Recording: Happiness Is A Warm Gun

Studio Two, EMI Studios, Abbey Road
Producer: Chris Thomas
Engineer: Ken Scott

The Beatles continued work on ‘Happiness Is A Warm Gun’ during this 7pm-2am session. While recording the song, they used the working title ‘Happiness Is A Warm Gun In Your Hand’.

Forty-five takes of the rhythm track had been recorded in the first session. On this evening they taped another 25, numbered 46-70, with the same instruments as before: John Lennon playing electric guitar and singing a guide vocal, George Harrison on another electric guitar, Paul McCartney playing bass, and Ringo Starr on drums.

Eventually it was decided that take 53 was the best performance of the bulk of the song, but, from the singing of the title until the end, take 65 had been best. The two parts were edited together during the following session; the edit can be heard at 1’35” in the final recording.

Lyrics for Happiness Is A Warm Gun, transcribed by Mal Evans