|
Birthday
(John Lennon/Paul McCartney)
Paul McCartney:
Vocals, piano
John Lennon: Vocals, lead guitar
George Harrison: 6-string bass
Ringo Starr: Drums, tambourine
Patti Harrison: Backing vocals
Yoko Ono: Backing vocals
All (plus Mal Evans): Handclaps
Recorded
September 18 1968.
Available on:
The
Beatles (The White Album)
Most of Birthday was written by Paul McCartney on the spot
in the studio. The song was roughly completed when the others
turned up, and the band then started to record a basic rythm
track for the song. In the evening, the Beatles and producer
Chris Thomas (who stepped in for George Martin on many of
the recording sessions for The White Album) went around
Paul's house to watch the 1956 rock and roll movie The Girl
Can't Help It, starring Little Richard among others, which
was shown on TV. It's possible that this movie influenced
some of Beatles' work on Birthday. When they returned
the studio to complete the recording the same evening, everyone
contributed with little ideas to the lyrics.
According
to John, Birthday had partly been inspired by "Happy,
Happy Birthday," a 1957 hit in the US with the Tuneweavers,
but Paul had wanted something with a contemporary feel.
Paul could also have been inspired by the fact that
Linda Eastman's (later McCartney) 26th birthday was coming up, and she was arriving in London the week after.
It's worth
noting that the recording of Birthday featured a pretty
unusual line up. Lead guitarist George Harrison played the
bass guitar, while his wife Patti Harrison and Yoko Ono
provided backing vocals.
Birthday
(John Lennon/Paul McCartney)
You say it's your birthday
It's my birthday too, yeah
They say it's you birthday
We're gonna have a good time
I'm glad it's your birthday
Happy birthday to you
Yes we're
going to a party, party
Yes we're going to a party, party
Yes we're going to a party, party
I would
like you to dance (birthday)
Take a cha-cha-cha-chance (birthday)
I would like you to dance (birthday)
Ooo, dance, yeah
I would
like you to dance (birthday)
Take a cha-cha-cha-chance (birthday)
I would like you to dance (birthday)
Ooo, dance
You say
it's your birthday
It's my birthday too, yeah
They say it's you birthday
We're gonna have a good time
I'm glad it's your birthday
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
|
