In 1967 if The Beatles had finally achieved something was total control
over their career. Worldwide success, a total domination of the number one
spot in the charts and tremendous sales finally allowed them to do what
they wanted and nothing else. Well, at least that's what they thought.
They had finally quit touring and every Beatle seeked separately a way to
fulfill his artistic inquietudes. However soon Brian reminded them that
they still had to do a third and last film with United Artists. The
contract signed back in the early times of Beatlemania (see A Hard Day's Night and Help!)
was for three films, and although it had semt an incredible deal in those
days, it was nothing but a burden for the Beatles now.
And so, when the Beatles were presented with the idea of creating a
full-length animated film, showed little interest. Fortunately enough,
they didn't have to participate in the making of the movie. However, the
contract with UA wasn't only for 3 movies but also for the accompanying
soundtracks. And while soundtracks for A Hard Day's
Night and Help! were used by The Beatles to
release excellent LPs, the need to complete yet another album for Yellow
Submarine didn't thrill them. Finally the easiest solution was chosen.
Previously composed and recorded but unreleased songs would account for
side A of the LP. Side B was entirely dedicated to George Martin's score
for the film. The result was by far the weakest LP ever released by The
Beatles, with only four new songs (Yellow Submarine and All You Need Is
Love were also included). Although often regarded in books as
"throwaways", no Beatle song can be so called (as the Anthologies have thorougly proved), the four new
tracks are interesting enough for any Beatles fan.
Furthermore, and once again, George Martin found in this LP the
opportunity of presenting the world with another sample of his talent. The
orchestral score for the film, is simply magnificent. From the variations
on the Yellow Submarine theme to the incredible March of the Meanies, the
music was simply perfect for the film. A film in which The Beatles had
little or almost nothing to do with. It is true that as the script
evolved, Paul and John threw in some ideas, but it wasn't a project of
their own as Magical Mistery Tour had been. However,
the script writers did capture the Beatle psichydelic atmosphere of the
moment. Even the animation stands on its own for its peculiar design. The
film was a success in USA. In Britain after a world premiere at the London
Pavillion, the distribution responsibles thought it had done poorly in the
box office and didn't schedule a full release for Yellow Submarine in
British cinemas.
If you haven't yet seen the film, I truly recommend you to get a copy
somewhere (check with the usual Beatlemania dealers) and enjoy it several
times. Although The Beatles had little to do with it (they didn't even dub
their own characters' voices) it's a piece to see and you should take a
look. As for the record, should you buy it? Well, there's a simple test to
know if you're the kind of person who should have it. Take all your
Beatles records out, and count them. If you have 12 original records (no
compilations included) then you must have it. It's of course the last in
your Beatles collection, but still it must be there.
- Yellow Submarine
- Recording Dates: 13 February 1967 - 11 February 1968 (new songs)
- Release Date: 13 January 1969
McCartney
John:Acoustic Guitar and Backing Vocal
Paul:Acoustic Guitar and Backing Vocal
George:Tambourine and Backing Vocal
Ringo:Drums and Lead Vocal
Brian Jones, Marianne Faithfull, Pattie Harrison, George Martin, Neill Aspinall, Geoff Emerick and The Beatles: Chorus
Session Musicians:Brass Band
Review from the Revolver album.
Only The Beatles could make a song like Yellow Submarine and get away with
it, not only as a catchy number, but a single and even a film! The truth
is that Ringo didn't have his song yet, and the idea about a submarine
song came to Paul's head late one night. He later recalled that a stuff
like icing sugar he had seen in Greece, which used to be dropped in water,
was called a submarine.
Donovan helped Paul with the line "Skies of Blue and Seas of Green..." and
Lennon helped too. The song ended up in a crazy recording session where
the effects were taped and everyone joined in the singalong chorus (even
George Martin!)
Originally the song was introed by a speech by Ringo, as Lewishon points
out and we hadn't been able to hear until the Real Love single came out.
Curious at the least is that the Spanish version of Yellow Submarine
(Submarino Amarillo) by Los Mustang is the anthem of my hometown football
(soccer) team Villarreal CF, because they play in yellow shirts. The team
got on to the Spanish Premiership League on May 24th 1998. Yet another proof
of the repercussion of The Beatles in modern society
Harrison
Working Title: Not Known
John: Piano
Paul: Bass Guitar
George:Organ and Lead Vocal
Ringo: Drums
Only a Northern Song, the track giving this section its title, was
George's Harrison's composition for Sgt. Pepper's,
but finally ended up in the vaults of EMI for more than a year before the
Beatles decided it could fill 3 minutes in the Yellow Submarine
soundtrack. However, the track is one of the most melodic experimental
tracks in a Beatles record. Although discordant instruments can be heard
all over the song played by all four Beatles, the song doesn't only have a
melody, but it also transmits the intended message with perfection.
As usual with George's songs, the title wasn't clear at the first recording
session, and so was noted as "Not Known". This song has cometimes been
claimed to have been written in 1968 with the London Symphony Orchestra
waiting for the track to be finished (suposedly needing a final song for
Yellow Submarine). Nothing further from the truth, as Lewisohn
demonstrates that it was recorded in 1967. Harrison was indeed demanding a
more relevant role of his compositions in Beatles records. He felt that
his song quota was merely that, something granted even if the bands were
not right (It doesn't really matter what chords I play, what words I say
or time or day it is). Harrison, was also contractually an employee of
Norhern Songs Ltd, the company that held the publishing rights to all
Beatles songs at the moment (of which Lennon and McCartney owned 30%) and
hence didn't participate of the publishing rights of his songs.
