red vinyl copy which is a treat. I was just wondering lately: is there a difference in the wave form for the 7" and 12" single? The reason i'm wondering if there's a difference is that the total width of all grooves is a limiting factor in making mixes for vinyl loud and is the reason vinyl usually has greater dynamic range: you need the quieter parts, as they take up less space, to fit all the music to the disk. A 12" single would increase the space there is for loudness and facilitate a mix with lower dynamic range. It is therefore possible that the 12" in more brick-walled. Any thoughts?
Decided to be greedy & bought a clear & blue single. Decided to frame the blue and play on the clear vinyl. Guys at my local HMV said they'd put a 12" Red Vinyl of Now & Then for next week! Beyond buzzing !!
You bought into the hype also. A very ordinary song of no real value. I guess it will achieve it’s purpose of making very rich people even richer though.
The slide and guitar parts from what I understand was all recorded and done by George Harrison back in the 90s when they first got a hold of the demo tape, and nothing was ever done with it until now when it was all compiled together.
Glad you got one .. gone to a good home .. me .. I snoozed and miss out .. been quit asleep on all this but have to say the single is terrific.. a couple of plays and it’s a grower …and yes Johns vocal really does get you… The black 12”and the black box set is definitely the way to go …good choice..
I've just purchased this black 12 inch vinyl from Amazon. Seems to be from their US branch but free delivery. Would this be the same as yours? I can't find anything out about a separate US 12 inch version. Sold out in all UK shops so hope I got lucky.
Excellent video as always. I already cannot wait for the Rubber Soul, Help, Beatles For Sale, A Hard Day's Night, With The Beatles and Please, Please Me future Giles Martin remix releases. A Past Masters corrected and proper Stereo Remix. Even possibly a remixed Anthology for cleaner, crispier sound, instruments and vocals.
Love Me Do, and PS I Love You, were pre Northern Songs. They were published by Ardmore & Beechwood. Lennon/McCartney never lost ownership of those two.
Just received my 10 inch Spotify vinyl and 7 inch clear. Couldn't resist I've ordered the black 7 inch today before they all sell out. Just waiting for cd now. The video is very moving. Hope they win a Grammy. Do you ever keep any vinyl sealed or don't you believe in that?.
I think I have 2 records that are still sealed! I think everyone is entitled to open or not open their vinyl as they wish, it's their property! Personally I prefer to get it opened and play it 👍
I agree with your conclusion. I think it's the perfect ending. The oldest and the newest song on a single and the title is Now and Then. Couldn't be better
My 12 arrived yesterday. The production is quite brilliant (wonderful what we can do nowadays). Wasn't aware it was ltd to 400. The prices on discogs already farcical (I intend to keep mine,that's why I bought it).
Really love the song. My only gripe is actually getting a physical copy. I’ve ordered a 7” blue vinyl and cd single but unable to get anything else. Back when ‘free as a bird’ and ‘real love’ were released… no problem getting vinyl,cd or cassette…
I don’t know about the label, but Paul did buy the publishing rights to Love Me Do, P.S. I Love You, Please Please Me, and Ask Me Why years ago. He had those rights before he recently inherited the rights to Northern Songs material.
Paul owns the publishing for Love Me Do and PS I Love You because they were written before they started Northern Songs, which was sold to ATV and then Sony. I think he just always owned those two songs.
Thanks for the video, Andrew - engaging as always. I guess I’m more interested in song structures than product just at the moment and have done some comparisons between the demo and the 2023 version. I was sorry that 2023 missed out the ‘I don’t want to lose you’ bridge, which was my favourite bit of the demo. Anyway, 2023 has turned what I’d like to call verse version 2 into a chorus … going to G major rather than back to Em. I can see that the demo ‘I don’t …’ bridge drifts into an incoherent vocal, but they could still have used the first couple of lines of that bridge. Anyway, they chose not to. I can also see that they’ve done a good job in turning verse version 2 into a chorus. For what it’s worth, there’s what I think is a great audio / video version based on the demo at … ruclips.net/video/d9kMgTf-jt8/видео.html … from 2011! John, Leeds
Dick James Music originally had the publishing rights to Love Me Do and P.S. I Love You, MPL Communications has owned the Publishing rights for over 30 years.
