Thank You, Beatles

A reflection on "Now and Then" and the Fab Four

On a late-1990s, early 2000s morning, the Fowler children were packing into the family car, though I can’t remember why. Nothing of that morning — or day — sticks out in my pre-September 11th foggy memory except for one moment: when the CD-player flipped on, a harmonica and music blasted from the speakers. The unrecognizable tune had an energy that struck me where I sat.

The song: “Love Me Do” by The Beatles.

“Love Me Do” opens ‘The Beatles, 1962-1966’ compilation album, known for its stark red cover. One after the other, from “Please Please Me” to “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” the music was a revelation. I still am unsure how it came into our possession (a gift for my older brother Jim, I believe?) — regardless, much like my experience with Elvis, The Beatles became a sensation, though not only to yours truly, but all my siblings.

Sensation is an understatement. To embarrass myself and my siblings (sorry!), The Beatles were an obsession. One of the first concerts I attended was a Beatles-cover band at the Parsons Auditorium in Milford; we watched the movies — A Hard Day’s Night, Help!, and Yellow Submarine — seemingly on repeat; we played the music in our neighbors’ driveway (while we skateboarded, because nothing says cool like that!); we owned Yellow Submarine cartoon action figures, posters, lunchboxes, blankets and so on; and even played The Beatles in the basement, using badminton rackets for guitars and bass (which changed to plastic instruments when The Beatles RockBand became a household staple).

When I was a high schooler, and had my first girlfriend, we bonded over The Beatles — and, as gifts, she burned me copies of their latter albums, which opened another trove of songs, reigniting that obsession. Somewhere around that time, much like other fans, I studied the granular details of their work and career — though my younger sister, Elizabeth, was much more of The Beatles’ historian of the family. And then, after I graduated high school, my dad took my sisters and me to see Paul McCartney at Yankee Stadium. To see a person of history and of that magnitude in my life is almost indescribable. But suffice it to say, Sir Paul rocked. It’s a memory I cherish so much.

At a family party for my mom’s late-Uncle John (the Priest) Mullaney, my sister showed me how to play “All Together Now” on the ukulele — the first song I ever learned on any instrument (of course it would be a Beatles song). After a lifetime of wanting to play an instrument, the moment transformed my desire into practice and, then, into a passion. By sophomore year of college, I showcased my limited ukulele skills at an open mic. Do I even need to say who I covered?…(The song was “I’ve Just Seen a Face” by the way)

The obsession has tempered to a degree (probably for the best) below youthful fanaticism; but, still, at any era in my life up to this point, there are The Beatles.

So why am I writing this love letter? On Nov. 2, The Beatles released their last song — “Now and Then.” The song is a demo John Lennon made in 1977 that his widow Yoko Ono presented to the then-three surviving members, McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, in the 1990s. While the trio recorded on two other demos (Free As a Bird and Real Love) for the Anthology Series, the third was too warped. As McCartney describes, Lennon’s voice was buried beneath his piano playing.

Fast-forward more than 20 years, while directing “Get Back” — a documentary about the “Let It Be” recording session — Peter Jackson’s team developed A.I. to distinguish and extract varying sounds on a single track. In short, the technology was able to pull and separate Lennon’s voice and piano into two tracks. This convinced McCartney and Starr to re-record “Now and Then” — while retaining Harrison’s previously recorded guitar.

Much like my obsession, I tempered my expectations. My prediction was thus: it will be a fine song — but not a revelation. The worse case scenario was that the tune would be exploitative: a quick cash grab, headline baiting effort just before the holiday season. On my first listen, “Now and Then” was very much the best case scenario: a good song, but not great; which is fine. In fact, at the release, I was more fascinated by the technology that made the song a reality, rather than the song itself. Others who I know had a much more emotional reaction.

Over the past few weeks, however, the song has — surprisingly — grown on me. When I’ve paused to reflect, it is almost the perfect final song for The Beatles. As my sister Mary pointed out, much like “In My Life,” Lennon’s narrator reminiscences on not only a love lost, but — almost providentially — on The Beatles themselves. Even after all the inter-personal struggles, the narrator affirms “that I will love you.” I wonder how McCartney, Harrison and Starr initially felt re-hearing those words from their long since deceased friend in the 1990s. And, nearly 30 years since then and after Harrison’s death, I wonder if Lennon’s message resonated even more profoundly with the last surviving members.

The accompanying music video, also directed by Jackson, certainly reflects that inner sentimentality, as the history rewinds from the present day to the height of Beatlemania to the Cavern Club to the Quarrymen to them as, simply, boys from Liverpool.

