Help! (Song): Introduction
This page is all about the song “Help!” from The Beatles. In 1965, this was a successful single, of course. However, there is also an album by the same name here. Not only that, but their second film has the same title. Officially, there is an exclamation mark after the title, of course.
In Detail
- Release Date: July 19, 1965 (US), July 23, 1965 (UK)
- Format: 7-inch single (A-side) (B-side is “I’m Down”), also an album track
- Recorded: April 13, 1965
- Studio: EMI Studios, London
- Genre: Folk rock
- Track Duration: 2:18
- Record Label: Parlophone, Capitol
- Songwriters: Lennon-McCartney
- Producer: George Martin
- Engineer: Norman Smith
Performers And Instruments
- John Lennon: double-tracked lead vocals, also an acoustic twelve-string rhythm guitar
- Paul McCartney: vocals, as well as the bass guitar
- George Harrison: lead guitar, also the backing vocals
- Ringo Starr: drums, as well as the tambourine
Where To Find “Help!” (The Song)
You can still buy this song on the following releases:
Help! (Song): Background
Written by John Lennon but with some assistance from Paul McCartney, the song credit goes to Lennon-McCartney.
“Most people think it’s just a fast rock ‘n’ roll song. I didn’t realise it at the time; I just wrote the song because I was commissioned to write it for the movie. But later, I knew I really was crying out for help.”
John Lennon
All We Are Saying, David Sheff
Out of all Lennon’s compositions for The Beatles’, this was one of his favourites, together with “Strawberry Fields Forever.” This was because they were the most honest and genuine songs, not just “written to order.” Although he wrote the majority of the song, he called in Paul McCartney to assist with the “countermelody” arrangement.
Promotional Video For The Song “Help!”
In order to promote the single, they used the same sequence from the start of the film, where they sang the song. However, this was minus the darts and credits; this clip comes from April 22, 1965.
On November 23, they made another video for the BBC’s “Top of the Pops” end-of-year recap.
This video shows the Fab Four sitting on a workbench while they mime to the song. Ringo Starr sits at the back of the group with an umbrella, waiting for the fake snow to fall near the end.
It is a decent black-and-white film that shows the band members enjoying themselves and is available on DVD.
Recording Studio
The Beatles began recording the song “Help!” on April 13, 1965, in Studio Two of the EMI Studios, London, during the 7.00–11.00pm session. They recorded a dozen takes, although the first eight were the rhythm tracks only. Overdubbing was easy enough, and the song was complete in just 4 hours!
Chart Success
They released the song “Help!” two weeks before releasing the album of the same name. The single went to number one in the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and America, as well as many European countries. It remained at the top of the charts for three weeks in both the UK and the US.
Of course, the song qualifies for the 2000 album “1.” Meanwhile, on their 1996 album, “Anthology 2,” is a version of their appearance on the BBC television programme “Blackpool Night Out,” airing on August 1, 1965. The song “Help!” also appears on their 2006 album, “Love,” in full.
They released the film “Help!” on July 29, 1965, in the United Kingdom, but the Americans had to wait until August 25th to see the movie.
Take A Listen
Finally, you can leave a comment below with your thoughts about this song.
