Their new single, “Hey Jude,” released on their own new Apple Records with its stunning green label, took over the airwaves as well as our television screens (on "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour" on October 6th, 1968). Then, on August 26th, 1968, The Beatles made the most remarkable comeback of their career, winning back any naysayers who thought they'd already heard everything that the band had to offer. It appeared that maybe the “bubble” was indeed 'bursting.' Their follow-up single, “ Lady Madonna,” while a masterstroke in recorded music, failed to get any higher than #4 on the US charts, which was quite uncharacteristic for them. Pepper” album was an artistic as well as commercial triumph, critics were merciless toward their “ Magical Mystery Tour” film which was passed over entirely for American release at the time. The innocent pop songwriting that was expected of them gave way to such mind expanding subject matter as “ Strawberry Fields Forever” which, at the time, left many die-hard fans disillusioned. In 1966, concert attendance began to dip somewhat and then they decided to discontinue touring altogether. However, interviewers would regularly ask them when they thought the “bubble will burst” and their popularity would fade.
Their live concerts consistently broke attendance records, and their growth in musicianship and songwriting provided a template for newer as well as already established acts to follow in nurturing for their own growth and success. Nearly every subsequent single release thereafter had raced up the charts, either reaching the summit or only just missing it. Their explosive emergence in America in 1964 soon saw them holding down the entire Top Five positions on the Billboard singles chart (April 4th, 1964). By 1968, many were likely of the opinion that the bloom of the rose that was The Beatles' career had seen its day and was in the process of eventually of wilting away to nothing.
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