The Beatles returned to the top of the UK music charts on Friday, with record-breaking track “Now And Then”, which made history as the act with the longest gap between their first and last No. 1 single.
Considered the Beatles’ final song, “Now And Then” features the vocals of late member John Lennon and was developed using artificial intelligence. It also contains parts recorded by surviving members Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr as well as the late George Harrison.
It was the band’s 18th UK No. 1 hit and returned The Beatles to the top of the Official Singles Chart 60 years after the band’s first No. 1 single “From Me to You”. The feat also extends The Beatles’ record as the British group with the most UK No. 1 singles in official chart history.
“It’s mind-boggling. It blew my mind,” McCartney said in a statement. “It’s also a very emotional moment for me. I love it!”
The song is the best-selling single of the year so far in Britain, with 48,600 physical and download sales based on its first seven days, the Official Charts Company said.
It is also the best-selling vinyl single of the century so far in Britain with over 19,400 copies sold on vinyl, and the most streamed Beatles song in a week, with 5.03 million streams , he adds.
The band also have the longest gap between No. 1 singles – 54 years – and the oldest band to record a No. 1 single in the UK, the Official Charts Company said. McCartney is 81 years old while Starr is 83 years old.
“Beatlemania is back this week,” said Martin Talbot, Chairman and CEO of Official Charts Company.
“The return of John, Paul, George and Ringo with the Beatles’ final single… cemented their legend by beating a catalog of records – and, in doing so, underlined the extraordinary scope of their enduring appeal, across all the generations.”
