Yellow Submarine – More Than A Cartoon?

The Apple Films’ 1968 release of Yellow Submarine was an event that at the time seemed at first not to be of any relevant importance. It was another Beatles film, and the fact seemed to diminish, when it was hailed as a cartoon film and not even using their own voices !!

It seemed to reflect the Beatles’ attitude towards the film was that it was a cheap way to go along with the contract to supply another cinema release, all be it without putting too much time and effort into the project. Again, to back this up, further reports and news articles surfaced where musicians and orchestras were left waiting, while various group members went into a back room and knocked off another song composition to fill a required spot, and hey presto, after about half an hour a song was done.

It is very true, that The Beatles were not too enamoured with the project, and Al Brodax, the creator of the cartoon Popeye was entrusted to do the film, and apparently was left largely alone with his team to do just that. In 1968, cartoons were labelled as Disney and mere fillers in a kiddies cinema programme, and there that concept seemed to have ended any proper work or studio input. The group thought that it would only be moderately successful at that, and the newly submitted songs were also seen as largely second-rate.

Time has proved  the exact opposite in fact and somewhat different, as the film was the first full length cartoon pop film, and one envied by so called experts as being absolutely brilliant!! Even the staff at Disney doffed their caps in respect at this cartoon from little England. It is now seen as a brilliant concept of ‘The Trip’ using colour and images as a harmless and a beautiful effect of being under the influence of a trip, yet retaining the image and concept of being a children’s cartoon story and film. It is now seen as groundbreaking and innovative, something that the group have always been. Many of the tricks used then have been imitated and used by others, and it can clearly be seen as being the cornerstone and catalyst of the world respected British cartoon and animation industry.

But what of the music?

Well that’s a completely different story, and one that needs telling. The Beatles themselves submitted finally just 4 new songs for the film, leaving George Martin to score the picture, too which he did a brilliant job! The group added the now familiar title track again to give Ringo a spot, and adapted “All You Need Is Love”, into this cartoon fairly tale of good overcoming and reforming the bad. 

The issued formula was indeed a soundtrack album issued in January 1969, containing those 4 new songs and the other two tracks on side 1, with side 2 given over to the soundtrack in nearly full timing. This concept was slated as being cheap and dismissive of Beatle quality to the fans, and gained so much traction in certain parts that critics virtually dismissed the entire project at the time.

Nowadays we know, feel and understand so much more, and it can be seen again as a brave and innovative step, that other artists now follow in the same vein. However, that was not the way that the group wanted the music offering to be. The original concept was to be an EP, recorded at first 45 rpm, then altered to 33-1/3rd rpm for better fidelity. Also they had at the time the recording of “Across The Universe” completed at Abbey Road in 1968, and considered at one time to be the new single. This was then discussed to be added to the package to fill the recording quotas from their contract with EMI.

So one can see that actually Yellow Submarine took up quite a large chunk of the group’s time and effort, not withstanding the many other things that were swirling around at that time, A Clockwork Orange, The Get Back Sessions, John and Yoko Peace trips and associated legal quandaries that the couple were embroiled in.

Again the idea of a film soundtrack double album was discussed, but having just asked fans to fork out for the double “White Album”, it was considered to be too much to ask fans to pay for another. So many factors were at play, so that hopefully even after 60+  years, the process and play has come to be explained in a lot clearer fashion.

The enclosed photographs are concept copies, of the EP concept in full, and again they sit very comfortably in my Apple collection, so please enjoy.

By the way, the film is brilliant and deserves to be lauded as such, and even Her late and much missed Majesty Queen Elizabeth has often being quoted as saying that Yellow Submarine was one of her all time favourite films showing how good can overcome huge odds. 

Thank you ma’am,. . .  you always had a grasp on things!!

Nigel Pearce