overdubs of Harrison on an African drum and McCartney on Hammond Organ; track three is Lennon on vocal with McCartney and Harrison providing harmony; track four includes a Gretsch Country Gentleman guitar overdub. Producer George Martin and engineers Norman Smith and Ken Scott mixed the track for mono from takes four and eight on October 27. Martin, Smith and Mike Stone mixed the track for stereo on November 4. Release The Beatles released the track in the U.K. on Beatles for Sale on December 4, 1964, and in the U.S. on Beatles '65 on December 15, 1964. In the U.S. the track made it to #68 nationally. A cover of the song is heard in a recording of the Beatles from December 1962 at the Star-Club in Hamburg, eventually released in 1977 as Live! at the Star-Club in Hamburg, Germany; 1962. Takes 1, 2 and 4 are heard on Anthology 1 and in The Beatles Anthology television documentary. Critical reception In The Beatles as Musicians, musicologist Walter Everett describes the track as, "One of the Beatles' least popular tracks". Mark Lewisohn writes it is "most people's least favourite song on what was to become the Beatles for Sale LP." Lewisohn adds that in hindsight "Leave My Kitten Alone" may have made a better album track. Comparing the two, Everett writes, "The two covers attempted on August 14 represent one of Lennon's most inspired borrowings and one of his least. Unfortunately, the former, 'Leave My Kitten Alone,' was never released during the group's tenure..." Everett writes the a capella opening is "promising" with Lennon's "dirty full-voice... but the tone quickly becomes inexpressively lugubrious." Musicologist and writer Ian MacDonald describes the track as "gross quasi-calypso". 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' Hammond organ solo. He considers that the song may have been recorded as a joke, a possibility Tim Riley agrees with, writing, "By taking the whole thing so seriously, they actually make it hysterical". Personnel According to Ian MacDonald, except where noted: John Lennon – vocal, rhythm guitar Paul McCartney – harmony vocals, bass, Hammond organ George Harrison – harmony vocals, lead guitar, African drum Ringo Starr – conga Other covers Another emerging beat group, The Hollies, recorded and released their own performance of the song with Graham Nash