“Help!” by The Beatles - album review

features in: Album Chart of 1965Album Chart of the Decade: 1960s

TJR says

Released in August, and named after their recent comedy adventure film. The first side of the album features 7 songs from the movie, whilst the second side features other recent recordings. Kicks off with John’s stressed-out plea for “Help”; a message lost in the up-tempo pop-rocker, and is followed in a not too dis-similar vein by “The Night Before”. Lennon digging on Dylan is always likely to resonate well with me and “You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away” – the album’s high point – soars into the all-time classic arena. “Here I stand, head in hands, turn my face to the wall, If she's gone I can't go on, feeling two foot small.” You just know he’s not faking. The fantastic “You’re Gonna Lose That Girl” reverts back to their ’63 pop vibe – but with much-matured vocalizations and a neat line in bongonamics from Ringo. The excellent “Ticket To Ride” finishes off the film side on a high – it’s the sound of ’65 with its restless rhythms and irresisitible jingle jangle. Flipping over, and things aren’t quite so strong – I baulk at the inclusion of Buck Owens “Act Naturally”. On this side, “You Like Me Too Much”, “Tell Me What You See” and “Dizzy Miss Lizzy” had previously appeared on the American LP “Beatles VI” a couple of months earlier, hence the part compilation tag. The group are at their Folk Rock best on “Tell Me What You See” as harmony flavours flood out over a simple, but delicious, tambourine-jangle. The ever-shifting styles of this LP are highlighted at the very end with the ridiculous programming of “Yesterday” followed by “Dizzy Miss Lizzy”. I still can’t get over it, all these years later. Those crazy scousers…

The Jukebox Rebel
08–Dec–2005

Tracklist
A1 [02:18] 8.0.png The Beatles - Help! (John Lennon, Paul McCartney) Pop
A2 [02:33] 6.2.png The Beatles - The Night Before (John Lennon, Paul McCartney) Pop
A3 [02:08] 9.6.png The Beatles - You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away (John Lennon, Paul McCartney) Folk
A4 [02:28] 6.6.png The Beatles - I Need You (George Harrison) Pop
A5 [02:05] 5.6.png The Beatles - Another Girl (John Lennon, Paul McCartney) Rock n Roll / Rockabilly
A6 [02:17] 8.2.png The Beatles - You’re Going To Lose That Girl (John Lennon, Paul McCartney) Pop
A7 [03:10] 8.5.png The Beatles - Ticket To Ride (John Lennon, Paul McCartney) Folk Rock / Americana
B1 [02:29] 5.0.png The Beatles - Act Naturally (Johnny Russell, Voni Morrison) Country
B2 [01:54] 6.7.png The Beatles - It’s Only Love (John Lennon, Paul McCartney) Folk Rock / Americana
B3 [02:35] 5.4.png The Beatles - You Like Me Too Much (George Harrison) Pop
B4 [02:36] 9.2.png The Beatles - Tell Me What You See (John Lennon, Paul McCartney) Folk Rock / Americana
B5 [02:04] 6.0.png The Beatles - I’ve Just Seen A Face (John Lennon, Paul McCartney) Folk Rock / Americana
B6 [02:03] 7.2.png The Beatles - Yesterday (John Lennon, Paul McCartney) Songwriter
B7 [02:53] 7.2.png The Beatles - Dizzy Miss Lizzy (Larry Williams) Rock n Roll / Rockabilly

© The Jukebox Rebel 2005-2020 All Rights Reserved