February 1967: Paul's Record

     

    Around the same time that John was photographed in the last post, Paul was photographed leaving Hille House (9 Stafford Street, London, where Brian Epstein had a private office away from NEMS) carrying the latest LP by The Lovin' Spoonful. Released on Kama Sutra Records in October 1966 in the US (their third album in a year), the record is Hums Of The Lovin' Spoonful. This LP was not available in the UK, however, until January 1967.

     This album is heavily influenced by American roots musical styles like folk, country and jug band. I do not hear any obvious influence on Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, but we know The Beatles were fans of The Lovin' Spoonful. First, John and George went to see them at the Marquee Club on 18 April 1966. The picture below shows John and George speaking with Spoonful members John Sebastian, Joe Butler and Steve Boone that night (Zal Yanovsky may have been just out of shot).

    The next month, Paul, inspired by Sebastian's 'Daydream' (the title song of the Spoonful's previous album and a current hit at the time), wrote 'Good Day Sunshine' during a writing session with John at Kenwood. In Many Years From Now, Paul remembered:

    It was really very much a nod to The Lovin’ Spoonful’s ‘Daydream’, the same traditional, almost trad-    jazz feel. That was our favourite record of theirs. ‘Good Day Sunshine’ was me trying to write something similar to ‘Daydream’. John and I wrote it together at Kenwood, but it was basically mine, and he helped me with it.

Paul wrote the lyrics out on the back of a letter sent by fan Marguerite Libera to John (postmarked in Hartford, Connecticut on 27 May). The track was recorded over two days (8-9 June), one of the last to be taped for inclusion on Revolver.

    

    During the January 1969 'Get Back' sessions, The Beatles spontaneously jammed both 'Daydream' (on 21 January) and 'Nashville Cats' (on 25 January).