Paul McCartney Had 'Total Respect For His Band' When Finishing The Beatles' Comeback Single
In 2023, Paul McCartney set the internet ablaze when he somewhat casually mentioned that he was working on a new song from The Beatles. Fans of the group were initially worried, as he mentioned he was using artificial intelligence to do so, but their fears were mostly assuaged after it was revealed how exactly the tech was being utilized. Months after the single, titled “Now and Then,” dropped, the track’s producer has stated that the legendary musician was just as respectful as one might hope during the delicate recording process.
“What was really exciting for me was watching Paul’s total respect for his band members in the process of doing this,” said Giles Martin, the producer behind “Now and Then.” He partnered with McCartney and Ringo Starr, the only two remaining members of The Beatles, on their surprise new single.
Martin told Louder Sound that while he and McCartney were working on “Now and Then,” the superstar went out of his way to ensure that the four members of the band were all represented and heard on the tune. When asked about the late musician George Harrison’s role on the track–which was recorded decades ago–Martin explained how McCartney treated his work.
“Paul was like: ‘Okay, the rhythm that’s being played by George, can you just isolate that? I want to hear what George is doing,’” Martin stated during the interview all about the making of “Now and Then.” He added that McCartney wanted to “make sure that we are playing exactly the rhythm he is playing and that we follow that on the record.”
Martin stated that when they were making the single, which was kept secret until the two Beatles rockers and their team were completely ready, McCartney felt that it was “really important that his contribution is really respected and that we’re not washing things out with too much color,” meaning the work that Harrison left behind.
Source: Hugh McIntyre/forbes.com
