Buskin with The Beatles #70 clip - 'Now and Then' Instant Reviews with Mark Lewisohn & Allan Kozinn.

A few minutes from the full episode.
© Richard Buskin.

[@gloriawahlstrom1009]

This song and video is PERFECT. I cried my eyes out which is my gauge for how good something is. lol

[@MalEvansUSA]

What McCartney did with a very awful demo incomplete and unfinished is quite simply extraordinary. It’s mccartneys unrelenting perseverance that gave us this amazing final track watch the video. Amazing and emotional masterpiece. The video is just extraordinary 😢

[@matthewashman1406]

The funny thing is many casual fans think it's fine. As do I. It was great to hear John's voice again

[@scottandrewbrass1931]

George plays both acoustic and electric guitar on it. There's enough George on Now and Then.

[@MalEvansUSA]

This is amazing. The video is absolute joyous and incredible what a beautiful finale. I was in absolute tears. This video by Peter Jackson is amazing testimony to their greatness Incredible joyous

[@stevebrooks4th]

About not enough George being on the song: Agreed, but "I Me Mine" doesn't have any John on it, and "The Ballad of John & Yoko" has only Paul and John on it. I'm very glad George played on this song and that all 4 are on it.

[@dwightperkins7972]

One wonders what Jeff Lynne might have bought to these final recordings. The ‘ebb and flow’ discussed here, and that I agree with, might have been positively affected.

[@abacab23]

He’s listed in the credits of the song’s production

[@richbuskin]

@@abacab23 - For his brief work on the track in 1995.

[@DanandJoeMusic]

The mix is slammed to hell. It is so compressed, the piano has absolutely no decay whatsoever. It almost peaks with the first chord! It’s a shame because the song has so many neat elements, it would be nice to give the song some more headroom. Was it a mastering decision? Decision at the mixing level? Who knows, but hey, the song is great, at least.

[@danaschmitz5490]

Yes, I wish George's guitar was a little higher up in the mix.

[@scottandrewbrass1931]

Guitars.

[@DavidSumeray_BassGod]

Exactly, too muddy! Bass and drums should be much more forward in the mix. Paul plays some nice licks but you have to focus to really hear them, and I think Ringo’s drums could have had some more oomph and those backing vox should bathe us in sound. The emphasis is clearly on having John’s voice high and clear in the mix but it’s made the overall Beatles sound suffer. Maybe they should have got Jeff Lynne 🤣

[@MalEvansUSA]

It’s pretty clear that Paul recognizes his vocal limitations and chose to stay on harmony rather than lead vocal unlike free as a bird Those vocals even on harmony are a bit rough woobly He gave John the spotlight . Also and this is absolute extraordinary Paul is recognizing his own mortality by ending once and for all the Beatles as a group. Watch the ending of the video. I always thought like Star Wars Star Trek Santa Claus Superman that the Beatles were immortal beings. Not true. Watch the video finale It’s Paul and ringo saying goodbye formally and paying tribute to their dead brothers It’s quite Simply brilliant. It’s saying goodbye and paying tribute to their mates. It would have been nice to pay tribute to Stu George Martin Pete best and former Beatles drummer Bernard Perdue. This was so powerful. Loved the final bow. I was in tears

[@crixxxxxxxxx]

Grow Old With Me is a million times better than Now and Then.

[@thaithommy]

Because it was the time, the fab were not on ther own😢

[@bhoops13]

It’s definitely missing a really powerful George solo, McCartney’s is ok. Maybe they should’ve got Clapton back in!

[@applescruff909]

I'm so happy they didn't.

[@beatlegiancarlo28]

We don't need Eric Capton, this spot rightfully belongs to Paul.

[@janet3528]

I just feel that John wouldn’t have wanted this arrangement….typical Paul taking over 😬sorry….believe it or not I,ve loved the Beatles since 1963. Sorry Richard 🙁

[@MalEvansUSA]

John would have taken over but he’s dead and no longer with us

[@crixxxxxxxxx]

John wouldn't want any of his first draft demos released. These are just ideas for songs that he would refine and develop significantly further had he lived and they are putting them out as complete songs.

[@MalEvansUSA]

@@crixxxxxxxxx mark david Chapman and his five shots unfortunately ensured all those demos would be released

[@Sungodv]

Macca's voice is gone....they should have AI'd his vocals. Other than that it was good.

[@MalEvansUSA]

Sadly lady Judy Martin died. She was the wife of George Martin and a friend of the Beatles. She had a clandestine affair with George Martin and broke up his first marriage. And resulted in George’s older children being resentful of her and George If not for her affair with George there would have been no Beatles. So thank you lady Martin rest in peace. My sympathy to her family