Why is it limited to only 400 ? That's crazy. ps, It says that it was produced by Paul McCartney and Giles Martin but fails to mention Jeff Lynne's name. He produced the 1995 recordings some of which were used in the recent release.
Well I am trusting what Andrew said. I am not sure of his source. Best to ask him. The Beatles official store said the 12" vinyl version was sold out in the UK/Europe and the Beatles US official store says it is only available to those in the USA.@@richardalvien346
Yes, MPL communications is Paul McCartney's publishing company. He owns the rights to Love Me Do and PS I Love You. He probably owns more of the Beatles catalog now?
I'm pretty sure Sony/ATV still own all of the other McCartney/Lennon songs except Penny Lane. However, I saw this recently in wiki: "In January 2017, McCartney filed a suit in United States district court against Sony/ATV Music Publishing seeking to reclaim ownership of his share of the Lennon-McCartney song catalogue beginning in 2018. Under US copyright law, for works published before 1978 the author can reclaim copyrights assigned to a publisher after 56 years. McCartney and Sony agreed to a confidential settlement in June 2017." Since nothing has ever been said about it anywhere, we can guess that Sony paid Paul to go away, or we can guess that they made some kind of deal to appease Paul. I wish I knew more.
Just been chatting to the chap in HMV. He said they may be getting more 12 inch singles (red and black versions) in stores to coincide with the Red and Blue release next Friday.
Does anyone knows to tell if the 12" pressing is same on both USA and UK Beatles online store? Or were they made under a different label and in a different country? Thanks!
I managed to buy the following today from my local store - black, blue and clear 7 inch interesting that I paid only 15.99 for the colour versions whereas these are 17.99 plus post on the Beatles official store...12 inch is on order so hopefully Monday and 10 inch also ordered but online.....
Yes Spotify First version .....very limited! Apparently. It was advertised to Spotify users but also on UM Canada site which when first looking was out of stock but then it came available so ordered it checked again and it had sold out again...just hope it arrives to the UK safe....
Hello there Andrew Dixon, would you kindly be able to guide me, as to where I may possibly come to attain a 12'' Inch Vinyl Single Release of : { ' The Beatles - Now And Then ' } : ?...
Hi, keep checking The Beatles official store to see if any become available, and do you ha e any local record shops you could ask if they can play e an order? If you're in the UK I know HMV had the red 12 inch vinyl a couple of days ago.
:@@AndrewDixonMusic : No unfortunately, I am not within the U.K. Andrew Dixon. Plus, the U.K. have only just left the European Union, therefore, to add insult to injury, it is nowadays even more arduous and difficult in order to be able to purchase any items from there too.
Sorry I couldn't catch the stream yesterday. Anyway I have order the CASSETTE and CD versions. I know the songs on YT but I'm going to wait until I get the physical versions. ok thats the end of this comment.
The 20th anniversary editions of Love Me Do in 1982 show MPL as the publisher due to Paul buying Ardmore & Beechwood. Northern Songs wasn't yet established of course until a little later.
I wish you would open with the BIG question. Remix or not, what VERSION of Love Me Do is it? the correct one from the original 45 with Ringo on drums? Or is it the easier to find other version with Ringo only on tambourine? If it is the tambourine version all involved should be extremely embarrassed.
Hi. Thanks, It was obvious to me once I had the opportunity to hear it. It sounds reasonably authentic in des stereo, but could have been made warmer by running the individual discrete tracks through a tube amplifier before mixown. @@AndrewDixonMusic
The new single and video that just premiered brought a tear to my eye as well as listening to the new single yesterday. It was like having John and George back with Paul and Ringo and they recorded a song in 1973!
I love the new song and think it’s been put together beautifully. I bought the black 7” single and I’m really pleased with it. The video however hit me the hardest. Seeing them all together again was incredible and the technology to do that was used so tastefully. I have to say, it brought a tear. Thank you for the contributions you make Andrew, I think your videos really help to bring fans together - long may it continue.
