So, if you know me (and if you're reading this, you more than likely do), you probably know that I'm a huge Beatles fan. The first Compact Disc I ever owned was a Beatles disc (Anthology 1- as a Christmas gift from my grandmother) and consequently the next 8 discs I purchased were Beatles discs. I've read countless books on the band, their lives, even the individual recording sessions. Somehow....well, not really somehow, I know exactly how it happened...I missed a track. (Not counting the *hopefully* forthcoming yet-unreleased avant-garde art track "Carnival of Light")
So during the same sessions where the band recorded "Lady Madonna" they also recorded a quick Lennon tune "Hey Bulldog"- The title was originally "Hey Bullfrog" but during recording Paul suddenly started barking like a dog, Lennon quickly changed the next verse to "Bulldog" and changed the title. This track is supposedly one of the last tunes in which the whole group was in the studio together, and recorded as a unit...a few days after the session, they left for their maligned trip to India. This track was then submitted for the animated "Yellow Submarine" but only made the UK version. So, when I was younger and forcing my parents to rent the VHS from the CashWise Supermarket video store ad nauseum, I never saw (or heard) the track. When I was purchasing the Beatles discography, I'd see the Yellow Submarine soundtrack and glance at the tracklisting...mentally skipping over the track and just seeing half a disc of George Martin scores from the film and previously released tracks (mostly from the best three albums, Revolver, Rubber Soul, and Sgt Pepper's - which I already owned and adored).
The other day, whilst ripping all my Beatles CD's into a higher quality bitrate (what's the use of good headphones if the source music sounds terrible?) I was randomly searching through Wiki and found that a particular artist had covered the "rare Beatles' gem Hey Bulldog". Jesus H. I've never heard of that! Quickly searched the Beatles Bible online for facts about it and stumbled upon what's now probably one of my favorite tracks. It's Lennon to a T, and the whole group just having a blast in the studio. What's even more astounding is they allowed footage of them recording the track to be shot....so Apple a few years back found this, realized that instead of the Promo-material for the Lady Madonna single, it was them recording Bulldog. Great video. I particularly like seeing John at the piano and George with a Gibson SG. Anyway, I've ameliorated my mistake, purchased the Yellow Submarine "Songtrack" (the remastered version from 1999) and fallen in love with my "new" Beatles track. Enjoy.
Lyrics:
Sheepdog
Standing in the rain
Bullfrog
Doing it again
Some kind of happiness is measured out in miles
What makes you think you're something special when you smile?
Child-like
No one understands
Jack knife
In your sweaty hands
Some kind of innocence is measured out in years
You don't know what it's like to listen to your fears
You can talk to me
You can talk to me
You can talk to me, if you're lonely you can talk to me.
Yeah hey, oh!
Ho, ho!
Yeah!
Ho, ho, ho, ho!
Ho, ho!
Big man (Yeah)
Walking in the park
Wigwam
Frightened of the dark
Some kind of solitude is measured out in you
You think you know me but you haven't got a clue.
You can talk to me
You can talk to me
You can talk to me, if you're lonely you can talk to me.
Hey!
Wahoo woof! Woof!
Hey bulldog! Hey bulldog!
Hey bulldog! Hey bulldog!
-w-
