Short answers, pulled from the story.
John Lennon first recorded Real Love in 1977 on a handheld tape recorder at his home piano. He recorded at least six versions of the song in 1979 and 1980, and the sixth take was released posthumously in 1988 on the Imagine: John Lennon documentary soundtrack.
Jeff Lynne co-produced the 1995 Beatles recording of Real Love, alongside his role as co-producer on Free as a Bird. George Martin, who had produced the Beatles throughout their original career, declined to produce the new recordings.
Real Love debuted at number 4 in the UK singles chart on the 16th of March 1996, selling 50,000 copies in its first week, and peaked at number 11 in the United States. After four months of US sales the total reached 500,000 copies.
BBC Radio 1 excluded Real Love from its playlist, stating it was not what its listeners wanted and describing itself as a contemporary music station. The decision was criticised by fans, by Conservative MP Harry Greenway who called it censorship, and by Paul McCartney in an 800-word article published in The Daily Mirror on the 9th of March 1996.
The session used a double bass originally owned by Elvis Presley's bassist Bill Black, a Fender Jazz bass, Fender Stratocaster guitars including Harrison's psychedelically-painted Rocky Strat, a Ludwig drum kit, a Baldwin Combo Harpsichord, and a harmonium that had appeared on the 1965 Beatles hit We Can Work It Out.
Yes. Real Love, released on the 4th of March 1996, was the last Beatles single until Now and Then in 2023. It was also the last new Beatles song released during George Harrison's lifetime; Harrison died in 2001.