Recording, editing: Good Day Sunshine, And Your Bird Can Sing

Studio Two, EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Producer: George Martin
Engineer: Geoff Emerick

The backing track for Paul McCartney’s song ‘Good Day Sunshine’ was recorded during a 12-hour session which began at 2.30pm.

Before it took place, however, Geoff Emerick made an edit of two mono mixes of ‘And Your Bird Can Sing’, numbered 9 and 10, which had been made on 6 June 1966. Emerick worked alone in the control room of Studio Two from 1-2pm.

Upon their arrival in the studio, The Beatles rehearsed ‘Good Day Sunshine’ for some time before recording began. At this stage the song had the working title ‘A Good Day’s Sunshine’.

They recorded three takes of the rhythm track, the first of which was chosen as the best. McCartney played piano and Ringo Starr was on drums. Onto track two of the four-track tape McCartney added lead vocals for the verses; track three featured John Lennon and McCartney’s vocals in the chorus; and McCartney’s bass guitar was overdubbed onto track four.

Recording for ‘Good Day Sunshine’ was completed on the following day, 9 June 1966.