"Hey Jules"...
Somehow it doesn't have the same ring as "Hey Jude", does it ? Although Paul McCartney's tribute to Julian Lennon was originally called "Hey Jules", Sir Paul thought better of it and changed it to "Hey Jude" which was "easier to sing". That explanation, compliments of Paul himself. Mostly, the song was written by Paul, driving alone in his car with thoughts of John's son going through his parents nasty divorce. Officially, the song was completed on this date, July 26, 1968 at Paul's home with finishing touches supplied by John Lennon...
"Hey Jude" would be recorded at Trident Studios in London on July 31st and released in the U.S. on August 26th. The single entered the charts on September 14th and went to #1 two weeks later. The original version of the single was 7 minutes, 11 seconds but there was a shortened version also available for radio airplay, both were used. "Hey Jude" would become the Beatles' best-selling single...
Just last month, "Hey Jude" was performed by Paul McCartney as the finale of the main Live 8 event in London...
More July 26 Memories...
1948) Babe Ruth is seen by the public for the last time, attending the premiere of "The Babe Ruth Story"...
1963) Smokey Robinson & the Miracles release "Mickey's Monkey"...
1968) "Hey Jude" is completed (feature story)...
1969) The Rolling Stones release "Beggar's Banquet"...
1972) Gilbert O'Sullivan tops the charts with "Alone Again (Naturally)"...
1984) Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn suspends pitcher Vida Blue for the remainder of the season for cocaine possession...
1984) Prince's movie "Purple Rain" premieres in Hollywood...
1987) Catfish Hunter, Billy Williams and Ray Dandridge are inducted into the baseball Hall of Fame...
1992) The voice of Mary Wells is stilled by cancer...
1997) Giants owner Wellington Mara and Dolphins coach Don Shula are inducted into the Football Hall of Fame...
Happy Birthday to...
1922) Movie director, Blake Edwards...
1941) Bobby ("Sunny") Hebb...
1941) Darlene Love...
1941) Brenton Wood...
1942) Dobie Gray...
1943) Mick Jagger...
1956) Figure skater, Dorothy Hamill...
1959) Kevin Spacey...
1964) Sandra Bullock...
1973) Kate Beckinsale...
Commentary...
Listening to "Hey Jude" is like eating too much of your favorite ice cream. You may get sick of it, but you keep coming back for more. Paul McCartney closes out every show with the Beatle anthem and as popular as he still is, would probably get booed if he didn't. The song will go down as one of the all-time top 3 "Battle of the Bands" tunes, along with "A Day In The Life" and "Colour My World". Those 3 would show up everytime we did a "Battle of the Bands" on the radio, what ever market I worked in. That meant that you listened to that song up against a new challenger for as many times as it got the most listener votes. Talk about brain-washing !
Like many of you, I was saddened by the tragic auto accident that took the life of Joe O'Brien over the weekend in Lenox, Mass. You just don't expect to hear that someone reaching the age of 90 will meet such a horrible end. Joe's ex-program director, Ruth Meyer, a passenger in the car, was not injured. When Joe did the morning show on WMCA in the 60s, he was joined by his friend, Benny and while Joe wasn't the first or last disc jockey to use an alter-ego as a sidekick, he was the best. Corny or not, Joe and Benny put a smile on your face, every time. The radio world will miss Joe O'Brien. David Hinckley profiles Joe in today's Daily News:
www.nydailynews.com/entertainment
