Recording: Hey Jude – 29 July 1968

Monday 29 July 1968 | Studio Two, EMI Studios, Abbey Road, London
Engineer: Ken Scott

On 29 July 1968, The Beatles began work on what would become one of the most celebrated singles in rock history: ‘Hey Jude’. The session took place in Studio Two at EMI Studios, Abbey Road, running from 8.30pm to 4am. George Martin was unavailable that evening, leaving the band to work with engineer Ken Scott.

Six takes were recorded — described as closer to rehearsals than proper attempts — of which only three were complete: Take 1 (6’12”), Take 2 (4’30”), and Take 6 (5’25”). Take 2 was later issued on Anthology 3 in 1996, though faded out slightly early.

The Session

The track layout for the 29 July takes was:

• Track 1: Paul McCartney — lead vocals
• Track 2: Paul McCartney — piano
• Track 3: John Lennon — acoustic guitar; George Harrison — electric guitar
• Track 4: Ringo Starr — drums

The absence of George Martin — who had produced every Beatles recording session since their debut — is notable. Ken Scott, who had worked as a balance engineer on Magical Mystery Tour and would go on to engineer much of The Beatles (the White Album), handled the technical side of the session. The band’s ability to work productively without their producer present reflected both their growing confidence and the increasingly self-directed nature of their recording process in 1968.

The six takes recorded that night were exploratory rather than definitive — the band feeling their way into the song, establishing its structure and feel before committing to a master. The fact that only three of the six were complete underlines the rehearsal-like quality of the session.

Take 2 on Anthology 3

Take 2 — running 4’30” in the session log — was selected for release on Anthology 3 in 1996. The version released was faded out slightly earlier than the take’s actual ending. Hearing it alongside the finished single is instructive: the essential character of the song — McCartney’s piano, the melody, the emotional directness of the vocal — is already fully present in this first evening’s work, even in a take that was closer to a rehearsal than a master.

The Origin of Hey Jude

‘Hey Jude’ was written by Paul McCartney, inspired by John Lennon’s son Julian — then five years old — during the period of Lennon’s separation from his first wife, Cynthia. McCartney has recalled driving to visit Cynthia and Julian and composing the song in his head during the journey, beginning with the line “Hey Jules, don’t make it bad” before changing ‘Jules’ to ‘Jude’ because it sounded better.

Lennon initially assumed the song was addressed to him — an encouragement to embrace his relationship with Yoko Ono. McCartney has said he did not disabuse him of this interpretation. The song’s universality — its ability to be heard as addressed to almost anyone in need of encouragement — is part of what made it so enduring.

What Came Next: Trident Studios

The Beatles continued work on ‘Hey Jude’ on 30 July 1968 at Abbey Road, before the recording moved to Trident Studios in St Anne’s Court, Soho — one of the first London studios to offer eight-track recording facilities. Abbey Road’s four-track setup was insufficient for the ambition of the finished recording, which features a 36-piece orchestra. The eight-track capability at Trident was essential to achieving the layered sound of the final master.

For a full account of the Trident sessions, see: Where Was Hey Jude Recorded? The Beatles’ Trident Studios Session Explained →

‘Hey Jude’ was released on 26 August 1968 as a double A-side with ‘Revolution’. It reached number one in the UK and the US, spending nine weeks at the top of the American charts — the longest run at number one of any Beatles single. At 7 minutes 11 seconds, it was the longest single ever to reach number one at the time of its release.

Key Facts: 29 July 1968

Abbey Road Studios, St John’s Wood, London — where The Beatles began recording ‘Hey Jude’ on 29 July 1968.

The Beatles: White Album Cover Patch

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The Beatles: All You Need Is Love

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Frequently Asked Questions

→ Where Was Hey Jude Recorded? The Beatles’ Trident Studios Session Explained
→ On This Day: Hey Jude Released in the United States – 26 February 1970
→ 29 July in Beatles History
→ July in Beatles History
→ Paul McCartney: Beatles History, Solo Career, Songs & Legacy
→ John Lennon: Beatles History, Solo Career, Songs & Legacy
→ The Beatles Knowledge Hub

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