For all those fans (and there are many) who were disappointed by the front cover of the sleeve for the “Now and Then” single, created by acclaimed American graphic artist Ed Ruscha, perhaps you’ll find the back side of the cover more satisfying.
It’s a clock featuring the words “Now and Then.” According to a post on Twitter that appears to show a portion of the sleeve notes, the piece of art was created by another American artist, Chris Griffin, which was bought by George Harrison in 1997 from a shop in Providence, RI and kept for years in the home he shared with his wife Olivia.
Last year, apparently, Olivia decided to have a closer look at the clock. “I put it on the mantelpiece,” she recalled. “Then the phone rang. It’s Paul, and he begins to remind me of this third song with ‘Real Love’ and ‘Free As a Bird.’ I said, ‘I remember it.’ He said, ‘It’s called “Now and Then.”’ I’m standing there with the phone in one hand, looking at the clock that said Now and Then. I was sort of dumbfounded. I said, ‘I think this is George saying it’s OK.’
In the beginning I expected the background vocals to be greater and the guitar to be louder. However, after several listens it really is an excellent song. It’s also mind boggling this was taken from John Lennon’s demo and transformed into this beautiful song.
When Free as a bird was announced and Real Love came out later, I was pretty pleased like any fan should be. They weren't the best songs, but I enjoyed them every bit as much as the Anthology stuff. As I went to uni to study audio engineering on the basis of learning the Beatles Compelte Reecording stuff, that should speak volumes.
But now this song has come out, it hits REALLY hard for me and I truly don't know why. I initially thought it wasn't that great of a song, but for some reason I can't stop thinking about it, which I havenm't done for any song in many decades.
I don't know why, if it's just nostalgia and me being sentimental as this is truly a swansong, or whether it's truly a magnificent piece of work that speaks to me.
THANK YOU MY FRIEND AND BY THE WAY HAPPY ANNIVERSARY WITH 4 YEARS ON YOU TUBE! I CAN HARDLY WAIT FOR THE RED AND BLUE 🍏
Good for you Andrew. Totally agree. I love it too! Great hearing John's voice so crystal clear!
I think the song, as well as the cover, are real growers. With the song, a lot of it is the significance of it to Paul and its somber feel. It’s quite melancholic but in places like Latin America they absolutely love that feel. People in western countries often don’t like it initially, or our immediate reaction is that it’s too depressing.
Great time to be alive Andrew - keep up the good work!! The music video is amazing too!
Agree on the "Because" vocals - very tastefully done. Doesn't feel like a mash-up or anything like that.
Thanks as ever Andrew. An exciting day for all of us Beatles fans!
This is what I read about the image of the clock :
It’s a clock featuring the words “Now and Then.” According to a post on Twitter that appears to show a portion of the sleeve notes, the piece of art was created by another American artist, Chris Griffin, which was bought by George Harrison in 1997 from a shop in Providence, RI and kept for years in the home he shared with his wife Olivia.
Last year, apparently, Olivia decided to have a closer look at the clock. “I put it on the mantelpiece,” she recalled. “Then the phone rang. It’s Paul, and he begins to remind me of this third song with ‘Real Love’ and ‘Free As a Bird.’ I said, ‘I remember it.’ He said, ‘It’s called “Now and Then.”’ I’m standing there with the phone in one hand, looking at the clock that said Now and Then. I was sort of dumbfounded. I said, ‘I think this is George saying it’s OK.’”
The thing I like about Now & Then, is it's understated production. Not as bombastic as the production of Free as a Bird or Real Love. But that was probably to hide the imperfections in John's demo tapes. Hopefully they give these 2 songs the demixing treatment soon (Anthology 1,2 & 3 remixed & expanded?). I bought the CD single of N&T from the British Beatles site. I'm from Australia.
Great video Andrew, loving both the new song and the video and great to hear it after all this time and a fitting coda. My 20th anniversary 12 inch reissue of Love Me Do from 1982 also had MPL in the middle of the left hand side of the label above the words ‘A Side’.
