Hey Jude · The Beatles
Ringo Starr wasn't in the room for the take of Hey Jude
On the take of "Hey Jude" that became the record, Ringo Starr had just left for a toilet break.
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Transcript
On the take of Hey Jude that became the record, Ringo Starr wasn't in the room.
Paul started playing without realising Ringo had just stepped out for a toilet break.
Ringo tiptoed back in, behind Paul's back, and hit his drum cue perfectly.
That's the take you hear. They recorded four, and the first one won.
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More on the story
The Beatles recorded the master track for "Hey Jude" at Trident Studios in London on 31 July 1968. The line-up on the basic track was Paul McCartney on piano and lead vocal, John Lennon on acoustic guitar, George Harrison on electric guitar and Ringo Starr on drums.
They recorded four takes, and the first one was chosen as the master. McCartney began that take unaware that Starr had just left for a toilet break. In McCartney's recollection, Starr came back "tiptoeing past my back rather quickly" and played his cue perfectly.
"Hey Jude" was the first Beatles song recorded on eight-track equipment. The next day the group added vocals, bass and tambourine, and a 36-piece orchestra on the long coda.
