The structure of “Happiness Is A Warm Gun” is unique for The Beatles. “These were all different segments of songs that I wrote altogether and stuck them all in one piece,” Lennon told Rolling Stone. “Just like a collage, instead of an album like Pepper. This was all done in one song and it went through all the different styles of rock ‘n’ roll.” There are no repeated parts. Besides the avant garde experimental sound collage “Revolution 9,” the band doesn’t do anything like this except in the Abbey Road medley. “Happiness Is A Warm Gun” moves through pieces and time signatures. Beats are added to measures to suit the lyrics.The Beatles started recording the song at 7 p.m. in Studio Two at EMI Studios in London on September 23, 1968. Produced by Chris Thomas because George Martin was on holiday, the basic track is the Beatles’ classic lineup: Lennon on electric rhythm guitar, McCartney on bass guitar, Harrison on lead guitar, with Starr on drums and tambourine. The band recorded 45 takes the first night, and the reels caught them talking about how to approach the complicated time shifts. They finished at 3 the following morning, with nothing usable committed to tape. On September 24th, they ran through 25 takes. Then Thomas and engineers Ken Scott and Mike Sheady spliced take 53 with take 65 for the basic rhythm track. Over the next two nights, Paul added another bass guitar, piano, and a tuba track that was mostly pulled out of the mix, though occasionally, the ambient sound of it can be heard. John added an organ part. Ringo overdubbed tambourine and additional snare drum beats. “Happiness Is a Warm Gun” was finished at 5 in the morning of September 26.
