The Story Behind The Beatles' "Hey Bulldog"

The Beatles’ “Hey Bulldog” has become a revered rocker in recent years, but that wasn’t always the case.
Although it first surfaced on the fairly unpopular Yellow Submarine LP in 1969, it has since appeared seemingly everywhere - from handpicked compilations of the band's best rock songs, to the Rock Band video game.
From its fairly simple recording in one day to its rise as a not-so-deep track, this video offers a comprehensive look at the now-classic Lennon tune.
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CREDITS
Footage:
“Hey Bulldog (studio)” - The Beatles (Calderstone / Apple Films Ltd.), • The Beatles - Hey Bull...
“Hey Bulldog (live)” - Dave Grohl, Jeff Lynne, and Friends (CBS, NARAS, AEG Ehrlich Ventures), • Dave Grohl and Jeff Ly...
“Abbey Road studios up for sale” (ODN), • Abbey Road studios up ...
“Lady Madonna (live)” - Paul McCartney - Lady Madonna (Live), (KZbin: digitalmontrealpop), • Paul McCartney Lady Ma...
“Let Me Roll It (live)” - Paul McCartney, KZbin: Raul Zorrilla Ovalle), • Paul McCartney, Let Me...
“Get Back” - The Beatles, amzn.to/2xFG0L2
“Cheer Down (Live in Japan)” - George Harrison (Umlaut / Calderstone), • George Harrison - Chee...
“Geoff Emerick At GRAMMY Pro Studio Summit” - GRAMMY Pro (NARAS), • Geoff Emerick At GRAMM...
“Lady Madonna” - The Beatles (Calderstone / Apple Films Ltd.), • Video
“Top of the Pops, BBC, • Was The Music Better I...
“George Harrison: Living in the Material World (film),” amzn.to/2xAX8Qv
“Mark Lewisohn” - Talks At Google, • Tune In: The Beatles: ...
“Yellow Submarine (film),” amzn.to/2wWOc60
“The Beatles (TV Series)”, • The Beatles Cartoon I ...
“The Beatles Rock Band (video game),” amzn.to/2xAmJJj
SiriusXM commercial, • The first official Bea...
Images:
45 and LP scans: discogs.com, albumartexchange.com
Studio stills: beatles.com
Billboard magazine, billboard.com
Abbey Road Studio 3 layout: abbeyroad.com
“McCartney Breaks Off With Beatles,” Alvin Shuster, New York Times
The Beatles Anthology (cover), Klauss Voorman
Background music:
Sun Spots by Silent Partner
Without A Sound by Letter Box (CC BY 2.0)
Funky Good Time by Doug Maxwell & Media Right Productions (CC BY 2.0)
License: creativecommons.org/licenses/b...
Research sources and special thanks to:
The Beatles - The Beatles Anthology, amzn.to/2xFGocs
Tony Bramwell - Magical Mystery Tours, amzn.to/2y7OcVS
Mark Lewisohn - The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions, amzn.to/2xLmcGT
Geoff Emerick - Here, There, and Everywhere, amzn.to/2wUznpz
“Beatles’ Yellow Submarine is relaunched,” Matt Hurwitz, Reuters / Chicago Tribune, articles.chicagotribune.com/20...
“Notes on ‘Hey Bulldog’,” Alan Pollack, www.icce.rug.nl/~soundscapes/D...
Roger Stormo, wogew.blogspot.com
Beatles Bible, beatlesbible.com
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[@DavidBennettPiano]

“Hey Bulldog” has always been my favourite Beatles tune since I was ten years old!

[@hydrogen3266]

I LOVE your videos dude!

[@fedsavi]

oh hi david

[@earlyoncette4569]

Mine too

[@gillesserrigny6324]

I really love this song too. But, when you are a Beatles fan, how can you have one favorite tune?

[@mr.dr.prof.patrick7284]

Mine is either tomorrow never knows. Or Jesus. So many others

[@SuperLordHawHaw]

I always loved "Hey Bulldog" for its grittiness and heavy sound.

[@audrasitarek9113]

SuperLordHawHaw yes !

[@jameschristiansson3137]

I love the barks.

[@ianbartle456]

@@jameschristiansson3137 Yeah the fun they're having balanced out the serious unsettling elements. That Bond theme ripoff is chosen as it's also meant to unsettling. The song is 'heavy' in its own freedom of approach. Lennon, among other things, let this freedom loose in his creative process so we could all taste - and marvel. The way he allowed himself this freedom is comparable to the big bang of Picasso's approach to painting. Like Dylan, he just found a radical new way of doing things.

[@thisperson5294]

The words are vicious and desperate. Incredible.

[@dryu7879]

Lyrics good as well

[@francollins4036]

Only the Beatles can get nearly 2 million subscribers to one their lesser known songs. Show how absolutely phenomenal they were.

[@AnnieVanAuken]

Great minds think alike! See my comment here on this song, just posted without reading any other thoughts.

[@cheeseham9503]

One word: *BASS*

[@fredfanto2243]

Come on ringo piss of pls

[@bwhite220]

I just slapped like now.

[@eryximachos42]

This bassline is really special and fun to play. One of my favourits and not just a lick but the whole song length is excellent.

[@tekkerzfan19-dailycontent31]

Slappers

[@livispuzzled]

Epic

[@TagusMan]

A few years ago, I was talking to my brother about great Beatle songs. I mentioned Hey Bulldog and he said he had never heard of it, which blew my mind. Imagine being a die hard Beatles fan and discovering a Beatles song you never knew existed. Result: Hey Bulldog is now his favorite Beatles song.

