Birthday by The Beatles

Album: The White Album (1968)

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The Beatles gave us this rock and roll alternative to "Happy Birthday" on The White Album in 1968. Paul McCartney told Mojo magazine October 2008 the story of this song: "With 'Birthday' we had a few friends around and it was one of our party's birthday, can't remember who. Pattie Boyd was there, Terry Dolan, just a few mates. Normally we didn't have friends around to sessions so it was very unusual. We didn't know what song to do so we decided to make one up. We did what Roy Orbison had done with 'Pretty Woman' and Little Richard had started with 'Lucille,' do-do do-do do-do do-do; Roy Orbison goes, do-do do-do DO-DO DO-DO- he just changes the end a little bit. We changed basically the same riff of Lucille and Pretty Woman into Birthday- do-do do-do do-do do-do...'You say it's your birthday.'"
Many of the songs The Beatles worked on for The White Album were labored, but they cranked out "Birthday" in one night: September 18, 1968.

According to Q magazine May 2008, the Beatles were in a rush to get to Paul McCartney's house in time to catch the rock 'n' roll movie The Girl Can't Help It on TV. Consequently they played around with a simple blues track rather than record anything too involved. Duly inspired after watching the movie, they completed the song back in the studio in sessions that creeped into the next morning.

The Girl Can't Help It, released in America in 1956, stars Jayne Mansfield, but The Beatles were more interested in the musical acts, particularly Little Richard, a huge influence on Paul McCartney. Other performers in the film include Gene Vincent, Fats Domino and Eddie Cochran. The film was a major influence on John Lennon, who saw it when he was 16. It allowed him to see his American rock and roll heroes as actual, living human beings that one could aspire to become.
This was one of the last songs John Lennon and Paul McCartney collaborated on. Even though all of their songs were credited to Lennon/McCartney, many of their later songs were written separately.
The unique sound of this song was not supplied by an organ or any kind of keyboard. It came from running a guitar through a Leslie speaker. Such speakers are commonly found in keyboard instruments. The speaker rotates, which is what provides the different sound. >>
Suggestion credit:
don - rapid city, SD
There is a rumor that McCartney owns the rights to the song "Happy Birthday." McCartney does own publishing rights to a lot of songs, but not that one.
McCartney played an upright piano that was rigged to sound like a harpsichord.
The Beatles could have used traditional background singers on this track, but instead they commandeered Pattie Harrison and Yoko Ono to sing the "birthday" line in the chorus, simulating the regular voices that would sing a birthday greeting. When Bob Rivers recorded a Christmas parody called "Jesus's Birthday," he learned that professional background singers don't work on the song - he ended up getting his wife to sing on it.
Paul Weller covered the song to celebrate McCartney turning 70. His version was made available for download on Sir Paul's actual birthday (June 18th, 2012) for one day only and it entered the UK Singles chart at #64. Proceeds from the cover went to the War Child charity.
Paul played the lead guitar on this with John, as well as the piano, which was cleverly miked and fed into a Vox Defiant, a solid state amp, which featured a unique mid-range booster. You can hear the settings change throughout. >>
Suggestion credit:
Eli - Melrose Park, PA

Comments: 53

M. Turboffy from Alma Co.Umm interesting version. Definitely the WA tract. What the hell sounds like its live. A bootleg?? They did absolutely no live bits fm. 1966 thru the "Let It Be" roof top mini concert. What caught my hearing , initally, was the different, for the, drum line. Ringo or Paul?? Catchy fun song, not a heavy deep tune...
Chloe AndersonI read John Lennon hated this song
Abbie from New South Wales, AustraliaWow, John (or is it Paul?) sounds really aggressive about wanting "you" to dance, haha! Love the song though, I always play it on my birthday.
Virginia Abreu De Paula from Brazil"This was one of the last songs John Lennon and Paul McCartney collaborated on. Even though all of their songs were credited to Lennon/McCartney, many of their later songs were written separately". No really a fact. No need to inform that as it may give the impression they didn't collaborated anymore. We know they started doing lots of things apart but they kept on showing their songs to each other and yes, some were indeed Lennon McCartney. I got a feeling is a good example that was composed later and they were together. Also "Come Together". I know it is written one of last songs. But it indeed may give the wrong idea they were already totally apart. I have just remembered two songs they worked together. I do think All I want is the Truth was composed later. Paul worked a lot in that song. It was released much later in a John's solo album as it was only his. And yet Paul collaborated even in the lyrics.
AnonymousMy understanding is both John and George played the lead guitar. They apparently traded off.
Richard from San DiegoIt totally sounds like McCartney on drums.
Henry from Rhode Island, UsaI'm very surprised nobody has mention this so far: This song contains what is perhaps the most obvious and blatant editing error in all of Beatles music. When Paul shouts "Dance!" at 2:08, one take of him shouting "Dance!" was poorly spliced on top of a previous take, so it appears that he shouts "Dance! —aaaance!" Once you hear it, you will never un-hear it again!
Dawn from NycFor those that regard the Beatles White Album as their interpretation of the Book of Revelations, the song "Birthday" is about being born again, which is why it is the singer's birthday too.

