View source for Help!

{{Short description|1965 studio album by the Beatles}}
{{About|the Beatles album|the Beatles song|Help! (song)|the film|Help! (film){{!}}''Help!'' (film)|other uses|Help (disambiguation)}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox album
| name       = Help!
| type       = studio
| artist     = [[the Beatles]]
| cover      = The Beatles - Help!.png
| border     = yes
| alt        = The Beatles, standing in a row and wearing blue jackets, with their arms positioned as if to spell out a word in flag semaphore – [[George Harrison|George]], [[John Lennon|John]], [[Paul McCartney|Paul]] and [[Ringo Starr|Ringo]]
| released   = {{start date|1965|8|6|df=yes}}
| recorded   = 15 February – 17 June 1965
| studio     = [[Abbey Road Studios|EMI]], London
| genre      = * [[Pop rock]]<ref name="pop-rock">{{cite book
| last1=Spignesi| first1=Stephen J.| last2=Lewis| first2=Michael| title=Here, There, and Everywhere: The 100 Best Beatles Songs
| year=2004| location=New York, NY NY| publisher=[[Black Dog Publishing|Black Dog]]| isbn=978-1-57912-369-7| quote=the unabashed more-or-less traditional pop rock of ''A Hard Day's Night'' and ''Help!''...
}}</ref> 
* [[folk rock]]<ref>{{cite book|url= https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/abs/beatles-in-context/positively-bob-dylan-the-beatles-and-the-folk-movement/9B7539B65D69240B1F46EF4A3CEAAAF0|title= Chapter 19 - Positively Bob Dylan: The Beatles and the Folk Movement|publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]]|last=O’Toole|first=Kit|chapter= Positively Bob Dylan: The Beatles and the Folk Movement|date=10 January 2020|pages= 196–205|doi= 10.1017/9781108296939.021|isbn= 9781108296939|s2cid= 214008257}}</ref>
| length     = {{duration|m=33|s=44}}
| label      = [[Parlophone]]
| producer   = [[George Martin]]
| prev_title = [[Beatles for Sale]]
| prev_year  = 1964
| next_title = [[Rubber Soul]]
| next_year  = 1965
| misc       = {{Extra chronology
 | artist     = [[The Beatles]] [[The Beatles' North American releases|North American]]
 | type       = studio
 | prev_title = [[Beatles VI]]
 | prev_year  = 1965
 | title      = Help!
 | year       = 1965
 | next_title = [[Rubber Soul#Original North American release|Rubber Soul]]
 | next_year  = 1965
}}{{Singles
 | name        = Help!
 | type        = studio
 | single1     = [[Ticket to Ride (song)|Ticket to Ride]]
 | single1date = 9 April 1965
 | single2     = [[Help! (song)|Help!]]
 | single2date = 23 July 1965
}}}}
'''''Help!''''' is the fifth [[studio album]] by the English [[Rock music|rock]] band [[the Beatles]] and the soundtrack to their [[Help! (film)|film of the same name]]. It was released on 6 August 1965 by [[Parlophone]]. Seven of the fourteen songs, including the singles "[[Help! (song)|Help!]]" and "[[Ticket to Ride (song)|Ticket to Ride]]", appeared in the film and take up the first side of the vinyl album. The second side includes "[[Yesterday (Beatles song)|Yesterday]]", the most-[[Cover version|covered]] song ever written.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/content_pages/record.asp?recordid=50867|title=Most Recorded Song|publisher=Guinness World Records|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060910071729/http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/content_pages/record.asp?recordid=50867|archive-date=10 September 2006|url-status=dead}}</ref> The album was met with favourable critical reviews and topped the Australian, German, British and American charts.

During the recording sessions for the album, the Beatles continued to explore the studio's [[Multitrack recording|multitracking]] capabilities to layer their sound. "Yesterday" features a [[string quartet]], the band's first use of [[Baroque music|Baroque]] sensibilities, and "[[You've Got to Hide Your Love Away]]" includes a flute section. The North American release is a true soundtrack album, combining the first seven songs with instrumental music from the film. The omitted tracks are instead spread across the [[Capitol Records]] LPs ''[[Beatles VI]]'', ''[[Rubber Soul]]'' and ''[[Yesterday and Today]]''.

In the US, ''Help!'' marked the start of artistic recognition for the Beatles from mainstream critics, including comparisons to the [[European art music]] tradition. It was nominated in the category of [[Grammy Award for Album of the Year|Album of the Year]] at the [[8th Annual Grammy Awards|1966 Grammys Awards]], marking the first time that a rock band had been recognised in this category. In 2000, it was voted 119th in the third edition of [[Colin Larkin (writer)|Colin Larkin]]'s book ''[[All Time Top 1000 Albums]]''. In 2020, it was ranked 266th on ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' magazine's list of the "[[Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time|500 Greatest Albums of All Time]]". In September 2013, after the [[British Phonographic Industry]] changed its sales award rules, ''Help!'' was certified [[Music recording sales certification|platinum]] for recorded sales since 1994.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-23927271 | title=Beatles albums finally go platinum | work=BBC News | access-date=4 September 2013 | archive-date=10 April 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140410171041/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-23927271 | url-status=live }}</ref>

== Background ==
In 1964, the Beatles appeared in their first feature film, ''[[A Hard Day's Night (film)|A Hard Day's Night]]''. Despite initial scepticism, reviews were near universal in their acclaim, elevating the Beatles' prestige as artists.{{Sfn|Gould|2007|pp=244–245}} With the aim of making one film a year,{{Sfn|Davies|2006|p=253}} work began on a second Beatles picture for 1965 release. It would once again be directed by [[Richard Lester]] and produced by [[Walter Shenson]], but written by [[Marc Behm]] and [[Charles Wood (playwright)|Charles Wood]] instead of [[Alun Owen]].{{Sfn|Neaverson|1997|p=31}} It was given the working title ''Eight Arms to Hold You'', one of [[Ringo Starr]]'s "[[Ringo Starr#Songwriting|Ringoisms]]";{{Sfn|Neaverson|1997|p=31}} the name stuck until early April,{{Sfn|Miles|1997|p=199}} long enough to even appear on the US "[[Ticket to Ride (song)|Ticket to Ride]]" single,{{Sfn|Harry|1992|p=651}} but [[Lennon–McCartney|John Lennon and Paul McCartney]] presumed it would be too difficult to write a compelling song with that title, so ''Help!'' was chosen instead.{{Sfn|Lewisohn|1992|p=189}}