[@vicdevaldorf6574]

That's my story as well. Watched/heard it first on KZbin a year ago, after fifty years of being a huge fan.

[@roscoesands2687]

They should've released it as a single - they could have been one of the biggest bands of all time.

[@FabFourArchivist]

😂

[@lauryashin]

It’s true. The Beatles really could have been big!

[@lol-fc9kg]

They were big.

[@yoursleepparalysisdemon8171]

Liam Thompson r/whooosh

[@lol-fc9kg]

@@yoursleepparalysisdemon8171 I knew it was a joke.

[@Fregulus5]

The very first Beatles music I was exposed to was "Yellow Submarine" when I was 4 yrs. old. And "Hey Bulldog" was immediately one of my favorites. My uncle, kidding with me, told me that the barking and howling was a real dog that got loose in the studio and chased the Beatles around!

[@bleikrsound6127]

"You don't know what it's like to listen to your fears."

[@coolraymond8299]

To newer fans of the Beatles: do yourself a favor and do not listen to any post-1970 interviews where John talks about Beatles songs, his own included. He's so dismissive of them, it's downright depressing. In general, I think it's a good rule of thumb to not listen too much to what an artist says about his or her own work. They'll invariably say something that changes it for you. But with John, it's out of control. It'll be your favorite song and he'll be like, "yeah, that was a total piece of shit I wrote in two minutes." Just listen to his music and let it speak for itself. Trust me.

[@bulletbelt97]

Cool Raymond to be fair though a lot of artists are hard on their own music. it helps them strive for greatness

[@aboxofbroken8tracks983]

John tended to dismiss anything that had to be worked on or was done on deadline. He wanted them to crystallize from thin air. I agree his resentment toward his 'crafted' songs is wearing, but he only got 10 years in which to form his opinions; we've had no fresh evaluations from him in 38 years.

[@RobbieDunn]

Songs are gifts from outside your self they should always be respected and not judged they are just the way they are meant to be accept that and you will appreciate art even more As my partner said to me about a song I had written "Just leave it alone it sounds great to me"And she was right i have stopped messing about with the songs

[@909Twodogs]

You are so right Cool Raymond !

[@michaelcraig9449]

Cool Raymond.. it seems many of the true greats sort of do that.. they think they could, or should have done better.. it is the posers that say "I wrote and play such great songs, I am the greatest".. all that nonsense. Jimi Hendrix never once said he was the greatest guitarist on the scene then, Jimmy Page said "I hear stuff every day that blows me away, and I want to learn it". Steve Vai told me at the gym one morning that joining Whitesnake is "any guitarists dream"..I thought "WHAAAT", but respected him to much to say that of course..

[@paultaylor4647]

One of their most underrated tracks.

[@keithmentium]

The bass line is amazing. Paul doing his stuff as ever.

[@babyface2851]

For sure!

[@Artie4001]

I play Bass and I love playing this song. I was only 9 years old when my father took me to see the movie "Yellow Submarine", I think he took me 2 or 3 times after. When he got me the album I did notice the song "Hey Bulldog" on the back cover and I did not know the song because I did not hear or see it in the movie and I remember saying "What's Hey Bulldog?"...But when I heard it, even at 9 years old, I loved the song and to this day I still listen and sometimes play it on my Bass ( now I'm 59)....ahhhh!!!....But really it is a very underrated song. And I also love "It's All Too Much".....

[@calebsprutte1779]

Its my favorite song

[@gogoyubari366]

What makes you believe it's underrated? Did you travel the globe taking a survey from every citizen of the world? Please explain.

[@AaronKaiMCDNLD]

Plot twist: "The Solo was Ringo's All Along"

[@YngtchieMusic]

Ringo: "I brought me Strat..."

[@JetInAJar]

Damn, you got to this comment first!

[@jackthesmoltangerine]

You are crazy (massive eye roll).

[@Spartanm333]

Who is the most successful solo Beatle in terms of output post band with 19 albums, 11 live albums... and counting? RINGO! WIKI: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ringo_Starr_discography

[@swami1]

The Walrus was Paul.

[@matslindholm7674]

Hey Bulldog was included in the Beatles RocknRoll album in the 70s, which was one of my first Beatles albums as a kid. I've loved this tune ever since.

[@bb1111116]

In the 70s the US didn’t have several Beatles records that came out in Europe. So, Hey Bulldog was neglected for the US audience.

[@soulscanner66]

I bought Vol II of the CD in the 80's. Played it to death. Came to love the song as one as one of my favorites.

[@19.sciencetechnology30]

Lennon & McCartney are two talents that can never be surpassed ever.

[@gwwayner]

'Hey Bulldog' was indeed an overlooked masterpiece. Nice to see it is getting recognition now. Paul's bass is especially impressive in this tune.

[@FabFourArchivist]

Agreed! Thanks for watching!

[@kilgoretrout3966]

When my kids were still kids, " Hey Bulldog" was the song they latched onto immediately when watching the original cut of Yellow Submarine. Of course they also liked "All Together Now" cuz its sing-songy, and invites you to join in, All Together, Now! Still, though, they were singing "Bulldog" for weeks afterwards. i was happy as a cat, knowing the kiddos had terrific musical taste. :)

[@sidgoku1694]

gwwayner No it's not,Not a masterpiece. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 You beatles fanatics are crazy,It's a throaway rock song.

