The Beatles - Help!
So this is it, we’ve hit 100 album reviews (or whatever it is we do on our little show). We here at This Is Vinyl Tap HQ want to sincerely thank everyone for listening to us. Its been, and continues to be, a blast!
We struggled mightily with how to mark such an auspicious milestone and finally decided that the only way to do the episode justice was to talk about an album by the most influential rock band in rock and roll history - the Beatles - and their fifth studio album: 1965’s Help! .
Released at the height of Beatlemania, Help! is the last album of what is typically considered “Early period” Beatles. Tied to the movie of the same name, Help! is too often dismissed as just a soundtrack album and as a result, often gets overlooked. But its an important album for several reasons. First, its a transitional album that moves the band away from their 60s pop oriented tunes towards a more mature sound influenced by Bob Dylan and utilizing the studio in in a way not done previously by a rock band. Its also contains several firsts that would become common place on future Beatles LPs, and many bands that followed in their wake. Finally, it contains “Yesterday,” a song that holds the world record for the number of covers recorded at 2200 and counting. For these reason, as well as others discussed on the episode, its a true underrated gem from their catalogue, worthy of further discussion, and even more than that, further listens.
Recommendation for this episode: A Book - A Hard Day’s Write by Steve Turner.
THINGS WE DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE
“Ticket to Ride” was the first single from the Beatles upcoming film project. It topped the singles charts in both the US and the UK.
When it was released in April of 1965, due to title “Help” being tied up in another project, the film was going to be called Eight Arms to Hold You (as noted on the single’s label above). In the long run, the title Help was used anyway due to a legal loop hole created by adding an exclamation point to the end of the title.
The Beatles had never used a Fender Stratocaster on any of their recording. When the sessions for Help! started, John Lennon and George Harrison sent their roadie Mal Evans out to get them each a one. He returned with a matching pair of Sonic Blue guitars. Help! was the first time a Stratocaster was used by the Beatles and the first Beatles song to ever have Stratocaster on it was “You’re Going to Lose That Girl.”
Both guitars were used bu Lennon and Harrison throughout Rubber Soul, Revolver, Sgt Pepper and Magical Mystery Tour.
The chart success of “Ticket to Ride” allowed the Beatles to appear on Top of the Pops in the UK. Bands appearing on the show were required to lip-sync live to the single. This appearance would mark the last time the band agreed to to so. The footage below is all that is left from that appearance wiped by the BBC due to their rules at the time. The only reason this clip survived is that it was used in an episode of Doctor Who entitled “The Executioners.”
The Beatles performed on The Ed Sullivan Show on August 14, 1965, The performed six songs: “I Feel Fine",” “I’m Down,” “Act Naturally,” “Ticket To Ride",” “Yesterday,” and “Help!".”
Below is a clip of Paul McCartney performing “Yesterday” from that Ed Sullivan Show April appearance. Interestingly, the song is introduced by George Harrison.
George Martin recorded orchestral version of the songs on Help! Abbey Road Studios reused tape and the same tape that originally contained George Martin’s orchestrated rendition Help! was recycled for use for Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon. As a result, on the original vinyl release of the album, as the heart beat on closing track "Eclipse" fades out, a brief sample of the orchestral version of "Ticket to Ride" could be faintly heard in the background )you can listen to it below).
When Dark Side of the Moon was remastered fro CD, it was removed.
Here is a great clip form the movie Help! The movie was not only the precursor for MTV 20 years later, but was basically the inspiration for the Monkees TV show.
You asked for it (or maybe you didn’t). Here’s the Molly Hatchet cover of “Yesterday.” Enjoy!
