Now And Then-A Cover of the Third Anthology Beatles Single

Ok this week I got stuck in and did something new.  I was reading a book on The Beatles and I read that there was going to be a third anthology single, which was a song called Now and Then, this was also one of John's demos from the late 70's.  So I went ferating around on Youtube and found it.  I was surprised because I am a Beatles buff and I knew nothing of this!!!!
 
I thought after listening to it a few times, that this was an amazing melody and words, so I decided I could finish that song myself.  All I did was find the chords, learn the chords, record the chords and sing a guide a vocal and I was off.
 
After a weeks work this is the finished product http://soundcloud.com/aaudiomystiks/nowandthen, it is a complete song including drums and other instuments.
 
Opinions would be really good on this song because I have put all of my skills into this one!!!
 
Peace

Good job.

Very authentic sounding.

Thanks guys, the vocal processing is guitar rig 4 and the rortary effect and of course tape echo.  Yea I wondered about the ending as well but the way I look at it (I agree with you philz, I was struggling with an ending) is the ending is like a memory and memory's are like waves hence the fade in and out, also it sounds to me like Lennons Double Fantasy album, with all the beach sounds and also the sound of the guitar and sitar gives it that Lennon DF feel, or this is how I justify it.

Finally what is the timing like guy's and have I got the pitch (vocal) correct?  The timing of the track is set by the intial acoustic guitar but I am not a great guitarist and so I have audio snapped some of just to make the whole track tight but what I haven't done is make it perfect, I was trying to make it as organik as possible.

Oh and philz yes I suppose you could call it brave, I actually had to finish a couple of lyrics and phrasing all though I listened to the demo recording and I believe I heard some of those lines garbled.

What do you think send it to Yoko??

Peace Ben and thanks for listening 

I think you've done a really good job with it.  I didn't notice any real timing problems.  Vocals were good and the GR4 processing on them fit the song really well. Good job!

Dan

Huge Beatles fan here, originally from Liverpool, I thought it was very good, for me...the vocals could definitely come out more in the mix, perhaps a bit more top end too..for clarity's sake.

I always find it funny as I listen to lyrics, to hear " I know", "I dont know" "I wanna" and " I dont wanna" included.  It seems, and its the same for me, that these 4 phrases seem to naturally want to come out of ones mouth as we start trying to come up with lyrics and melodies.

Anyone else noticed that?

Anyway... great job, I liked it mate.

Lastly.. isnt it.. ferreting?

R.I.P John.

I like it, very Lennon sounding.   Good job.

I agree on the ending,  didn't do much for it.
I think it took to long to come back end.
JMO...........:)

Tim

Hi Ben,

I always get upset when I hear John sing. Artists come and go, we all have our favorites, but he was different. To me, there is the world of music, then there is Lennon and The Beatles. He wasn't even a very good singer or an ultra talented musician to be honest, but it was like you knew him even if you never met him. You know what I mean? It was like a close relative died when he was murdered and all these years later I still get upset over it when I hear him sing. That's why I don't listen to his music or much of the Beatles anymore.

Anyhoo ...

I listened to this when you first posted it and got side tracked and forgot to comment.

I really like this a lot. I don't think I've heard anything by you yet that I haven't liked. If I heard you on the radio, I would buy your album, and I haven't bought an album in probably ... 15 ~ 18 years? Seriously.

Yeah, the ending is a little iffy, but you'll get 'er fixed. :)

THe vocal processing and your tone sounds very Lennonesque, but the longer notes seem to drift out of pitch.  The toms are too prominent in the mix, and could stand to be moved back a lot.

The bass seems early from time to time.

Unfamiliar with the song (which, being a lifelong Beatles fan, is hard to believe!), but I can see why I never heard it: it is dreary and a bit of a bore. A lot of Lennon's solo stuff has good parts, but it always felt to me that both Lennon and McCartney got very lazy once they went solo, and would write 2/3 of a song and just not care to make the extra effort to get it to great.

I think you hit your mark feel-wise and project wise. This song doesn't make me wanna run out and take a listen a second time but that's not at all due to your rendition...just kinda droney to me...

I kinda liked the weird ending but I'd only fade once, fade back in then end...but hell I like weird things so I'd not rely on me..lol

good work on this proejct!

Thanks guy's for listening and thanks for all comments and opinons, it's always nice to get feedback.

Peace Ben

Thanks vechung and thanks to all who have listened and posted comments, it's nice to have a supportive community like this.  The question is now what to do next????

Peace

equality


Thought I've heard everything of Lennon (and the Beatles). I had no knowledge of this one at all. Sounds very Lennonesque to me. Arrangement, singing and playing - excellent! I'd like some fx on the vox but this tremolo thing is too much for me. Otherwise great work (and I have to find it on youtube as well)!
 
So did I, once I found this though I had to finish it!!!.  The tremlo on the vocal is a rotery speaker and tape echo, I was trying to imitate what the sound of the vocal was like on the original tape (crap) not the singing but the quality.
 
You will find the original Now and Then on youtube.  There is one where it is just him and his piano (the original) then there are other various attempts by others who have done a free as a bird trick, that is to take the Lennon vocal and put their own instrumentation over the top.  What I have done is try and take all the best bits and my own knowledge and skill and turn out the best version I could.
 
Peace Ben