I think the coolest thing about this period in time is how they would experiment with unique sounds using what ever tools happen to be available in the room.  

I was recently reading some previews from Kenneth Scott's new book where he mentioned that McCartney would often go to the mic locker and pull out a mic and say, "Let's try this one, I like the way it looks."  He said that it was continuous and constant experimentation with the Beatles.

Sounds to me like sombody is playing with guitar strings down on the bridge. Maybe with some funky reverb setting.

Kev999

BenMMusTech

I find it funny that they have listed Ringo playing drums on this track, I am pretty sure it was Paul playing drums, I might be wrong and I know it's suppose to be The Beatles bible but I know Mc's drum style and I am pretty sure that this was recorded in the week that Ringo quit the band.  I wish I still had my Mark Lewison book.

According to Lewisohn, Paul arrived early to the studio one day (Wednesday 18 September 1968), wrote this song and recorded the backing track himself before the other Beatles arrived.  The others joined him later to complete it but it is not clear who played what.  But I also remember reading somewhere than John played bass on this song.

Ringo rejoined the band on 3 September, having been absent for "Back In The USSR" and "Dear Prudence".

Yea thats my understanding of this track, if your wording is correct then Paul def played drums on this track.  As I say you can tell Pauls drumming from Ringo's, those snare rolls def sound like Mc's.  Also I remember that fact about Lennon, it was a lot of The Twotles on The White Album.
 
As I say as the passage of time continues history becomes a little muddled.
 
Peace Ben

Andy Babiuk in his book "The Beatles Gear" quotes Mal Evans:

The curious sound which someone suggested was like an electric harpsichord is, in fact, a carefully prepared upright piano played by Paul-"prepared" to give it a very special sound with reverberation, wow-wow and technical things like that. 

According to David Quantock in his book "Revolution, The Making of the Beatles White Album", credits for Birthdays are as follows:

Paul McCartney: lead vocals, piano
John Lennon: lead vocals, lead guitar, backing vocals
George Harrison: bass
Ringo Starr: drums
Yoko Ono: backing vocals
Patti Harrison: backing vocals

This website mostly agrees:
http://www.thebeatlesonli...s/beatles_birthday.htm

Neither of these authors have stated the source of their info though.

Kev999


According to David Quantock in his book "Revolution, The Making of the Beatles White Album", credits for Birthdays are as follows:

Paul McCartney: lead vocals, piano
John Lennon: lead vocals, lead guitar, backing vocals
George Harrison: bass
Ringo Starr: drums
Yoko Ono: backing vocals
Patti Harrison: backing vocals

This website mostly agrees:
http://www.thebeatlesonline.com/pages/beatles_birthday.htm

Neither of these authors have stated the source of their info though.

You might be right, I can't find any evidence, although I was sure I read in The Complete Beatles Recording, that this was the case.  As I say it's a pity I don't have a copy, FOOL!! I think I do actually have an ileagal copy somewhere on one of my hard drives leave it with me and I will hunt it down tommorow, this is gold that book.  Man I just realized I do have a copy as I writing this, after I did my Beatles project, for my Masters.
 
Peace Ben

I have the Complete Betales by Lewishom as well and he doesn't really say who played what. He does mention Mal Evans helped out with the handclaps though.