Timeline Albums, EPs & singles Songs Films Concerts Sessions People Interviews Articles

Release date : Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Yellow Submarine (Stereo - 2009 remaster)

By The BeatlesOfficial album • Part of the collection “The Beatles • The Original Studio Recordings (2009)


Details

  • Release date: Sep 09, 2009
  • Publisher: Apple, EMI

Timeline

Master album

Related albums

Related sessions

This album was recorded during the following studio sessions:

Related articles

Track list

Hide track details

Disc 1

  1. Yellow Submarine

    Written by Lennon - McCartney

    2:40 • Studio versionB2009 • Stereo • 2009 remaster

    Paul McCartney : Backing vocals, Bass Ringo Starr : Drums, Vocals John Lennon : Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals George Harrison : Backing vocals, Tambourine George Martin : Backing vocals, Producer Geoff Emerick : Backing vocals, Recording engineer, Tape loop (marching band) Mal Evans : Backing vocals, Bass drum Neil Aspinall : Backing vocals Pattie Boyd / Harrison : Backing vocals, Laughter Brian Jones : Backing vocals, Ocarina, Sound effects (clinking glasses) Marianne Faithfull : Backing vocals Alf Bicknell : Backing vocals, Sound effects (rattling chains) Paul Hicks : Remastering Guy Massey : Remastering Steve Rooke : Remastering Allan Rouse : Project co-ordinator Unknown musician(s) : Brass band John Skinner : Sound effects (chains in bathtub) Terry Condon : Sound effects (chains in bathtub)

    Session Recording: May 26, 1966 • Studio EMI Studios, Studio Three, Abbey Road

    Session Overdubs: Jun 01, 1966 • Studio EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

    Session Mixing: Jun 22, 1966 • Studio EMI Studios, Studio Three, Abbey Road

  2. Only A Northern Song

    Written by George Harrison

    3:25 • Studio versionA • Mono • Previously unreleased mono mix

    Paul McCartney : Bass, Effects, Trumpet Ringo Starr : Drums John Lennon : Effects, Glockenspiel, Piano George Harrison : Effects, Organ, Vocals George Martin : Producer Geoff Emerick : Recording engineer Steve Rooke : Remastering Sean Magee : Remastering

    Session Recording: Feb 13, 1967 • Studio EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

    Session Overdubs: Feb 14, 1967 • Studio EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

    Session Overdubs: Apr 20, 1967 • Studio EMI Studios, Abbey Road

    Session Mixing: Apr 21, 1967 • Studio EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

  3. All Together Now

    Written by Lennon - McCartney

    2:11 • Studio versionA2009 • Stereo • 2009 remaster

    Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Bass, Lead vocals Ringo Starr : Backing vocals, Drums, Percussions John Lennon : Harmonica, Lead vocals George Harrison : Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals Geoff Emerick : Recording engineer Paul Hicks : Remastering Guy Massey : Remastering Steve Rooke : Remastering Allan Rouse : Project co-ordinator Unknown musician(s) : Backing vocals, Cog rattle, Handclaps, Horn, Tambourine

    Session Recording: May 12, 1967 • Studio EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

    Session Overdubs: May 12, 1967 • Studio EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

    Session Mixing: Oct 29, 1968 • Studio EMI Studios, Studio Three, Abbey Road

  4. Hey Bulldog

    Written by Lennon - McCartney

    3:11 • Studio versionA2009 • Stereo • 2009 remaster

    Paul McCartney : Bass, Tambourine, Vocals Ringo Starr : Drums John Lennon : Guitar, Piano, Vocals George Harrison : Guitar George Martin : Producer Geoff Emerick : Recording engineer Paul Hicks : Remastering Guy Massey : Remastering Steve Rooke : Remastering Allan Rouse : Project co-ordinator

    Session Recording: Feb 11, 1968 • Studio EMI Studios, Studio Three, Abbey Road

    Session Overdubs: Feb 11, 1968 • Studio EMI Studios, Studio Three, Abbey Road

    Session Mixing: Oct 29, 1968 • Studio EMI Studios, Studio Three, Abbey Road

  5. It's All Too Much

    Written by George Harrison

    6:25 • Studio versionA2009 • Stereo • 2009 remaster

    Paul McCartney : Backing vocals, Bass, Handclaps Ringo Starr : Drums John Lennon : Backing vocals, Handclaps, Lead guitar George Harrison : Hammond organ, Lead vocals, Vocals George Martin : Producer David Mason : Trumpet Paul Harvey : Bass clarinet Dave Siddle : Recording engineer Paul Hicks : Remastering Guy Massey : Remastering Steve Rooke : Remastering Allan Rouse : Project co-ordinator Unknown musician(s) : Cowbell, Maracas, Tambourine, Trumpets