Hello Andrew!!!!!! Loving your channel!!!!! Like a few others on here have mentioned about the MPL connection, Paul has owned "Love Me Do" and "P.S. I Love You" for some time now. And more recently Paul scored a victory back in 2017!!!! In 2017, Paul McCartney filed a federal lawsuit in New York seeking a declaratory judgment to begin reclaiming his copyright interests in his Beatles’ songs, which stem from Love Me Do (1962) to The Long and Winding Road (1970). It was a clever move by McCartney and his legal team to use an obscure part of the Federal Copyright Act of 1976 to get back the rights to the music.
Section 304(c) of the Act creates a non-waiveable claw-back right for authors to reclaim their ownership interests in any works assigned by them prior to January 1, 1978. An author may reclaim their copyright ownership interest by serving a termination notice on the rights-holder between 56 and 61 years after the copyright registered. That means for the songs that McCartney wrote with the Beatles in 1962, and which Sony currently owns, 2018 was the first year he began clawing-back his ownership interests. So he can do that each year now until 2026 when he can regain the copyrights to all of his Beatles’ songs. Cheers!!!!!!!!!!!👍✌🕉
Very interesting, thanks.
So does this apply equally to the Lennon Estate as of course all of 'Paul's songs' are credited to Lennon/McCartney.
I'm not entirely sure, but I have a sneaking suspicion Yoko has all of the bases covered in regard to John's half for the Nothern Songs catalog, or at least their legal representatives do. Cheers!!!!!!@@liverpoolstreetvideos2712
Paul has owned the rights to Love Me Do and PS I love you since the 1980’s, as it was published through a different company. Once they were under his control, he recorded ‘’PS Love me do’ on the flowers in the dirt sessions
Yes, he acquired those two songs from Ardmore & Beechwood
Part of the deal when he re-signed to EMI in the late 70’s
'Love Me Do' and 'P.S. I Love You' were originally published in the UK by Ardmore & Beechwood Ltd, a subsidiary of EMI Records Ltd. Dick James never got hold of those two songs. Paul's company MPL acquired the publishing rights in 1982. The 20th anniversary 7" and 12" singles of 'Love Me Do' released in late 1982 listed MPL Communications as the publishers of both songs.
Love Me Do/PS I Love You/Please Please Me/Ask Me Why were the first official tracks recorded. It was after Please Please Me LP was released that Northern Songs took control of the tracks from 62-69
Hi Andrew. My 7inch blue vinyl came from HMV today (Friday). I also snagged a 12inch copy but the HMV Red exclusive, all of which have now sold out,
I really like Now and Then, it grows on you more and more, the more you listen to it. The video is brilliantly done
It’s a nice song. It will never be the best Beatles song but it grows on you and is definitely worthy. I’ve just seen the official video and my Mum (who is an original fan and saw them in 1963) was very upset by it as it makes Paul look like the lead singer. She feels he nudged John aside in the video and it would have been better to not show them singing. I see her point, although there’s also a lot to love about the video.
So haunting, it captures the spirit of the demo whilst augmenting it with a beatley feel.
Its just beautiful and amazing thank you so much
Thanks for the view of the 12" single. My 7" black vinyl arrived today. Also have the CD single and Red and Blue CD sets on order.
The song itself was much better than I think we had any right to expect. I was not convinced it was strong enough but with the MAL extraction, new instrumentation, strings and subtle use of backing vocals I think that they have done an amazing job. Listening to it now was a very emotional moment, and you can see why Paul was so eager to complete it. The lyrics are so poignant and affecting in this new setting. Truly tear-jerking. I thought it would be a bit drab having been used to the demos that have circulated, but no, I think this is a worthy epitaph. I was not initially bowled over by the cover, but I think that it is OK. It sort of grows on you, and you do realize that it could have been quite difficult to find a representive band image to accompany this song.
