Yeah, 'Hey Jude' was done on the 8 track at Trident studios {on my delivery rounds, I have to do this awkward drop that takes me regularly past the former location of Trident} in the midst of the album sessions of the White album. Beatle singles that were never intended to go on albums had regularly been recorded during album sessions over the years, going right back to 'I want to hold your hand' in '63 during the "With the Beatles" sessions. Anyway, when Ringo left the band during the recording of the White album, the other 3 went to Trident to record "Dear Prudence" in August '68 and that experience made them want all their songs recorded on 8 track.
One of their chief complaints about EMI was their antiquated equipment and they were constantly grizzling about not having 8 track facilities. What they didn't know throughout that August was that EMI had bought an 8 track and it was being tested by Francis Thompson who was the top tester of recording gear at EMI in those days. Eventually, they caught wind of the fact that there was one lurking about the building and because their sessions were all nighters, they used to use it unauthorized, whisking it from Thompson's office. It was 3M model. Some of the engineers that were in collusion with the band nearly got sacked for their actions. "While my guitar gently weeps" was the first one to be recorded on the 3M at EMI, also "Birthday", "Piggies", "Happiness is a warm gun", "Savoy Truffle", "Martha my dear", "I'm so tired", "Bungalow Bill", and possibly a few others. Some were originally recorded on four track then transfered to 8 for overdubbing.
Most if not all of the 'Let it be' album would appear to have been 8 track as the band had to borrow the 3M and two 4 track consoles from EMI when the 72 track promised to them by an 'electronics whizz' of the acid age {ie, all mouth, no fulfillment} turned out to be a disaster and was sold for scrap for £5.