    Session Recording: May 25, 1967 • Studio De Lane Lea Music Recording Studios, London, UK

    Session Overdubs: May 26, 1967 • Studio De Lane Lea Music Recording Studios, London, UK

    Session Overdubs: Jun 02, 1967 • Studio De Lane Lea Music Recording Studios, London, UK

    Session Mixing: Oct 16-17, 1968 • Studio EMI Studios, Abbey Road

  6. All You Need Is Love

    Written by Lennon - McCartney

    4:02 • Studio versionB2009 • Stereo • 2009 remaster

    Paul McCartney : Backing vocals, Bass, Double bass Ringo Starr : Drums John Lennon : Banjo, Harpsichord, Vocals George Harrison : Backing vocals, Guitar, Violin George Martin : Piano, Producer Geoff Emerick : Recording engineer Eric Clapton : Backing vocals, Handclaps Mike McCartney / McGear : Backing vocals, Handclaps Mal Evans : Backing vocals, Handclaps Sidney Sax : Violin Pattie Boyd / Harrison : Backing vocals, Handclaps Marianne Faithfull : Backing vocals, Handclaps David Mason : Trumpet Lionel Ross : Cello Eddie Kramer : Recording engineer Mick Jagger : Backing vocals, Handclaps Patrick Halling : Violin Eric Bowie : Violin John Ronayne : Violin Jack Holmes : Cello Rex Morris : Tenor saxophone Don Honeywill : Tenor saxophone Stanley Woods : Trumpet Evan Watkins : Trombone Harry Spain : Trombone Jack Emblow : Accordion Keith Richards : Backing vocals, Handclaps Jane Asher : Backing vocals, Handclaps Keith Moon : Backing vocals, Handclaps Hunter Davies : Backing vocals, Handclaps Gary Leeds : Backing vocals, Handclaps Mike Vickers : Conductor Guy Massey : Remastering Steve Rooke : Remastering Allan Rouse : Project co-ordinator Rose Nash : Backing vocals, Handclaps

    Session Recording: Jun 14, 1967 • Studio Olympic Sound Studios, London

    Session Overdubs: Jun 19, 23, 24, 1967 • Studio EMI Studios, Abbey Road

    Session Overdubs: Jun 25, 1967 • Studio EMI Studios, Studio One, Abbey Road

    Session Mixing: Oct 29, 1968 • Studio EMI Studios, Studio Three, Abbey Road

  7. Pepperland

    2:21 • Studio version • Stereo • 2009 remaster

    Paul Hicks : Remastering Guy Massey : Remastering Steve Rooke : Remastering Allan Rouse : Project co-ordinator

  8. Sea of Time

    3:00 • Studio version • Stereo • 2009 remaster

    Paul Hicks : Remastering Guy Massey : Remastering Steve Rooke : Remastering Allan Rouse : Project co-ordinator

  9. Sea of Holes

    2:17 • Studio version • Stereo • 2009 remaster

    Paul Hicks : Remastering Guy Massey : Remastering Steve Rooke : Remastering Allan Rouse : Project co-ordinator

  10. Sea of Monsters

    3:37 • Studio version • Stereo • 2009 remaster

    Paul Hicks : Remastering Guy Massey : Remastering Steve Rooke : Remastering Allan Rouse : Project co-ordinator

  11. March of the Meanies

    2:19 • Studio version • Stereo • 2009 remaster

    Paul Hicks : Remastering Guy Massey : Remastering Steve Rooke : Remastering Allan Rouse : Project co-ordinator

  12. Pepperland Laid Waste

    2:13 • Studio version • Stereo • 2009 remaster

    Paul Hicks : Remastering Guy Massey : Remastering Steve Rooke : Remastering Allan Rouse : Project co-ordinator

  13. Yellow Submarine in Pepperland

    2:14 • Studio version • Stereo • 2009 remaster

    Paul Hicks : Remastering Guy Massey : Remastering Steve Rooke : Remastering Allan Rouse : Project co-ordinator


From the liner notes:

The Beatles’ tenth album was released in the UK on 17th January, 1969 as a soundtrack companion to the animated film Yellow Submarine, which had premiered six months earlier in London and during November 1968 in the States. One side of the LP was devoted to six Beatles tracks and the other featured a new recording of the film’s orchestral score composed by George Martin.

In addition to two hit singles from 1966 and 1967, side one presented four previously unreleased Beatles songs that were first heard in the movie. There was a plan to make those songs available on a seven-inch EP running at LP speed, which would also include another unreleased track, ‘Across The Universe’. Although a mono master tape for the proposed record was compiled in March, 1969, the EP was never pressed.

