Yellow Submarine Songtrack
Encyclopedia
Yellow Submarine Songtrack is a compilation /soundtrack album
by The Beatles
for the 1999 re-release of the 1968 film Yellow Submarine. The film was re-released on 13 September 1999 in the United Kingdom and the following day in the United States.
In sharp contrast with other Beatles remasters available (2009 box sets), the songs were fully remixed from the original multitrack tapes, something not done for the original Compact Disc
release of The Beatles catalogue in the late 1980s except for Help!
and Rubber Soul
, not even in 2009.
This album contains only The Beatles songs used in the film, including tracks absent from the original Yellow Submarine
album. The extra tracks replaced the George Martin
film score from the original release, while the complete score was included as a DVD audio track in the CD/DVD package featuring the album and film.
The album debuted in the UK charts at #8 selling 19,000 copies in its first week. It also peaked at #15 on the Billboard 200
, with 68,000 copies sold in its opening week. In France the album debuted at #13.
recordings. Almost all of The Beatles songs included in the film are on Yellow Submarine Songtrack. An exception is "A Day in the Life
", which was not put in because EMI
did not want too many songs from Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
to be included. Although all of the tracks were remixed, the songs included on Songtrack are the standard catalogue recordings that were previously available on other releases. Consequently, the extra verse of "It's All Too Much
" or the off-the-cuff rendition of "Think for Yourself
" heard in the film are not included on the album.
The title track, "Yellow Submarine
" contains the line "a life of ease" from John Lennon
that had been missing in prior stereo mixes of the song. The replies from Lennon to the main lyric are gradually panned
and faded
from the right side of the stereo field to the left. The sound effects in this version are also more pronounced.
"Hey Bulldog
" was entirely recorded on only one four-track tape. The piano and drum performances were recorded together onto one track and were inseparable for a new mix. They remain on the left audio channel while the vocals and the snare overdubs performed by Ringo Starr
are centred.
The automatic double tracking
that possibly erroneously continued into the first verse on the 1966 stereo version of "Eleanor Rigby
" was corrected in the 1999 remix. Additionally, the string octet is separated in a similar fashion to the Anthology 2
instrumental. The vocals by Paul McCartney
are centred and slightly out of synch to the orchestration on this mix.
The prior stereo version of "Love You To
" contains a shorter fade than the initial mono recording. This shortening is retained in the Songtrack version.
Acoustic guitars and percussion are situated at the left channel for the new mix of "All Together Now
". McCartney and Lennon's vocals are centred while the chorus is split across the left and right. The background vocals heard on the second verse are more audible and the guitar is clearer.
The Songtrack version of "Only a Northern Song
" marked the appearance of the song for the first time in true stereo. The original 1969 stereo album featured a synthesized Duophonic
variant of the original mono version. A stereo mix of this song also appeared on the Anthology 2 compilation album, but was made up of alternate takes featuring different overdubs and lyrics.
series, action figures of the main characters and wide variety of assorted Yellow Submarine merchandise, such as mousepads.
Eurostar trains were painted in Yellow Submarine motif. In addition, a life-size yellow submarine was taken out on a publicity tour across the globe.
, except where noted.
The CD/DVD package contains the album, as well as a DVD of the film with a remixed and remastered soundtrack, the original 1968 mono
film soundtrack, and an isolated track of George Martin
's complete score.
Soundtrack album
A soundtrack album is any album that incorporates music directly recorded from the soundtrack of a particular feature film or television program. In some cases, not all the tracks from the movie are included in the album; however there are rare cases of songs in the trailers that do not appear in...
by The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
for the 1999 re-release of the 1968 film Yellow Submarine. The film was re-released on 13 September 1999 in the United Kingdom and the following day in the United States.
In sharp contrast with other Beatles remasters available (2009 box sets), the songs were fully remixed from the original multitrack tapes, something not done for the original Compact Disc
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
release of The Beatles catalogue in the late 1980s except for Help!