<span data-noir-inline-color="" data-noir-inline-caret-color="">According to McCartney, most of the songwriting for</span> ''Help!'' <span data-noir-inline-color="" data-noir-inline-caret-color="">was done at</span> [[Kenwood, St George's Hill|Kenwood]]<span data-noir-inline-color="" data-noir-inline-caret-color="">, Lennon's house in</span> [[Weybridge]]<span data-noir-inline-color="" data-noir-inline-caret-color="">.</span><ref>{{Harvnb|The Beatles|2000|p=171}}; {{Harvnb|Coleman|1995|p=721}}: "[Lennon's] mansion, Kenwood ... at Weybridge, Surrey."</ref> <span data-noir-inline-color="" data-noir-inline-caret-color="">McCartney also wrote some songs, e.g. "</span>[[Yesterday (song)|Yesterday]]<span data-noir-inline-color="" data-noir-inline-caret-color="">" and "</span>[[I've Just Seen a Face]]<span data-noir-inline-color="" data-noir-inline-caret-color="">", at his girlfriend</span> [[Jane Asher]]<span data-noir-inline-color="" data-noir-inline-caret-color="">'s family home, 57</span> [[Wimpole Street]] <span data-noir-inline-color="" data-noir-inline-caret-color="">in London.</span>{{Sfn|Miles|1997|pp=105, 194–195, 200–201}} <span data-noir-inline-color="" data-noir-inline-caret-color="">At this time, the Beatles were heavily influenced by</span> [[Bob Dylan]]<span data-noir-inline-color="" data-noir-inline-caret-color="">, especially Lennon, who later referred to it as his "Dylan period".</span> [[Mark Hertsgaard]] <span data-noir-inline-color="" data-noir-inline-caret-color="">writes that while Dylan's influence was "evident" on</span> ''[[Beatles for Sale]]''<span data-noir-inline-color="" data-noir-inline-caret-color="">,</span> ''Help!'' <span data-noir-inline-color="" data-noir-inline-caret-color="">is where it became "fully realized".</span>{{Sfn|Hertsgaard|1995|p=116, 127}} <span data-noir-inline-color="" data-noir-inline-caret-color="">Additionally,</span> ''Help!'' <span data-noir-inline-color="" data-noir-inline-caret-color="">is the first Beatles album on which drugs made a significant impact.</span>{{Sfn|Petridis|2004|p=176}} <span data-noir-inline-color="" data-noir-inline-caret-color="">Dylan in 1964 had introduced them to</span> [[Cannabis (drug)|cannabis]]<span data-noir-inline-color="" data-noir-inline-caret-color="">,</span>{{Sfn|Miles|2001|p=165}} <span data-noir-inline-color="" data-noir-inline-caret-color="">which they smoked habitually while filming</span> ''Help!''<span data-noir-inline-color="" data-noir-inline-caret-color="">,</span>{{Sfn|The Beatles|2000|p=167}} <span data-noir-inline-color="" data-noir-inline-caret-color="">and they first encountered</span> [[LSD]] <span data-noir-inline-color="" data-noir-inline-caret-color="">in spring 1965.</span>{{Sfn|Gould|2007|p=316}} <span data-noir-inline-color="" data-noir-inline-caret-color="">According to</span> [[Alexis Petridis]]<span data-noir-inline-color="" data-noir-inline-caret-color="">, drugs motivated the Beatles on</span> ''Help!'' <span data-noir-inline-color="" data-noir-inline-caret-color="">to take their songwriting to "new emotional depths", such as on "</span>[[You've Got to Hide Your Love Away]]<span data-noir-inline-color="" data-noir-inline-caret-color="">" and "</span>Ticket to Ride<span data-noir-inline-color="" data-noir-inline-caret-color="">".</span>{{Sfn|Petridis|2004|p=176}}

== Recording and production ==

=== Recording history ===
Following their Christmas 1964 shows, the Beatles took a month's break before beginning work on ''Help!''{{Sfn|MacDonald|2007|p=142}} All of the recording sessions took place in Studio Two of EMI Recording Studios (now [[Abbey Road Studios]]).{{Sfn|Lewisohn|1988|pp=54–60}} The first set of sessions began on 15 February with "Ticket to Ride" and continued through the 20th, after which the group flew to [[the Bahamas]] to begin filming. They took with them a tape of the 11 songs recorded so that Lester and Shenson could decide which ones to use in the film.{{Sfn|Lewisohn|1988|p=|pp=54–56}}

Several songs recorded during these initial sessions were not included on the ''Help!'' album. Lennon's "[[Yes It Is]]" was relegated to the [[A-side and B-side|B-side]] of the "Ticket to Ride" single and a cover of [[Larry Williams]]' "[[Bad Boy (Larry Williams song)#The Beatles version|Bad Boy]]" was put on the [[The Beatles' North American releases|North American]] album ''[[Beatles VI]]''.{{Sfn|Lewisohn|1988|pp=54, 58}} Two Lennon–McCartney compositions were rejected for release altogether. The first was "[[If You've Got Trouble]]", originally written for Ringo Starr as his obligatory lead vocal for the album.{{Sfn|Lewisohn|1988|p=55}} One take was attempted on 18 February before it was abandoned.{{Sfn|MacDonald|2007|p=149}} The other was "[[That Means a Lot]]", a song [[Ian MacDonald]] views as "an attempt by McCartney to rewrite Lennon's 'Ticket to Ride{{'"}}.{{Sfn|MacDonald|2007|p=151}} Two versions were attempted, one on 20 February and a "re-make" on 30 March,{{Sfn|Lewisohn|1988|pp=56–57}} but it was ultimately given to a friend of the band, singer [[P. J. Proby]], to record. Proby's version was released as a single and reached number 30 on the [[UK singles chart|UK chart]].{{Sfn|Miles|1997|p=182}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=That Means a Lot by P. J. Proby |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/songs/pj-proby-that-means-a-lot/ |access-date=23 June 2024 |website=[[Official Charts Company]]}}</ref> Both "If You've Got Trouble" and take 1 of "That Means a Lot" were eventually released on ''[[Anthology 2]]'' in 1996, along with other outtakes from the ''Help!'' sessions.<ref>{{Cite AV media notes |title=[[Anthology 2]] |year=1996 |others=[[The Beatles]] |publisher=[[Apple Records]] |type=liner notes |id=7243 8 34448 2 3}}</ref> Additionally, the last song recorded in this time was "[[Wait (Beatles song)|Wait]]", which would not be released until the Beatles' next album, ''[[Rubber Soul]]''.{{Sfn|Lewisohn|1988|p=60}}

According to [[Mark Lewisohn]], 14 June 1965 saw "[a] remarkable day's work" and showcased McCartney's musical abilities in varying styles; the Beatles recorded his songs "I've Just Seen a Face", "[[I'm Down]]", and "Yesterday".{{Sfn|Lewisohn|1988|p=59}} "Yesterday" began with just McCartney singing and playing acoustic guitar, but he and [[Record producer|producer]] [[George Martin]] decided to add a [[string quartet]].{{Sfn|Lewisohn|1988|p=59}} Martin later described it as when, "I started to leave my hallmark on [the Beatles'] music, when a style started to emerge which was partly of my making."{{Sfn|Hertsgaard|1995|p=168}} "I'm Down" was released as the B-side of "Help!" but not included on the album.{{Sfn|MacDonald|2007|p=156}}

