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This epic Beatles anthem was released in 1968 as a single. It was to become the Beatles longest running number 1 and not just because of it’s 7 minute run time. The song was never released on any album and can only now be purchased off compilations.

Back in the day it was common practice to release songs as singles, as well as having completely different songs released on albums, hence the top 40 songs were referred to as the singles charts.

Hey Jude was the A side of this single release with John Lennon’s rocker Revolution making up the B side. Perhaps to satisfy the ego’s of these two recording giants, this 7 inch was released as a double A sided single.

Paul McCartney wrote the song to Julian Lennon as his parents were going through a divorce at the time. It was originally called Hey Jules.

Later, when talking about the song, McCartney recalls playing the new composition to Lennon. He came to “the movement you need is on your shoulder” and told Lennon “I’ll fix that bit.” Lennon asked why, and McCartney answered “…it’s a stupid expression; it sounds like a parrot.” Lennon parried with “You won’t, you know. That’s the best line in the song.” McCartney thus left the line in, and later said “…when I play that song, that’s the line when I think of John, and sometimes I get a little emotional during that moment.”

Hey Jude broke the rules of a song for the singles chart by crushing the standard 2.30 – 3.30 minute length of a song. This did not deter radio stations thrashing it and sending it to the toppermost of the poppermost.

Following is a live version of the song as presented by one David Frost (of Frost vs Nixon fame). Note the 36 piece band in the background. No overdubs, lip-scyncing, auto tuning or sampling, just one of the greatest bands ever doing what the do.

Good to see Ringo having a good time through the outro.

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