Help! [LP]

The record arrived safely and on Time.. which is great being an international purchase.

Un cd genial.

If you want to hear the "Mop Tops" one last time, then listen to the first 7 songs from the "Help!" CD or in other words "Side one". Because then on "side 2" or the last 7 you have what is ahead of them, what I like to call the sweet side 1 and then "Side 2" the more intellectual side (except the covers), but even the sound track songs or not very simple, e.g. "You've Got To Hide Your Love Away". Btw, the first 7 were recorded between Feb,65 and April,65. The last 7 were recorded between May,65 and June,65. The song "Wait" was to be included on this "LP" but replaced with possibly one of the covers at the last minute, so it was held until "Rubber Soul".The titled song is Johns way of asking for assistance, John felt no one understood him and he felt insecure, The first time John would sing about this was in "I'm A Loser" future ones would be "Nowhere Man", you could probably even include "I'll Cry Instead" in the mix too, because its probably actually about him singing the "chip on his shoulder", John has said he mostly sang about himself, and he said Paul sang about others most of the time, (but not always).Pauls songs on the sound track are great, "The Night Before"(John on Electric Piano) and "Another Girl" (perhaps about Jane, was this Pauls Norwegian Wood? if it was its a little on the blunt side, or was it just filler)is some of Pauls excellent work from 65. Paul played lead guitar,plus Bass, (one of the two added later) on "Another girl", while John played acoustic and George played Rhythm guitar. "I've Just Seen A Face" Paul goes in his country mode, this style would not show up again until The "While Album" with "Rocky Raccoon" and much later on the solo LP "Ram" "Heart of the Country". And Paul does what is actually the first solo Beatle song, "Yesterday" what can be said about this classic that hasent already been said, even John was impressed."You"re Going To Lose That Girl" is one of Lennons finest, Just as in "She Loves You" he is singing to the guy, when in fact he loves her also. Another great one on here is "Its Only Love"(perhaps one of the few songs about Cynthia) first generation and maybe even some 2nd generation fans may remember it on the U.S. Rubber Soul" it fit so nicely on there and seems out of place on this CD, but a great song, another song John did not like, he felt it was too sweet with very simple words, to the fans its mostly a favorite.You have the hits "Help!", "Ticket to Ride", and "Yesterday" on this CD, but actually any of these songs could have been a single.George still in the style of John and Paul mixed with his own "style", shows up 2 times on this CD, "You like Me Too Much" (using the word "Like" for a fresh change, instead of Love). "I Need You" (Great song) (about missing Patty his future wife at the time), is one of Georges best from 65, "Think For Yourself" coming in a close second. George did not find what would resemble "his Style" until "Rubber Soul", before that George kept them simple and sweet to please the Beatle sound. Though he would not completely step away from the Beatle sound until "Revlover"Ringo was going to sing "If You Got Troubles" (now on the Anthology 2) but they never could get it to their liking and tossed it for the cover "Act Naturally", Great Lead Guitar by George.They close it out in Mop Top style with the cover song "Dizzy Miss Lizzie", its even sung in Mop Top style with screams and all, the last cover for John with the Beatles for at least 4 years on the "Let It BE" movie cover songs.Either way its a win,win CD, you get the past, present and future in one. Its too good to not include in your Beatles library, buy and enjoy the Beatles last taste of Beatlemania on the "Help!" CD.

When I was a fledgling Beatle fan in junior high school, someone loaned me the U.S. version of help. There were some good songs, but there were also muzak instrumental versions that were a major disappointment. Not so on the UK edition.Help! was the soundtrack for the Beatles' second film, shot in color with a goofy plot involving Ringo with a ring belonging to some kind of exotic cult religion. Ringo as Bilbo Baggins...that's another story.Back to the music. The disk opens with "Help!", John Lennon's plea for sanity amidst the growing pressure of fame. This is a huge leap in songwriting maturity. Great opening with the chorus. Cool guitar arpeggios and overall outstanding performance by George. The background vocal line and harmonies are very distinct. The only thing missing on this version is the James Bond-like intro featured on the US album and the original issues of the "Red" album collection. 5 stars."The Night Before" is a Paul-sung tune with pleasant vocals and harmonies, but is a typical boy-girl love song. Catchy but I'll give it 3.5 stars."You've Got to Hide Your Love Away" is another leap in songwriting for John, a much more mature love song with more personal insights. I like the lyrics, the acoustic guitar parts, the descending lines and the woodwind(?) solo at the end. 5 stars. (Check out Eddie Vedder's solo version on the "I Am Sam" soundtrack.)"I Need You" is George's first song since "Don't Bother Me" and is mainly interesting for it's use of volume tricks on the guitar part. 3 stars."Another Girl" is a Paul, again catchy but another girl song. Cool guitar part, though. 3 stars."You're Going to Lose That Girl" features a nice performance by John on lead vocals and has a nice harmony by Paul, with a workman-like solo by George. 3.5 stars."Ticket to Ride" has the great guitar intro, nice backbeat drums by Ringo, and a very memorable vocal and instrumental melody. "I think I'm gonna be sad..." A classic sing-along, with a middle-eight that really makes the song click, plus the up-tempo ending. 5 stars."Act Naturally" a cover of a Morrison/Russell classic, sung by Ringo, could be one of Ringo's early signature songs. The lyrics nearly fit Ringo's career to a tee. Great country twang, rimshot drumming and knee slapping fun. 4 stars."It's Only Love" brings back that mellotron for a sappy John Lennon ballad. His confident vocal performance saves the song. 3 stars."You Like Me Too Much" is George Harrison's second credit on the disk. His vocal is still tentative, but the lyrics are more boy-girl angst. 2.5 stars."Tell Me What You See" has a melody/harmony line that never quite clicks, but it's a nice experiment. What saves this song is the harmony chorus, with organ line and cool drum part. 2.5 stars."I've Just Seen a Face" is McCartney's 2nd best contribution to this disk, a happy love ditty that shows up on the US version of "Rubber Soul." I like the acoustic guitar and shuffle rhythm.The next song, "Yesterday" is the first Beatle solo tune, with Paul on vocals and guitar, with string accompaniment. Simple lyrics, but delivered with unforced emotion. Most would rank this in the top 10 of all Beatle songs. The most covered tune of all time. A staple of Japanese karaoke to this day. 5 stars."Dizzy Miss Lizzie" is the usual rousing cover tune, probably culled from the Beatles' old performance list. Nice ringing guitar line, raw vocals by John and rocking, danceable beat.