[@randycoursey7230]

George's lead made the song, no question.

[@jamesdickinson1397]

The funny thing is that the few so called Beatles throw away songs are better then most others hits. This may not be a masterpiece but it is one cool rocking song. Good night. - Beatles fanatic.

[@Buddycoop1]

Paul and John having fun makes my day. What a team.

[@briankennedy1192]

John : you got anymore? Paul : barking aaaoooh! ⭐

[@ianbartle456]

@@briankennedy1192 Ha ha - egged on by John, Paul always had more!

[@sidneymeyer7372]

Somewhere someone says something like "I'm not going to be able to have grandchildren

[@ripperplaysclon152]

That fucking outro drives me crazy everytime... in a good way!

[@dannyvine3605]

@@sidneymeyer7372 That is Paul and he says - " don't look at me, I only have 10 children". Maybe something to do with Paul's ram like mentally throughtout the Beatles years, until 1969.

[@ferabra8939]

Hey Bulldog is spectacular. Superb riff, great vocals by John and Paul, the longest guitar solo on a Beatles record, biblical bassline by Paul, great drums by Ringo..and yet it was basically ignored. That was the level of that band.

[@molesoul40]

Um, Geoff Emerick, EMI's engineer, says in the video that the solo was by George. He worked on the Bulldog sessions.

[@jerryrichmond4707]

The remixed version on the Yellow Submarine Songtrack is the definitive one because the sonics are fantastic.@@molesoul40

[@itinerantpatriot1196]

I've always loved Hey Bulldog. And Your Bird Can Sing is another that doesn't get the credit it deserves. Great riffs and bass lines in both.

[@abbeybelanger8118]

I fully agree dude! They are so criminally underrated

[@thomaspicone8837]

Lennon himself considered both. "Throwaways" Like. ALot others. Yoko. Stated Genius with huge inferiority complex. Always his own critic

[@929exrt3]

AGREED

[@jerryrichmond4707]

I also agree! Some of their mid-period tracks are superb power-pop rockers!

[@BegoneJonah]

I've always loved this song because of Paul's amazing bass line. Nobody was playing bass like that in 1968.

[@maximusindicusoblivious180]

Wes Clark Larry Graham and James Jamison come to mind

[@thomaschase7042]

Right on brother Paul was the bass innovator and master...

[@randycoursey7230]

Wrong, Lee Dorman played lead bass for Iron Butterfly. Give them a listen, their music was way ahead of its time and very unique. Jack Cassidy (sp), the bass player for Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna was amazing.

[@DeeckyRizzo]

I love the Beatles, and paul was very creative but... come on... there were plenty of bassists at that level. John Entwistle, from The Who, just to name one.

[@yesticles]

By 68, many bass players were playing amazing bass lines like this. But in 63? Macca was insanely ahead of the curve with his bass playing. It took others many years to reach his creativity on the bass. Many people don't understand just how innovative Paul's playing had been, even in the earliest recordings. He never shows up on top 10 best bassist lists, but I guarantee every person on those lists ranks Macca in their top 5.

[@Goomer]

I'll take "Hey Bulldog" over "Lady Madonna" any day, but I love them both.

[@anthonybrogan390]

At least Lady Madonna has good lyrics a rarity for this band

[@KimSenior]

They don't make ’em like this anymore! Real energy & the guys are enjoying this, pure class!

[@krisinsaigon]

Hey Bulldog has long been one of my faves, it's awesome

[@LessAiredvanU]

"...some kinds of loneliness is measured out in miles, what makes you think you're something special when you smile?" These are great lyrics!

[@JeanGenie127]

Mark: Don't 4get "Childlike . . ." after that! DJ(wink)

[@jackdenmark6116]

To newer fans of the Beatles: do yourself a favor and do not listen to any post-1970 interviews where John talks about Beatles songs, his own included. He's so dismissive of them, it's downright depressing. In general, I think it's a good rule of thumb to not listen too much to what an artist says about his or her own work. They'll invariably say something that changes it for you. But with John, it's out of control. It'll be your favorite song and he'll be like, "yeah, that was a total piece of shit I wrote in two minutes." Just listen to his music and let it speak for itself. Trust me.

[@rehaanmahmood4568]

happiness* not loneliness

[@thisperson5294]

"Some kind of loneliness is measured out in you." It's such a vicious song, it's breath taking. Superb.

[@Gramscifreedom]

@@jackdenmark6116 yeah John became such a cynic post-Beatles. It was obviously his way of extricating himself from what was a painful breakup. I think he would have mellowed out in his later years and be far more positive about his time with the Beatles.

[@kemmmer]

I've been a huge Beatles fan since I was 9 or 10 (I'm 36 now), and I CAN'T BELIEVE I kept overlooking this song for such a long time... I bumped into it a couple of weeks ago and I can't stop playing it. I was looking for any info on the song and how it came about, this video was perfect - thank you!

[@FabFourArchivist]

Thanks Kemmer! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Dwightpower88]

Word to the wise...there aren't any bad Beatles songs

[@JoseAntonioDuclaud]

There is something in “Hey bulldog” that takes me to the also great rocker “And your bird can sing”. What a tune!

[@pamandrobtrust7624]

Hey bull dog. And baby your a rich man!! 2 classics over looked.

[@jamesdickinson1397]

We have the same tastes. I love both of these songs.

