Nuff said . . . . . . I love the story behind this song, that Macca wrote it for Julian upon the break up of his parents and reassuring the boy everything would be all right. John choosing to know he wrote it for these reasons . . . . . goes towards exactly how close these two were . . . closer than brothers

 . . .take a sad song and make it better . . . . . 

On this day in music history: September 28, 1968 - “Hey Jude” by The Beatles hits #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 9 weeks. Written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, it is the biggest hit for the iconic British rock band. The first release on the bands Apple Records label, the single clocks in at an unprecedented 7:11, more than twice the length of the average record played on the radio during this time. At the time of its release, it has the highest chart debut in the history of the Hot 100 by entering at #10 on September 14, 1968. “Hey Jude” moves swiftly upward, jumping to #3 the following week, then to #1. Jude’s B-side “Revolution” also charts, peaking at #12 on September 21, 1968. Shortly after the track is recorded, the band video tape promotional clip for the song. The video is directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg, who had previously worked with The Beatles on the clips for “Paperback Writer” and “Rain” two years earlier. The clip is shot at Twickenham Studios in London on September 4, 1968, with an audience present, who appear in the background and sing the songs’ epic chorus with the band. British TV host David Frost also tapes introductions for the clip, which are shown on his talk show “Frost On Sunday” on September 8, 1968. The band also shoot a promo clip for the B-side “Revolution” on the same day, which is also aired on Frost’s progam. Both clips feature The Beatles singing live to the pre-recorded instrumental tracks, to avoid the “miming ban” imposed by Musician’s Union in the UK.  In the US, both promotional clips are shown on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour on October 6, 1968, with George Harrison making a guest appearance on the show. “Hey Jude” becomes The Beatles biggest selling single of all in the US, selling more than four million copies, and is ranked the number one record of 1968 by Billboard Magazine. “Jude” is widely covered by numerous other artists including Elvis Presley and Wilson Pickett. The Beatles’ original version is inducted into the Grammy Hall Of Fame in 2001. “Hey Jude” is certified 4x Platinum in the US by the RIAA.

thanks to Jeff Harris' blog

7 & 9

On this day in music history: July 30, 1968 - The Beatles begin recording “Hey Jude” at Abbey Road Studios in London, in Studio Two. Written by Paul McCartney (credited to Lennon - McCartney), McCartney is inspired to write the song (originally titled “Hey Jules”) while driving over to visit band mate John Lennon’s five year old son, Julian and former wife Cynthia at their home in Weybridge, Surrey. Paul begins writing the song to console Julian after his parents have separated and are in the process of getting divorced. Though McCartney later states another inspiration for the song is his recent break up with long term girlfriend actress Jane Asher, John Lennon also feels that Paul is speaking (indirectly) to him in the song as he has begun his relationship with Yoko Ono at this time. The rehearsal sessions are filmed and are first seen on the NBC network program “Music! Experiment In Television”, providing a rare glimpse of the band working in the studio. The master take of the song is recorded at Trident Studios in Soho the next day. For the recording, McCartney plays Trident’s Bechstein grand piano, which over time appears on numerous landmark recordings including ones by Elton John, David Bowie and Queen. “Hey Jude” becomes The Beatles biggest single spending nine weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, selling over four million copies in the US alone.


thanks as ever to Jeff Harris at his wondrous Behind The Grooves