If the song itself brings a tear to the eye (and it really should do if you are a genuine fan) then the Peter Jackon video adds a range of emotions. Seeing the 1995 footage was very special, but so was the humorous juxtaposition of the band members, new and old in tbe central portion. John would have loved all of the mugging from Hello Goodbye. Typical John, deflating the moment with visual puns. The way the video moved through different phases I think was wonderful. It shows how much the band gave to the world right from the very beginning to, let's not say the end, but today. Now and Then. We do get it all and an appropriate bow at the end and the visual fade. There has been some negativity elsewhere but I think that they have done an amazing job of presenting what is being termed their final single.
I thought there wasn't a CD edition? Almost as if Apple wanted to make the fans invest in horribly overpriced vinyl editions (half of which will probably never be played) instead before announcing they'll be a CD after all, thus making even more money. Screw Apple and screw the fans for falling for the scam.
What do I think of the song? Don't know, haven't heard it yet.
Not quite sure if you intended replying to my comment or not. Yes, there is a CD. I ordered it. Not sure why there was a delay in announcing it. At £4.99 delivered I don't really care.
For the record. I think they did a good job with getting the single finished using new technology to separate the vocal from the piano and mains buzz. I think Peter Jackon did a good job with the video. It makes you laugh and cry. That's fine by me.
I would have preferred Anthology as the setting but guess it will take more time to revamp the video and soundtracks. Red and Blue does appear to be an anniversary stop-gap. Not ideal but we will get a lot of remixes so I'm OK with that. Bring on Rubber Soul SDE and if MAL can enhance some other projects such as BBC recordings, live recordings, Star Club etc. Then we all win. Except for those who just like to moan! Mind you, it even gives them another reason for moaning so yep, bonus all round!
Apologies if you were not replying to me!
Hello Andrew! Marcos, here, I'm living in Vancouver-BC, I'm brazilian, I would like to thank you for this short, but essential video. Thank you so much! I Love the Beatles, my son's name is Harrison.
Hi Andrew
Thanks for posting this.
Did you see Mathew Streets presentation on how the clock featured on the back cover ?
It’s very interesting
Well done getting the rare 12 inch. If John had recorded Now and Then properly and put it on one of his solo albums, people would have listened to it and enjoyed it without all the fanfare. I like it but I'm not sure it's as strong as his songs on his first and second albums. Perhaps it will grow on me when my single arrives and is played on my system. It certainly didn't get to me on the first few hearings like Real Love did. Anyway, it's still exciting that we have a song from John after all these years, and the rest of the band are playing on it too which makes it so special. Do you feel a little bit melancholy as well, due to hearing John's voice on a fairly slow song that is probably going to be the very last "Beatles" track?
The 1982 12'' of Love Me Do credits MPL. I think Paul acquired the publishing of that song long ago.
My 2012 7” (50th anniversary) has the credit but didn’t realise the 20th anniversary pressing would as well!
PS I Love You too!
I’ve been enjoying your videos Andrew & just subscribed 👍 cheers from Houston TX USA 🇺🇸
Welcome aboard! 🙂
Look forward receiving the various configurations next week. Truly a very special song. It is a piece that elicits a variety of emotions.
Unfortunately that doesn’t occur often for myself with many recordings over the last decade or so
this song is giving me a reason to be happy
Thankyou Andrew informative and entertaining as ever.
"Love Me Do" has never been available in true stereo Andrew. The stereo master tape was wiped and reused in 1962, and the mono master tape was junked in 1963. This version derives from the best available vinyl single in the Abbey Road archives and then given the "MAL" treatment for a stereo mix. The same goes for She Love's You and both singles B Sides.
Love the single….its a real grower! The video is brilliant too….Peter Jackson needs to do more work with the Beatles!
Andrew, the relevance of the image on the back of the cover is revealed in the text included in the glossy insert of the 12 inch version that you showed on screen.
(Loving your channel - you've got a great and natural way of sharing your enthusiasm for the subject matter)
Thank you! 👍
The back cover looks better than the front cover, in my opinion.
Amazon came through today. Well impressed with them.
beautiful video as usual! i snagged the black 12 inch online as well as the clear 7 inch from hmv today to put in my singles box. i had the chance to get the 10'' and now i'm kicking myself I didn't but we sadly can't have it all. I'm hoping a handful of copies will go back on sale but it's not looking too likely ahaha!