[@audrasitarek9113]

Yes that’s a goodie too!

[@chrisschuenke8316]

What a thing to do!

[@audrasitarek9113]

Fred Muggs I’m torn. I like them both equally for different reasons.

[@brickdude3582]

So true. Absolutely beautiful songs.

[@markw9285]

Absolutely one of Paul's best bass lines and best playing.

[@colpol1]

One of my faves. A minor detail about the recording that I don’t think anyone has mentioned. It’s the overdubbed snare w lots of reverb brought in on the Choruses. It’s playing the back beat 2 and 4. It really lifts the song. And because there is so much clean space on the chorus you can hear the decay of the snares reverb all the way to the next hit. Which in my opinion means it had to be recorded to it’s own track or bounced in combination with something or in fact could be the same track as the lead grr. Because you don’t ever hear them together. I love mysteries like this. It’s like discovering even more gold in The Beatles treasure chest.

[@trex672]

My last band only ever did a few covers. This was one of them. I've loved this song since 1969. It has a great hook, and the piano chord progression in the bridge is pure genius.

[@robertwilley6327]

Always have loved this song since I was a kid in the 70s. The vocal interplay between John and Paul.....John the dog's owner, Paul the dog, is fantastic. Humorous sounds incredible. Most notable in my eyes because this probably is one of the last glimpses of the 2 of them truly having a riot making music together.

[@stevej4054]

Dear Lance, If i may, as man who's been bombarded by Beatles books by those who know me, I appreciate your perspective on individual songs. Thanks for the detailed information. It's genuinely neat and surprising to learn something new. Thank you. Cheers, Steve. ([e-mail])

[@beatlesrgear]

Hey bulldog is one of the greatest songs the Beatles ever recorded, as a group and including solo stuff. This song has all the elements a cool, catchy, masterpiece and it has never recieved the credit it truly deserves. Have a close listen to Paul's bass lines. They are so tight and so right! Pure genius! And George's solo is is supreme, psychedelic, and golden!

[@toddubow2599]

And a great lead by GH

[@allenallen5040]

I always said if you could only choose one song that best Represented the Beatles and you wanted to stick it in a bottle and throw it in the sea this would be it!

[@hoboroadie]

I am not anything like a proficient bassist, but I can rip out a pretty rocking version of Lady Madonna. Hey Bulldog OTOH is completely out of my league, but I am working on the guitar riff...

[@randyacuna3248]

@John Deegan thinking about your comment, I would agree. Lady madonna is a good song but , hey bulldog is a killer song.

[@lelouchbritania2508]

@@randyacuna3248 agree 100percent

[@jomppe2800]

Hey Bulldog is a pure masterpiece.

[@brettwheeler7753]

In 1976, Capitol released a greatest hits double album called "Beatles Rock and Roll Music". "Hey Bulldog" appears on side four. I bought it in 1978, and the song instantly became a favorite of mine. Hard to believe that it didn't get more recognition until now!

[@joeschmoe3665]

Been loving the song lately, especially the "you can talk to me" part is brilliant as a bridge between verse and main riff. This is why I love the Beatles because after 15 years from a songwriting perspective they still challenge my perception of how you can write songs

[@allenallen5040]

I knew of the greatness of this song when it was first on Yellow submarine. I would tell people it was their best song and I would always get the response”I never heard of it”. It’s hard to label any song as the best Beatles song but I think there is a song that when can choose that represents the spirit of the Beatles the best and if you could keep only one Beatles song to represent the group for all time for future centuries, I would choose Hey Bulldog.

[@ianbartle456]

yes from their later period perhaps. For the early period I would chose She Loves You - great changes, very cool gtr break and bewitching harmonies. And great drumming from Ringo right from the arresting attention intro. Reeks of a classic hit single right down the years. It's old, but has lost none of its power, bit like that great vocal intro to NY Mining Disaster 1941 that I heard today. Timeless genius.

[@1spitfirepilot]

I don't think the words are nonsense - they are about fear, emotion in general and communication.

[@PaisleyPatchouli]

So glad it has refused to be forgotten... it's always been one of my favorite late-period Beatles tunes. (Along with "Old Brown Shoe") The groove especially is unforgettable. And the "Whaddya say? I say Woof! D'ya know any more?" interplay in the outro between John and Paul... priceless!

[@R.Akerman-oz1tf]

Love "Ol' Brown Shoe". I suspect; though a John's song, Paul guided George how to... It certainly is Paul's technique.

[@jnixa1010]

One of my top 10 favorite Beatles songs. GREAT bass line, great guitar, and fun lyrics. So underrated, probably single most underrated Beatles tune. And they had fun... most importantly

[@robertrudd6970]

I would’ve loved to have some focus on the incredible bass track that Paul laid down. That counter point was something special.

[@EyeLean5280]

I've always loved this, as well as "Northern Song," which is still underappreciated in my view. And while "Yellow Submarine" might be obscure to most, I enjoyed that album a lot as a kid, especially Side B, which was all incidental music from the film (in other words, George Martin compositions). It really helped the development of my appreciation for classical music when I was little.

[@FabFourArchivist]

Great point about the value of Martin's score for little ears!

[@lynetteaylsworth4739]

That George Martin film score is very underappreciated, IMHO, I enjoyed that side very much and was very disappointed when it was excised on the later release. Hey Bulldog happens to be my favorite rock tune by any artist. YMMV

[@mt_vu_rx_jukeboxhero]

PeTeR MaX like Peter MaX vs. Andy WaRhol ... I was thinking before it's like Elvis & his HoundoG and then there are British Bulldogs... Then I waS catching​' parts and bits of "Masked Singer" w a singer named "Rotweiler "... That was the best part of the trip ".." like Jim MoRRisoN spoken...

