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The songs on The Beatles composed
in India tended to be guitar-based because the Beatles only
had stringed instruments with them while they were
away.
However 'Birthday', was written in
Abbey Road Studios, on September 18, 1968 with Paul thumping
out the basic tune on a piano. According to John, Paul had
been thinking of 'Happy, Happy Birthday', a 1957 hit in
America for the Tuneweavers, but wanted to produce something
which sounded contemporary and rock'n'roll. It was also
Linda Eastman's 26th arriving in London the following weeks,
just in time to celebrate.
Paul went in the studio during the
late afternoon of the 18th and worked out the basic keyboard
riff. Later John, George and Ringo came in and added a
backing track. During the evening, the four of them took a
break and went round to Paul's house to watch the British
television premiere of The Girl Can't Help It (1956), which
starred Jayne Mansfield and featured music by Fats Domino,
Gene Vincent, the Treniers, the Platters, Little Richard and
Eddie Cochran.
Perhaps inspired by this dose of
early rock'n'roll, the Beatles returned to the studio around
11pm and completed the vocals. Each of the Beatles threw in
lines and Yoko Ono and Pattie Harrison helped with the
backing. "We just made up the words in the studio," said
Paul. "It's one of my favourite tracks on the album because
it was instantaneous. It's a good one to dance
to."
John's opinion, volunteered 12
years later, was par foe the course. "It's a piece of
garbage."
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