"They say it's your birthday
Well it's my birthday too, yeah"
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn July 13th 1969, "Birthday" by Underground Sunshine entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #100; and on August 31st, 1969 it peaked at #26 (for 1 week) and spent 10 weeks on the Top 100...
And on August 2nd, 2014 they performed the song on the ABC-TV program 'American Bandstand', at the time it was at #56 on the Top 100...
It was the group's only Top 100 record.
Pam from New York, Ny@Sara, Nashville, TN: The song is not "Happy birthday to you,etc." It's an original composition.
Pam from New York, Ny@Shari, Roswell, NM: The song IS Birthday!
Jim Ravagno from Boston, MaIt was my understanding there were only two Beatles perfoming on this recording, John and Paul. The song mostly written by Paul.
Needless to say in 1968 Yoko was in the studio, It was the White Album, this compliation was mostly a solo effort by the Beatles
at this time in their history. This studio recording featured John playing Lead guitar. Paul Playing Bass and Drums, keyboards
Only one background singer (sounds like Yoko). If you listen very carefully that all that can be identified. Don't know how Patty Boyd
fits into this or even George for that matter. The only way to tell for sure is by the actual studio sheet....
Janice from Hollywood, CaJohn Lennon called this song "a piece of garbage". - He was right. The song is a piece of crap and isn't worthy of inclusion on any of their albums.
Breanna from Henderson, NvI went and saw the show Love in Vegas and it was for my birthday and before the show, they play Beatles songs and this was the first song I heard.
Jennifer Harris from Grand Blanc, MiI love this song! It'll soon be My 36th birtday and my brother's 31st birthday.John Lennon Would've been gone 29 years December 8th. I was 7years old.
Freddy from Miami, FlIncredible how they go from seriously deep composed songs to going wild and having fun, truly amazing and why i love them.
M from Topeka, KsI'd like to add some clarity to Don's explanation of what a Leslie speaker is. It is named for its inventor, Don Leslie. The speaker is not commonly found in any instrument, but there are a few console organs that have a version of this device built in. The form it usually takes is a wood cabinet with three chambers: top, middle and bottom. The middle chamber contains a fairly ordinary two-way speaker configuration of a woofer and a tweeter, with the tweeter pointing into the upper chamber and the woofer pointing into the lower chamber. The upper and lower chambers contain rotating waveguides that direct the sound horizontally in a constantly-changing direction within these chambers, which have slots on all sides for the sound waves to exit from. Most users that I'm aware of have removed the covers from the back of these upper and lower chambers, and set the cabinet backwards so that the rotating waveguides, or rotors, are clearly seen (and more clearly heard). The rotors have two speeds of rotation, which produce correspondingly fast or slow tremolo effects. When the switch is made from fast to slow or vice-versa, not just the difference in speed, but the transition in speed is very noticeable. The high-frequency and low frequency rotors are not synchronized and because of the difference in their mass, they don't rotate at exactly the same speed at all times. All this changing in direction and speed and reflection off the insides of these chambers creates a modulation of the sound waves that is very pleasing to the ear. The device was created to improve the sound of Hammond organs, and does it ever! If you hear a song with Hammond organ, you are hearing the Leslie speaker at work (with a few exceptions such as Deep Purple's "Smoke on the Water"). "Time is Tight" by Booker T. and the M.G.'s is a stellar example of the Leslie at work. The Beatles, of course, were not bashful about using something in a new and different way; and may not have been the first to play a guitar through a Leslie, but did so to great effect (they did so extensively on "Abbey Road" - most noticeably on the beginning of "Sun King"). Others who did so include Eric Clapton, such as on the middle section of "Badge". It has also been used as a way to alter ordinary sound -- such as a flute on Jethro Tull's "Teacher" - and Ozzy's voice on "Planet Caravan".
K from Nowhere, Onthis IS that song, shai
Brad from Lexington, KyHe can't anymore Linc from Beaumont, he's dead.
Shai from Roswell, Nmoh i'm confused! okay if this song is called birthday what is the Beatles song that goes " they say it's your birthday, well it's my birthday to, yeah. and i would like you to dance (birthday) take a cha-cha-cha-chance " if anybody knows please, please tell me!
Linc from Beaumont, TxIf I had to guess - I would say Michael Jackson owns the publishing rights to this song.
Olivia from Chicago, Ili would learn to play the guitar just to rock this song
Olivia from Chicago, Ilpeter griffin: the white album says birthday
Dakota from Mansfield, OhIf you play this song reversed they are celebrating Paul's death.
Peter Griffin from Quahog, RiAnother one of the best Beatles songs off the White Album. This beats that junk they sing for your birthday every year.
Meredith from Wauwatosa, WiMy 10th grade Global Studies teacher played this song on people's birthdays and my mom played it on my 17th birthday. I love that it's a birthday song, but also a hard rock song! Very cool!
Peter Griffin from Quahog, RiI've got at least one source that says this song's name is "Happy Birthday."
Lalah from Wasilla, AkBen Dirks: The show you're thinking about was called Moonlighting. Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepard (sp) starred. the premise was a super model who's millions were purloined and squandered away except for a private investigator (willis). She becomes partners with him. It wasn't a bad show for the 80s. Bruce willis mafe it great. Great song to play air guitar.
Ben Dirks from NijmegenAbout 25 years ago [?] there was a TV series with Bruce Willis as a detective with a blonde female colleague who were always quarreling with each other. I forgot the title of that series; it was their two names I think. BUT ... in one episode the song BIRTHDAY is sung a capella in their office to one colleague by all others who sing that guitar riff and the melody. Anybody remembers that?!?
Ozzy from Fresno, Cahey the fist time i heard this was when i got the white album for my b-day. i luv this song
Poop from Poopville, MoIm a big flyers fan and when I go to flyers games they always play this song as they run birthday names... this is just one awesome song off an album that seems to go every way possible. No rapping though... lol that would be weird.
Krissy from Boston, MaThis is a really good rock song.
Joe from Montvale, NjThe riff and song was made on the spot and the siren sounding sounds in the end of the song is actually a piano through Leslie speaker a technique they used on practically every instrument they recorded and even with vocals.The piano also seems to be mimicking vocal lines during the song.
Josie from Funkytown, NcIn "Sixteen Candles" a 1984 film, Anthony Michael Hall, playing "the geek" as usual, sings this to a humiliated sixteen-year-old. Poor Molly Ringwald.
Maggie from Davison, United StatesDoes anybody know why or for who the Beatle's Birthday song was written?
Brittany from VirginiaSean, Toronto, Canada:

