Day Tripper (Lennon/McCartney)
Inspired in part by John and George’s first experience with acid, Day Tripper was written under pressure for use as a single for the Christmas season. John wrote most of the song, with Paul contributing to each of the verses. Stereo mixes were done over a year after the song was released by balance engineer Peter Brown for the UK compilation A Collection Of Beatles Oldies.
The original stereo mix
The original stereo mix for Day Tripper (as well as We Can Work It Out) originally appeared only on the US LP Yesterday And Today. That mix was destroyed (and has not been issued on CD or digitally), and a new mix was created for the UK compilation LP A Collection Of Beatles Oldies – that mix was later used for the 1987 standardization of the Beatles’ catalog, appearing on Past Masters.
Quotes
“Day trippers are people who go on a day trip, right? Usually on a ferryboat or something. But it was kind of, you know – you’re just a weekend hippie. Get it?” – John Lennon
Recording dates
- October 16, 1965 (3 takes; basic track, vocal overdubs)
- October 25, 1965 (mono mixing)
- November 10, 1966 (stereo mixing)
Personnel
- John Lennon – lead vocal, rhythm and lead guitar
- Paul McCartney – lead vocal, bass guitar
- George Harrison – lead guitar, harmony vocal
- Ringo Starr – drums, tambourine
Release history
- We Can Work It Out/Day Tripper (single) (1965)
- A Collection Of Beatles Oldies (1966)
- 1962-1966 (1973)
- 20 Greatest Hits (1982)
- Past Masters (1988)
- 1 (2000)
- Mono Masters (2009)
Personnel
- John Lennon – lead vocal, rhythm/lead guitar
- Paul McCartney – double-tracked lead vocal, bass guitar
- George Harrison – lead guitar, harmony vocal
- Ringo Starr – drums, tambourine
Chart performance
- #1, December 16, 1965 – January 19, 1966 (5 weeks), Record Retailer (UK)
Notable covers
- James Taylor (from Flag, 1979)
- Jimi Hendrix (from Radio One, 1991)
- 10cc (from Alive, 1993)