=== Innovations and techniques ===
{{Quote box
| quote = We still haven't made the sort of sound we want to, and we don't even know what we're after.{{Sfn|Everett|2001|p=281}}
| source = – John Lennon during the recording of ''Help!''
| align = left
| width = 25%
}}
Lewisohn writes that 1965 introduced the part of the Beatles' career where they put less focus on live performances and took "a more serious application in the recording studio."{{Sfn|Lewisohn|1988|p=54}} He identifies multiple new [[Recording practices of the Beatles|recording practices]] used on ''Help!'', one being "to rehearse songs with a [[Tape recorder|tape machine]] running, spooling back to record properly over the rehearsed material."{{Sfn|Lewisohn|1988|p=54}} Another involved adding numerous [[Overdubbing|overdubs]] to rhythm tracks without considering them as comprising new takes; because of this, many songs on ''Help!'' are documented as having needed only a small number of takes, yet they still required hours of work.{{Sfn|Lewisohn|1988|p=54}} Martin also began placing the guitar parts on different tracks than the bass and drums, accomplishing "a more satisfying stereo image" according to [[Walter Everett (musicologist)|Walter Everett]].{{Sfn|Everett|2001|p=281}}

According to Hertsgaard, ''Help!'' showed "a major acceleration in the Beatles' ongoing search for fresh sounds."{{Sfn|Hertsgaard|1995|p=128}} He points out that half of the songs feature instruments the Beatles had never used before, including [[electric piano]], flutes, a volume/tone [[Effects unit|pedal]], and most famously "Yesterday{{"'}}s strings.<ref>{{Harvnb|Hertsgaard|1995|p=128}}; {{Harvnb|Everett|2001|p=281}}: "volume/tone pedal".</ref> ''Help!'' is also the first Beatles album to feature the [[Epiphone Casino]], first purchased by McCartney around December 1964 before quickly becoming a staple of the group's instrumentation.{{Sfn|Everett|2001|p=282}} Before the recording of "Yesterday", the flutes on "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away" were played by [[John Scott (composer)|John Scott]], only the second outside musician to appear on a Beatles track (after [[Andy White (drummer)|Andy White]]).{{Sfn|Lewisohn|1988|p=55}}

== Songs ==

=== Side one ===
The song "[[Help! (song)|Help!]]" was written primarily by Lennon. He originally conceived it at a slower [[tempo]] and regretted speeding it up to make it more commercial.{{Sfn|MacDonald|2007|pp=152–153}} Although it was only written out of need for a titular song,<ref>{{Harvnb|Lewisohn|1992|p=189}}; {{Harvnb|Sheff|2000|p=177}}.</ref> Lennon remained extremely proud of "Help!" from the Beatles' break-up to his death,<ref>{{Harvnb|Turner|1994|p=74}}; {{Harvnb|Turner|2015|p=106}}.</ref> even once calling it his favorite Beatles song he wrote.{{Sfn|Pang|1983|p=223}} He felt it was one of his "real" songs,{{Sfn|Turner|2015|p=106}} explaining in an interview: "The whole Beatle thing was just beyond comprehension. I was eating and drinking like a pig and I was fat as a pig, dissatisfied with myself ... later, I knew I was really crying out for help. So it was my [[Elvis Presley#1973–1977: health deterioration and death|fat Elvis]] period."{{Sfn|Sheff|2000|pp=176–177}}

McCartney's "[[The Night Before (song)|The Night Before]]" is the first Beatles song to feature [[electric piano]], played by Lennon.{{Sfn|Guesdon|Margotin|2013|p=226}} McCartney and [[George Harrison]] played the guitar solo together, doubling each other in [[Octave|octaves]].{{Sfn|Everett|2001|p=286}}

Lennon specified "[[You've Got to Hide Your Love Away]]" as exemplifying his "Dylan period".{{Sfn|Sheff|2000|p=196}} A connection has been suggested between the lyric and Beatles manager [[Brian Epstein]]'s homosexuality, which he kept private due to British law at the time.<ref>{{Harvnb|Turner|2015|p=109}}; {{Harvnb|MacDonald|2007|p=149}}.</ref>

"[[I Need You (Beatles song)|I Need You]]" was George Harrison's first songwriting contribution since "[[Don't Bother Me]]" in 1963.{{Sfn|Gould|2007|p=266}} He wrote it for his girlfriend [[Pattie Boyd]], whom he met while filming ''A Hard Day's Night''.<ref>{{Harvnb|MacDonald|2007|p=145}}; {{Harvnb|Turner|2015|p=110}}.</ref> Its unusual guitar sound was achieved using a volume/tone pedal{{Sfn|Everett|2001|p=285}} – the first time a [[Effects unit|guitar pedal]] was used on a Beatles song.{{Sfn|Lewisohn|1988|p=54}} A year after Harrison's death in 2001, [[Tom Petty]] sang it at the [[Concert for George]].{{Sfn|Turner|2015|p=110}}

McCartney wrote "[[Another Girl]]" while holidaying at a [[villa]] in [[Hammamet, Tunisia|Hammamet]], [[Tunisia]].{{Sfn|Miles|1997|p=194}} He played lead guitar on the track as Harrison was struggling with it.{{Sfn|Guesdon|Margotin|2013|p=232}}

"[[You're Going to Lose That Girl]]" was written by Lennon and McCartney together, though McCartney credited it 60–40 to Lennon.{{Sfn|Miles|1997|p=195}} Some have interpreted it as a continuation of "[[She Loves You]]" due to it revisiting the theme of a love triangle.<ref>{{Harvnb|Gould|2007|p=267}}; {{Harvnb|Turner|2015|p=113}}.</ref>

"[[Ticket to Ride (song)|Ticket to Ride]]" was another song Lennon and McCartney wrote together,{{Sfn|Turner|2015|p=114}} but they later disagreed on how much each of them contributed. Lennon said in 1980, "Paul's contribution was the way Ringo played the drums."{{Sfn|Sheff|2000|p=196}} In ''[[Paul McCartney: Many Years from Now|Many Years From Now]]'', McCartney responded: "John just didn't take the time to explain that we sat down together and worked on that song for a three-hour songwriting session, and at the end of it we had all the words, we had the harmonies, and we had all the little bits. ... We wrote the melody together ... Because John sang it, you might have to give him 60 per cent of it."{{Sfn|Miles|1997|p=193}}

