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Recording of 'Hey Jude' began on the 29th of July, 1968. Although recorded around the time of the White Album, it was to be released as a single and would be one of their longest. Most pop singles during the sixties lasted a maximum of three minutes but the Beatles being the Beatles, decided that rules were meant to be broken. The single released of 'Hey Jude' ended up being 7'11" long. Three complete takes were recorded on the the 29th of July with take one lasting 6'21", take two 4'40" and take six 5'25". This session was more like a rehearsal than a recording of the real thing. On the 30th of July, another 18 takes were recorded, although these sessions were also treated as rehearsals. Sessions at Trident, another recording studio in London, had been booked for the purpose of recording the final track, with an orchestra booked also for that session. At the end of this session on the 30th, George Martin would take away a stereo mix so that he could arrange the song's orchestral score.
On the 31st of July, recording began at Trident. Both Paul and George had already been involved with some other artists at Trident before this session. George had been busy producing Jackie Lomax in between Beatles sessions. Paul was doing the same with Mary Hopkin and had been popping in on the odd James Taylor session. What attracted the Beatles to Trident was that it was independent, like Apple Records, and had an eight-track recorder. Abbey Road was still four-track, at least that was what the members of the Beatles thought. Abbey Road did have an eight-track but it just hadn't been installed yet due to internal paperwork. Using the eight-track, the Beatles did several takes with Paul on piano, George on electric guitar, John on acoustic guitar and Ringo on drums. George had wanted to play an answering guitar phase after each 'Hey Jude' vocal line but it was later vetoed.
'Hey Jude' was recorded very quickly in the end. On the 1st of August, overdubs were recorded with Paul putting down a bass guitar track and a lead vocal while the other Beatles put down backing vocals. (Listen out for an undeleted expletive at 2'59" into the finished record!) The 36 piece orchestra was then recorded for the musical build-up during the song's long refrain. In addition the members of the orchestra were asked if they wouldn't mind contributing hand claps and backing vocals (nah, nah, nah's) for the powerful build-up in the refrain. Most said yes but there was one person who walked out of the session saying "I'm not going to clap my hands and sing Paul McCartney's bloody song!".
With the final mixes done, 'Hey Jude' would be Apple Records' first real release. Released on the 30th of August, 1968, it would go on and sell in excess of eight million copies worldwide and top the US charts for nine weeks.
majjister bezzerwizzer mezzerschmidt (som är en STOR beatlesfan)
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Hey Jude
02-04-2005, 22:17
