HELP!

HELP! was recorded in the winter and spring of 1965 while at the same time filming had begun for the second Beatles movie. Films, sessions, photo-shoots, interviews, concert tours, et al. When did these guys ever have time to sit down and write songs? Another reason the quality of the work is so impressive is the time strain these guys were constantly under. HELP! was a transition to their seminal album "Rubber Soul" and is the best work since their excellent debut album. It's also their last work that feels like Beatlemania to me. After this, the bar would be substantially raised.

While the filming of HELP! may have been something of a vacation for the boys, you can see the weariness beginning to creep into some of the photographs. The album was released in August of 1965 and the band did a major tour of the US and Canada that summer. Musically the album was more upbeat and smooth than "Beatles for Sale." It had a richer, fuller sound quality and more effective layering of harmonies and guitar parts. Side one was the material used in the film and it contained four stunning tracks. There is the title track of course, but also the lush "The Night Before," the Dylan inspired "You've got to hide your love away," and the killer single "Ticket to Ride." John always took heat for borrowing the Dylan style on "hide your love" but once pointed out that it was a two way street. When Dylan finally "went electric" John felt that Dylan was looking to them, though I'm not sure Dylan ever admitted that. "Ticket to Ride" has some interesting feeling in both the guitar lick and Ringo's drumming, signaling a bit more sophistication than previous singles. George even throws a nice touch on "I need you" by playing with a volume pedal I believe.

Side two is far less impressive but the album does close with magic. "Yesterday" was Paul taking things to their highest level yet, with a classic so timeless and beautiful that it would become one of the most covered songs of all time. It is a song that I admit really moves me on an emotional level, I can get choked up when I listen to it. With nothing but his comforting voice, simple acoustic accompaniment, and some strings on the side, "Yesterday" finds the sound that transcends song and draws right into your personal life experience, kind of toys with your process of memory. For me at least, some songs attach themselves to feelings in my life but this effect comes from something very simple within the melody, never from grandiose instrumental wailing. Such "moments of clarity" touching the human condition can come from any era (think even "Somewhere Over the Rainbow), but they always seem to have simplicity and longing. McCartney would find this magic many times in the coming years, rivaling Lennon's role as the leader of the group without ever quite eclipsing it. The simple fact is that neither would have been as good without the other's persona and talent to play off of. A true musical marriage of the ages.

While still a 3 star rating for me it is a better 3 stars than the previous album. Beatles for Sale was about 2.75 rounded up, Help is like 3.25 rounded down. The Beatles were now in full charge of their power and about to unleash a string of extra base hits.

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