The meaning of the phrase "ticket to ride" has been debated. As was rumored at the time, it was partially inspired by the town [[Ryde]] in the [[Isle of Wight]], where McCartney's cousin owned a pub that he and Lennon had performed at in the early 1960s.<ref>{{Harvnb|Miles|1997|p=193}}; {{Harvnb|Guesdon|Margotin|2013|p=236}}.</ref> Another story goes that Lennon used "ticket to ride" to refer to cards given to prostitutes [[The Beatles in Hamburg|in Hamburg]] by health authorities.<ref>{{Harvnb|Turner|2015|p=114}}; {{Harvnb|Guesdon|Margotin|2013|p=236}}.</ref> Lennon touted the song as "one of the earliest [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]] records made."{{Sfn|Sheff|2000|p=196}}

=== Side two ===
"[[Act Naturally#The Beatles version|Act Naturally]]", written by [[Johnny Russell (singer)|Johnny Russell]] and first recorded by [[Buck Owens]] in 1963,{{Sfn|Sisk|2010|pp=55–56}} was chosen by Ringo Starr to be his vocal contribution to the album.{{Sfn|Everett|2001|p=304}} Recorded at the end of the ''Help!'' sessions,{{Sfn|Lewisohn|1988|p=60}} it was the last-recorded [[Cover version|cover song]] the Beatles would officially release until "[[Maggie May (folk song)#The Beatles' version|Maggie Mae]]" in 1970.{{Sfn|MacDonald|2007|p=160}} In 1989, Owens and Starr recorded [[Act Naturally#Buck Owens and Ringo Starr duet version|another version]] together.{{Sfn|Harry|2004|p=8}}

"[[It's Only Love]]" was originally written by Lennon under the title "That's a Nice Hat (Cap)". Five guitar layers were used on the track,{{Sfn|MacDonald|2007|p=159}} including Harrison's which was run through a [[Leslie speaker]].{{Sfn|MacDonald|2007|p=159}} Lennon was highly critical of the song in later years: "That's the one song I really hate of mine. Terrible lyric."{{Sfn|Guesdon|Margotin|2013|p=242}}

"[[You Like Me Too Much]]" began the precedent of Harrison providing two or more songs to each Beatles album.{{Sfn|Guesdon|Margotin|2013|p=244}} It once again features Lennon on electric piano, but also George Martin and McCartney on a [[Steinway & Sons|Steinway]] [[Piano|grand piano]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Lewisohn|1988|p=54}}; {{Harvnb|Everett|2001|p=287}}.</ref>

For "[[Tell Me What You See]]", McCartney drew inspiration for his lyrics from a religious verse that hung on a wall in Lennon's childhood home.{{Sfn|Turner|2015|p=116}} McCartney later described it as a [[Filler (media)|filler]] song, "Not awfully memorable."{{Sfn|Miles|1997|p=200}}

McCartney wrote "[[I've Just Seen a Face]]" at the home of his girlfriend [[Jane Asher]]'s family, at 57 [[Wimpole Street]] in London.{{Sfn|Miles|1997|p=|pp=105, 200}} It would become one of McCartney's favorite Beatles songs and among the only ones he would perform with his later band [[Paul McCartney and Wings|Wings]].{{Sfn|Miles|1997|p=200}}

The album's penultimate track, "[[Yesterday (song)|Yesterday]]", came partially to McCartney in his sleep. He spent about a month playing it to people to make sure he had not plagiarised it. He then wrote working lyrics for it under the title "Scrambled Eggs".{{Sfn|Turner|1994|p=83}} "Yesterday" was later recognized by ''[[Guinness World Records]]'' as the most-covered pop song in history.{{Sfn|MacDonald|2007|p=157}}

The album ends with a cover of [[Larry Williams]]' "[[Dizzy, Miss Lizzy|Dizzy Miss Lizzy]]". Lennon in particular was a fan of Williams and, along with "Bad Boy", the Beatles also recorded his song "[[Slow Down (Larry Williams song)|Slow Down]]".{{Sfn|MacDonald|2007|p=118}}

==Album cover==
{| style="width:10%; float:right; text-align:center; line-height:100%; margin-left:10px; "
|-
| style="width:8%;"| [[File:Semaphore Hotel.svg|50px]]<br />H
| style="width:8%;"| [[File:Semaphore Echo.svg|50px]]<br />E
| style="width:8%;"| [[File:Semaphore Lima.svg|50px]]<br />L
| style="width:8%;"| [[File:Semaphore Papa.svg|50px]]<br />P
|-
| style="width:8%;"| [[File:Semaphore November.svg|50px]]<br />N
| style="width:8%;"| [[File:Semaphore Uniform.svg|50px]]<br />U
| style="width:8%;"| [[File:Semaphore Juliet.svg|50px]]<br />J
| style="width:8%;"| [[File:Semaphore Victor.svg|50px]]<br />V
|-
| style="width:8%;"| [[File:Semaphore November.svg|50px]]<br />N
| style="width:8%;"| [[File:Semaphore Victor.svg|50px]]<br />V
| style="width:8%;"| [[File:Semaphore Uniform.svg|50px]]<br />U
| style="width:8%;"| [[File:Semaphore Juliet.svg|50px]]<br />J
|}
The album cover shows the Beatles with their arms positioned to spell out a word in [[flag semaphore]]. According to cover photographer [[Robert Freeman (photographer)|Robert Freeman]], "I had the idea of semaphore spelling out the letters 'HELP'. But when we came to do the shot, the arrangement of the arms with those letters didn't look good. So we decided to improvise and ended up with the best graphic positioning of the arms."{{sfn|Freeman|2003|p=62}}

On the UK Parlophone release, the letters formed by the Beatles appear to be "NUJV", while the slightly re-arranged US release on Capitol Records appeared to indicate the letters "NVUJ", with McCartney's left hand pointing to the Capitol logo.<ref>{{cite book|last=Spizer|first=Bruce|author-link=Bruce Spizer|title=The Beatles' Story on Capitol Records – Part Two: The Albums|publisher=498 Productions|year=2000|pages=88, 93}}</ref> The Capitol LP was issued in a "deluxe" [[gatefold]] sleeve with several photos from the film and was priced $1 more than standard Capitol releases at the time.{{citation needed|date=July 2021}}

==Compact disc release==
There have been four CD releases of ''Help!''. The first was on 30 April 1987, using the 14-song UK track line-up. Having been available only as an import in the US in the past, the original 14-track UK version replaced the original US version with its release on LP and cassette as well on 21 July 1987. As with the CD release of the 1965 ''[[Rubber Soul]]'' album, the ''Help!'' CD featured a contemporary stereo digital remix of the album prepared by Martin in 1986. Martin had expressed concern to EMI over the original 1965 stereo mix, claiming it sounded "very woolly, and not at all what I thought should be a good issue". Martin went back to the original four-track tapes and remixed them for stereo.{{sfn|Kozinn|1987}} One of the most notable changes is the echo added to "Dizzy Miss Lizzy", something that was not evident on the original mix of the LP.

