Four decades on, Beatles release last song

In 2021, the release of The Beatles: Get Back, adocumentary series directed by Peter Jackson, astonished viewers with its award-winning film and audio restoration. The AI technology used allowed Jackson and his sound team, led by Emile de la Rey, to apply the same technique to Lennon's original home recording of Now And Then, preserving the clarity and integrity of his vocal performance and separating it from the piano track.

In 2022, McCartney and Starr set about completing the song. Besides Lennon's vocal, Now And Then includes electric and acoustic guitar recorded in 1995 by Harrison, Starr's new drum part, and bass, guitar and piano parts played by McCartney that match Lennon's original. McCartney also added a slide guitar solo inspired by Harrison, and he and Starr contributed backing vocals.

"There it was, John's voice, crystal clear. It's quite emotional. And we all play on it, it's a genuine Beatles recording. In 2023 to still be working on Beatles music, and about to release a new song the public haven't heard, I think it's an exciting thing," said McCartney.

"It was the closest we'll ever come to having him back in the room so it was very emotional for all of us. It was like John was there, you know. It's far out," said Starr.

This last Beatles' installment will be followed by new versions of the two compilation albums seen as definitive introductions to their work: 1962-1966 (also known as the Red Album) and 1967-1970 (also known as the Blue Album), compilations that have turned countless listeners of all ages, and from all parts of the world, into Beatles fans.

Expanded for their latest rerelease, the compilation albums will be out on Nov 10 and span The Beatles' canon with 75 standout tracks, from their first single, Love Me Do, to their last, Now And Then. The 21 newly-added tracks (12 on Red, and nine on Blue) show even more of the band's best songs.