It was fifty years ago- the 14th #1 song of the year 1968 was The Beatles “Hey Jude.” Hey Jude would go to #1 on September 28th and would stay there for nine weeks- two whole months until the last day of November. It would become The Beatles biggest hit. The singles sold over 8 million copies. At 7 minutes and 11 seconds it is one of the longest #1 hits in length- the record is American Pie at 8:37.

Hey Jude was written by Paul McCartney. He was inspired to write the song after going over to visit John Lennon’s estranged wife Cynthia and John and Cynthia’s son Julian one afternoon. He wrote the song to comfort Julian and was originally “Hey Jules.” The song is best remembered for its over four minute fade out. Not only one of The Beatles most popular songs but one of their best.

Out of the sixteen #1 hits in 1968- Hey Jude would rank at or very near the top as far as being both a widely popular song and universally recognized as a great song- the best songs to reach #1 in 1968- the five I’d pick as the best- in chronological order- Sittin’ On The Dock Of The Bay- Otis Redding, Mrs. Robinson- Simon and Garfunkel, People Got To Be Free- The Rascals, Hey Jude-The Beatles and I Heard It Through The Grapevine- Marvin Gaye.