The story of the "chimney clock" in the rear cover of the single is written in the little essay inside, and involves George
I seem to remember that Dick James owned the publishing to the first two Beatles singles. Some time ago Paul bought Love Me Do / PS I Love You, leaving Please Please Me / Ask Me Why with James. Thanks for the review, I have ordered the 7" black vinyl, can't wait. Cheers.
Andrew, you're really testing my resolve to not buy every variant of the Now and Then single, but now I'm thinking I need to pick up at least one version the 12-inch too.
Enjoying your videos, glad I found this channel. Cheers Andrew!
Welcome aboard!
Hey Andrew, hope your well my friend, I just received my same 12inch black vinyl copy of this today, you enjoyed the sound of this version.? It’s a really nice pressing and variant of this.?
Great video! I preordered the 12 inch red vinyl copy which is a treat. I was just wondering lately: is there a difference in the wave form for the 7" and 12" single?
The reason i'm wondering if there's a difference is that the total width of all grooves is a limiting factor in making mixes for vinyl loud and is the reason vinyl usually has greater dynamic range: you need the quieter parts, as they take up less space, to fit all the music to the disk. A 12" single would increase the space there is for loudness and facilitate a mix with lower dynamic range. It is therefore possible that the 12" in more brick-walled. Any thoughts?
Decided to be greedy & bought a clear & blue single. Decided to frame the blue and play on the clear vinyl. Guys at my local HMV said they'd put a 12" Red Vinyl of Now & Then for next week! Beyond buzzing !!
Thank you, Beatles, for yet another incredible addition to your already legendary discography.💜
You bought into the hype also. A very ordinary song of no real value. I guess it will achieve it’s purpose of making very rich people even richer though.
The slide and guitar parts from what I understand was all recorded and done by George Harrison back in the 90s when they first got a hold of the demo tape, and nothing was ever done with it until now when it was all compiled together.
Hi Andrew. I'm still waiting for my copy of the CD single I ordered. It's sold out on Amazon and on the HMV website.
This must make No.1!!
MPL Communications is on the label of my 12" single of Love Me Do that was issued to celebrate the songs 20th anniversary in Oct '82.
Glad you got one .. gone to a good home ..
me .. I snoozed and miss out .. been quit asleep on all this but have to say the single is terrific.. a couple of plays and it’s a grower …and yes Johns vocal really does get you…
The black 12”and the black box set is definitely the way to go …good choice..
I've just purchased this black 12 inch vinyl from Amazon. Seems to be from their US branch but free delivery. Would this be the same as yours? I can't find anything out about a separate US 12 inch version. Sold out in all UK shops so hope I got lucky.
Got a red vinyl 12” copy. Sounds superb. Do you know anything about the red edition?
I downloaded the single and ordered the cd single which should arrive tomorrow…..the track should be number 1 soon.
Hi mate,
I went for the 7inch
It sounds very good.
A solid song to end The Beatles' voyage home.
Take care.
Hi Pe, you're warming to to the song? I think you weren't too keen yesterday if I remember rightly?
I walked to st Johns wood and bought the single from the abbey road studios shop ♥️
Excellent video as always. I already cannot wait for the Rubber Soul, Help, Beatles For Sale, A Hard Day's Night, With The Beatles and Please, Please Me future Giles Martin remix releases. A Past Masters corrected and proper Stereo Remix. Even possibly a remixed Anthology for cleaner, crispier sound, instruments and vocals.
Love Me Do, and PS I Love You, were pre Northern Songs. They were published by Ardmore & Beechwood. Lennon/McCartney never lost ownership of those two.
Just received my 10 inch Spotify vinyl and 7 inch clear. Couldn't resist I've ordered the black 7 inch today before they all sell out. Just waiting for cd now. The video is very moving. Hope they win a Grammy. Do you ever keep any vinyl sealed or don't you believe in that?.
I think I have 2 records that are still sealed!
