Apple Corps Limited released Yellow Submarine in the UK on July 17, 1968. The Beatles had enjoyed the success of their first two cinematic releases, A Hard Day’s Night and Help! but Magical Mystery Tour had been the band’s first misstep. Broadcast on BBC1 on December 26, 1967, it was filmed in color but shown in black and white. Although the band was quick to use that as an excuse, the film had other failings, and it was the first Beatles project to be considered a critical failure.
The early press release for Yellow Submarineannounced an animated feature with The Beatles providing their own character’s voices. Ultimately, other actors supplied the voices for the Fab Four’s speaking parts, except for a cameo appearance by the band at the end of the movie. The Beatles supplied four new songs for the soundtrack, and the film also used older existing songs. Let’s take a look at the story behind “Hey Bulldog” …