This is the power of music. The song, itself, has made me rewind my own history: from now as a 31-year-old man to the kid in backseat of the family car.

Music is such a gift. The Beatles coming together seems providential and an unlikely outcome; yet they did come together. And their talents melded so well. While the songs have an ease, as if they always existed, the band is the prime example of ‘iron sharpening iron’ — forces hitting each other to create, in a word, art. This is perfectly exhibited in the “Get Back” documentary, which shows that even their own work was a struggle to produce at times (though the moment McCartney conceives the song Get Back out of ‘thin air’ is a wonder to behold).

It is truly a beautiful thing in life to see someone share their God-given talents. That is the sensation I now feel when listening to The Beatles — and that appreciation has resurfaced with the release of “Now and Then.”

But no other band in history has garnered as much praise or fascination than The Beatles. I won’t belabor on how revolutionary they were — there are other more equipped people who can, and have, detailed the Fab Four’s impact on the musical, cultural landscape in countless books and documentaries. Ultimately, what still fascinates fans is what if — what if The Beatles got back together? What if they made more music? Well, “Now and Then” scratches that itch to a degree. To this fan, I am simply glad to live in a time when I was able to see several of them live, and also hear a new song.

In my own life, now and way back then, the Beatles have been a cornerstone. They have brought me so much joy in my highest moments, and peace and consolation in my lowest. They have been a gateway — or topic of conversation — that have built into lifelong friendships (seriously, I have so many friends where our first conversations were about the band).

It makes one wonder: How can one ever repay a debt like that to complete strangers? I guess all one can do is simply say, “Thank you.”

So thank you John, Paul, George and Ringo — in my life, I love you all. And I always will.

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*Appendix I: A Hard Day’s Night, by the way, is genuinely one of the greatest movies ever made. It’s an often quoted film in the Fowler household. One of dad’s favorite film scenes in any movie ever is when Harrison accidentally waltzes into an advertising agency’s office. And whenever my mom walks passed my house for her walks/runs, I shout from the window “Hey mister, can we have our ball back!?” Trust me, it’s an innovative, funny movie.

*Appendix II: I have not only seen McCartney (twice!), but also Ringo Starr, who put on a great performance in his own right with the All Star Band.

*Appendix III: Mary and I still perform Beatles songs live, especially Oh! Darling, All My Loving, and Get Back (the last which we played in Edinburgh, Scotland to random folks)

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Alright — now to the questions no one asked, but will certainly stir the most debate: how would I rank their albums and what are my top three favorite songs on each? I did something very similar (and way more in-depth) years ago on Facebook; but the years have gone by, and I’m a slightly different man since my college days.

So, without further ado…

RANKING THE BEST BEATLES ALBUMS

1. A Hard Day’s Night

   1. When I think of The Beatles, this is the album that comes to mind. To me, this album reflects the group’s quintessential spirit: pop, fun, happy-go-lucky, energetic, and boyish cheekiness. The songs are fast-paced earworms that don’t overstay their welcome. It’s a fun ride, and now a nostalgic trip. Simply put, I feel like a kid again listening to this album — and for that, I’ll love it forever.

      1. A Hard Day’s Night

      2. I’m Happy Just To Dance With You

      3. I Should Have Known Better

2. Abbey Road

   1. I first listened to “Abbey Road” comparatively later in life, but this quickly captured my attention and, eventually, love. The final album the group recorded together, this is the best of their post-Sgt. Pepper era. The Medley, despite being “junk songs” as John Lennon would describe, is a masterclass in post-production mixing (plus, the tunes are in fact not junk). George Harrison particularly shines with “Here Comes The Sun” and “Something,” and even Ringo Starr’s often maligned “Octopus’ Garden” is charming to yours truly. Meanwhile, “The End” evokes a tinge of melancholy, yet encapsulates the band’s core joyful message: “The love you take, is equal to the love you make.” Ain’t so different from the Golden Rule, right?

      1. Here Comes The Sun

      2. She Came In Through The Bathroom Window

      3. Golden Slumbers

3. Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band

   1. The watershed album not only in the band’s trajectory, but in the pop music landscape. “Sgt. Pepper’s” is noted for its many firsts, yet the most remarkable element is that The Beatles broke their ‘pop’ mold that other groups of the era failed to crack, creating a new image for themselves. To yours truly, listening to “A Hard Day’s Night” and “Sgt. Pepper’s” back-to-back is a wild experience due to the vast stylistic differences; but one believes — and enjoys the fact — that these were made by the same group. Ultimately, the album represents a freedom the group was afforded by the industry and, most importantly, their fans. The result is a resounding success.