When the album was originally released on CD in Canada, pressings were imported from other countries, and used the 1987 remix. However, when the Disque Améric and Cinram plants in Canada started pressing the album, the original 1965 stereo mix was used by mistake. This was the only source for the 1965 stereo mix in its entirety until the release of the [[The Beatles in Mono|mono box set]] in 2009.<ref name="disqueamericpressing">{{cite web |url=http://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/rubber-soul-cd-canadian-pressing-featuring-original-uk-mixes.77582/page-3 |title=Rubber Soul CD – Canadian Pressing Featuring Original UK Mixes? |publisher=Steve Hoffman Music Forums |date=9 April 2006 |access-date=17 January 2014 |archive-date=19 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170119180102/http://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/rubber-soul-cd-canadian-pressing-featuring-original-uk-mixes.77582/page-3 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The 2009 remastered [[The Beatles Stereo Box Set|stereo CD]] was released on 9 September. It was "created from the original stereo digital master tapes from Martin's CD mixes made in 1986".{{sfn|Apple Records|2009}} The original 1965 stereo mix was included as a bonus on the mono CD contained in ''[[The Beatles in Mono]]'' boxed set.

The 1965 stereo mix was reissued again on the ''Help!'' CD contained in the Beatles collection ''[[The Japan Box]]'' released in 2014.

==Critical reception==
===Contemporary reviews===
''Help!'' was another worldwide critical success for the Beatles.<ref name="Halpin/LTW">{{cite web|url=http://louderthanwar.com/rubber-soul-50th-anniversary-beatles-classic-album/|first=Michael|last=Halpin|title=Rubber Soul – 50th Anniversary of The Beatles Classic Album|website=[[Louder Than War (website)|Louder Than War]]|date=3 December 2015|access-date=21 January 2019|archive-date=26 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171026222045/http://louderthanwar.com/rubber-soul-50th-anniversary-beatles-classic-album/|url-status=live}}</ref> Derek Johnson of the ''[[NME]]'' said that the LP "maintains the Beatles' usual high standards" and was a "gay, infectious romp which doesn't let up in pace or sparkle from start to finish – with the exception of one slow track".<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Derek|last=Johnson|title=Beatles New LP|magazine=[[NME]]|date=23 July 1965|page=3}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|editor-last=Sutherland|editor-first=Steve|title=[[NME Originals]]: Lennon|year=2003|publisher=IPC Ignite!|location=London|page=32}}</ref> Despite the band's introduction of new instrumentation into their sound, particularly a string quartet on "Yesterday", the reviewer also wrote of the album: "It's typical Beatles material, and offers very few surprises. But then, who wants surprises from the Beatles?" While typical of the light and snappy pop music reviews at the time, according to music journalist Michael Halpin, these comments angered McCartney, who, like his bandmates, believed that artists should constantly develop through their work.<ref name="Halpin/LTW" />

In the United States, where the mainstream press had long focused on the [[Beatlemania]] phenomenon and had derided the group's music, as well as rock 'n' roll generally, the summer of 1965 coincided with the first examples of artistic recognition for the Beatles from the country's cultural mainstream.{{sfn|Gendron|2002|p=170}} Among these endorsements, [[Richard Freed]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' likened the band's songs to works from the [[European art music]] tradition. Adding to what he described as the Beatles' impact on "serious music", Freed cited musicologists and composers such as [[Leonard Bernstein]] and [[Abram Chasins]] as admirers of the group's work.{{sfn|Gendron|2002|pp=171–72, 174}} Along with several nominations for "Yesterday",{{sfn|Miles|2001|p=226}} ''Help!'' was nominated in the category of [[Grammy Award for Album of the Year|Album of the Year]] at the [[8th Annual Grammy Awards|1966 Grammys Awards]]. The nomination marked the first time that a rock band had been recognised in this category.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/grammy-awards-album-year-winners-steely-dan-426569|first=Zach|last=Schonfeld|title=The Most Ridiculous 'Album of the Year' Winners in Grammy History|work=[[Newsweek]]|date=15 February 2016|access-date=24 January 2019|archive-date=8 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181108065752/https://www.newsweek.com/grammy-awards-album-year-winners-steely-dan-426569|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Retrospective assessments===
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1Score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref name="Erlewine AllMusic">{{cite web |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |author1-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |title=''Help!'' – The Beatles |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/help%21-mw0000189173#review |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=15 September 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210430182933/https://www.allmusic.com/album/help!-mw0000189173#review |archive-date=30 April 2021}}</ref>
| rev2      = ''[[The A.V. Club]]''
| rev2Score = A<ref name="Klosterman">{{cite news |last=Klosterman |first=Chuck |author-link=Chuck Klosterman |date=8 September 2009 |url=https://www.avclub.com/chuck-klosterman-repeats-the-beatles-1798217828 |title=Chuck Klosterman Repeats The Beatles |newspaper=[[The A.V. Club]] |location=Chicago |access-date=26 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522154556/http://www.avclub.com/articles/chuck-klosterman-repeats-the-beatles%2C32560/ |archive-date=22 May 2013 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]''
| rev3Score = {{Rating|4|4}}<ref>{{cite news|last=McLeese|first=Don|date=30 April 1987|url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-3823417.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911152640/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-3823417.html|title=CDs 'Help!' restore Beatles' intent|newspaper=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]|archive-date=11 September 2016|access-date=24 January 2019}}</ref>
| rev4 = ''[[Consequence of Sound]]''
| rev4Score = B<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Young|first=Alex|url=http://consequenceofsound.net/2009/09/album-review-the-beatles-help-remastered/|title=The Beatles – Help! (Remastered)|magazine=[[Consequence of Sound]]|date=18 September 2009|access-date=25 March 2015|archive-date=2 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402134854/http://consequenceofsound.net/2009/09/album-review-the-beatles-help-remastered/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| rev5 = ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]''
| rev5Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="McCormick/Tele">{{cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/the-beatles/6150347/The-Beatles-Help-review.html | location=London | newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]] | first=Neil | last=McCormick | title=The Beatles – Help!, review | date=7 September 2009 | access-date=21 April 2018 | archive-date=22 April 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180422072412/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/the-beatles/6150347/The-Beatles-Help-review.html | url-status=live }}</ref>
| rev6 = ''[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]''
| rev6Score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref>{{cite book|last=Larkin|first=Colin|author-link=Colin Larkin (writer)|year=2006|publisher=[[Muze]]|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]|volume=1|page=489|isbn=0-19-531373-9}}</ref>
| rev7      = ''[[MusicHound]]''
| rev7Score = 3.5/5<ref>{{cite book|editor-last1=Graff|editor-first1=Gary|editor-last2=Durchholz|editor-first2=Daniel|title=MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide|edition=2nd|publisher=Visible Ink Press|location=Farmington Hills, MI|year=1999|isbn=1-57859-061-2|page=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781578590612/page/88 88]|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781578590612/page/88}}</ref>
| rev8 = ''[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]''
| rev8Score = 100/100<ref name="Kemp/Paste">{{cite magazine|last=Kemp|first=Mark|date=8 September 2009|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2009/09/the-beatles-the-long-and-winding-repertoire.html|title=The Beatles: The Long and Winding Repertoire|magazine=[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]|access-date=27 June 2017|page=59|archive-date=23 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023065059/http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2009/09/the-beatles-the-long-and-winding-repertoire.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
| rev9 = ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]''
| rev9Score = 9.2/10<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/13428-help/ |title=Pitchfork review |work=Pitchfork |date=8 September 2009 |access-date=23 August 2011 |archive-date=12 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812154145/http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/13428-help/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| rev10 = ''[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide]]''
| rev10Score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{sfn|Brackett|Hoard|2004|p=51}}
}}
In his review of the Beatles' 1987 CD releases, for ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' magazine, Steve Pond remarked on the "unstoppable momentum" evident in the band's pre-''Rubber Soul'' albums and recommended ''Help!'' "for the relatively quiet and understated way in which they consolidated their strengths".<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/with-the-beatles-251841/|first=Steve|last=Pond|title=With The Beatles|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=16 July 1987|access-date=24 January 2019|archive-date=24 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190124203858/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/with-the-beatles-251841/|url-status=live}}</ref> Writing in 2004 edition of ''[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide]]'', [[Rob Sheffield]] says that the US version of ''Help!'' was "utterly ruined" through the replacement of the Beatles songs with the soundtrack music, and that, as a result, the album remained relatively overlooked. He describes the full album as "a big step forward" and "the first chapter in the astounding creative takeoff the Beatles were just beginning".{{sfn|Brackett|Hoard|2004|pp=52–53}}

