Album This song officially appears on the Yellow Submarine (Mono) LP.
Timeline This song was officially released in 1969
This song was recorded during the following studio sessions:
Recording and mixing "All Together Now"
May 12, 1967
Nov 15, 1967
Get Back sessions - January 31, 1969 - Day 20
Jan 31, 1969
Yellow Submarine Songtrack remixing
Circa 1999
When [the Music Hall performers] were singing a song, to encourage the audience to join in, they’d say, ‘All together now,’ so I just took it and read another meaning into it, of we are all together now. So, I used the dual meaning. It’s really a children’s song.
Paul McCartney – From “Paul McCartney: Many Years from Now” by Barry Miles, 1997
From Wikipedia:
“All Together Now” is a song by the English rock band the Beatles written primarily by Paul McCartney and credited to the Lennon–McCartney partnership. The song was recorded during the band’s Magical Mystery Tour period, but remained unreleased until it was included on the Yellow Submarine soundtrack. It was released as a single in 1972 in European countries such as France and Germany, backed by “Hey Bulldog“.
Background
McCartney described the song as a children’s sing-along with the title phrase inspired by the music hall tradition of asking the audience to join in. He also described a “subcurrent” in the song, a dual-meaning where “we are all together now.” According to music critic Tom Maginnis of AllMusic, McCartney created the song “to match the same light-hearted spirit” of “Yellow Submarine“.
Recording
The track was recorded on 12 May 1967 at EMI Studios and mixed the same day, but was not released until 13 January 1969, when it appeared on the soundtrack album. George Martin was absent from this session, leaving recording engineer Geoff Emerick in charge of the control room. The song took less than six hours to record and was recorded in nine takes, the last of which was selected for overdubs. […]
Appearances and performances
“All Together Now” appears in an animated sequence in the film Yellow Submarine, and is also introduced by the Beatles themselves in a final live-action scene of the film. During the latter scene, translations of “All Together Now” into various languages appear written on-screen.
Paul McCartney performed the song live for the first time by any Beatle on 4 May 2013 at the Estádio Mineirão, Belo Horizonte, Brazil. He subsequently played it throughout his 2013–15 Out There tour. […]
It’s really a children’s song. I had a few young relatives and I would sing songs for them. I used to do a song for kids called Jumping Round The Room, very similar to All Together Now, and then it would be ‘lying on your backs’, all the kids would have to lie down, then it would be ‘skipping round the room’, ‘jumping in the air’. It’s a play away command song for children. It would be in G, very very simple chords, only a couple of chords, so that’s what this is. There’s a little subcurrent to it but it’s just a singalong really. A bit of a throwaway.
Paul McCartney – From “Paul McCartney: Many Years from Now” by Barry Miles, 1997
We had to do some songs that were exclusive to the [Yellow Submarine] film. I don’t think we were too keen because we were quite busy recording other things and we probably wanted a bit of time off.
Paul McCartney – From MOJO, October 1999
There was a commitment for The Beatles to do four songs for the film. Apparently, they would say this is a lousy song, let’s give it to Brodax.
Al Brodax – Film director for “Yellow Submarine” – From MOJO, October 1999
From The Usenet Guide to Beatles Recording Variations:
[a] stereo 29 Oct 1968.
UK: Apple PCS 7070 Yellow Submarine 1969.
US: Apple SW 153 Yellow Submarine 1969.
CD: EMI CDP 7 46445 2 Yellow Submarine 1987.[a1] mono made from [a] 1968.
UK: Apple PMC 7070 Yellow Submarine 1969.A mono mix made 12 May 1967 was used only in the original Yellow Submarine film print.
One two three four
Can I have a little more
Five six seven eight nine ten
I love you
A B C D
Can I bring my friend to tea
E F G H I J
I love you
Bom bom bom bompa bom
Sail the ship Bompa bom
Chop the tree bompa bom
Skip the rope bompa bom
Look at me
All together now
All together now
All together now
All together now
All together now
All together now
All together now
All together now
Black white green red
Can I take my friend to bed
Pink brown yellow orange and blue
I love you
All together now
All together now
All together now
All together now
All together now
All together now
All together now
All together now
All together now
All together now
All together now
All together now
All together now
All together now
All together now
All together now
Bom bom bom bompa bom
Sail the ship Bompa bom
Chop the tree bompa bom
Skip the rope bompa bom
Look at me
All together now
All together now
All together now
All together now
All together now
All together now
All together now
All together now
All together now
All together now
All together now
All together now
All together now
All together now
All together now
All together now
LP • Released in 1969
2:11 • Studio version • A • Stereo
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 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
LP • Released in 1969
2:11 • Studio version • A1 • Mono • Mono made from [A]
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 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
Official album • Released in 1999
2:10 • Studio version • B • Stereo • 1999 remix
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 : Remix engineer assistant Mirek Stiles : Remix engineer assistant Peter Cobbin : Remix engineer 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: Circa 1999 • Studio EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Mono Masters (Mono - 2009 remaster)
Official album • Released in 2009
2:11 • Studio version • C • Mono • Previously unreleased mono mix
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 Sean Magee : 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: May 12, 1967 • Studio EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
Yellow Submarine (Stereo - 2009 remaster)
Official album • Released in 2009
2:11 • Studio version • A2009 • 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
Mono Masters (Mono - 2014 vinyl)
Official album • Released in 2014
2:11 • Studio version • C2014 • Mono • 2014 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 Sean Magee : Remastering Unknown musician(s) : Backing vocals, Cog rattle, Handclaps, Horn, Tambourine Steve Berkowitz : Remastering
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: May 12, 1967 • Studio EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
Unofficial album
2:19 • Outtake • RM6 From Take 9 Mono
Session Recording and mixing: May 12, 1967 • Studio EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
Unofficial live
2:20 • Live
Concert From the concert in Osaka, Japan on Nov 11, 2013
Unofficial live
2:24 • Live
Concert From the concert in Osaka, Japan on Nov 12, 2013
Concert May 04, 2013 in Belo Horizonte
“All Together Now” has been played in 90 concerts and 1 soundchecks.
Buffalo • First Niagara Center • USA
Oct 22, 2015 • Part of Out There Tour
Detroit • Joe Louis Arena • USA
Oct 21, 2015 • Part of Out There Tour
Toronto • Air Canada Centre • Canada
Oct 17, 2015 • Part of Out There Tour
University Park • Bryce Jordan Center • USA
Oct 15, 2015 • Part of Out There Tour
Columbus • Nationwide Arena • USA
Oct 13, 2015 • Part of Out There Tour
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