Yellow Submarine (Song): Introduction
This page refers to the “Yellow Submarine” song by The Beatles. This song comes from the 1969 album of the same name. It is not surprising, then, that it is the opening song on the album. But the song was also on The Beatles’ 1966 album, “Revolver.”
This track was also part of a double A-side single with “Eleanor Rigby.” Indeed, two incredible songs like this on a single were always going to go to number one.
In Detail
- Release Date: August 5, 1966 (UK), August 8, 1966 (US)
- Format: 7-inch single (Double A-side) (Flip side is “Eleanor Rigby”), also album track
- Recorded: May 26 and June 1, 1966
- Studio: EMI Studios, London
- Genre: Children’s music, folk music and pop
- Track Duration: 2:38
- Record Label: Parlophone (UK) Capitol (US)
- Songwriters: Lennon-McCartney
- Producer: George Martin
- Engineer: Geoff Emerick
Performers And Instruments
- Ringo Starr: drums, lead vocals
- Paul McCartney: bass, also the backing vocals
- John Lennon: backing vocals, acoustic guitar and also the sound effects (bubbles)
- George Harrison: acoustic guitar, tambourine, and also the backing vocals
- George Martin: backing vocals
- Brian Epstein: backing vocals
Other Performers
- Mal Evans: bass drum, backing vocals
- Geoff Emerick: backing vocals, tape loops
- Neil Aspinall: backing vocals
- Alf Bicknell: sound effects (rattling chains)
- Pattie Boyd and Marianne Faithfull: backing vocals
- Brian Jones: backing vocals, sound effects (clinking glasses)
Where To Find The Song, “Yellow Submarine”
You can still buy this song, as it is on many releases. Click on an album or disc to see what other songs are on it.
Yellow Submarine Song: Background
When it comes to iconic songs, Yellow Submarine doesn’t exactly spring to mind now. However, go back to the 1960s, and this track was big. Its success probably comes from its simple sing-along lyrics, which appealed to young and old alike.
In effect, this is a Marmite song in The Beatles’ catalogue; you either love it or hate it. Many Beatles’ fans think the band had to cater for all, while others think it was a weak moment in their careers.
Yellow Submarine is a children’s song by Paul McCartney, and in the anthology, he says:
“I remember lying in bed one night, in that moment before you’re falling asleep—that little twilight moment when a silly idea comes into your head—and thinking of Yellow Submarine: ‘We all live in a yellow submarine…'”
Paul continues:
“I quite like children’s things; I like children’s minds and imagination. So it didn’t seem uncool to me to have a pretty surreal idea that was also a children’s idea. I thought also, with Ringo being so good with children—a knockabout uncle type—it might not be a bad idea for him to have a children’s song rather than a very serious song. He wasn’t that keen on singing.”
Recording Studio
The Beatles recorded the Yellow Submarine track on May 26, 1966, at the EMI Studios in London. After a few hours of rehearsing, the band recorded four takes. Overdubbing with Ringo Starr’s vocals came a little later. Indeed, this song was going to have his trademark voice all over it.
Obviously, the song needed a nautical atmosphere, so they added sound effects on the 1st of June. Producer George Martin started out with Parlophone Records, working with many comedy acts; therefore, he was able to draw upon his vast experience with sound effects.
It must have been good fun in the recording studio as the team looted the place looking for suitable “instruments.” They used chains, whistles, wind, a thunderstorm machine, and obviously a ship’s bell. But they were to use a myriad of other items too.
To create a bubbling sound, John Lennon blew through a straw submerged in water. Both he and Paul McCartney talked into tin cans for the captain’s orders, while Ringo Starr shouted like a sailor outside the studio doors “Cut the cable! Drop the cable!“
Yellow Submarine (Song): Chart Success
With this song being part of a double A-side single, it’s success was a certainty. After all, this was in the mid-sixties, and The Beatles were massive, to say the least.
So, together with the flip-side, “Eleanor Rigby,” this single topped the charts in many countries.
The popular single stayed on top of the UK charts for four weeks. Of course, it went to number one in New Zealand and Australia too. Indeed, the Aussies were crazy over The Beatles and could never get enough of them.
However, it only just made it to number two in the US Billboard 100 charts. John Lennon’s previous “more popular than Jesus“ quote could possibly be responsible for the drop in sales there. Be that as it may, the single did sell over 1,200,000 copies in the US!
The Sculpture
There is a Yellow Submarine sculpture outside of Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport, which has been there since 2005. The sculpture, built by apprentices from the Cammell Laird shipyard, is 51 feet (16 m). Its original use was for Liverpool’s International Garden Festival in 1984, but it’s good to see it in its final resting place.
Take A Listen
Take a little time out and listen to the song. Then, give us a few of your thoughts about this song. Use the comments section below or the massive Beatles Forum.