[[Mark Kemp]] of ''[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]'' considers it to be the equal of ''A Hard Day's Night'' and cites "Help!", "Ticket to Ride" and "Act Naturally" as highlights, along with Harrison's return as a songwriter. Kemp identifies "Yesterday" as "the album's masterpiece" and a song that "set the stage for one of the most groundbreaking and innovative periods in The Beatles' career, not to mention pop music in general".<ref name="Kemp/Paste" /> [[Neil McCormick]] of ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' says that the album evokes "a band in transition, shifting slightly uncomfortably from the pop thrills of Beatlemania to something more mature", with Lennon's writing increasingly autobiographical and the group's sound growing more sophisticated. McCormick concludes: "''Help!'' may not be their greatest album, but it contains some of their greatest early songs."<ref name="McCormick/Tele" />

In 2000, ''Help!'' was voted 119th in the third edition of [[Colin Larkin (writer)|Colin Larkin]]'s book ''[[All Time Top 1000 Albums]]''.<ref name="Larkin">{{cite book|title=[[All Time Top 1000 Albums]]|editor-first=Colin|editor-last=Larkin|editor-link=Colin Larkin (writer)|publisher=Virgin Books|location=London|date=2000|edition=3rd|isbn=0-7535-0493-6|page=60}}</ref> In 2006, it was recognised as one of the "Most Significant Rock Albums" in the ''Greenwood Encyclopedia of Rock History''. Two years before then, [[Tor Milde]], music critic for the Norwegian newspaper ''[[Verdens Gang]]'', ranked it at number 20 on his list of "The 100 Best Pop and Rock Albums of All Time".{{CN|date=December 2023}} In 2003, ''Rolling Stone'' ranked ''Help!'' number 332 on their list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time", raising the ranking to number 331 in the 2012 update and then number 266 in the 2020 list.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://genius.com/Rolling-stone-the-500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-2003-annotated |title=Rolling Stone – the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time (2003) |access-date=30 April 2021 |archive-date=24 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210424152519/https://genius.com/Rolling-stone-the-500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-2003-annotated |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Rolling Stone">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-20120531/the-beatles-help-19691231|title=500 Greatest Albums of All Time: the Beatles, 'Help'|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=31 May 2009|access-date=31 July 2012|archive-date=5 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120705011818/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-20120531/the-beatles-help-19691231|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|date=2020-09-22|title=The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-albums-of-all-time-1062063/|access-date=2021-02-17|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US|archive-date=22 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922163403/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-albums-of-all-time-1062063/|url-status=live}}</ref>

{{clear}}

==Track listing==
{{Track listing
| headline  = Side one
| all_writing  = [[Lennon–McCartney]], except where noted
| extra_column  = Lead vocals
| title1   = [[Help! (song)|Help!]]
| extra1   = Lennon 
| length1   = 2:18
| title2   = [[The Night Before (song)|The Night Before]]
| extra2   = McCartney
| length2   = 2:34
| title3   = [[You've Got to Hide Your Love Away]]
| extra3   = Lennon
| length3   = 2:09
| title4   = [[I Need You (Beatles song)|I Need You]]
| note4   = [[George Harrison]]
| extra4   = Harrison
| length4   = 2:28
| title5   = [[Another Girl]]
| extra5   = McCartney
| length5   = 2:05
| title6   = [[You're Going to Lose That Girl]]
| extra6   = Lennon
| length6   = 2:18
| title7   = [[Ticket to Ride (song)|Ticket to Ride]]
| extra7   = Lennon with McCartney
| length7   = 3:09
| total_length    = 17:01
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Side two
| extra_column = Lead vocals
| title1 = [[Act Naturally#The Beatles version|Act Naturally]]
| note1 = [[Johnny Russell (singer)|Morrison–Russell]]
| extra1 = Starr
| length1 = 2:30
| title2 = [[It's Only Love]]
| extra2 = Lennon
| length2 = 1:56
| title3 = [[You Like Me Too Much]]
| note3 = Harrison
| extra3 = Harrison
| length3 = 2:36
| title4 = [[Tell Me What You See]]
| extra4 = McCartney with Lennon
| length4 = 2:37
| title5 = [[I've Just Seen a Face]]
| extra5 = McCartney
| length5 = 2:05
| title6 = [[Yesterday (song)|Yesterday]]
| extra6 = McCartney
| length6 = 2:05
| title7 = [[Dizzy, Miss Lizzy#The Beatles rendition|Dizzy Miss Lizzy]]
| note7 = [[Larry Williams]]
| extra7 = Lennon
| length7 = 2:54
| total_length = 16:43
}}

