It was always odd that there wasn’t a CD single of “the Beatles last ever single” included in the long-awaited big release announcement last week.
Well, now there is.
A CD single, in what looks to be a simple cardboard slipcase, has belatedly appeared on the official UK Beatles site:
Like all other formats, the CD will feature ‘Now and Then’, plus the 2023 stereo remix of ‘Love Me Do’.
The release date is 3 November – exactly the same date as all the other formats – which suggests that physical product has been prepared and is ready to go out to stores. So why was it not part of the launch last week? Did somebody at Apple/Universal Music stuff up?
So far the CD single only appears on the UK Beatle store site but we’d expect it to pop up elsewhere during the day.
Beatles Blog 
Grrrr…I would have (and have) bought it anyway, but now I’m slugged for additional shipping costs when it should have been a more modest add-on amount to my original order. Looks suspiciously like the marketing people running entirely unnecessary “what if?” scenarios with release timings to ensure maximum sales. Again I say: for goodness’ sake – it’s The Beatles!
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Exactly the same with the additional shipping costs now incurred. Why not just announce everything at the same time last week so that shipping costs won’t be through the roof? Grrr exactly!
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just not sure of this art work ? it sure does not do much for me !!
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I actually really appreciate it as subtle and kind of timeless. I think asking an artist as respected as Ed Ruscha to create it means it will have longevity. The more I see it the more I like it for it’s simplicity.
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I’ll be ditching that cover and use the original cd single cover for love me do as it is more appropriate with there photo on the front from there first recording with liner notes and a much better presentation , still keep simple and fits in with the collection look as a whole.
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The question is, do we wait for it to be released here or order from the UK site? I don’t want to miss out. The cassette got snapped up really fast.
PS: Saw Macca last Friday night in Sydney. Fantastic show!
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Hi Chris, I was in the audience for Paul on Friday night too. SO much better than I was expecting. He’s a genuine living legend and it was an honour to be there! As to the CD it’s a tough one. Surely it will get a release here in Australia? I think they have really frustrated collectors by delaying (or stuffing up) the announcement of the CD single.
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