"[7] The track was often their opening number, which Beatles historian Mark Lewisohn writes, "commanded their crowd's attention before playing so much as a second.
This version of the song did not yet include Hammond organ and percussion instruments, with Lennon and Harrison's guitar work instead more prominent.
[10] Producer George Martin and engineers Norman Smith and Ken Scott mixed the track for mono from takes four and eight on October 27.
Unfortunately, the former, 'Leave My Kitten Alone,' was never released during the group's tenure..."[10] Everett writes the a capella opening is "promising"[10] with Lennon's "dirty full-voice... but the tone quickly becomes inexpressively lugubrious.
[11] He compliments Lennon's "berserk delivery" which "blasts away much of the song's gaudy chintz, only for this to be reinstated in all its gold lamé ghastliness by McCartney's Hammond organ solo.
[11] He considers that the song may have been recorded as a joke,[11] a possibility Tim Riley agrees with, writing, "By taking the whole thing so seriously, they actually make it hysterical".
[17] According to Ian MacDonald,[11] except where noted: Another emerging beat group, The Hollies, recorded and released their own performance of the song with Graham Nash on lead vocals prior to the Beatles' version.
A Spanish cover was recorded by the Mexican vocal trio Los Apson Boys titled "Triste Luna".