In the town where I was born... these famous opening lyrics come from the Fabs' 1966 single "Yellow Submarine" which was then, in 1968, used as a basis for the animated film of the same name. Whilst the movie had little contribution from the group (apart from the songs and a cameo at the end), the soundtrack, released on January 17, 1969, is known as their tenth studio album.
Similarly to their earlier albums, Yellow Submarine contains thirteen songs - eleven original 1968 compositions, "Yellow Submarine" which was released on Revolver and "All You Need Is Love" which was a single and on Magical Mystery Tour the year earlier. In addition to the two aforementioned tracks, the first side of the record contains four new songs. George Harrison contributes "It's All Too Much" and "Only a Northern Song", both recorded and discarded during the 1967 Sgt. Pepper sessions. "Hey Bulldog" and "All Together Now", contributed by the two front songwriters, were both written with the film in mind. Primarily Lennon-penned "Hey Bulldog" was recorded whilst filming a promotional video for the single "Lady Madonna".
The second side of the album is exclusively instrumental, with seven new compositions by The Beatles' producer George Martin arranged specifically as the film score. The only lead vocals drummer Ringo Starr contribute are those the titular song, "Yellow Submarine", although recorded two years earlier.
Yellow Submarine is perhaps the least well-received of all Beatles albums, in contrast to the accompanying film which has been praised. The four new songs (which were not instrumental) were deemed mediocre in comparison to the usual standard expected from the biggest group in the world.
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| The Beatles cameoing at the end of Yellow Submarine, an introduction to "All Together Now" |
Unique to this Beatles album: it is the only album to contain 'Beatles' songs which were not written by any of the members and were also not covers (I.E. written by someone else specifically for the album)
