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