UK release date: August 6, 1965
SIDE ONE
"Help!"
"The Night Before"
"You've Got to Hide Your Love Away"
"I Need You"
"Another Girl"
"You're Going to Lose That Girl"
"Ticket to Ride"

SIDE TWO
"Act Naturally"
"It's Only Love"
"You Like Me Too Much"
"Tell Me What You See"
"I've Just Seen a Face"
"Yesterday"
"Dizzy Miss Lizzy"

==================
US release date: August 13, 1965
SIDE ONE
"Help!" (with "James Bond Theme" intro)
"The Night Before"
"From Me to You Fantasy" (Instrumental)
"You've Got to Hide Your Love Away"
"I Need You"
"In the Tyrol" (Instrumental)

SIDE TWO
"Another Girl"
"Another Hard Day's Night" (Instrumental)
"Ticket to Ride"
"The Bitter End/You Can't Do That" (Instrumental)
"You're Gonna Lose That Girl"
"The Chase" (Instrumental)



It's hard to believe now that during a time when the group were constantly touring in the US and Europe, and making a new movie, they actually had time to go into the studio and record new music. During early 1965, the group had taken a break to do a big of traveling for filming. They would also write new music that would become a part of the film and soundtrack. Fans had a hint of what was to come in April of 1965, when "Ticket To Ride" was released. The single is significant, as the A-side clocked in at an unheard of 3:03. Most singles were the traditional 2:50 or less. The single also stated that the song was for the forthcoming movie, at the time called EIGHT ARMS TO HOLD YOU. When filming was done, it was decided that they should change the name, and it moved John Lennon to come up with the introspective "Help!" At the time the song was considered a bit fun, but of course the lyrics revealed something else entirely, that of a man who felt his life was changing "in oh so many ways", and in a time when success could have ruined him, he seeked a bit of guidance and personal space. When released as a single, Paul backed him up with the powerful rocker "I'm Down", which was his hybrid of Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis combined. To this day, Beatles fans consider it one of the most perfect 45's in their career, a 1-2 combination.

As an album, HELP! revealed even more personal songs that were much more than holding hands. There was greater presence of acoustic songs, with "You've Got To Hide Your Love Away" and "I've Just Seen A Face" being the most obvious. That and of course "Yesterday", which featured no one but Paul and his guitar, and a string arrangement from George Martin. In England the song was considered an experiment, but nothing more than a toss-off. Capitol Records, on the other hand, had other ideas.

Ringo had a chance at being his snuggly self, and he did that this time by covering a country song, Buck Owens' "Act Naturally". It too was an album track, but Capitol in the U.S. would release it as the B-side to "Yesterday", where it gained enough airplay to chart on its own.

The US version of the album was a "true" soundtrack, with incidental music from George Martin. It had been believed for years that on the UK version, the formation of the group spelled out the word "H-E-L-P" in semaphore. When released in the U.S., the photos were rearranged and it spelled "H-P-E-L". Semaphore nerds said both were false, and in truth their formations do not spell anything.

As a whole, the album went to #1 for 9 weeks. That acoustic side would be explored even more with their follow up.











JOHN BOOK'S MYSPACE
http://www.myspace.com/crutmusic

THE RUN-OFF GROOVE
http://www.musicforamerica.org/node/114473

BOOK'S MUSIC Podcast
http://booksmusic.podomatic.com/

THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND
http://www.allmanbrothersband.com/index.php?vst=45730