Where Was Hey Jude Recorded? The Beatles’ Trident Studios Session Explained

March 7, 2026

Where Was Hey Jude Recorded?

Although most Beatles recordings were made at EMI Studios on Abbey Road, the classic 1968 single Hey Jude was recorded elsewhere.

The song was recorded at Trident Studios in London during sessions in July and August 1968. At the time Trident Studios possessed technology that Abbey Road did not yet have: eight-track recording equipment.

This technological advantage was the main reason The Beatles chose the studio.

The Origins of Hey Jude

Paul McCartney wrote Hey Jude in 1968 as a song intended to comfort Julian Lennon, the young son of John Lennon, during the breakup of John's marriage to Cynthia Lennon.

Originally titled Hey Jules, the song was gradually refined during rehearsals and recording sessions.

Why The Beatles Used Trident Studios

During the late 1960s Abbey Road Studios still used four-track recording machines, which limited the complexity of studio arrangements.

Trident Studios had recently installed eight-track recording technology, which allowed greater flexibility when layering instruments and vocals.

This made Trident an attractive option for the recording of Hey Jude.

Recording the Song

The Beatles began recording the track on 31 July 1968.

The recording featured:

Paul McCartney – piano and lead vocal
John Lennon – acoustic guitar and backing vocals
George Harrison – electric guitar
Ringo Starr – drums

The session also included a large orchestral ensemble, which contributed to the song's famous extended finale.

The Legendary Sing-Along Ending

One of the most distinctive elements of Hey Jude is its extended closing section, which lasts more than four minutes and features repeated chants of "na-na-na".

During the recording session, the orchestra was invited to join the band in singing along, creating one of the most memorable moments in Beatles recordings.

The Success of Hey Jude

Released on 26th August 1968 in the United States and 30th August 1968 in the United Kingdom, Hey Jude became one of the most successful singles in Beatles history.

It spent nine weeks at No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it the band's longest-running American chart-topper.