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Help!

Released on 6th August, 1965, and eight months after Beatles For Sale, the recordings for Help! had actually started in earnest in mid February just one month after the guys had completed a season of ‘Another Beatles Christmas Show’ at London’s Hammersmith Odeon. Within days of the final February session, they were off to the Bahamas to film scenes for the movie, which like ‘A Hard Day’s Night’ was directed by Richard Lester.

From the Bahamas, The Beatles headed East to Obertauern, in Austria before heading back to the UK for more filming. A new single, ‘Ticket To Ride’ was released on 9th April and this needed to be promoted so various TV performances took place from the end of March to mid April along with an appearance at NME Poll-winners concert. All of these taking place either side of more filming which continued on and off until the middle of June by which time The Beatles had returned to Abbey Road to complete the material for the non-soundtrack side of the forthcoming album. On the 12th June, 1965 it was announced that The Beatles had been awarded MBE’s in the Queen’s birthday honours list – an accolade previously never given to young pop stars

Like A Hard Day’s Night, Help! contained the songs from the film on side one of the album with the other side devoted to other new recordings including two covers. Unlike A Hard Day’s Night, the two singles released prior to and alongside the album had exclusive B-sides. Help! also marked the return of George Harrison as a songwriter. George contributed one song to each side of the album.

The striking album front cover features The Beatles making semaphore signals but these do not spell Help!

The album went immediately to no.1 in the British charts remaining there for a total of nine of its 37 weeks in the Top Twenty.

Yet again in the US, things were different. Another soundtrack album was released which contained all the songs from side one of the UK album plus six instrumental pieces scored by Ken Thorne. It resulted in another US # 1 album, which enjoyed a nine week stay during an overall chart run of 42 weeks. The remaining non-film tracks were scattered over three different albums in the U.S. The most famous of these, ‘Yesterday’ also being released as a single in September and later going on to reach # 1 for a period of four weeks.

NME Friday, March 12, 1965

Beatles Greatest U.S. Show to Be Filmed

British fans may see the Beatles’ most important concert ever – on television. The group will appear before nearly 60,000 fans at the Shea Stadium in New York on August 15 at the start of their second American tour. Ed Sullivan, America’s most famous TV personality, will introduce them on stage at this show. Brian Epstein revealed exclusively to the NME on Wednesday: I am arranging to have the whole fantastic performance filmed, and, if it is suitable, I will arrange worldwide release for it almost immediately afterwards.

NME Friday, July 23, 1965

Beatles New LP And Why They Need ‘Help’

I’m not usually in a very receptive or agreeable mood at ten’o’clock on a Monday morning, but this week I was quickly jerked out of my lethargy when I settled down to listen to the new Beatles’ album. In fact, I can guarantee that this LP is the ideal cure for the depressions. Without doubt ‘Help’ will be topping the LP chart within a week or so of its official release date – and will probably make an appearance in the singles chart. It’s typical Beatles material, and offers very few surprises. But then, who wants surprises for the Beatles?

Facts

Producer
George Martin
Principal Engineer
Norman Smith

Wikipedia

Name
Help!
Type
studio
Artist
The Beatles and Ken Thorne
Cover
HelpUSalbumcover.jpg
Released
13 August 1965
Recorded
15–19 and 23 February; 15 March; 2, 13, and 18 April; 18 June 1965, 14–17 June 1965, Abbey Road Studios, London, United Kingdom
Genre
Rock and roll
Length
28:43
Language
English
Label
Capitol
Producer
George Martin
Reviews
Allmusic Rated 3.5/5 link
Chronology
The Beatles American
Last album
Beatles VI
(1965)
This album
Help!
(1965)
Next album
Rubber Soul
(1965)
Misc

Help! is the fifth UK album and tenth U.S. album by The Beatles, and the soundtrack album from their film of the same name. Produced by George Martin for EMI's Parlophone Records, the album (in its original British form) contains seven songs that appeared in the film Help! (including the singles "Help!" and "Ticket to Ride"), and seven that did not. In 2003, the album was ranked number 332 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.

Compact Disc release

Compact Disc in 1987, using the 14-song UK track lineup. Having been available only as an import in the US in the past, the 14 track UK version of the album was also issued domestically in the US on LP and cassette on 21 July 1987. As with the CD release of the 1965 Rubber Soul album, the Help! CD featured a contemporary stereo digital remix of the album prepared by George Martin. One of the most notable changes is the echo added to Dizzy Miss Lizzy, something that was not evident on the original mix of the LP. A few Canadian-origin CD editions of Rubber Soul and Help! use the original mix of the album, presumably by error. The 2009 remastered CDs will feature the 1987 George Martin mix on the stereo disc, while the mono disc with contain the 1965 mono mix as well as the 1965 stereo mix.

Personnel

Mark Lewisohn and Allan W. Pollack.Lewisohn, Mark. The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions: The Official Story of the Abbey Road Years, ISBN 0-681-03189-1. The Complete Beatles Chronicle, ISBN 0-600-60033-5.Pollack, Allan W. "Notes on... series", retrieved from http://www.icce.rug.nl/~soundscapes/DATABASES/AWP/awp-notes_on.shtml George Harrison – lead and background vocals; lead, rhythm and acoustic guitars; percussion John Lennon – lead, harmony and background vocals; rhythm and acoustic guitars; electric piano and Hammond organ; percussion. Paul McCartney – lead, harmony and background vocals; lead, acoustic and bass guitars; electric and acoustic piano and guiro Ringo Starr – drums, percussion, lead vocals and backing vocals ;Additional musicians George Martin – piano and production John Scott – flutes on "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away" string quartet on "Yesterday", as arranged and conducted by George Martin with Paul McCartney

Comments

  • Paulfan10101

    Paulfan10101 on 21st Aug 10:

    Where's Act Natrually? I love this album it's my favorite.
    Hey on the cover are they wearing skinny jeans? Were those invented back then? Or (Yikes) tights!! No, they would'nt wear those.

  • Doli96

    Doli96 on 18th Aug 10:

    They've missed the song Act Naturally :)

  • Doli96

    Doli96 on 17th Aug 10:

    Didint anyone notice in the numbering of the songs that after 7 its 9? :D

  • IracheCorn

    IracheCorn on 16th Aug 10:

    I love all the songs of this album, all of them are great!!! THE BEATLES ARE THE BEST IN THIS UNIVERSE!!

  • Mish_Harrison

    Mish_Harrison on 15th Aug 10:

    Oh este album no tiene igualación lo amo,lo amo,lo amo

  • Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club

    Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club on 11th Aug 10:

    Great Album, Great Film!

  • lennonismyguy

    lennonismyguy on 10th Aug 10:

    hahaha! paul looks like a blue marsh mallow! (all respect) i LOVE iv'e just seen a face ~peace~

  • Beatlesfanringo1213

    Beatlesfanringo1213 on 14th Jul 10:

    love this album plus the movie

  • john-beatle

    john-beatle on 2nd Jul 10:

    look at John and George. They seem to wanna cuddle up somebody, aren't they?^^

  • ringo starr 2

    ringo starr 2 on 23rd Jun 10:

    i love some of the songs from help another girl. and i"ve just seen a face.and the nigth before.

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