Help! Listening Notes by Maxwell Philbrook
This album is listed in the "early Beatles" section of your syllabus, but as you compare Help! to their previous albums, you'll see that this is a
transition from the old-school pop/rock sounds, to more experimental and exploratory types of songs that would define much of the Beatles later work.
As you listen through this album, try and pinpoint songs where the band deviates from their standard three guitar and drums format to add additional
instruments to give their sound a much different sound.
The Beatles released Help! as promotion for their feature film of the same name. The marketing of the film was very different in the UK from the US
strategy, and therefore the album was extremely different based on where it was released. In the US, Help! was released as much more of a movie
soundtrack. Only songs that were used in the film were included on the album, and it also includes selections from the theatrical score composed by Ken
Thorne. The UK release is a much more standard album format, and includes 14 songs, only seven of which were included in the film. Audiences would have
heard very different versions of this album, depending on where they were.
Help! opens with the title track to the album and film. While the instrumentation is on par with the Beatles' earlier songs, the subject matter
deviates in an important way. There is no boy-meets-girl boy-loses-girl type story line. Instead, Beatles. historians point to this being an actual
plea for help from John for someone to help him from the pressures of stardom. Lennon/McCartney originally wrote the song to be played at a much slower
tempo, but pressure from producers to have a more upbeat tone to better promote the film, caused the tempo to be sped up. Imagine how different this
album would feel if its opening song was a more melancholy, somber tune. U2 has a live version that is sung in a slow tempo--
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3NOfxdGLRA
"The Night Before" probably sounds rather familiar, but there are aspects of this song that signal the shift in Beatles' instrumentation. The lead
vocals sung by Paul are pleading and the backing vocals sung by John and George complement the tune nicely. The smooth, slurred backing vocals give the
listener a feeling of trying to remember a dream from the night before. While the subject matter is nothing new here, listen for the subtle shift in
instrumentation. Only one six-string guitar is used on this album. Instead, John plays an upbeat electric piano, which adds a new layer to this song
that Beatles. fans would get used to hearing.
"You've" got to Hide your Love Away. is a simple, yet extremely evocative song. This song features John's vocals and John, Paul, and George playing
acoustic guitars. Ringo keeps time with bold tambourine strikes and brushed snare drum hits. Towards the end of the song, listen for what sounds like a
weirdly effected guitar. It is actually a flute harmony played by session musicians helping out on the track. Even though there are no backing vocals,
another departure for the band, John's haunting voice draws listeners in to the pained state of his mind. The song is said to be about the band's
manager at the time, Brian Epstein, who was a homosexual. Homosexuality was a crime in Britain at that time.
George wrote "I need You," only the second Harrison tune recorded on a Beatles album. The strange guitar sound that George plays to intro the song is
created by a volume/tone control pedal, and the recurring "wah wah" guides the listener through the heartache of the song. John strums a simple
acoustic beat to accompany the lead guitar, and Paul's bass is notable throughout.
"Another Girl" features Paul as songwriter, lead vocalist, and lead guitar player. The upbeat swing tempo is a classic McCartney trait, and this song
walks a fine line between happy-go-lucky classic Beatles and a more jaded, subtly injured feeling. This is the first time Paul showed his talent as a
lead-guitar player on an album, while also laying his bass track on the song. For someone whose most familiar instrument is not the six-string, Paul
plays a wicked solo at the end of this song that must be played loud.
A very traditional Beatles song comes next. "You're going to Lose that Girl" is standard Beatles fare. Song writing was credited to McCartney/Lennon,
the guys play their standard instruments, and is consistent in form and subject matter to past Beatles' tunes. If you're in to percussion, listen for
Ringo's bongos that add some interest to the song.
"Ticket to Ride," closes side A of Help!. This song was released as a single in April 1965 with "Yes it Is" serving as its B side. The staccato picking
that opens the song is quickly contrasted with a droning effect that gives this song a unique sound. A few other things you may be able pick out that
show the Beatles beginning to move forward with their sound is the chiming lead guitar and the heavy-handed percussion, specifically the high-hat
repetition and the powerful floor tom strikes. Once again, Paul plays the lead guitar on this song.
"Act Naturally," the first of only two covers on Help! leads off side B. The initial release of this song came on the B side of "Yesterday" when it
was released as a single. Ringo gets lead vocals on this one, which add to the song's playful tone and humorous lyrics. The Country-inspired guitar
lines and rhythms come from the original version of the song. It was written by Johnny Russell and Voni Morrison, and was popularized by Buck Owens and
the Buckaroos. The Buckaroo's version of "Act Naturally" hit #1 on the Country and Blues charts in 1963. The only other cover on Help! closes out the
album. "Dizzy Miss Lizzy" is a standard from the Beatles' days playing the Cavern Club, and would be the last cover song the band would release on an
album.
"It's only Love" shows the band further experimenting with unique guitar effects that give its listener a very specific feeling. John's playful vocals
and lyrics complement the guitar twangs, and Ringo's interspersed tambourine eighth notes put a smile on your face everytime you listen to this one.
The George song "You Like me Too Much" features both Paul and producer George Martin playing on the same Steinway piano. The Steinway makes another
appearance in this song in the call and response bridge, playing along with John's electric piano. The Beatles were beginning to focus more and more on
additional instruments, and the results were music to their listeners. ears.
The most striking element of "Tell me what you See" is the vocals. The primary vocal parts are sung by John and Paul in harmony, while the backing
vocals are soloed by Paul. Other things to note about this tune, which is often forgotten in the Beatles' catalogue, include a washboard percussion
part, claves played by Ringo, all swirled together by a milky electric piano played by Paul. "I've Just Seen a Face" is an upbeat tune that segues
nicely into the penultimate, and one of the Beatles' best loved songs.
"Yesterday" is the best piece of evidence for the Beatles beginning to change their style as musicians. This song can be categorized as a "solo" effort
by Paul because it is simply him picking his acoustic guitar and singing woefully into the mike. Producer George Martin hired a string quartet to add
depth and melancholy to the song. Close your eyes when you listen to "Yesterday," because it can conjure up some pretty serious emotions in any
listener.