When Yellow Submarine arrived in the shops, ‘The White Album’ was still at number one. On the British LP sleeve, Apple press officer Derek Taylor encouraged record buyers to purchase that recent album by introducing a review written by Tony Palmer. The US release of Yellow Submarine had different sleeve notes written by Dan Davis, who traced the heroic roots of the cartoon characters in the movie. Both sets of notes are included in this booklet.

Although never intended to be a high-profile Beatles release, the album reached number three in the UK and stayed in the Top 15 for ten weeks. In the USA, while ‘The White Album’ held at number one, Yellow Submarine reached its highest placing of number two. Its initial chart run in 1969 lasted for 24 weeks.
___________________________________________________________

RECORDING NOTES

Produced by George Martin
Orchestrations by George Martin
Principal Engineer: Geoff Emerick

The four ‘new’ Beatles songs included on side one of Yellow Submarine had, in fact, been recorded a long time before the album’s release in January, 1969. Three came from 1967 and ‘Hey Bulldog’ was completed in February, 1968. The most recent recording on the LP was the film score on side two, which George Martin had re-recorded with an orchestra of 41 musicians in Studio One of Abbey Road in October, 1968.

The songs that were introduced on Yellow Submarine were made in the period when only four-track tape machines were available to the group in Abbey Road. That was fine for “All Together Now’ and ‘Hey Bulldog’, which were confined to four tracks. However, the other two songs required extra tracks and the usual method was to create them by ‘bouncing down’. This process involved copying the first reel’s completed four tracks to a new tape and simultaneously combining some of them to leave free as many tracks as were needed for additional overdubs. ‘It’s All Too Much’ was begun and then ‘bounced down’ to a second tape at De Lane Lea Studios. Following a repeat of this process to a third four-track at Abbey Road, more overdubs were added so that nine tracks were used to complete the song.

In contrast, using just one four-track tape, ‘Hey Bulldog’ was recorded, overdubbed and mixed in a single ten hour session. Track one had drums, piano, guitar and tambourine; two contained bass, guitar and off-beat drum with reverb; a double-tracked vocal and guitar solo were on three; and the final track included John’s lead vocal with Paul singing a backing vocal and an additional guitar solo.

Dating back to the sessions for Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, ‘Only A Northern Song’ had been recorded in a unique manner. Abbey Road’s technical engineers had discovered a way of controlling the speed of two four-track tape machines so that they ran in perfect synchronisation. With no need for ‘bouncing down’, eight tracks were simultaneously available. Tape one consisted of bass, trumpet with glockenspiel, drums and organ and the second tape featured effects, piano, vocal and double-tracked vocal.

However, problems arose during mixing when, as the play buttons were pressed on the two machines, it became a process of trial and error whether they would, in fact, start at exactly the same time. It was such a haphazard and time consuming process that only a mono mix was completed and as a result an artificially enhanced—or fake—stereo version had to be created for the stereo album. Although this was common practice at the time, it subsequently fell out of favour and so the song is presented on this CD in mono.

Ironically, the original mix of ‘Only A Northern Song’ was never used because the mono LP was created during the cutting process by simply combining the left and right channels from the stereo master tape. Consequently, this previously unreleased mono version can now be heard for the first time.
___________________________________________________________

This remastered album has been created from the original stereo analogue master tapes except for track 2, which is from the original mono analogue master.

Remastered by Paul Hicks, Steve Rooke and Guy Massey
Project Co-ordinator: Allan Rouse
Thanks to Simon Gibson

Historical Notes: Kevin Howlett and Mike Heatley
Recording Notes: Allan Rouse and Kevin Howlett
Project management for EMI Records Ltd: Wendy Day and Guy Hayden

Artwork © 2009 Subafilms Ltd.
All Illustrations © Subafilms Ltd.
Album Redesign: Drew Lorimer

All songs published by Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC.
Digital Remaster (P) 2009 The copyright in this sound recording is owned by EMI Records Ltd. © 2009 EMI Records Ltd. This label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.

Paul McCartney writing

Talk more talk, chat more chat

Notice any inaccuracies on this page? Have additional insights or ideas for new content? Or just want to share your thoughts? We value your feedback! Please use the form below to get in touch with us.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

2024 • Please note this site is strictly non-commercial. All pictures, videos & quoted texts remain the property of the respective copyright owner, and no implication of ownership by us is intended or should be inferred. Any copyright owner who wants something removed should contact us and we will do so immediately. Alternatively, we would be delighted to provide credits.