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’.

The EMI tape box incorrectly indicated that three takes were recorded, since the reel itself contained six.

Each take contained Paul McCartney on piano, George Harrison on bass guitar, John Lennon on tambourine, and Ringo Starr on drums, all recorded onto track one of the four-track tape.

Take one was considered the best. McCartney then overdubbed lead vocals onto track three, with harmonies in the chorus by Lennon and Harrison.

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