Studio Two, EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Producer: Chris Thomas
Engineer: Ken Scott
One of the White Album’s highlights, ‘Happiness Is A Warm Gun’, had its first recording session on this evening.
The session took place from 7pm-3am. The Beatles recorded 45 takes of the song, which had the working title ‘Happiness Is A Warm Gun In Your Hand’. John Lennon played electric guitar and sang a guide vocal, George Harrison was on another electric guitar, Paul McCartney played bass, and Ringo Starr was on drums.
The song’s various changes in tempo and time signature resulting in a number of breakdowns. The following evening they taped another 25 attempts, which eventually resulted in a usable backing track.
Lyrics for Happiness Is A Warm Gun, transcribed by Mal Evans
Also on this day...
- 2023: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Fox Theatre, St Louis
- 2022: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater, Bridgeport
- 2018: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, Saint Paul
- 2017: Paul McCartney live: Carrier Dome, Syracuse
- 2013: Paul McCartney live: El Capitan Outdoor Stage, Los Angeles (Jimmy Kimmel Live)
- 2005: Paul McCartney live: Wachovia Center, Philadelphia
- 2003: Paul McCartney live: Adopt-A-Minefield Gala, Los Angeles
- 2002: Paul McCartney live: Xcel Energy Center, Saint Paul
- 1993: Paul McCartney live: Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle, Stuttgart
- 1975: Wings live: Caird Hall, Dundee
- 1974: US single release: Whatever Gets You Thru The Night by John Lennon
- 1967: Filming: Magical Mystery Tour
- 1962: The Beatles live: Cavern Club, Liverpool (evening)
- 1961: The Beatles live: Aintree Institute, Liverpool
- 1960: The Beatles live: Indra Club, Hamburg
Want more? Visit the Beatles history section.
During ‘Happiness is a Warm Gun’ overdubs, neither John nor George were very happy with the bend notes on the ‘I need a fix’ section, as originally played on George’s Les Paul, ‘Lucy’. That’s when they remembered the ‘mad’ Fretless guitar in the cupboard.
“Both John and George then played several versions of the very bendy guitar line on the fretless, with compression and a vox distortion pedal. George could not recall whose version was used in the end.”
?
The characteristic timbre of a fretless guitar is unmistakable (0:44– 0:58).