Good Night (Lennon/McCartney)

Background vocals

The backing vocals were performed by the singing group The Mike Sammes Singers, who also sang on I Am The Walrus and as well as numerous British pop recordings in the 1950s through the 1970s.

Quotes

“Good Night was written for Julian the way Beautiful Boy was written for Sean, but given to Ringo and possibly overlush.” – John Lennon

“I sang John’s song Good Night. I’ve just heard it for the first time in years and it’s not bad at all, although I think I sound very nervous. It was something for me to do.” – Ringo Starr

“I think John felt it might not be good for his image for him to sing it but it was fabulous to hear him do it, he sang it great. We heard him sing it in order to teach it to Ringo and he sang it very tenderly. John rarely showed his tender side, but my key memories of John are when he was tender, that’s what has remained with me; those moments where he showed himself to be a very generous, loving person. I always cite that song as an example of the John beneath the surface that we only saw occasionally.” – Paul McCartney

“Everybody thinks Paul wrote Good Night for me to sing, but it was John who wrote it for me. He’s got a lot of soul, John has.” – Ringo Starr

Personnel

• Ringo Starr – lead vocal
• George Martin – celesta
• The Mike Sammes Singers – backing vocals
• Uncredited session musicians – 12 violins, 3 violas, 3 cellos, 3 flutes, clarinet, horn, vibraphone, double bass, harp

Release history

• The Beatles (1968)
• Anthology 3 (1996) [rehearsal edit]
• Anthology Highlights (2011) [rehearsal edit]
• The Beatles Anniversary Edition (2018) [2018 stereo mix]
• The Beatles Anniversary Edition (2018) [demo]
• The Beatles Anniversary Edition (2018) [unnumbered rehearsal]
• The Beatles Anniversary Edition (2018) [take 10 edit]
• The Beatles Anniversary Edition (2018) [take 22]