The Beatles Record ‘Now And Then’ (Anthology Sessions) – 21 March 1995

Recording 'Now And Then' – The Beatles Anthology Sessions, 21 March 1995

Tuesday 21 March 1995 | Anthology, Studio

On 20 and 21 March 1995, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr worked on 'Now And Then', a demo originally recorded by John Lennon in 1979 at his home in the Dakota Building, New York City.

The sessions formed part of The Beatles Anthology project, during which the surviving members reunited to complete previously unfinished Lennon recordings.

The Origin of 'Now And Then'

'Now And Then', also known under working titles such as 'I Don't Want To Lose You' and 'Miss You', was one of several home demos Lennon recorded in the late 1970s.

In January 1994, Yoko Ono gave McCartney two cassettes containing these recordings. Among them were:

• Free As A Bird
• Real Love
• Grow Old With Me
• Now And Then

The first two songs were successfully completed and released as reunion singles, while 'Now And Then' proved more challenging.

The 1995 Recording Sessions

During the sessions on 20 and 21 March 1995, the three Beatles, working with producer Jeff Lynne, began constructing a backing track to accompany Lennon's original demo.

However, progress was limited. The work remained incomplete and was abandoned after the second day.

The difficulties were both musical and technical:

• The song lacked fully developed verses and required significant rewriting
• A persistent humming noise on Lennon's demo proved difficult to remove

Jeff Lynne later described the session as brief and unfinished, noting that the band only managed a rough backing track before moving on.

Why the Song Was Abandoned

According to McCartney, one of the key reasons for abandoning the track was George Harrison's reluctance to continue working on it.

Harrison reportedly felt the song required too much reconstruction to be viable for release, and enthusiasm for the project waned.

As a result, 'Now And Then' was left unfinished and was not included in the Anthology releases.

The Missing Third Reunion Single

'Now And Then' had originally been considered as a potential third Beatles reunion single, following 'Free As A Bird' and 'Real Love'.

Instead, Anthology 3 included the orchestral piece 'A Beginning', recorded in 1968, in place of a new completed track.

Completion and Release in 2023

Decades after the original sessions, work on 'Now And Then' resumed in 2022 and 2023, using modern audio technology to isolate and enhance Lennon's vocal.

The completed song was finally released on 2 November 2023, bringing closure to a project that had remained unfinished for nearly 30 years.

Location

FAQs

When did The Beatles work on 'Now And Then'?

Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr worked on the song on 20 and 21 March 1995 during the Anthology sessions.

Why was 'Now And Then' not released in the 1990s?

The song was left unfinished due to technical issues with the demo and uncertainty about how to complete the composition.

When was 'Now And Then' finally released?

The completed track was released on 2 November 2023 after being finished using modern audio technology.

More Events on 21 March in Beatles History

• The Beatles First Evening Show at the Cavern Club – 21 March 1961
• The Beatles Live at the Cavern Club (Lunchtime Show) – 21 March 1962
• The Beatles Record BBC Radio Show 'On The Scene' – 21 March 1963
• The Beatles Live at ABC Cinema, Croydon – 21 March 1963
• The Beatles Record 'Getting Better' and 'Lovely Rita' – Abbey Road, 21 March 1967
• Recording 'Seaside Woman' by Suzy And The Red Stripes – 21 March 1972
• Wings Mix 'You Gave Me The Answer' – 21 March 1975
• Wings Live at Falkoner Theatre, Copenhagen – 21 March 1976
• Wings Record 'London Town' at Abbey Road Studios – 21 March 1977
• Wings Film 'London Town' Video at Twickenham Studios – 21 March 1978
• Ringo Starr Live at Harrah's Lake Tahoe – 21 March 1999
• Ringo Starr Live at Harrah's Resort Southern California – 21 March 2019

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