HELLO/GOODBYE

On this day in music history: December 30, 1967 - “Hello Goodbye” by The Beatles hits #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 3 weeks. Written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, it is the fifteenth US chart topper for the “Fab Four”. Originally written by McCartney under the title “Hello, Hello”, the basic track for the song is recorded on October 2, 1967 in Studio Two at Abbey Road in London, with overdubs recorded on October 19, 1967, completed on November 2, 1967 with final mixing on October 6, 1967. It is released as a single on November 24, 1967 backed with the John Lennon penned “I Am The Walrus” (#56 Pop) featured in the band’s recent television film “Magical Mystery Tour”. Both tracks appear on the US LP release of “MMT”. The Beatles make three different promotional films for “Hello Goodbye” at the Saville Theatre (owned by their late manager Brian Epstein) in London on November 10, 1967. The clip makes its US television debut on The Ed Sullivan Show two days after the singles release on November 26, 1967. However, it is not shown in the UK due to the Musician’s Union ban on artists miming to their own songs when making public appearances on either television or in any other venue. Entering the Hot 100 at #45 on December 2, 1967, it streaks to the top of the chart four weeks later. In September of 2011, the original US 45 is reissued by Capitol Records to re-promote the “Beatles 1” compilation. Available exclusively through big box retailer Target, the limited edition release replicates yellow and orange Capitol swirl labels and picture sleeve found the original US single. On original US pressings of the single, the B-side “I Am The Walrus” uses a unique mono mix, featuring an additional instrumental vamp before the fourth and final verse. This extra bar is edited out of the other mono and stereo mixes of the song. Though the Target exclusive 45 contains the additional music, it is copied from an original US 45 and edited (poorly) into the UK mono mix, when the US master tape cannot be located. The record comes packaged a box along with a T-shirt. Beginning in 2002, Paul McCartney begins performing “Hello Goodbye” on tour, playing it on virtually every tour since. “Hello Goodbye” is certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.