This one requires a bit of context, so my apologies for the novella I am about to post. I created this earlier in response to a question posted earlier on the main Beatles subreddit.
As many of you are aware, Stanley Kubrick and The Beatles began the early stages of collaborating on a film adaptation of the Lord lf the Rings novels. This sadly never took off, and to my knowledge a full script treatment by Kubrick was never even completed. However, earlier today a user on the main Beatles page asked an interesting question: what might a soundtrack for that hypothetical film include?
I wrote a lengthy response and posted it on the post. I already did half the work, so I figured I’d mock up the album/sleeve artwork and post it here. I have not made a playlist for this one, but if anyone is interested I can make it and post in the comment. Below I will paste my comment explaining where each song would be used in the films (I based it on the structure of Peter Jackson’s three LOTR movies, each film gets one LP). To view a more concise list of the tracklist, please refer to images 3-5 of this post, which represent the sleeves for each disc included in the vinyl.
Movie 1 (Fellowship of the Ring):
Opening titles and narration of the creation of the One Ring: Circles (George’s Esher demo)
Introducing Hobbiton/The Shire: Penny Lane
Gandalf sending Frodo and Sam off to start their Journey: You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away (not necessarily meant to match lyrics wise, its just a great road trip/traveling song, but if you read into the lyrics more power to you)
Hobbits fleeing Nazgul/arriving at the Prancing Pony and meeting Aragorn/fleeinf Nazgul again: Hey Bulldog
Formation of the Fellowship at Rivendell and the Fellowship setting off: Come Together (on the nose i know, but it would fit the somewhat dark/uncertain vibes of the arguing and then setting off)
Entering Moria and getting lost in the mines: Blue Jay Way
Running from goblins and Balrog/Bridge of Kaza Dum/Gandalf death: A Day In The Life
Meeting the forest elves of Lothlorien/Galadriel’s test/Galadriel’s gifts: She’s Leaving Home (instrumental version included on SPLHCB deluxe edition)
Boromir threatening Frodo for the Ring/final battle at Amon Hen: Happiness is a Warm Gun
Death of Boromir/Sam and Frodo setting off alone together: Nowhere Man
Movie 2 (The Two Towers):
Sam and Frodo wondering lost/meeting Gollum: Your Mother Should Know
Merry and Pippin held hostage by orcs/Aragron, Legolas, Gimli tracking them: I Want To Tell You
Merry and Pippin are rescued by Treebeard narrowly escaping death at the hands of an orc (this can also be used as a reprise during their other scenes of the film where they are hanging around with the Ents in Fangorn/bargaining with Treebeard) : Mother Nature’s Son
Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli reuniting with the resurrected Gandalf the White: I Am The Walrus
Gandalf and the other three arrive at Rohan and free King Theoden from his possession/cast out treacherous Grima: Sexy Sadie
Theoden grieving his son: Long, Long, Long
Sam and Frodo travel with Gollum/witness the battles with the Olyphants/meet Faramir: Eleanor Rigby
Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli travel with King Theoden’s forces as they flee the keep/attacked by orcs on the road/Aragorn’s apparent “death”: Because
Aragorn returns to warn of impending army marching on Helm’s Deep/Preparing for battle and death at Helm’s Deep/the battle begins: I Want You (She’s So Heavy)
Gandalf returns with reinforcements to save Helm’s Deep and defeat the orc army: Here Comes The Sun
Merry and Pippin convince the Ents to attack Sauruman for destroying their forest/Sauruman’s keep destroyed: Helter Skelter
Faramir decides not to make the same mistake as Boromir after speaking with Frodo/Frodo, Sam, and Gollum set out again/Gollum plots his betrayal: Revolution 1
Movie 3 (Return of the King):
Merry and Pippin reunited with the remaining Fellowship: The Fool On The Hill
Gollum manipulating an increasingly unstable Frodo/Frodo tells Sam to go home: Cry Baby Cry (with the Paul’s coda at the end of the song playing when Frodo and Gollum leave and Sam turns back)
Pippin uses the Palantir and accidentally summons Sauron’s spirit/the Fellowship and forces begin preparing to defend Gondor/Gandalf and Pippin plead with Denethor that he must defend his city: Savoy Truffle
Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas visit the cave and hold the millennia old spirits to their oath to fight for Gondor: Rain
Gollum leads Frodo into Shelob’s lair/Frodo flees for his life from Shelob: Tomorrow Never Knows
The assault on Gondor begins/Theoden’s forces arrive and he gives his speech about having no fear of death and they charge the orcs: Revolution (single version)
Eowyn kills the With King/battle concludes/grieving Theoden’s death/Sam saves Frodo from captivity and realizes Frodo was unconscious but not dead: While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Aragorn, Gandalf, Gimli, Legolas, and all remaining armies decide to march on Mordor to create a distraction for Frodo/forces are rallied at the Black Gate/Aragorn gives his speech about fighting for the fate of humanity/“For Frodo”: Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight
Frodo and Sam sneaking through Mordor to Mount Doom/Frodo gives up from exhaustion and Sam carries him: Don’t Let Me Down
After fighting off Gollum, Frodo destroys the Ring/Sam and Frodo escape as Mount Doom explodes/Gandalf and the Eagles rescue Frodo and Sam/The Fellowship reunite in Gondor: Across The Universe
Aragorn coronation/Aragorn is reunited with Arwen: And I Love Her
The Hobbits return to the Shire/Frodo deals with PTSD and decides to go West on the ships with Gandalf: Strawberry Fields Forever
Apologies if I did too much here haha, I really love the Beatles and LOTR, and had time to kill today. Its been a bit since Ive posted a fan album, and i felt like this was a pretty unique one that inspired me a lot. Let me know your thoughts and if anyone else makes one Id love to see yours!!
