Title:	Hey Jude
Credit:	John Lennon - Paul McCartney
Recorded:	EMI Studios, London, 29, 30 July 1968
Producer:	George Martin
Engineer:	Geoff Emerick
Locations:	Past Masters: Volume Two - track 7 Anthology 3, disc 1 track 17 The Beatles 1, track 21

Another of the Beatles' all-time great songs, written and sung by Paul McCartney and issued as a single on 30 August 1968 bearing the group's own Apple Records label. One of the first songs to smash the singles time barrier (Richard Harris's 'MacArthur Park' was another issued at this time), Hey Jude lasts for all of 7min 11sec and includes a rousing finale. Taped during sessions for The Beatles.

The Beatles began recording 'Hey Jude' on July 29, 1968. Six takes (1 - 6) were recorded, only three were complete (1, 2 and 6) and these lasted 6'21", 4'30" and 5'25" respectively. These takes were more rehearsals than proper takes. Take 2 from these sessions was released in both the US and the UK on October 29, 1996 on "The Beatles Anthology Volume 3."

The Beatles recorded takes 7 - 23 on July 30 primarily so they could be filmed for part of a documentary made by the National Music Council of Great Britain titled "Music!" Both the version in the film and an unreleased version from this rehearsal session have been bootlegged. The former is found on "Not Guilty" (CD) and "Back Track Part Two" (CD). The latter recording can be found on "Unsurpassed Masters 4" (CD). A different take from this night's rehearsal has been bootlegged and can be found on "Gone Tomorrow, Here Today" (CD).

Tape reductions were made (take 23 into takes 24 and 25) and a rough stereo mix of take 25 was given to George Martin to arrange the songs orchestral score. The Beatles began recording 'Hey Jude' properly on July 31, the previous day's recording being mostly for rehearsal purposes. They began again with take 1, and four takes were recorded (1 - 4) with Paul McCartney playing piano, George Harrison on electric guitar, John Lennon playing acoustic guitar and Ringo Starr on drums. The lead vocal, bass guitar and backing vocals, along with the orchestra build up and refrain were recorded August 1, and added to take 1. Three stereo mixes (remixes 1 - 3 from take 1) were prepared August 2, the third being "best." A mono mix was prepared August 6 from the stereo mix rather than the original eight-track tape, but was never used. Three more mono mixes (remixes 2 - 4 of take 1) were prepared August 8; mix 4 being released.

A 4-inch flexi-disc was marketed in vending machines in the US by Pocket Disc. This disc contains a 3'56" edit of 'Hey Jude'. The song was edited to 7'06" by fading the ending early on the US LP "The Beatles Again," released on February 26, 1970 (and later reissued as "Hey Jude") where it can be found in stereo. An even shorter stereo edit (6'54") was released in the US on "The Beatles: 1967 - 1970" double-album on April 2, 1973. A 5'05" edit of this track was released in the US on October 15, 1982 on the album "The Beatles - 20 Greatest Hits."

On September 4, 1968 The Beatles made a promotional film for 'Hey Jude'. The film version contains the previously recorded studio track with new vocals. This recording has been bootlegged and can be found on "Strawberry Fields Forever." This film was aired September 8, 1968 on the "Frost On Sunday" television show.

Paul McCartney performed this song at several concerts during his 1989 - 1990 world tour including Stockholm's Johanneshovs Isstadion (September 30), Milan (October 26), Rotterdam (November 8), Los Angeles (November 23 and 27), New York (December 15), Berkeley (March 31 and April 1), Glasgow (June 23) and Washington, DC (July 4). All of these performances have been bootlegged.

Paul also performed this song at the June 30, 1990 Knebworth Benefit Concert. This performance was released in both the US and the UK August 6, 1990 on "Knebworth: The Album." Paul's performance of this song at his concert at the Riverfront Coliseum, Cincinnati on February 12, 1990 was released on his album "Tripping The Live Fantastic" in both the US and the UK on November 5, 1990.

Paul performed this song at several concerts during his 1993 New World Tour including Milan (February 19), Frankfurt (February 23), Melbourne (March 9), Sydney (March 16), Las Vegas (April 14), the Hollywood Bowl with Ringo Starr joining in the ending chorus (April 16), Anaheim (April 17), Charlotte, North Carolina (June 15), Paris (October 13), Tokyo (November 12) and Mexico City (November 27). All of these performances have been bootlegged.

Paul performed this song at the Royal Albert Hall concert on September 15, 1997. The concert was held to benefit the victims of the volcanic eruption on the island of Monserrat. This performance was released in 1998 on the home video cassette and album "Music For Monserrat."