[@mt_vu_rx_jukeboxhero]

@@FabFourArchivist So we're saying George wrote a score for George. But I'm getting ...Save a Lot at Martin's foodstores... Giant Foods other sister store... Like Giant Giant in" Seven ", the Movie ... Kevin Spacey's place up above the Giant Giant. Except its Martin's Martin's... Anyway it says George Martin wrote some of the score. * * * * *... Its like vs. You ain't nothing but Hound dawg. Haha Trumped uP xcept they chose British Bulldogs dog. Anyway no singin' bout dogs... Then they be singin' about some Dawgs Snoop Dawg ... Rotweiler was just on Masked Singer... Pretty Cool "ANTI KARMA" for the BaD Karma... If it works singing bout the Dogs... Don't get the Dawgs Howling... With the 🐺 man...comin' at Cha.☺

[@timothysullysullivan2571]

I love Northern Song, and Long Long Long. I don't understand why people hate them so much. George Martin detested Northern Song. It's an amazing recording. Or interesting at the least.

[@magistrumartium]

It's hard to pick a favourite Beatles song but this one's near the top of my list

[@RP-vn6wy]

Just a couple of years after it's recording it was covered by band named Fanny. This band was all females line up and they rocked the song. Absolutely great. Always loved this song.

[@FabFourArchivist]

Yeah! I’d never heard of Fanny til folks mentioned this cover in the comments. That track is smokin’!

[@RobertoPoncebk]

Fanny version is soo great!😂

[@cadirector]

It was always my favorite song off of this album. Totally rocks now and then.

[@salamandersaladman8483]

i think it’s sad that there’s still so many people who haven’t realized ringo was the actual genius and that he wrote every song

[@adamlane6453]

He's got such a big heart to give the other guys songwriting credit just to temper their seething jealousy of his musical genius and placate their egos. He really just wants everyone to get along and be happy. Hence the song he wrote called, "All You Need Is Love". Fun fact: the lyrics "nothing you can do", and "nothing you can sing", in that song are direct references to the skills of John, Paul, and George.

[@AlexRodriguez-hl1vu]

Are you crazy Ringo didn’t write all the songs I know your just trying to cause drama

[@savoylemon64]

@@AlexRodriguez-hl1vu I-it's a joke dude. (unless your comment is also a joke)

[@JsscRchlDrsy]

😂

[@joefarias2378]

Some folks are more sensitive than others, give a break.

[@jamesdrynan]

Recorded by the group as an extra song for " Yellow Submarine, " they all seemed to be in a joyful and productive phase laying down the tracks. Overlooked by many, the song is enjoying a renaissance in recent years. I always liked it!

[@theneonchimpchannel9095]

My guess is that George played the solo. It sounds more like him, especially that era. He said in an interview that it was a song he'd not thought of it in years until his son Dhani asked him to teach him how to play it. I'd say John used George's guitar to either lay down some overdubs or to show George the initial riff. It would make sense if he wanted to use George's guitar instead of the hollow bodied Casino as SG's tend to have that harder rock sound. As for the film, the story I heard was that it was cut as censors at the time found it to be too scary for children.

[@timothysullysullivan2571]

john often used george's guitars. but george nor paul ever used john's. i've never seen john play paul's guitars or basses. John with his dominating personality and showing who's boss (in his own eyes.) when john's gibson j-160 was stolen, he just commandeered george's identical one.

[@slimshine953]

@@timothysullysullivan2571 ~ An entertaining notion, and perhaps valid to some degree. Although I doubt Lennon refused hand the Gibson back to George upon request lol. For that matter, it 's unlikely John couldn't afford to buy another J-160 at that point. Speaking of John not playing McCartney's bass, there's a scene in the movie Help, where the lads are in the Bahamas, shooting the sequence for the song Another Girl. They switch instruments, and John is briefly seen holding the Hofner bass, but just goofing around with it. Other than that, I think you're correct. I can recall no other visual evidence of him fingering any of Paul's guitars. On the other hand, there was lots of studio time that wasn't photographed over the years... so who knows. ;~}

[@doitnowvideosyeah5841]

@@slimshine953 Paul's guitars and basses would be Lefty....John got his own J 160. I heard they got switched by accident

[@daddywoofdawg]

most likely stored in some Beatles fans attic. who would know by then any film would be worth big bucks.

[@inmundo6927]

its got all the Arpeggio like shit he liked doing in solos.. such as the one in Im a Loser, Babies in Black.. and many others

[@westfield90]

I love this song. They so many songs that just sounded great. This was one of them with a great piano, superb pounding bass and a great guitar line. Couldn’t get better than that

[@angelabluebird609]

Have you heard the band Fanny cover it ? Worth a listen, to say the least. Still, Beatles4ever!

[@headshotsongs9465]

This was a Lennon song, but written a little before McCartney's Lady Madonna, which also featured a heavy piano line.

[@ndogg20]

angela , took a listen to Fanny's version and its tight ! Tried to guess the year it came out in, was thinking the late 70's, early 80's new wave or some time later. Looked em up and found out it was early 70's, waaay ahead of their time indeed .