McCartney
John:Banjo and Vocals
Paul:Acoustic Guitar, Bass Guitar and Lead Vocal
George:Harmonica and Vocals
Ringo:Drums and Vocals
All together now was a simple song, written by Paul in the studio, much in
the style of Yellow Submarine. It seems quite obvious that the goal was to
write a singalong song with the same partying mood. The song was recorded
in just 6 hours, simple as it was, from beginning to end. Everyone joined
in in the chorus and several instruments were overdubbed along with the
handclapping. The song, specifically written for the soundtrack, is
presented at the end of the film, in the only bit in which all four
Beatles appear in person. John felt speccially delighted when he discovered
that crowds were singing the song at English football (soccer) games.
Hey Bulldog
Lennon
John: Piano, Lead Guitar and Lead Vocal
Paul: Bass Guitar and Vocals
George:Lead Guitar and Tambourine
Ringo: Drums
One of my favourite Beatles songs laid hidden for me to discover it in
Yellow Submarine. Hey Bulldog is a surprise track for those reading
reviews such as this one that usually label the songs in this album as
"throwaways". In fact it was John who called "Hey Bulldog" and album
filler, but that doesn't prevent many of us to absolutely love some of
these songs.
On Sunday 11 February 1968, the Beatles had already finished the
incredible Lady Madonna, and intended to spend the day in the studio while
filmed, to produce footage that would be the video of Lady Madonna.
However, once there, they decided to record something. And it was John who
showed the unfinished lyrics of Hey Bulldog and sketched the
song for the others. The orders to George Martin were "Just tell us when
we get a good one..." and indeed they did! Paul's bass is absolutely
superb, the guitar solo is a blast and the harmonies are simply Beatles.
The song was not originally going to be called "Hey Bulldog", as the
lyrics only spoke of a Bullfrog. But at the ad-lib the Beatles used to end
the fading songs in, Paul started barking, and it was decided to include
the line "Hey Bulldog". For those of you particularly interested in Paul's
bass, please notice the bass line at the very end of the song... and also a
slight cut in the master tape 1 second before its end. The Bulldog
sequence was edited out of the film in the American copies, but is said to
be released in the forthcoming release in video of Yellow Submarine (no
dates yet, sorry).
It's All Too Much
Working Title: Too Much
Harrison
Lennon: Lead Guitar and Vocals
Paul: Bass Guitar and Vocals
George: Lead Guitar, Organ and Lead Vocal
Ringo Starr: Drums
Session Musicians: Four trumpets, One Clarinet.
It's All Too Much was also specifically recorded for Yellow Submarine, and
George described it as "recorded in a childlike manner from realizations
that appeared during and after some LSD experiences and which were later
confirmed in meditation". The song is quite a chaotic track. In fact is an
edit from a longer take (over 8 minutes) partly jam and partly
pre-conceived song. The song seems and authentic nightmare for Ringo and
the beat is lost a couple of times through the edits. At the end of the
song, George sings a line from the song "Sorrow" a hit record by The
Merseys (friends of The Beatles) and the backing "too much" by John and
Paul turns into "tuba" and then "Cuba". Finally notice the line in which
George sings at the end "we are all dead"... maybe is not only Paul but
all four Beatles who were replaced!
All You Need Is Love
Lennon
John: Harpsichord, Banjo and Lead Vocal
Paul: Double Bass, Bass Guitar and Backing Vocal
George: Violin, Lead Guitar and Backing Vocal
Ringo:Drums
George Martin: Piano
Mick Jaegger, Keith Richard, Marianne Faithful, Keith Moon, Eric Clapton, Pattie Harrison, Jane Asher, Mike McCartney, Graham Nash and wife, Gary Leeds and Hunter Davies
4 violins, 2 cellos, 2 saxophones, 2 trombones, 1 accordion, 2 trumpets (see Lewisohn's Recording Sessions for details)
Review from Magical Mistery Tour
It had to be that way. The BBC faced the Our World broadcast, the first
ever global television link, with 26 countries participating, and had to
present an act. The obvious choice was The Beatles. Any other group would
have been preparing the event moths in advance, however, John came with
the song shortly before it was due. Just ten days before the broadcast
(which took place on June 25th 1967), The Beatles started recording the
basic rhythm track of the song. The rest was to be played live in front of
the cameras at Studio One in Abbey Road, just like if The Beatles were
recording a new song and had been caught by the cameras.
The Beatles got dressed up in their most colorful clothes to spread the
message of love to the world. The lead vocal, Paul's bass, George's guitar
solo and Ringo's drumming were recorded live along with the 13 piece
orchestra. Everything went into the 4 track machine together with the
previously recorded tracks, Geoff Emerick and George Martin were to mix it
LIVE to broadcast it all over the world. The message had to be simple for
the world ot understand, and Lennon once more hit the bull's eye. HE
delivered an anthem for the summer of love, with just four letters in
mind: love. Several famous musical bits were played by the orchestra
during the song: The Marsellaise (France's national anthem), Greensleaves,
She Loves You and In The Mood (Glenn Miller). Including this last bit,
still copyrighted forced EMI to grant a royalty agreement.
The fade out was a huge sing-along, with some of The Beatles friends
singing that love was all we needed. Once the broadcast was over, The
Beatles remained in the studio to give the song the finishing touches.
John re-sung part of his lead vocal, and Ringo added the drum roll that
introes the song. In less than 2 weeks, the single was out (Baby You're a
Rich Man on side B) and The Beatles had set yet another milestone in the
history of music.
