The concept behind this "new" Beatles album was simple. Take ten songs that had never appeared before on a Capitol Beatles album and let nature take its course. While the first three Beatles albums released on the Apple label in America were identical to the British records, "Hey Jude" (originally titled "The Beatles Again" and assigned number SO-385) was a throwback to Capitol albums of the sixties. It is a uniquely configured album designed especially for the American market. The album is similar to "Yesterday And Today" in that it is a collection of songs from several different sources, but unlike the 1966 album, it offered nothing new at the time of its release. Although not a greatest hits collection, the album is full of terrific songs, including three number one hits.

At the time the "Hey Jude" LP was released on February 26, 1970, "Abbey Road" was still riding high on the charts. This, however, did not adversely affect the record's sales or airplay. The album entered the Billboard Top LP's chart on March 21 at number three. The following week it pushed past "Led Zeppelin II" (Atlantic 8236), but could not overtake Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water" (Columbia 9914).  "Hey Jude" held the number two spot for four straight weeks before dropping to number three for three straight weeks directly behind "Deja Vu" by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (Atlantic 7200). On May 16, the "Hey Jude" LP was bumped back to number four by Paul McCartney's first solo effort, "McCartney" (Apple STAO 3363). "Hey Jude" remained on the Billboard album charts for 33 weeks, including 11 weeks in the top ten. Although the album peaked at number two in Billboard and Cash Box, it reached number one in Record World. By June, 1970, the album had sold 3.3 million units. THE "HEY JUDE" ALBUM WAS CERTIFIED GOLD BY THE RIAA ON MARCH 6, 1970.

By the time Capitol began pressing copies of the album, its new factory in Winchester, Virginia, had come on line and the Scranton plant was being phased out. First pressings of the album were manufactured by all four of Capitol's factories. Capitol initially assigned catalog number SO-385 to the record. The "S" stands for stereo and the "O" indicates a list price of $6.98. Although "Abbey Road" had a then-high list price of $6.98, Capitol and Apple had second thoughts about charging an extra dollar for an album containing no new songs. Prior to its release, the LP was renumbered SW-385, with the "W" indicating a $5.98 list price. The trail off areas to the records generated from the original Bell Sound lacquers have the "SO" prefix. Some of the Winchester pressings have a "W" written over the "O" in the "So" prefix.

THIS STUNNING FACTORY STILL SEALED EXAMPLE OF ""HEY JUDE" ("THE BEATLES AGAIN") ALBUM IS IMPECCABLE FROM CORNER TO CORNER. IT RETAINS THE COMPLETE WRAP AND FOUR SHARP CORNERS. THIS IS INDEED A FINAL UPGRADE FOR YOUR COLLECTION. THE COVER HAS AN EXTREMELY TIGHT SEAL AND HAS TWO FACTORY SHRINK "BREATH HOLE" EVIDENT ON THE FRONT COVER. THE SPINE IS ROCK SOLID, AND ABSOLUTELY CENTERED. THE GRAPHICS AND COLORS ON THIS COVER ARE ASTONISHING. THIS IS TRULY ONE OF THE BEST STILL SEALED EXAMPLES OF THIS TITLE WE HAVE SEEN. IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO FIND ONE BETTER THAN THIS.

THIS COVER IS THE INITIAL FIRST PRINTED ISSUE WITH THE TONE OF PAUL'S TROUSERS BEING DARK AND MURKY, BLENDING RIGHT INTO THE SURROUNDING IMAGE. DUE TO THIS DETAIL, THE RECORD INSIDE IS VERY LIKELY THE FIRST ISSUE LABEL HAVING THE LP TITLED AS "THE BEATLES AGAIN ". THE SECOND RUN OF COVERS HAD BRIGHTENED UP THE TONE OF PAUL'S TROUSERS AND THE DISCS PACKAGED IN THOSE SECOND COVERS HAVE THE DISC LABELS BEARING THE FINAL TITLE AS "HEY JUDE".