The Beatles - Yellow Submarine (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

Just a thought

What if the Beatles had released this album without the movie. And if they themselves had written the orchestral music on the B-side. And released this as an epic semi-progressive rock tale about a Yellow Submarine. Then this might have been a real classic album in the progressive rock genre, almost a year before King Crimson appeared.
But when we know that these songs were just thrown together, 2 of them previously released, 2 of them from the archives being Sgt Pepper-rejects, and the orchestral score of course being written by George Martin for a film, then it's considered a disappointment. Even if the music in both cases sounds exactly the same. Isn't that an interesting thought?
My advise is this: take YELLOW SUBMARINE with a grain of salt and find that it's an interesting mix between whacky psychedelic rock and lovely classical sounding music. And all in a good spirit. The result is actually not too far from TALES OF MYSTERY AND IMAGINATION by Alan Parsons Project. July 10, 2008

Not their best

Yellow Submmarine is unique. You have to remember it is a soundtrack to the movie. They do Yellow Submarine and All You need is love from other albums.
They do however come out with four new songs.
John contributes Hey Bulldog, which has alot of energy and is probably the best of the rour new tunes.
McCartney contributes the very simple but catchy, All together now, which is not up to his usual standard, but not bad.
Harrison does Its only a Northern Song which was written when he was fueding with his publishing company. George Harrison at this point in the career of the Beatles, was writing his best music.
It's all too much is another Harrison song, but to me is not as favored as Northern Song.
The rest is soundtrack music for the film. This is certainly not their best album, but for Beatle addicts like myself it is worth purchasing to complete the collection. June 11, 2008

The Real Yellow Submarine

I was puzzled by the re-issue of the Yellow Submarine soundtrack's omission of George Martin's brilliant score, which set the tone for the film more than the periodic Beatles song. Not knocking the Beatles mind you, but not underrating George Martin.

For tuned-in boomers, this is one of the soundtracks of their youth. November 1, 2007

Yellow Submarine MOVIE

Okay, I must admit although I thought I knew what I was purchasing, I was disappointed at first with the CD in the reality that it didn't have all the songs from the movies. But after listening too it, I am glad I purchased it and have come to appreciate and enjoy the instrumentals. This is a George Martin project more than the Beatles....but that ain't bad. June 26, 2007

The Rodney Dangerfield of Beatle albums

When one looks back at the Beatles 13 studio albums, "Yellow Submarine" (1969) is not the one people usually point out as their favorite. "Yellow Submarine" is sort of like the Rodney Dangerfield of Beatle albums in the sense that it doesn't get any respect. Thrown in with twelve classic albums though, the standards are pretty high. That said, even if "Yellow Submarine" isn't a masterpiece by the Beatles standards, it's still worth owning if you are a fan.

The first half of "Yellow Submarine" consists of six songs, two previously released and four new recordings. While the inclusion of the title track "Yellow Submarine" and "All you Need is Love" may be redundant for people who own "Revolver" (1966) and "Magical Mystery Tour" (1967) their presence really fits the flow and feel of the album and their inclusion works in the album's favor. "Only a Northern Song," written by George Harrison is spacey, psychedelic and thoroughly engrossing. It just sort of picks you up and takes you for a ride. "Only a Northern Song" was actually meant to be included on "Sgt. Pepper" and why it was left off makes no sense to me as I feel it stands as one of Harrison's finest compositions. McCartney's sing-along "All Together Now" is pretty lame, but still kind of fun. Lennon's "Hey Bulldog" kicks all kinds of ass and is one of the most rocking, ballsy, underrated songs he ever wrote in the Beatles. Another psychedelic Harrison composition, "It's All Too Much" is maybe a little more subdued that "Only a Northern Song" yet is as strong.

The remaining seven songs are quasi-classical instrumental pieces composed by Beatles producer George Martin. While I don't listen to the instrumental side of "Yellow Submarine" all that much, I still enjoy it. While Martin's compositions may not be great art, they are still pleasant and the music is tuneful and soothing.

I rate this album so low not because the music is mediocre, but rather because when "Abbey Road" and "Revolver" are the standard, the bar is set pretty high. Three of the new songs on this album, "Only a Northern Song," "Hey Bulldog" and "It's All Too Much" stand as some of the Beatles best music and I'd rate each of those five stars. And while Martin's instrumental side may not be brilliant, it's still memorable in its own right. June 14, 2007

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