"I started with the idea 'Hey Jules', which was Julian, 'don't make it bad, take a sad song and make it better" - Paul McCartney...
The song, of couse was "Hey Jude", one of the most enduring of all Beatle hits. Julian Lennon didn't know that the song was written for him until 20 or so years later. "Paul and I used to hang about quite a bit, more than dad and I did". The song was completed at Paul's home with finishing touches by John Lennon on July 26th, 1968...
"Hey Jude" was recorded at Trident Studios in London on July 31st. Released in the U.S. on August 26th, the single entered the charts on September 14th and went to #1 two weeks later for a period of 9 weeks. It was the longest number of weeks at #1 for any Beatles single. The original version was over 7 minutes but an edit was made for radio...
"Hey Jude" has become Paul McCartney's signature song and he closes every show with it. The song will go down as one of the all-time top 3 "Battle of the Bands" tunes in the history of radio. At WRKO it was usually in this order: 1) "Hey Jude", 2) "A Day In The Life" and 3) "Colour My World". Enduring ? You bet. Our children's, children's children will know the song...
Ten Timeline Memories...
1775] A postal system is established by the 2nd Continental Congress. The 1st Postmaster General is Benjamin Franklin...
1908] Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte issues an order creating an investigative agency that will become the FBI...
1948] Babe Ruth is seen publicly for the last time, attending the premiere of "The Babe Ruth Story" in Manhattan...
1953] Fidel Castro begins his revolt against Fulgencio Batista with an unsuccessful attack on an army barracks in eastern Cuba (Castro eventually ousts Batista 6 years later)...
1981] New York Mayor Ed Koch is given the Heimlich maneuver when he chokes on food at a Chinese restaurant. It saved his life (this is one time he will not ask "How'm I doin")...
1984] Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn suspends pitcher Vida Blue for the remainder of the season for cocaine possession (Blue explained that he thought it was talcum powder)...
1984] Prince's movie "Purple Rain" premieres in Hollywood (I would've loved to see the people at that opening)...
1987] Inducted into the baseball Hall of Fame: Catfish Hunter, Billy Williams and Ray Dandridge (from the Negro Leagues)...
1992] Mary Wells, Motown's 1st Diva, dies of cancer of the larynx, diagnosed in 1990. Mary was just 49...
1997] Giants owner Wellington Mara and Dolphins coach Don Shula are inducted into the football Hall of Fame in Canton (OH)...
Released on this date: 1963] "Mickey's Monkey" - Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, 1969] "Beggar's Banquet" LP - Rolling Stones...
#1 on this date: "Alone Again (Naturally)" - Gilbert O'Sullivan...
[To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in the timeline]...
Commentary...
Thanks for your response to my request for your own "Hate Parade" top 5. Once all the votes are in I'll post your all-time top 10 list. Stand by for that next week...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday"...
Kate Beckinsale (33), Jeremy Piven (41), Sandra Bullock (42), Kevin Spacey (47). Dorothy Hamill (50), Mick Jagger (63), Dobie Gray (64), Brenton Wood (65), Darlene Love (65) and Blake Edwards (84)...
[timeline dateline: 41 days until Labor Day, 45 days until the NFL kickoff, 70 days until the MLB playoffs and 158 days left in 2006]
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