Not only did it go to number 1 on the charts, but it stayed there for 9 weeks. This was the first album released by the Beatles on their own record label entitled "Apple" (nothing at all to do with the company you know today) and the song was written primarily by Paul McCartney but John Lennon helped a bit.
The year was 1968
source
please note the giant apple that would adorn all of their albums for years to come
I often wonder what it might have been like to have been alive in the late 60's when The Beatles were releasing hit after hit and things like the internet didn't exist. I can imagine getting into a car with friends and going together to purchase the latest single 45 record and then rushing back home to listen to it. I mean think about that!... not only could you not play it just wherever but even after you bought the damn thing you had to return to your house before you could even check it out.
I am considerably older than most of the people that are still here but even I never really experienced this situation: The closest I can think of was when I purchased Eminem's 2nd album and put the CD in my car in the parking lot of the shop that was named CD Alley and was so taken by "Stan" that i sat in the parking lot and played it 3x (I was young, i was probably high and well, that is a pretty great song.)
Imagine driving to the record store and purchasing an actual record and feeling really excited on the way back... and then the elation you might have felt when you finally got home to hear it on your turntable. Wow!
"Hey Jude" ended up being the number one single of 1968 in all the countries that anyone was counting back in '68 and was such a phenomenon (and a remarkable song) that when it comes on today, 50 years later, most people are still excited to hear it. I know that I am.
The funny history of the song is that it started out quite differently. Written by McCartney, the song was originally entitled as "Hey Jules" and was a comfort song for John Lennon's son who is named Julian. It was made because John Lennon left his wife (and the boy's mom) for Yoko Ono. Listen to the song again now that you know that huh?
This wouldn't be the last "family" that Yoko would break up, but who am i to judge?
from the popular Let's Sing! channel
"Hey Jude" would go on to be nominated for just about every award you could imagine in 1969 but managed to win none of them. People would later argue that the industry was still upset at The Beatles for changing music and also the fact that they were part of the "British Invasion."
Later, Rolling Stone would rank this song as the number 8 best song of all time and many other important publications would end up ranking it in a similar light.
Even though I am a fan primarily of metal I still recognize the brilliance and industry-changing music that The Beatles were making at that particular point in time. I was born well after this song was released and I would imagine that most (if not all) of everyone that reads this can claim the same. However, I would imagine that all of us are familiar with this song and how much it is likely the most recognized Beatles song of all time.
Well, it all began today.... just a lot of years ago :)