Yellow Submarine (album)
The Beatles faced a three-picture deal with United Artists that demanded new material for an animated film they initially disliked. After completing Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band in April 1967, the group showed minimal enthusiasm for this project. Author Ian MacDonald later described the period as a regime of continuous low-intensity recording with workaday quality and intrinsic lack of tension. The band reluctantly agreed to record four new songs specifically to fulfill their contractual obligation. This arrangement reduced their direct involvement compared to previous films like Help! which they had also disliked.
George Harrison taped Only a Northern Song in February 1967 but rejected it for inclusion on Sgt. Pepper. The group performed overdubs on this basic track in April immediately after completing stereo mixes for that album. During what historian Mark Lewisohn calls a curious session, sounds added included trumpet glockenspiel and spoken voices. All Together Now was recorded in a single session on the 12th of May 1967 specifically for the film project. Paul McCartney later described the song as a throwaway phrase he heard as a child to encourage everyone to sing music hall songs.
Side two consists of re-recordings of symphonic film score composed by producer George Martin specifically for the album. Recording took place with a 41-piece orchestra over two three-hour sessions on 22 and the 23rd of October 1968 in Abbey Road. The material edited down to length on LP on the 22nd of November. In Sea of Time MacDonald terms an affectionate quotation from Within You Without You from Sgt. Pepper. Yellow Submarine in Pepperland reprises the film's title track while Sea of Monsters includes beginning of Bach's Air on the G String.
Yellow Submarine issued by Apple Records on the 13th of January 1969 in U.S. and on the 17th of January in UK. Album issued in stereo only in U.S. while UK version available in both stereo and mono though mono simply fold-down rather than specific mix. Since All You Need Is Love had been rush-released as single it did not have official stereo mix until the 29th of October 1968 for album. In U.S. eight-track tape and cassette tape versions included Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds which also heard in film.
Artwork on sleeve contains drawing of Beatles as appeared on trailer posters created by Heinz Edelman. Same basic design used for UK and U.S. covers though UK jacket contains words Nothing Is Real taken from Strawberry Fields Forever just below album title. U.S. version did not include those words. On back of cover UK album contained review of White Album written for The Observer by Tony Palmer. Review introduced by few liner notes by Apple press officer Derek Taylor.
An EP containing new songs considered for release in September 1968 but plan to issue soundtrack music postponed to allow unveiling of The Beatles. Following delayed release band decided to reissue Yellow Submarine as five-track mono EP without film score including then-unreleased Across the Universe as bonus track. This EP mastered in March 1969 but never issued. Original running order for EP was Only a Northern Song Hey Bulldog and Across the Universe on side one with All Together Now and It's All Too Much on side two.
First compact disc release of album appeared in August 1987 consistent with British version of LP. Sea of Time and Sea of Holes separate tracks while Nothing Is Real subtitle remained. Soundtrack album returned to UK charts peaking at number 60. A 30th anniversary version released on the 13th of September 1999 coinciding with remastered re-release of film titled Yellow Submarine Songtrack. It does not include George Martin film score features six Beatles songs from original album along with additional nine songs heard in film all completely remixed for this disc.
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Common questions
When was the Yellow Submarine album released in the United States and the United Kingdom?
Apple Records issued the Yellow Submarine album on the 13th of January 1969 in the U.S. and on the 17th of January 1969 in the UK.
Which Beatles songs were recorded specifically for the Yellow Submarine film project?
The band recorded four new songs to fulfill their contractual obligation including Only a Northern Song, All Together Now, It's All Too Much, and Hey Bulldog.
Who composed the symphonic score for side two of the Yellow Submarine album?
Producer George Martin composed the symphonic film score that appears on side two of the album.
What date did the first compact disc release of the Yellow Submarine album occur?
The first compact disc release appeared in August 1987 consistent with the British version of the LP.
How many tracks are included in the 30th anniversary version of the Yellow Submarine soundtrack released in 1999?
The 30th anniversary version released on the 13th of September 1999 features six Beatles songs from the original album along with nine additional songs heard in the film.