[@tomlynntigard]

Yep, it was so good, the other side of the L.P. could just be filled with soundtrack music. Hey Bulldog still sounds new today.

[@randycoursey7230]

+ndogg20 Fanny??? Harrison's version is by far the best.

[@CrystallynRose]

When I was a kid I didn't appreciate Hey Bulldog, but I've grown to love it as an adult. When I was younger I was more pop oriented. My other favorite band was The Monkees. Since then I've been exposed to a lot more rock music, which I think is the reason why I appreciate it much more. It's definitely up there on my list of favorite Beatles songs.

[@rogeremmerson]

I only came across this recently. A thoroughly engrossing analysis of the song. I particularly enjoyed it because it was the standout song for me on Yellow Submarine when the film was released in Britain. You've probably had this comment before, but a very early (1972) cover of the song was done by the fabulous Fanny with Alice De Buhr's Ringo-influenced drumming kicking it along. A live version is featured in a 30 minute segment from the German TV programme Beat Club which is available on KZbin.

[@walterpeterson5649]

I think I was eight years old listening to every record I had in my parents library. For some reason we had a copy of the yellow submarine And this was my favorite song not just because of the barking dogs but that driving piano sound was so catchy. And that fantastic guitar driving sound was so clean, everything after that had to sound essentially like that or it wasn't rock to me!

[@gordonquigg9389]

In my opinion, hey bulldog is one of the best songs in the entire history of the beatles. I was born in ‘57 so i lived through tjeir entire career, and it was all anout what had come before, and what blew the lid off ofthe music world. This was pne of those songs. As soon as i heard it, i just went f... yeaah this is the future. You had to be there to understand what shocking brilliance it had at the time.

[@daddywoofdawg]

me too, born 57

[@gentillygirl545]

Baby You're A Rich Man as well.

[@gentillygirl545]

Hey Bulldog and Baby You're A Rich Man are the best.

[@home2039]

Born in 52 and you guys are so right!!! Welcome!!!! Lol

[@caretakerfoch6103]

I had a little National 3-inch real to reel and used to record songs direct off the radio back in the day. I always thought this was a ball buster but it was actually quite short.

[@martinarcher7977]

I always loved "Hey Bulldog "..........and " It's Only A Northern Song "

[@counterfeit1148]

"It's All Too Much" is also very good. I think it might be better than "Only A Northern Song"

[@Dontblamethemonkey]

Ive loved hey bulldog since i first heard it when i was young

[@guillermolinares4818]

I actually bought the Yellow Submarine album for this one song!

[@FabFourArchivist]

Totally worth the price. 👍

[@Miller-og8ke]

I got the album from my mom

[@flushed793]

@Delibes Flair owning a record means a lot more than just loading up spotify and playing it. owning a record means you'll have it forever. its memorable. memorabilia.

[@jackthesmoltangerine]

The better version is on Mono Masters and the Yellow Submarine Songtrack. There’s better audio and it’s a real mono mix, not the “fold-down” used on the 1969 album.

[@bluecollarmusic]

Actually the best song on Yellow Submarine was George's song "It's All Too much". I liked the psychedelic period he went through. That song was great.

[@somewhereelse000]

This is my favourite Beatle riff and still one of my favourite riffs to play.

[@meredithinserra4670]

I enjoyed watching this so much! I have always thought Hey Bulldog was a great rock song. That opening riff is so catchy and reminds me a bit of the "Day Tripper" opening riff. I also love that it means nothing. Like many John Lennon songs, the words are chosen for the blending of the vowels and consonants come together to create colors, like a painter choosing colors to blend on a canvas. In other words, John uses words like a painter uses colors! Jon Anderson of the band YES does the same thing. That's why songs by Yes don't make any sense. The words aren't supposed to make sense. The words create a layer of timbre blending with the instruments and are simply a vehicle for a melody.

[@tjcint]

@Meridith Inserra .. A most interesting comment. Words chosen for aesthetic reasons, not only literal meaning. I would add John Lennon had a mystical dimension. I believe many of his words had meanings he was not even aware of .. that words came through him.

[@terryendres3771]

One of my all-time favorites. The dynamics, energy and outright fun in this recording make it infectious.

[@albertlugo2625]

I first listened to HEY BULLDOG in 1972. It's always been among my favorite and it's about time the public has given it credit.

[@eternalme1016]

Have ALWAYS LOVED THIS SONG!!! KILLER GUITAR RIFFS, Paul's WICKED BASS LINES and JOHN'S ROCKING VOCALS and last but not least of all, Ringo's Driving INTENSE Drums, this Song is a ROCK-MONSTER!!! Anyways Thank you so much for posting this GEM, A VERY IMPORTANT and INFORMATIVE VIDEO......🎸💚

[@FabFourArchivist]

👍👍👍

[@Johnbays43]

Eternal me , I totally agree

[@williamblanchard935]

Stelio Kontos George’s courageous fuzz lead was unique in all of his Guitar solo work, ‘Drive My Car” solo also was Very potent

[@roksaan]

Somehow, I think this Lana Del Rey song sounds similar to "Hey Bulldog": kzbin.info/www/bejne/d52rkmmvm8l2iac

[@lynnrichardson6265]

My favorite line: "Do you know anymore?" Ahhhhhh...

[@johnallen6945]

I must have listened to this song 40 times last year. YTM tells me I am in the top 1/10th of 1% of Beatles listeners. This sounds like a George solo to me. The Beatles are part of my family. I was 12 in '62 and 20 in '70, so they helped me grow into a man. Many times I got advice from their albums.

