Written by Lauren Rosier
The 1984 release of “We All Stand Together” is being released limited edition picture disc vinyl on November 6th via MPL/Universal/UMe. It’s been 36 years since its release and the 40th anniversary of when McCartney recorded the song at AIR Studios in London. The vinyl is a special design, shaped exactly the same as its 1984 release. The 2020 version also comes with a poster.
“Congratulations to Rupert on his 100th birthday. The great thing is he never looks a day older. Having been a fan of his since my early days in Liverpool, I know what he means to generations of young and old kids. In his character and attitudes to the world, he sums up the best of British tradition and reminds us of an innocence we would all love to cherish. So, congratulations my little bear. Your fans are celebrating your 100th birthday and I for one think you deserve a telegram from the Queen.” said Paul McCartney about the famous Rupert the Bear.
“We All Stand Together” was remastered at Abbey Road Studios by Alex Wharton, along with the B-side instrumental “We All Stand Together (Humming Version).”
The song was originally produced by George Martin and featured the King’s Singers and the Choir of St. Paul’s Cathedral. “We All Stand Together” is also known as “The Frog Song” and was a huge hit upon release. The song remained on the charts for 13 weeks, and quickly became a classic, and much-loved song among children.
In 1981, McCartney created a short animated film surrounding the song called Rupert and The Frog Song with animator Geoff Dunbar. The film, written and produced by McCartney, and directed by Dunbar, the Rupert and The Frog Song was released in 1984. McCartney voiced the character of Rupert and featured voices of British TV icons June Whitfield (as Rupert’s mother) and Windsor Davies (Father Frog).
The film was released simultaneously with the song, “We All Stand Together,” and went on to become the biggest-selling video of 1985 in the U.K. It helped earn McCartney a Grammy nomination, as well as seeing him win the Ivor Novello Award for Best Film Soundtrack, and also winning a BAFTA for Best Animated Short Film.
The film, as well as the frog anthem, was inspired by McCartney’s childhood love of Rupert and a specific drawing he remembered from the 1958 Rupert Bear Annual.
“I’ve always loved animation. It started with the Disney cartoons and went on from there. As a kid I would always get the Rupert Annual at Christmas. I remember getting the idea for a film project when looking through one of them. There was a standout image in color and when I saw it I could imagine a concert of frogs with them all doing different parts, a choir and an orchestra, and I could almost hear the music,” he explained.
The fully restored version of Rupert and The Frog Song animated film will premiere on YouTube on November 6.
