Written by: Lennon-McCartney
Recorded: 8, 9 June 1966
Producer: George Martin
Engineer: Geoff Emerick
Released: 5 August 1966 (UK), 8 August 1966 (US)
Paul McCartney: vocals, bass, piano, handclaps
John Lennon: backing vocals, handclaps
George Harrison: backing vocals, handclaps
Ringo Starr: drums, handclaps
George Martin: piano
Available on:
Revolver
Capturing the mood of the gloriously hot summer of 1966, Good Day Sunshine kicked off side two of Revolver.
It was really very much a nod to The Lovin' Spoonful's Daydream, the same traditional, almost trad-jazz feel. That was our favourite record of theirs. Good Day Sunshine was me trying to write something similar to Daydream. John and I wrote it together at Kenwood, but it was basically mine, and he helped me with it.
Many Years From Now, Barry Miles
In the studio
Good Day Sunshine was recorded over two days in June 1966, under the working title A Good Day's Sunshine. On 8 June The Beatles rehearsed the track many times before recording the rhythm track - bass, piano and drums - three times.
The first of these takes was the best, and onto it Paul overdubbed his lead vocals, along with harmonies from John and George.
The next day Ringo added more drums, George Martin played his piano solo, more harmonies were added to the ending, and all four Beatles taped handclaps.
Related articles:
- Recording: Good Day Sunshine
- Recording, mixing: Good Day Sunshine
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- Recording, mixing: I Want To Tell You, Yellow Submarine
- Recording: Taxman
Is that really ringo saying "she fuckin' does" during that last verse at about 1:25?
I know Paul was talented but did he really play both bass and piano when recording the rhythm tracks - you'd need 4 hands to do so (4 Hands to Mold You?). Perhaps somebody else played a temporary piano or bass track and Paul replaced it later? More likely Paul and Ringo recorded piano and drums with the bass and the rest overdubbed.
Everett’s take:
Paul plays piano and Ringo drums for the basic track. Paul’s lead vocal for the verses went onto track two and John and Paul’s vocals for the chorus went on to track three. The bass was added to track four. These four tracks were reduced to two tracks.
Ringo then added more crash cymbals, bass drum and snare to the choruses plus tom or rim tapping elsewhere. At the same time Paul added a shuffling lead piano part and those available clapped hands for the last verse and chorus.
The fourth track had George Martin recording the tremolo-rich honky-tonk piano solo (at a slower speed) and Paul, John and George adding vocals for the coda which were given tape echo.
During the "Good Day Sunshine" parts, you can here the snare drum rolls, and an extra snare drum along with the beat. There are 2 drum parts, presumably Ringo. Maybe one was played by paul?
No, both parts were played by Ringo.
But why were there 2 drum parts at all?
GM's solo is played in a grand piano with some effect or is it an electric one, like a fender rhodes or even a Hofner ?