=={{Anchor|United States release}} North American Capitol release==
{{Infobox album
| name       = Help!
| type       = soundtrack
| artist     = [[the Beatles]] and [[Ken Thorne]]
| cover      = HelpUSalbumcover.jpg
| border     = yes
| alt        =
| released   = {{nowrap|13 August 1965}}{{sfn|Stannard|1982|p=141}}
| recorded   = 15 February – 17 June 1965
| venue      =
| studio     = [[Abbey Road Studios|EMI]], London
| genre      = {{flatlist|
* [[Rock music|Rock]]
* [[instrumental music|instrumental]]
}}
| length     = 29:34
| label      = [[Capitol Records|Capitol]]
| producer   = [[George Martin]], [[Dave Dexter, Jr.]]{{sfn|Ruhlmann|2009}}
| chronology = [[The Beatles]] [[The Beatles' North American releases|North American]]
| prev_title = [[Beatles VI]]
| prev_year  = 1965
| next_title = [[Rubber Soul]]
| next_year  = 1965
| misc       = {{Singles
 | name        = Help!
 | type        = soundtrack
 | single1     = [[Ticket to Ride (song)|Ticket to Ride]]
 | single1date = 19 April 1965
 | single2     = [[Help! (song)|Help!]]
 | single2date = 19 July 1965{{sfn|Stannard|1982|p=141}}
}}
}}

The North American version, the band's eighth [[Capitol Records]] album and tenth overall, includes the songs in the film plus selections from the film's orchestral score composed and conducted by [[Ken Thorne]], which contains one of the first uses of the Indian [[sitar]] on a rock/pop album, and its very first use on a Beatles record. "Ticket to Ride" is the only song on the American release in [[Duophonic]] stereo (also known as "fake stereo") reprocessed from the mono mix. Likewise, the mono version of the album uses a folded-down stereo mix of "Help!" instead of the true mono version used on the single, which features a different vocal track. ''Help!'' is available on CD as part of ''[[The Capitol Albums, Volume 2]]'' box set. This CD contains both the stereo and mono fold-down versions as heard on the American LP release. A second CD release of this album, which contains the seven songs in true mono mixes, was issued in 2014 individually and as part of the Beatles' ''[[The U.S. Albums]]'' box set.

All of the non-film tracks from side two of the Parlophone album were spread out through three American albums. Three were already issued on the previously released ''Beatles VI'': "You Like Me Too Much", "Tell Me What You See" and "Dizzy Miss Lizzy". "I've Just Seen A Face" and "It's Only Love" were placed on the Capitol ''Rubber Soul'', with its follow-up album ''Yesterday and Today'' receiving the remaining two tracks: "Yesterday" and "Act Naturally".

The American version of ''Help!'' reached the number one spot on the ''Billboard'' Top LPs chart for nine weeks starting on 11 September 1965.

===Track listing===
{{Track listing
| headline = Side one
| all_writing = [[Lennon–McCartney]], except where noted
| extra_column = Lead vocals
| title1 = [[Help! (song)|Help!]]
| note1 = preceded by an uncredited instrumental intro based on the "[[James Bond Theme]]"
| extra1 = Lennon
| length1 = 2:39
| title2 = [[The Night Before (song)|The Night Before]]
| extra2 = McCartney
| length2 = 2:36
| title3 = [[From Me to You|From Me to You Fantasy]]
| note3 = Lennon–McCartney; arranged by Thorne
| extra3 = instrumental
| length3 = 2:08
| title4 = [[You've Got to Hide Your Love Away]]
| extra4 = Lennon
| length4 = 2:12
| title5 = [[I Need You (The Beatles song)|I Need You]]
| note5 = Harrison
| extra5 = Harrison
| length5 = 2:31
| title6 = In the Tyrol
| note6 = Ken Thorne
| extra6 = instrumental
| length6 = 2:26
| total_length = 14:32
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Side two
| extra_column = Lead vocals
| title1 = [[Another Girl]]
| extra1 = McCartney
| length1 = 2:08
| title2 = [[A Hard Day's Night (song)|Another Hard Day's Night]]
| note2 = Lennon–McCartney; arranged by Thorne
| extra2 = instrumental
| length2 = 2:31
| title3 = [[Ticket to Ride (song)|Ticket to Ride]]
| extra3 = Lennon
| length3 = 3:07
| title4 = The Bitter End/[[You Can't Do That]]
| note4 = Ken Thorne/Lennon–McCartney; arranged by Thorne
| extra4 = instrumental
| length4 = 2:26
| title5 = [[You're Going to Lose That Girl|You're Gonna Lose That Girl]]
| extra5 = Lennon
| length5 = 2:19
| title6 = The Chase
| note6 = Ken Thorne
| extra6 = instrumental
| length6 = 2:31
| total_length = 15:02
}}

==Charts==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

===Charts===
{|class="wikitable sortable"
!Chart (1965)
!Peak<br />position
|+Weekly chart performance for ''Help!''
|Australian [[Kent Music Report]]<ref>{{cite book | title=Australian Chart Book (1940–1969) | author=Kent, David | publisher=Australian Chart Book | location=Turramurra, NSW | year=2005 | isbn=0-646-44439-5}}</ref>
|align="center"|1
|-
|[[Suomen virallinen lista|Finnish Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite book|first=Jake|last=Nyman|year=2005|title=Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja|publisher=Tammi|location=Helsinki|isbn=951-31-2503-3|language=fi}}</ref>
|align="center"|1
|-
|align="left"|UK [[UK Albums Chart|''Record Retailer'' LPs Chart]]<ref name="UK chart">{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/10363/beatles/|title=Beatles" > "Albums|publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]|access-date=27 March 2022}}</ref>
|style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
|align="left"|US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' Top LPs]]<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/the-beatles/chart-history/tlp/|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=16 March 2021|title=The Beatles Chart History (Billboard 200)|language=en|date=16 March 2021|archive-date=16 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210316205331/https://www.billboard.com/music/the-beatles/chart-history/TLP|url-status=live}}</ref>
|align="center"|1
|-
! style="width:20em;"|Chart (1987)
!Peak<br />position
|-
|{{album chart|Netherlands|62|artist=The Beatles|album=Help!|access-date=12 June 2016}}
|-
|align="left"|[[UK Albums Chart]]<ref name="ukchart87">{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/search/albums/help%20(1987%20version)/ | title=Help (1987 Version)" > "Chart Facts| publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]|access-date=28 June 2017}}</ref>
|align="center"|61
|-
|align="left"|US [[Billboard charts|''Billboard'' Top Compact Disks]]<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/80s/1987/Billboard-1987-05-30.pdf|title=Top Compact Disks (for week ending May 30, 1987)|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=30 May 1987|access-date=26 September 2020|page=54}}</ref>
|align="center"|4
|-
! style="width:20em;"|Chart (2009)
!Peak<br />position
|-
|{{album chart|Austria|62|artist=The Beatles|album=Help!|access-date=12 June 2016}}
|-
|{{album chart|Flanders|48|artist=The Beatles|album=Help!|access-date=12 June 2016}}
|-
|{{album chart|Wallonia|62|artist=The Beatles|album=Help!|access-date=12 June 2016}}
|-
|{{album chart|Netherlands|64|artist=The Beatles|album=Help!|access-date=12 June 2016}}
|-
|{{album chart|Finland|26|artist=The Beatles|album=Help!|access-date=12 June 2016}}
|-
|{{album chart|Italy|50|artist=The Beatles|album=Help!|access-date=12 June 2016}}
|-
|{{album chart|New Zealand|35|artist=The Beatles|album=Help!|access-date=12 June 2016}}
|-
|{{album chart|Portugal|18|artist=The Beatles|album=Help!|access-date=12 June 2016}}
|-
|{{album chart|Spain|53|artist=The Beatles|album=Help!|access-date=12 June 2016}}
|-
|{{album chart|Sweden|30|artist=The Beatles|album=Help!|access-date=12 June 2016}}
|-
|{{album chart|Switzerland|53|artist=The Beatles|album=Help!|access-date=12 June 2016}}
|-
|align="left"|UK Albums Chart<ref name="ukchart87" />
|align="center"|29
|-
! style="width:20em;"|Chart (2010)
!Peak<br />position
|-
| US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]]<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/2010-12-04|title=Billboard 200, Week of December 4, 2010|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=21 March 2021|archive-date=19 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190619030349/https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/2010-12-04|url-status=live}}</ref>
|align="center"|160
|}
{{col-2}}
{{col-end}}