Help! (album)
Help! is the title of the fifth British and ninth American album by The Beatles, and the soundtrack from their film of the same name. Produced by George Martin for EMI's Parlophone Records, it contains fourteen songs in its original British form, of which seven appeared in the film...
and Rubber Soul
Rubber Soul
Rubber Soul is the sixth studio album by the English rock group The Beatles, released in December 1965. Produced by George Martin, Rubber Soul had been recorded in just over four weeks to make the Christmas market...
, not even in 2009.
This album contains only The Beatles songs used in the film, including tracks absent from the original Yellow Submarine
Yellow Submarine (album)
Yellow Submarine is the tenth studio album by The Beatles in the United Kingdom, released on Apple Records. It was issued as the soundtrack to the film of the same name, which premiered in the United Kingdom seven months prior to the album's release....
album. The extra tracks replaced the George Martin
George Martin
Sir George Henry Martin CBE is an English record producer, arranger, composer and musician. He is sometimes referred to as "the Fifth Beatle"— a title that he often describes as "nonsense," but the fact remains that he served as producer on all but one of The Beatles' original albums...
film score from the original release, while the complete score was included as a DVD audio track in the CD/DVD package featuring the album and film.
The album debuted in the UK charts at #8 selling 19,000 copies in its first week. It also peaked at #15 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
, with 68,000 copies sold in its opening week. In France the album debuted at #13.
Structure
The remixed tracks of the album feature many alterations and adjustments from the original stereoStereophonic sound
The term Stereophonic, commonly called stereo, sound refers to any method of sound reproduction in which an attempt is made to create an illusion of directionality and audible perspective...
recordings. Almost all of The Beatles songs included in the film are on Yellow Submarine Songtrack. An exception is "A Day in the Life
A Day in the Life
"A Day in the Life" is a song by The Beatles, the final track on the group's 1967 album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Credited to Lennon–McCartney, the song comprises distinct segments written independently by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, with orchestral additions...
", which was not put in because EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
did not want too many songs from Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band is the eighth studio album by the English rock band The Beatles, released on 1 June 1967 on the Parlophone label and produced by George Martin...
to be included. Although all of the tracks were remixed, the songs included on Songtrack are the standard catalogue recordings that were previously available on other releases. Consequently, the extra verse of "It's All Too Much
It's All Too Much
"It's All Too Much" is a song by The Beatles which first appeared on the 1969 Yellow Submarine film soundtrack album. It was written and sung by George Harrison. It was originally recorded in 1967, shortly before the release of Sgt...
" or the off-the-cuff rendition of "Think for Yourself
Think For Yourself
"Think for Yourself" is a song by British rock band The Beatles which first appeared on their 1965 album Rubber Soul. Written and sung by George Harrison, it is a warning against listening to lies. In his book I Me Mine he writes, "But all this time later, I don't quite recall who inspired that tune...
" heard in the film are not included on the album.
The title track, "Yellow Submarine
Yellow Submarine (song)
"Yellow Submarine" is a 1966 song by The Beatles, written by Paul McCartney , with lead vocals by Ringo Starr. It was included on the Revolver album and issued as a single, coupled with "Eleanor Rigby". The single went to number 1 on every major British chart, remained at number 1 for four weeks...
" contains the line "a life of ease" from John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
that had been missing in prior stereo mixes of the song. The replies from Lennon to the main lyric are gradually panned
Panning (audio)
Panning is the spread of a sound signal into a new stereo or multi-channel sound field. A typical physical recording console pan control is a knob with a pointer which can be placed from the 8 o'clock dial position fully left to the 4 o'clock position fully right...
and faded
Fade (audio engineering)
In audio engineering, a fade is a gradual increase or decrease in the level of an audio signal. The term can also be used for film cinematography or theater lighting, in much the same way ....
from the right side of the stereo field to the left. The sound effects in this version are also more pronounced.
"Hey Bulldog
Hey Bulldog
"Hey Bulldog" is a song by The Beatles which first appeared on the Yellow Submarine soundtrack album in 1969. Primarily by John Lennon , and finished in the studio by Lennon and McCartney, the song was recorded during the filming of the "Lady Madonna" promotional video, and like "Lady Madonna" is...