It's called public domain. Public domain is when an object's copyright "runs out". We went over public domain in my journalism class. I think that it actually takes 70 years, not 50, for a work (an object) to fall into public domain. But I could be wrong...
Sean from Toronto, CanadaIf the composer of a song has been dead for more than 50 years then their work becomes public I think.
Sara from Nashville, TnI had never heard that Paul McCartney owned the rights to "Happy Birthday". A friend told me that it was Michael Jackson. Well, come to think of it, this is the same friend that believed me when I told her that gullible wasn't in the dictionary...
Jerry from Portland, OrI read that John Lennon called this song "a piece of garbage". John was never a very good judge of his own great work. He had disparaging remarks for some of his real classics, e.g. "I Should Have Known Better".
Steve from Fenton, MoI read that the Beatles used this song to warm up before recording sessions for a time. Eventually they recorded it and put it on the White Album.
Stefanie Magura from Rock Hill, ScMike's correct guys. I heard an in interview of Paul McCartney about this song and he said the piano was fed through a guitar speaker. Sounds pretty cool actually.
Mike from Emmaus, PaIt was actually a piano fed through a guitar amplifier to get that sound that McCartney discovered. Great guitar playing from John and George is pretty cool on bass.
Barry from New York, NcThis was recorded in mono except for the vocals which are in stereo. If you listen to the vocals in headphones, the stereo effect is quite interesting on the ears.
Mark from Middletown, OrI played and sang this song for years when it was somebodies birthday but that was cuz i liked it and it was a birthday song and it was by the Beatles who are my favorite. But this song became very special to me on Jan. 9, 1995. That was the day my youngest grandson was born. I was born on Jan. 9, 1952. It was my birthday too .. yeah ! Best birthday present I ever got !!!
Joseph from Manteca, CaHey, I think Moose Jaw's got a point.
Allen from Some Place, AkThis song is good to listin to even though its not anyones birthday!
Katie from Charlotte, NcAnthony Michael Hall (as Farmer Ted) sings this song in Sixteen Candles.
Matt from Saugus, MaFor the longest time, I thought that the lyrics "yes we're going to a party party" were "Yes we're going to-a party hearty"
Moonunit from Greensboro, NcYeah, it doesn't sound remotely like that to me, and I'd be willing to say I'm speaking for the entire population of the world of the world except for you, Matt of Moose Jaw, Canada.
Matt from Moose Jaw, Canadamaybe its just me, but the part where they say "yes we're going to a party party" sounds a lot like "come on baby finish what ya started" by van halen
Conrad from Los Angeles, CaI think that's the reason they used this for car commercials, at least in L.A. You wouldn't have to pay huge rights for a Beatles song, but instead bypass it and pay the Happy Birthday Guy
Jacko from Bedrock, United StatesI usually listen to this song about once a year.
Joe from New York, NyThe song "Happy Birthday" is not a traditional song, as it happens. It was written in 1893, copyrighted in 1935 and still earns significant licensing fees. The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers selected it as one of its top 25 songs of the 20th century in 1999. (See http://www.ascap.com/press/songs-122799.html.)

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