Written by: Lennon-McCartney
Recorded: 18 September 1968
Producer: Chris Thomas
Engineer: Ken Scott
Released: 22 November 1968 (UK), 25 November 1968 (US)
Paul McCartney: vocals, piano, handclaps
John Lennon: vocals, backing vocals, lead guitar, handclaps
George Harrison: bass, handclaps
Ringo Starr: drums, tambourine, handclaps
Pattie Harrison, Yoko Ono: backing vocals, handclaps
Mal Evans: handclaps
Available on:
The Beatles (White Album)
The opening song in the second half of The Beatles' White Album, Birthday emerged from a jam in Abbey Road's studio two.
The Beatles had scheduled an earlier start for their 18 September 1968 session, in order to watch the classic rock 'n' roll film The Girl Can't Help It. It was showing that night for the first time on British TV, on BBC Two between 9.05 and 10.40pm.
I had mentioned to Paul a couple of days earlier about The Girl Can't Help It being on television during this evening. The idea was to start the session earlier than usual, about five o'clock in the afternoon, and then all nip around the corner to Paul's house in Cavendish Avenue, watch the film and go back to work.
So on the day Paul was the first one in, and he was playing the Birthday riff. Eventually the others arrived, by which time Paul had literally written the song, right there in the studio. We had the backing track down by about 8.30, popped around to watch the film as arranged and then came back and actually finished the whole song. It was all done in a day!
The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions, Mark Lewisohn
Chris Thomas was standing in for George Martin, who was away at the time. Paul McCartney's memory is that the song was a joint effort with John Lennon.
We thought, 'Why not make something up?' So we got a riff going and arranged it around this riff. We said, 'We'll go to there for a few bars, then we'll do this for a few bars.' We added some lyrics, then we got the friends who were there to join in on the chorus. So that is 50-50 John and me, made up on the spot and recorded all on the same evening. I don't recall it being anybody's birthday in particular but it might have been, but the other reason for doing it is that, if you have a song that refers to Christmas or a birthday, it adds to the life of the song, if it's a good song, because people will pull it out on birthday shows, so I think there was a little bit of that at the back of our minds.
Many Years From Now, Barry Miles
John Lennon, interestingly, later claimed that the song had been written in India. While this has been disputed by others, he did throw some light on the sound effects that can be heard towards the end of the song, particularly after the final chord.
Birthday was a straightforward song to record, and all four Beatles contributed. Backing vocals were added by Pattie Harrison and Yoko Ono, and all - including the group's assistant Mal Evans - recorded handclaps.
The effects heard towards the song's end, and in the 'I would like you to dance' section, were created by a piano microphone fed through a guitar amplifier with effects added.
Based around a standard blues structure, Birthday contains one of McCartney's finest vocal performances on the White Album. Perhaps the soundtrack to The Girl Can't Help It - which featured Little Richard, Gene Vincent, Eddie Cochran, Fats Domino and others - played a part.
Birthday was written in the studio. Just made up on the spot. I think Paul wanted to write a song like Happy Birthday Baby, the old Fifties hit. But it was sort of made up in the studio. It was a piece of garbage.
All We Are Saying, David Sheff
According to Paul, who should know since he was there, Birthday is a collaboration of him and John, the only such song on the White Album.
If it was a collaboration, it probably was one of the weakest, as the song sounds as if it was made up on the spot.
According to the comment from Paul (from his own book), it was made up on the spot.
I think it was collaboration but not a 50-50. Though paul said it was, John's and chris thomas comments indicates that it was mostly a McCartney's song.
I agree.
Don't you believe Paul?
Isn't Many Years From Now, Paul's revelations of the songwriting story?
Who knows better?
Paul McCartney or Chris Thomas?
In "Many Years From Now" Paul writes much which is - in my opinion - controversial. For example: He says that he wrote the "I read the news today"-part from "A Day in the Life" together with John. But we all know that John wrote this bit alone.
There is definitely more than one guitar on this song whether it's John overdubbed or Paul or George. Listen carefully to the remastered version.
You are completly right
Certainly not a particularly great song but a really enjoyable performance. Sounds like they had fun doing this one, unlike most of the album. How is it that Pattie Harrison was the only Beatle wife allowed to contribute to recordings?
Paul plays lead guitar on this also
i'm quite sure that someone played organ on 1:11 till 1:25.
somebody know who?
That was a treated (altered-sound) piano, played by McCartney.
Any song is really only as good as it's performance; the rock and roll genre itself being based on simple live performances by gifted (and largely unschooled) garage-band musicians. To come up with such a solid rocker while just jamming and goofing around reveals not only great musicianship but a mastery of Rock's blues-based roots few other pop groups had. Not only is Birthday one of my favorites on the White Album, it really shows the talent the Beatles had. If disc 2 only had less Revolution No. 9 and more Birthday/Yer Blues or Back in the USSR/Dear Prudence combos (almost like double A sided singles in album format...)
The White Album has several not so great songs. But Birthday isn't one of them. I can only wonder what the album would have been like if George Martin's wishes had been followed and a single disc (rather than double) had been produced. Ah well, it's the White Album. Perhaps best to let it be and enjoy.
"I can only wonder what the album would have been like if George Martin's wishes had been followed and a single disc (rather than double) had been produced."
Yep. I'd imagine most Beatle fans have wondered that at one time or another. It's fun to sit down and try to pick the 14 tracks that should be included
I've tried, then I think "what's the use." I'd have to leave out something I really like!
There's a thread about this very subject on the forum. Feel free to register and join in!
I don't think I could altruistically follow the forum's parameters. There's a number of songs I'd eliminate but I don't think 7 songs per side would represent enough of those songs I consider essential and just have to keep.
Also I'm not sure reinventing the white album would be anything more than an exercise of my liking certain songs best. Having said that I'd probably have to go with maybe 8 songs per side (long -- about 25-26 minutes per side but not unheard of on albums.) I also couldn't include Ringo because the one song he wrote for himself (instead of Lennon-McCartney) is one I would definitely eliminate. Sorry Richard!
Oh well...
How silly to try to draw from the whole that is The White Album. The greatness of which is the plentyful of material to choose from! There's a whole McCartney album in there! A whole Lennon album! And half a Harrison album as well! Stay away from the tracks you don't like and there's still enough stuff to blow you away, right?
(Birthday is one of the best in there, imho!)
I prefer to listen to it as a whole. Well... While having tea of course.