[@brucehorn1820]

'Magical Mystery Tour' has always been my favorite Beatles' album.

[@doesnotexist305]

I simply can't understand how people say that MMT is NOT a classic. Two of my favorite Beatles songs ever, Your Mother Should Know and Fool On The Hill, were on that album and absolutely blew me away when I first heard them.

[@tenisalot]

@@doesnotexist305 I am the Walrus. .Hello Goodbye....i mean...SFF....PL...every song a monster...and then totally groundbreakung Blue Jay Way...and AYNIL...is there even a weaker point on the entire album?

[@bestmetalandrocklists9120]

DoesNotExist305 yeah i dont understand why people say its not great, most songs are classic and imo as good as sgt pepper

[@jackbergman4724]

I'm with ya man! I mean Magical mystery tour, fool on the hill, I'm the walrus, hello goodbye, penny lane, strawberry fields, and all you need is love! These are like the best beatles songs

[@duncandubois6134]

Excellent video collage for a song that deserves that attention. Difficult to figure out why it was overlooked when it is such an obvious gem. First heard it over 40 years ago and it instantly resonated as classic Beatles material.

[@IsaacWale2004]

This song was one of the main songs that got me into the Beatles.

[@michaelmiller44820]

I recently just bought "Yellow Submarine" specifically for "Hey Bulldog"...

[@erestube]

Yellow Submarine was my first '45 single as a kid, but I never bought the album. I discovered Hey Bulldog in 1976 when the Beatles' Rock and Roll Music album was released. Wow, a unique and powerful Beatles song! I couldn't believe what a sleeper it was!

[@beatlesrgear]

I would tend to believe Geoff Emerick as John was usually stoned or tripping by this time, whereas Emerick, being a proper EMI employee. had to come in straight & sober. This is one of my favourite Beatle songs of all and I regard it as an absolute masterpiece. I contains everything a highly skilled song should contain. Plus, it's pretty bloody exciting, too!

[@juliam1573]

The slow ramping up of the base line “you can talk to me” followed by John’s gritty voice suddenly crescendos when he screeches “if you’re lonely you can talk to me” - ugh! gives me goosebumps every time.

[@patricksmith4424]

I only recently discovered this vid and what a gem it is. I think it is the best footage of the beatles in the studio. The let it be sessions were always a bit strained, not just between themselves but because there was obviously a formal film crew in their faces all day. This seems totally spontaneous and fun. It's also just so beatles, Paul is playing ever such a bit second fiddle to John, so showing the beatles as a gang. Also with Paul and John both at the Mike is like they are doing a sing song of a Beatles song, like millions of people have and do. The editing is superb and the musicianship well enough said. Thanks for reviewing and posting, it's precious.

[@THEREALDANNYD]

Great song! I love seeing Paul & John singing together and having fun.

[@lawrrencee]

without question one of the best, hardest driving tunes of the era. rock and roll at its purest, most raw form delivered by the greatest innovators of the in the history of the genre.

[@bunnyfish714]

It's always been one of my favorite Beatles songs

[@positivechange2000]

Bulldog and Taxman have always been among my favorites in a giant sea of Beatles classics.

[@marsharupe8112]

One of my favorite Beatles tracks. I always included it over the years in my home-made compilations of the band.

[@LennyJohnson5]

A great track - it’s a hidden gem and has always been one of my favourite tracks.

[@pilou827]

I first heard this song through a cover from the French band "The Roadrunners". I was crazy about this cover: it was so powerful! Of course, I quickly discovered that it was a Beatles song. When I saw the movie Yellow Submarine on TV, I decided to buy it for the sequence dedicated to Hey Bulldog. I ran to the merchant, and when, back home, I watched it on my VCR, the sequence was no longer there: enormous disappointment!

[@couldliveonyoutube1841]

One favorite Beatles song. It’s the wildest most funky thing. Perfect.

[@Boblobblaw88]

me and my brothers all loved that tune. ---and heck---i'd pay album price for 4 new Beatle tunes any day!

[@PlanetoftheDeaf]

Always loved this song, so glad it's getting more attention now. I first heard it on the "Rock 'n' Roll Music" compilation albums released in the late 70s

[@RJSerp]

Yes! The 1976 Capitol Records compilation "Rock 'n' Roll Music" gave it some recognition!

[@ianbartle456]

@@RJSerp Capitol cop a bit of stick for how they butchered the Beatles' song collections early on BUT was a damn good idea that compilation. My best mate had it and it was where I first heard Hey Bulldog too. Used to crank it when his parents weren't about. Pure Heaven!!!

[@dansmithwave]

Was going to post the same comment. That double album was also sold as two separate Vol 1 and Vol 2 albums at a discount price in the UK. It also included tracks like I'm Down and Revolution which could only be heard as b-sides on singles at that time, so it was a really good (and useful) selection.

[@PlanetoftheDeaf]

@@dansmithwave That's how I had the albums, they were on EMI's "Music for Pleasure" budget label and really good value as a result!

[@mattkaustickomments]

The video to me is bittersweet. Here they are, getting along, having fun, playing as a unit. But then you know it will be all over soon.

[@robotman5105]

My first exposure to this song was in The Beatles: Rockband and I'm very happy they included it on the main setlist!

[@aperson2943]

I never knew this was seen as obscure. It's always been in my top ten Beatles songs.

