The Beatles – Yellow Submarine (1969)
Complete Album Guide: Tracklist, Credits, Sales, Trivia, Fun Facts & Legacy
Introduction
Released on January 13, 1969 (US) and January 17, 1969 (UK), Yellow Submarine is The Beatles’ tenth studio album and the official soundtrack to the animated film of the same name.
Unlike traditional Beatles albums, Yellow Submarine features only four new Beatles songs, two previously released tracks, and an entire side of orchestral compositions by producer George Martin. Despite its unconventional structure, the album remains a beloved part of The Beatles’ late-era catalog.
Album Overview
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Artist: The Beatles
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Album Title: Yellow Submarine
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Release Dates:
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US: January 13, 1969
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UK: January 17, 1969
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Recorded: 1966–1968
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Studios: EMI Studios (Abbey Road), London
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Genre: Psychedelic rock, pop, orchestral soundtrack
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Label: Apple Records
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Producer: George Martin
Chart Performance & Sales (Grossing)
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UK Albums Chart: #3
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US Billboard 200: #2
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RIAA Certification: Platinum (US)
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Estimated Global Sales: 3–5+ million copies
Although not as commercially dominant as other Beatles releases, Yellow Submarine performed strongly worldwide and remains a steady catalog seller.
Tracklist
Side One – The Beatles
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Yellow Submarine
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Only a Northern Song
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All Together Now
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Hey Bulldog
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It’s All Too Much
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All You Need Is Love
Side Two – Original Film Score (Composed by George Martin)
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Pepperland
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Sea of Time
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Sea of Holes
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Sea of Monsters
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March of the Meanies
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Pepperland Laid Waste
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Yellow Submarine in Pepperland
Album Credits
The Beatles
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John Lennon – Lead & backing vocals, guitar, piano
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Paul McCartney – Lead & backing vocals, bass, piano
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George Harrison – Lead guitar, vocals
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Ringo Starr – Drums, vocals
Additional Personnel
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George Martin – Producer, orchestral arrangements, composer (Side Two)
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Geoff Emerick – Engineer
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Ken Scott – Engineer
Background & Production
The Yellow Submarine animated film premiered in July 1968. The Beatles had minimal direct involvement in the movie’s production but later appeared in a live-action cameo at the film’s conclusion.
To fulfill contractual obligations with United Artists, the band supplied four previously unreleased songs:
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Only a Northern Song (recorded during Sgt. Pepper sessions)
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All Together Now
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Hey Bulldog
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It’s All Too Much
The title track and All You Need Is Love had already been released prior to the soundtrack.
Musical Highlights
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πΆ Hey Bulldog — A powerful, piano-driven rocker often cited as a hidden gem.
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π It’s All Too Much — George Harrison’s psychedelic masterpiece.
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πΊ All Together Now — A singalong-style children’s anthem.
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π» George Martin’s orchestral score expanded the Beatles’ cinematic sound world.
Fun Facts
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π¬ The animated film is considered one of the greatest animated features of the 1960s.
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πΎ Hey Bulldog was briefly cut from early U.S. versions of the film.
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π΅ Only a Northern Song is a playful jab at Beatles publishing company Northern Songs.
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π The “Sea of Holes” and “Sea of Monsters” are iconic psychedelic visual sequences in the movie.
Trivia
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The Beatles did not voice their animated characters; actors were hired instead.
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George Martin’s orchestral compositions marked one of the rare times a Beatles album dedicated an entire side to non-band material.
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The film helped solidify The Beatles’ visual identity in psychedelic pop culture.
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A remixed and expanded Yellow Submarine Songtrack was released in 1999 featuring only Beatles songs in new stereo mixes.
Goofs & Oddities
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π€ John Lennon was reportedly lukewarm about the project.
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π Some fans consider it a “minor” Beatles album due to the limited number of new songs.
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π₯ The Beatles themselves make only a brief live-action appearance at the end of the film.
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π Several tracks had been recorded years earlier before being used for the soundtrack.
Legacy
While not typically ranked alongside Abbey Road or The White Album, Yellow Submarine holds a unique place in Beatles history. The film’s artistic style influenced animation, pop art, and music visuals for decades.
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