I think everyone is entitled to open or not open their vinyl as they wish, it's their property! Personally I prefer to get it opened and play it 👍
I agree with your conclusion. I think it's the perfect ending. The oldest and the newest song on a single and the title is Now and Then. Couldn't be better
My 12 arrived yesterday. The production is quite brilliant (wonderful what we can do nowadays). Wasn't aware it was ltd to 400. The prices on discogs already farcical (I intend to keep mine,that's why I bought it).
Really love the song.
My only gripe is actually getting a physical copy.
I’ve ordered a 7” blue vinyl and cd single but unable to get anything else.
Back when ‘free as a bird’ and ‘real love’ were released… no problem getting vinyl,cd or cassette…
I don’t know about the label, but Paul did buy the publishing rights to Love Me Do, P.S. I Love You, Please Please Me, and Ask Me Why years ago. He had those rights before he recently inherited the rights to Northern Songs material.
Great video, love the song. Is it just the black 12” that’s hard to find or also the red?
Thanks, sorry I don't know about the red vinyl availability
Great stuff Andrew 👍🏻
Is Now And Then credited to Lennon & McCartney on the label?
I wanted to know that too lol
It says "Original composition by John Lennon. The Beatles version by John, Paul, George and Ringo"
@@AndrewDixonMusic Ok, thanks for that Andrew! That’s something you may want to mention in your next video. Nobody has mentioned that anywhere.
Is this version limited to 400 copies? Will there be more print runs? I can't find it for sale anywhere 😢.
MPL has been on other "Love Me Do" credits before. Paul has owned the publishing of it for many years now.
Paul owns the publishing for Love Me Do and PS I Love You because they were written before they started Northern Songs, which was sold to ATV and then Sony. I think he just always owned those two songs.
Thanks for the video, Andrew - engaging as always. I guess I’m more interested in song structures than product just at the moment and have done some comparisons between the demo and the 2023 version. I was sorry that 2023 missed out the ‘I don’t want to lose you’ bridge, which was my favourite bit of the demo. Anyway, 2023 has turned what I’d like to call verse version 2 into a chorus … going to G major rather than back to Em. I can see that the demo ‘I don’t …’ bridge drifts into an incoherent vocal, but they could still have used the first couple of lines of that bridge. Anyway, they chose not to. I can also see that they’ve done a good job in turning verse version 2 into a chorus.
For what it’s worth, there’s what I think is a great audio / video version based on the demo at … ruclips.net/video/d9kMgTf-jt8/видео.html … from 2011!
John, Leeds
I pre ordered the black 7inch on the 1st haha, cant wait to get it
Dick James Music originally had the publishing rights to Love Me Do and P.S. I Love You, MPL Communications has owned the Publishing rights for over 30 years.
thank you this was really cool..
MPL have owned the copyright for years on LMD nice looking record Andrew
Why is it limited to only 400 ?
That's crazy.
ps, It says that it was produced by Paul McCartney and Giles Martin but fails to mention Jeff Lynne's name. He produced the 1995 recordings some of which were used in the recent release.
I'm guessing they were so embarrassed by that uninspiring front cover🤮
Are you sure 400? Source…
Well I am trusting what Andrew said. I am not sure of his source. Best to ask him. The Beatles official store said the 12" vinyl version was sold out in the UK/Europe and the Beatles US official store says it is only available to those in the USA.@@richardalvien346
@@richardalvien346 As told to me by the record shop.
How apropos that the vinyl is made in Germany, given the Beatles relationship to the country 😊
Paul owns the rights PS I love You and Love Me Do
Peter Jackson's video is amazing!
Yes, MPL communications is Paul McCartney's publishing company. He owns the rights to Love Me Do and PS I Love You. He probably owns more of the Beatles catalog now?
I'm pretty sure Sony/ATV still own all of the other McCartney/Lennon songs except Penny Lane. However, I saw this recently in wiki: "In January 2017, McCartney filed a suit in United States district court against Sony/ATV Music Publishing seeking to reclaim ownership of his share of the Lennon-McCartney song catalogue beginning in 2018. Under US copyright law, for works published before 1978 the author can reclaim copyrights assigned to a publisher after 56 years. McCartney and Sony agreed to a confidential settlement in June 2017." Since nothing has ever been said about it anywhere, we can guess that Sony paid Paul to go away, or we can guess that they made some kind of deal to appease Paul. I wish I knew more.