      1. A Day In The Life

      2. Lovely Rita

      3. With A Little Help From My Friends

4. Help!

   1. In a similar vein to “A Hard Day’s Night,” “Help!” is a nostalgic trip, again filled with catchy earworms; but it’s a mix of two worlds: it is almost the pinnacle of the band’s pop aspirations, yet it hints at the type of songwriting (i.e. Yesterday) that later develops on albums like “Rubber Soul” and “Revolver.” The only critique is ending the album with the cover “Dizzy Miss Lizzie.” If I were George Martin, I would’ve cut entirely.

      1. I Need You

      2. Yesterday

      3. Ticket to Ride

5. Rubber Soul

   1. This was higher up a few years ago, but, over time, I feel like there aren’t as many individual pop ‘bangers’ for lack of a better word — so I don’t tend to revisit “Rubber Soul” as much. But don’t be fooled, the tracks are fantastic and show a more introspective group (like “In My Life”), as they take elements of folk music and morph them into a unique vibe — with plenty of tambourines and cowbell to boot!

      1. In My Life

      2. Nowhere Man

      3. Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)

6. Let It Be

   1. This feels like the end of era, despite the album being recorded prior to “Abbey Road.” It feels like back-to-the-basics, more akin to “Rubber Soul” than “Sgt. Pepper’s” in terms of production and songwriting. There is a quasi-reflection on the group’s long and winding career that is more prevalent than on other albums.

      1. Get Back

      2. Two Of Us

      3. I’ve Got A Feeling

7. Revolver

   1. Perhaps this is too low — but like “Rubber Soul” (nearly it’s counterpart), I don’t revisit the individual songs as much. Plus, this is when there are truly skippable tunes (Doctor Robert) and others that simple don’t resonate to me (Tomorrow Never Knows). However, the standouts are still great — yet they are fewer when compared to the previous albums on my list.

      1. Eleanor Rigby

      2. Here, There And Everywhere

      3. And Your Bird Can Sing

8. The Beatles (The White Album)

   1. The most overrated Beatles album. Anything with “Revolution 9” should automatically disqualify it from claiming the top spot on any list, but c’est la vie. The album is a disjointed mess, ranging from the bizarre and awful (Piggies, Glass Onion, Wild Honey Pie) to the fantastic. This was when the members were most at-odds with each other, and it shows. However, like any Beatles work, there are gems — so it’s not a completely lost venture. But this would have been better suited as a single album, than double.

      1. I Will

      2. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da

      3. Blackbird

9. Beatles For Sale

   1. “Beatles For Sale” could be the most underrated of the Fab Four’s work. While still covering songs, the original works featured — while not completely ‘there’ yet — show immense promise. Also, “I’ll Follow The Sun” is in my top 10 favorite for sentimental reasons, so there’s that.

      1. I’ll Follow The Sun

      2. Eight Days A Week

      3. I Don’t Want To Spoil The Party

10. Please Please Me

    1. The band’s debut album is a magnetic force: energetic and pop — it’s a fun listen. Yet, beyond the driving, palpable joy, the songs don’t reach the emotional or musical depths as later tunes of — what I’ll call — The Beatles “pop” era.

       1. I Saw Her Standing There

       2. Please Please Me

       3. Twist And Shout

11. Magical Mystery Tour

    1. What elevates this album is the ‘B-side,’ mostly compiled of “Sgt. Pepper’s” rejects — such as Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields Forever. The front half is slow and, honestly, forgettable. But the latter half, from Hello, Goodbye to All You Need Is Love, has some of the group’s most recognizable tunes.

       1. Penny Lane

       2. Strawberry Fields Forever

       3. Hello, Goodbye

12. With The Beatles

    1. The least memorable of The Beatles early era — yet “All My Loving” is a song I’ve played often at open mics because it’s one of their best ever. As a whole, however, there are too many covers to make it standout (although Till There Was You is, arguably, one of the best covers of all time). Essentially, there is not enough Beatles on it.

       1. All My Loving

       2. Till There Was You

       3. Hold Me Tight

13. Yellow Submarine

    1. “Yellow Submarine” is the inverse of “Magical Mystery Tour” — the first half is speckled with decent tunes, but the latter half is completely forgettable. Plus, not every song is original even to this album (such as the titular song, which appeared on “Revolver,” and All You Need Is Love on “Magical Mystery Tour”). But All Together Now is one of the first songs I learned on any instrument, so there is still some nostalgic value.

       1. Hey Bulldog

       2. Yellow Submarine

       3. All Together Now

How have The Beatles impacted your life? What are your favorite albums? What are your favorite songs? Let me know in the comments!