Well, everyone, it seems like it’s time to take a look at the red-headed stepchild of the Beatles’ catalogue and give a quick once over before we move on to more important albums, but Dave says not so fast. He thinks it’s time we re-evaluated this much-maligned record and remove what he calls “The Curse of the Yellow Submarine Soundtrack”. And he makes a pretty darn convincing argument too. Perhaps you’ll agree with him; perhaps not – but join Ian and Dave as they take another look at some of the most overlooked and underrated songs in the Beatles catalogue.
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David – you say we can only hear “Only a Northern Song” in stereo on ‘The Yellow Submarine Songbook” but isn’t it also available on “Past Masters” volume 2 in the Remasters Box Set? I’m not at home so I can’t check. For completists, the Mono box replaces the fold down stereo-to-mono versions from the original vinyl release.
But I’m learning a lot from these podcasts. For example, your assessment of George Martin’s contribution to Lennon’s music as opposed to McCartney’s is fresh to these ears.
I’m going to listen to that second side of “Yellow Submarine” when I get home because of your insights. Mr. Martin was present at the BAFTA screening of the the restored version of the film in 2012.
Talking of soundtrack music, did you know George Martin was asked to score the music for Roland Joffe’s “The Mission” (1986 ) but was replaced by Ennio Morricone. But George kept his musical sketches and when he was convalescing in hospital a few years back, he asked his wife to bring his papers in. He re-scored the music as a choral piece which I saw performed for the first time at The Dorking Halls, Surrey couple of years ago. It is brilliant. George Martin was present for the performance although he was looking pretty frail.
Thanks to you and Ian for a terrific series.
Pete Western, London.
Hi Pete,
Thanks for writing. I love your George Martin story. Even he has overshadowed his own work away from The Beatles.
“Only a Northern Song” is not on Past Masters in the stereo box set. Just to save you time looking. 😉
Gosh darn, David – apologies. I’m home now and have checked the notes of both stereo and mono remasters before I saw your comment…and guess what, i am totally wrong and you are RIGHT!! Doubly wrong because the “Yellow Sub” tracks are on the remastered s/track album, not the “Past Masters” as you say…and “Only a Northern Song” is a mono version on the otherwise stereo album.
Now I’ve got it out, I’m going to celebrate George Martin by playing his score.
Anyway, thanks for letting me know!!
Pete
BTW have you heard your fellow terrific Canadian, Randy Bachman analysing the opening chord of “A Hard Day’s Night”?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwfH9oAiPH0
I notice Giles Martin shows Randy the real chord in another You Tube post. Haven’t heard that yet but I love Randy’s tunesmanship!
Another great episode ! Thanks again !! My listening method is, podcast through my head phones and iTunes in my speakers set in order to go back and forth from your comments to the songs. And I thought that I knew a lot about the Fav4……