Just been chatting to the chap in HMV. He said they may be getting more 12 inch singles (red and black versions) in stores to coincide with the Red and Blue release next Friday.
Didn’t the Stones do this a few weeks ago. The Beatles now cashing in. Making as much money as possible from a just ordinary ‘new’ song.
HMV have had the release date of the red 12" as next Friday on their website for several days.
I just saw on Discogs that there is a 10" as well!
I can't wait!
I didn't know that the 12 inch was limited. Quickly ordered from Universal...
Matthew Street on his channel explains the back cover image and it's a great story
I wish they would've gone with Now and Then and the demo version on the A-side and Free as a Bird and Real Love on the B-side.
Does anyone knows to tell if the 12" pressing is same on both USA and UK Beatles online store? Or were they made under a different label and in a different country? Thanks!
I managed to buy the following today from my local store - black, blue and clear 7 inch interesting that I paid only 15.99 for the colour versions whereas these are 17.99 plus post on the Beatles official store...12 inch is on order so hopefully Monday and 10 inch also ordered but online.....
10 inch?
Yes Spotify First version .....very limited! Apparently. It was advertised to Spotify users but also on UM Canada site which when first looking was out of stock but then it came available so ordered it checked again and it had sold out again...just hope it arrives to the UK safe....
That's TEN known versions.@@mikeroberts7741
Thanks for showing. I have the Red 12 inch from Target coming in the mail, and clear 7' inch.....can't wait.
I really wished they put much more into the artwork.... Looks very last minute and overlooked.
The notes on the credit sheet tell the story of the clock on the rear cover.
A great new song
The back image should have been the main cover art
Hello there Andrew Dixon, would you kindly be able to guide me, as to where I may possibly come to attain a 12'' Inch Vinyl Single Release of : { ' The Beatles - Now And Then ' } : ?...
Hi, keep checking The Beatles official store to see if any become available, and do you ha e any local record shops you could ask if they can play e an order? If you're in the UK I know HMV had the red 12 inch vinyl a couple of days ago.
:@@AndrewDixonMusic : No unfortunately, I am not within the U.K. Andrew Dixon. Plus, the U.K. have only just left the European Union, therefore, to add insult to injury, it is nowadays even more arduous and difficult in order to be able to purchase any items from there too.
On the sheet of paper, there is also an explaination who and how he created this clock
MPL has been attached to any release of Love Me Do since the 90's actually. It appears in the booklets of the cds ever since.
Clock image is explained in the inner notes (right at the end) inside the record
Andrew, do you know anything about why they didn't go back and clean up Free As a Bird? I was always disappointed in the quality of that recording.
I can only guess that it's being saved for a future expanded Anthology that has been rumoured.
Hi Andrew, do you know that there is a 10inches version of this single ?
Hi, yes, I'm not getting that version.
Sorry I couldn't catch the stream yesterday. Anyway I have order the CASSETTE and CD versions. I know the songs on YT but I'm going to wait until I get the physical versions.
ok thats the end of this comment.
The 20th anniversary editions of Love Me Do in 1982 show MPL as the publisher due to Paul buying Ardmore & Beechwood. Northern Songs wasn't yet established of course until a little later.
That explains it…I went to three different record shops today and they had no copies of the single
You can read about the clock on the back of the cover in the text by John Harris printed on the inlay... it is George's clock
I wish you would open with the BIG question. Remix or not, what VERSION of Love Me Do is it? the correct one from the original 45 with Ringo on drums? Or is it the easier to find other version with Ringo only on tambourine? If it is the tambourine version all involved should be extremely embarrassed.
It is the original UK single version with Ringo drumming
Hi. Thanks, It was obvious to me once I had the opportunity to hear it. It sounds reasonably authentic in des stereo, but could have been made warmer by running the individual discrete tracks through a tube amplifier before mixown. @@AndrewDixonMusic
Hey Andrew is it possible to send you an email regarding the 12” single?
Hi, yes send it to andrew.dixon1971@ntlworld.com