" was entirely recorded on only one four-track tape. The piano and drum performances were recorded together onto one track and were inseparable for a new mix. They remain on the left audio channel while the vocals and the snare overdubs performed by Ringo Starr
Ringo Starr
Richard Starkey, MBE better known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an English musician and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for The Beatles. When the band formed in 1960, Starr was a member of another Liverpool band, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. He became The Beatles' drummer in...
are centred.
The automatic double tracking
Automatic double tracking
Automatic double-tracking or artificial double-tracking was an analogue recording technique designed to enhance the sound of voices or instruments during the recording process. It used tape delay to create a delayed copy of an audio signal which was then combined with the original...
that possibly erroneously continued into the first verse on the 1966 stereo version of "Eleanor Rigby
Eleanor Rigby
"Eleanor Rigby" is a song by The Beatles, simultaneously released on the 1966 album Revolver and on a 45 rpm single. The song was written primarily by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney...
" was corrected in the 1999 remix. Additionally, the string octet is separated in a similar fashion to the Anthology 2
Anthology 2
Anthology 2 is a compilation album by The Beatles, released by Apple Records in March 1996. It is the second of the three-volume Anthology collection, all of which tie-in with the televised special The Beatles Anthology. The opening track is "Real Love", the second of the two recordings that...
instrumental. The vocals by Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
are centred and slightly out of synch to the orchestration on this mix.
The prior stereo version of "Love You To
Love You To
"Love You To" is a song by The Beatles from the album Revolver. It is sung and written by George Harrison and features North Indian classical instrumentation; tabla, a pair of hand-drums, sitar and a tambura providing a drone...
" contains a shorter fade than the initial mono recording. This shortening is retained in the Songtrack version.
Acoustic guitars and percussion are situated at the left channel for the new mix of "All Together Now
All Together Now (The Beatles song)
"All Together Now" is a song by The Beatles written primarily by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney. The song was recorded during the band's Magical Mystery Tour period, but remained unreleased until it was included on the Yellow Submarine soundtrack.McCartney described the song as a...
". McCartney and Lennon's vocals are centred while the chorus is split across the left and right. The background vocals heard on the second verse are more audible and the guitar is clearer.
The Songtrack version of "Only a Northern Song
Only A Northern Song
"Only a Northern Song" is a song written by George Harrison and performed by The Beatles. The song was recorded in 1967 during the sessions for Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band but was omitted from that album...
" marked the appearance of the song for the first time in true stereo. The original 1969 stereo album featured a synthesized Duophonic
Duophonic
*In synthesizers, capable of sounding two voices, or notes, at a time. Compare: monophonic, polyphonic.*Duophonic is also a term used to refer to a sound process by which a monaural recording is turned into a kind of "fake stereo" by splitting the signal into two channels, delaying the left and the...
variant of the original mono version. A stereo mix of this song also appeared on the Anthology 2 compilation album, but was made up of alternate takes featuring different overdubs and lyrics.
Additional promotion
A number of unique promotions were launched to accompany the rerelease of Yellow Submarine in 1999. These include a commemorative postage stampCommemorative stamp
A commemorative stamp is a postage stamp, often issued on a significant date such as an anniversary, to honor or commemorate a place, event or person. The subject of the commemorative stamp is usually spelled out in print, unlike definitive stamps which normally depict the subject along with the...
series, action figures of the main characters and wide variety of assorted Yellow Submarine merchandise, such as mousepads.
Eurostar trains were painted in Yellow Submarine motif. In addition, a life-size yellow submarine was taken out on a publicity tour across the globe.
Track listing
All songs written by Lennon/McCartneyLennon/McCartney
The Lennon–McCartney songwriting partnership is one of the best-known and most successful musical collaborations in history...
, except where noted.
- "Yellow SubmarineYellow Submarine (song)"Yellow Submarine" is a 1966 song by The Beatles, written by Paul McCartney , with lead vocals by Ringo Starr. It was included on the Revolver album and issued as a single, coupled with "Eleanor Rigby". The single went to number 1 on every major British chart, remained at number 1 for four weeks...