[@fortherecord1569]

Great video. It's worth mentioning that the "missing Hey Bulldog" scene was re-added to the Yellow Submarine movie when it got a re-release in 1999 along with a "Songtrack" that gave Hey Bulldog a bit more exposure.

[@FabFourArchivist]

Yep! Great point!

[@elijahguttman9289]

I have a version of the movie on video tape from 1968 that also has Hey Bulldog

[@CCRoxtar]

I grew up watching a VHS that didn't have that scene, but I currently have a DVD that does include it.

[@jamesdickinson1397]

And that version of Hey Bulldog on the 1999 YS Songtrack album as with the other songs is awesome. It sounds sooooo good. I don't know if it was remixed but it sounds like it may have been. When I first played the original Yellow Sub album (about 1974) this song stood out for me. I thought where has this song been? Why was it not a hit?

[@dougsmith1759]

50 th anniversary 're release playing at select theatres now. Bull dog has been 're added . Cerberus bulldog vs the Beatles.

[@buffalobraves9]

As Geoff Emrick said it was indeed George Harrison's solo. He was there.

[@daveidmarx8296]

Geoff Emerick has proven to not be the most authoritative voice on the Beatles, despite having been an engineer for them from 1966-68 and again briefly in 1969. He has been known to get basic facts incorrect and embellish stories a bit.

[@gerrycoogan6544]

I was just going to make the same point, Dave. I don't know what his issue was but, as often as not, he seemed to have a different recollection of events from everyone else's.

[@mg1881]

My favorite Beatles song.. and I love almost every song they every did.

[@AndresinhoRM]

My favorite Beatles' song, definitely.

[@Spartanm333]

As Emerik states - it was George, clearly on his SG with wailing humbuckers. John might have picked it up but he wasn't a patch on George as a guitarist and you have to play a high gain guitar like an SG very clean. Remember, when George was 15 he taught John how to play on 6 strings because John only knew banjo chords... in fact, John had taken the top two strings off his guitar when they met. As a guitarist, it clearly wasn't a Strat, Casino or Rickenbacker on the solo which Macca played and there is zero chance George gave his Gibson SG to Paul - they didn't get on, unlike Eric Clapton who he gave his Cherry Red Gibson Les Paul, Lucy... for While My Guitar Gently Weeps, much to Paul's chagrin. As George recounted (paraphrased) "It was my song and my choice of lead guitarist. I chose Eric".

[@randyevans5407]

I fell in love with "Hey Bulldog" the first time I heard it! That opening pounding piano, followed by each addition instrument has been forever engraved in my cerebral cortex!

[@JoseAntonioDuclaud]

This tune is one of the rocker greats from the quartet and a truly underestimated one that has sort of received justice only in recent years. I just love the beat of “Hey Bulldog” and all four are at their best, instrumentally. Paul’s base line in particular is one of the best in history!

[@PondRiversong]

This song blows my mind - sonic perfection!

[@lpkvideodesigns4998]

It was always a fav of mine! You can't hold quality down!

[@michaelolson291]

Back in college in the mid-Eighties played this tune along with a couple other "off the beaten track" Beatles songs (She Said, She Said and I'm Only Sleeping) in a covers + originals band. It was one of the funnest songs we'd perform. Thanks for all the background info.

[@jetviser]

I first heard this song in 1980 and knew it, along with Taxman, would be immortal Rock n Roll. Glad everybody else caught on. It's brilliant, brash and British.

[@swansonjoe7121]

Great editing!! I honestly can't agree enough this song is underrated

[@FabFourArchivist]

Thanks!

[@jrfontaine423]

I remember hearing this on WNEW FM in New York and thinking that it was odd I'd never heard it before. The second time I heard it, I was able to play it on an old piano in my friends basement. I've since learned to play 3 other instruments by ear, and all because of a song The Beatles did that hardly anyone knew about.

[@slsotto66]

This song was popular among us second-gen fans who purchased the Capital compilation double LP "Rock And Roll Music" released in 1976 wherein it was included. Anybody else remember that LP?

[@thisperson5294]

My memory, in England: buying the Yellow Submarine LP, very disappointed with the film-music side 2, but really enjoying side 1, especially this song. Beatles LPs were ALWAYS expensive. As a kid in the 70s their music was hard to get hold of.

[@Teajonmustard]

This just goes to show if it’s a good song people will recognize, no matter what album it’s on if it’s good it’s known

[@Jaxsolo]

I am lucky enough to remember the 60s. I loved this sing when it was first released and love it today.

[@gostrum1]

Clearly, you just didn’t take enuff drugs

[@katfishjak1948]

Perhaps might be the Beatles best lead guitar solo and my personal favorite. I like the James Bond like guitar progression in the back track. Really cool.

[@elvisleeboy]

Katfish Jak The riff is not too dissimilar to Money.

[@Bidjje]

True. But the moving "progression" is in the piano part.

[@flaco171ac]

This is one of my favorite Beatles songs. Always has been.

[@dennisstone1493]

I've loved this song ever since I first heard it in 1968 when I was 14. Although it came later in the Beatles career, IMO it heralds back to the mop-top era. John's lyrics and amazing vocals. Paul's iconic bass lines and harmony vocals, and the simply awesome and solid lead guitar from George and of course Ringo's steadfast beat. It's one of the last of the true Beatles rockers, and still excites today. It could have easily gone to the top of the charts if released in 1963 or 1964. An undeniable Beatles classic.