The Beatles' "new single"

They broke up 53 years ago. So what's this, then?

We would all love a new single by The Beatles.

Sadly, none of us is going to get one. Ever.

“Now and Then,” the new “single” by “The Beatles” is nothing of the sort. Which is good, because if it were such a thing, it would be a hell of a weak note to go out on.

Wasn’t “Let It Be” a good enough swan song, Paul?

Like its two Frankensingle predecessors, “Free As a Bird” and “Real Love,” both released as teasers to the epic Beatles Anthology film and albums in 1995, “Now and Then” is a simulation, an approximation, and a promotional tease to another reissue: The 1973 greatest hits collections known as the “Red” and “Blue” albums, due next week.

The music on those albums is all by The Beatles. “Now and Then” is not by the Beatles. It is simply not a Beatles record.

Some background for non-Beatle nerds: Yoko Ono inherited a number of demo recordings by John Lennon when he was murdered. Some were lovely (the heartbreaking “Grow Old With Me”) and many, not so much – as with a lot of John’s solo ou…