" – 2:38 - "Hey BulldogHey Bulldog"Hey Bulldog" is a song by The Beatles which first appeared on the Yellow Submarine soundtrack album in 1969. Primarily by John Lennon , and finished in the studio by Lennon and McCartney, the song was recorded during the filming of the "Lady Madonna" promotional video, and like "Lady Madonna" is...
" – 3:14 - "Eleanor RigbyEleanor Rigby"Eleanor Rigby" is a song by The Beatles, simultaneously released on the 1966 album Revolver and on a 45 rpm single. The song was written primarily by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney...
" – 2:06 - "Love You ToLove You To"Love You To" is a song by The Beatles from the album Revolver. It is sung and written by George Harrison and features North Indian classical instrumentation; tabla, a pair of hand-drums, sitar and a tambura providing a drone...
" (George HarrisonGeorge HarrisonGeorge Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
) – 3:01 - "All Together NowAll Together Now (The Beatles song)"All Together Now" is a song by The Beatles written primarily by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney. The song was recorded during the band's Magical Mystery Tour period, but remained unreleased until it was included on the Yellow Submarine soundtrack.McCartney described the song as a...
" – 2:10 - "Lucy in the Sky with DiamondsLucy in the Sky with Diamonds"Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" is a song written primarily by John Lennon and credited to Lennon–McCartney, for The Beatles' 1967 album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band...
" – 3:28 - "Think for YourselfThink For Yourself"Think for Yourself" is a song by British rock band The Beatles which first appeared on their 1965 album Rubber Soul. Written and sung by George Harrison, it is a warning against listening to lies. In his book I Me Mine he writes, "But all this time later, I don't quite recall who inspired that tune...
" (Harrison) – 2:18 - "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club BandSgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (song)"Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" is a song written by Paul McCartney , and first recorded and released in 1967, on the The Beatles' album of the same name. The song appears twice on the album: as the opening track , and as "Sgt...
" – 2:02 - "With a Little Help from My FriendsWith a Little Help from My Friends-Joe Cocker version:Joe Cocker's version was a radical re-arrangement of the original, in a slower, 6/8 meter, using different chords in the middle eight, and a lengthy instrumental introduction...
" – 2:44 - "Baby, You're a Rich Man" – 3:03
- "Only a Northern SongOnly A Northern Song"Only a Northern Song" is a song written by George Harrison and performed by The Beatles. The song was recorded in 1967 during the sessions for Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band but was omitted from that album...
" (Harrison) – 3:27 - "All You Need Is LoveAll You Need Is Love"All You Need Is Love" is a song written by John Lennon and credited to Lennon–McCartney. It was first performed by The Beatles on Our World, the first live global television link. Watched by 400 million in 26 countries, the programme was broadcast via satellite on 25 June 1967...
" – 3:57 - "When I'm Sixty-FourWhen I'm Sixty-Four"When I'm Sixty-Four" is a song by The Beatles, written by Paul McCartney and released in 1967 on their album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.-Composition:...
" – 2:37 - "Nowhere Man" – 2:44
- "It's All Too MuchIt's All Too Much"It's All Too Much" is a song by The Beatles which first appeared on the 1969 Yellow Submarine film soundtrack album. It was written and sung by George Harrison. It was originally recorded in 1967, shortly before the release of Sgt...
" (Harrison) – 6:28
The CD/DVD package contains the album, as well as a DVD of the film with a remixed and remastered soundtrack, the original 1968 mono
Monaural
Monaural or monophonic sound reproduction is single-channel. Typically there is only one microphone, one loudspeaker, or channels are fed from a common signal path...
film soundtrack, and an isolated track of George Martin
George Martin
Sir George Henry Martin CBE is an English record producer, arranger, composer and musician. He is sometimes referred to as "the Fifth Beatle"— a title that he often describes as "nonsense," but the fact remains that he served as producer on all but one of The Beatles' original albums...
's complete score.