Hey Jude and other classic tunes

[2 of 3]

Hey Jude on the radio the other day, and it struck me that the official release has a certain "something" that just isn't there in the gazillion solo Macca versions we have heard. If you listen to it...it has those bits and pieces that are missing in Paul's versions. Is it because Paul sings it differently? Perhaps...but what I think is missing, are John, George and Ringo. Yeah I know...DUH! No Kidding! But while listening, you really notice how important Lennon's rhythm acoustic is to the song...it really Punch's up the song....as does Ringo's drumming and fills....even Harrison on Bass.(correct me if I am wrong) seems to be just right. No need to mention Macca's vocal of course...it's brilliant...but it also  follows these rhythm posts...everything fits. They say the 2 most brilliant singers as far as timing and interpretation are Sinatra and Van Morrison...both these guys seem to loose there way at times and mysteriously come back just in time and make magic. I think Paul does it here too. Next time you hear Hey Jude...listen to the little things.....It turned a great song into a classic.

[mervap]

I can relate to your sentiment, 2....in Servant, there are songs that I felt we had just the right arrangement for, and then something changes or evolves. The more times you play it, the further you get from that 'something' until you have to accept that whatever that something was, it'll never be the same. At the moment in time the Beatles recorded "Hey Jude", the stars aligned perfectly for that version only....then it was gone.

[Paperback Writer]

On Hey Jude, the beginning has no drumming, by design, but it almost didn't have any drumming for the recording session, as the tape was rolling, Ringo was in the bathroom - but made it back for his drum intro just in time - and of course RIGHT on time!

[SavoyTruffle]

I can only concur, 2..  having been there when the single was first released in late summer '68, I still never tire of it. The only other version I find remotely interesting is the Anthology 3 take when the boys were trying out some early incarnations of it before finally making the grander attempt at committing it to posterity by recording it away from Abbey Road (I think they needed more room for the numerous backround singers and orchestra)

[chris]

one of the things that endear me to the band...no, not the band...but, the beatles...is the miscellaneous backgroung voices or noises (such as the cough in the countdown beginning taxman...or the high pitched "oh" just before the guitar solo in dig a pony) that help give a song its personality. it could be that many bands have these...traits. but it seems like for the beatles, little nuances have become just as much part of the song as its solo or middle eight.