==Certifications and sales==
In the US, the album sold 1,314,457 copies by 31 December 1965 and 1,594,032 copies by the end of the decade.<ref name="How many records did the Beatles actually sell?">{{cite web |url=http://deconstructingpopculture.com/2009/04/how-many-records-did-the-beatles-actually-sell |title=How Many Records did the Beatles actually sell? |publisher=Deconstructing Pop Culture by David Kronemyer |date=29 April 2009 |access-date=11 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306054326/http://deconstructingpopculture.com/2009/04/how-many-records-did-the-beatles-actually-sell/ |archive-date=6 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

;Original release
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Argentina|type=album|title=Help|artist=The  Beatles|award=Platinum|relyear=1965|certyear=1991|certref=<ref name=capif>{{cite web|url=http://www.capif.org.ar/Default.asp?PerDesde_MM=0&PerDesde_AA=0&PerHasta_MM=0&PerHasta_AA=0&interprete=&album=&LanDesde_MM=1&LanDesde_AA=1980&LanHasta_MM=12&LanHasta_AA=2010&Galardon=O&Tipo=1&ACCION2=+Buscar+&ACCION=Buscar&CO=5&CODOP=ESOP |archive-url=https://archive.today/20110706084844/http://www.capif.org.ar/Default.asp?PerDesde_MM=0&PerDesde_AA=0&PerHasta_MM=0&PerHasta_AA=0&interprete=&album=&LanDesde_MM=1&LanDesde_AA=1980&LanHasta_MM=12&LanHasta_AA=2010&Galardon=O&Tipo=1&ACCION2=+Buscar+&ACCION=Buscar&CO=5&CODOP=ESOP |archive-date= 6 July 2011 |title=Discos de oro y platino |access-date=30 September 2019 |publisher=[[Cámara Argentina de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas]] |language=es |url-status=dead }}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=album|artist=The Beatles|title=Help!|award=Gold|certyear=2009|access-date=15 September 2013}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|type=album|artist=The Beatles|title=Help|nocert=true|salesamount=320,000|salesref=<ref>{{cite news|url=http://memoria.bn.br/DocReader/DocReader.aspx?bib=030015_10&Pesq=beatles%20abbey%20road&pagfis=201532|title=O sargento Pimenta faz 20 anos|newspaper=[[Jornal do Brasil]]|quote=Sgt. pepper’s que toca em cinco paginas desta edicao, e o terceiro mais vendido (290 mil). Perde Abbey Road (390 mil) e para Help (320 mil)|language=pt|date=1 June 1987|page=37|via=[[National Library of Brazil]]}}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|type=album|artist=The Beatles|title=Help!|nocert=true|salesamount=100,000|salesref=<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/60s/1966/CB-1966-10-29.pdf|title=Cash Box - Germany|publisher=Cash Box|page=76|date=29 October 1966|access-date=9 December 2023}}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|type=album|artist=The Beatles|title=Help!|award=Gold|relyear=2009|certyear=2022|access-date=11 April 2022|note=sales since 2009}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=album|artist=The Beatles|title=Help|award=Platinum|access-date=15 September 2013|certyear=2013|certmonth=7|id=2842-1786-2|note=sales since 1994}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true}}

;North American release
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=album|artist=The Beatles|title=Help|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=1965|access-date=15 September 2013}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=album|artist=Beatles, The|title=Help!|award=Platinum|number=3|relyear=1965|access-date=15 September 2013}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=yes}}

==Personnel==
According to [[Mark Lewisohn]]{{sfn|Lewisohn|1988}}{{sfn|Lewisohn|1992}} and Alan W. Pollack.{{sfn|Pollack|2009}} <!-- Lennon and Harrison did not play any percussion instrument on this album -->

'''The Beatles'''
*[[John Lennon]]&nbsp;– lead, [[Backing vocalist|harmony]] and background vocals; rhythm and acoustic guitars; [[Pianet|electric piano]], [[organ (music)|organ]] on "Dizzy Miss Lizzy"; tambourine on "Tell Me What You See"; [[snare drum]] on "I Need You"
*[[Paul McCartney]]&nbsp;– lead, harmony and background vocals; bass, acoustic and lead guitars; piano, electric piano
*[[George Harrison]]&nbsp;– harmony and background vocals; lead, acoustic and rhythm guitars; lead vocals on "I Need You" and "You Like Me Too Much"; [[güiro]] on "Tell Me What You See"
*[[Ringo Starr]]&nbsp;– drums and miscellaneous percussion; [[claves]] on "Tell Me What You See"; lead vocals on "Act Naturally"

'''Additional musicians'''
*[[George Martin]]&nbsp;– producer; piano on "You Like Me Too Much"
*[[John Scott (composer)|John Scott]]&nbsp;– tenor and alto flutes on "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away"
*[[String quartet]] on "Yesterday", [[Arrangement|arranged]] by Martin in association with McCartney

==Surround versions==
The songs included in the soundtrack of the film ''[[Help! (film)|Help!]]'' (tracks 1–7) were mixed into [[5.1 surround sound]] for the film's 2007 DVD release.

==Release history==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Country
! Date
! Label
! Format
! Catalog
|-
| rowspan=2| United Kingdom
| rowspan=2| 6 August 1965
| rowspan=2| [[Parlophone]]
| mono [[vinyl record|LP]]
| PMC 1255
|-
| stereo LP
| PCS 3071
|-
| rowspan=2|United States
| rowspan=2|13 August 1965
| rowspan=2|[[Capitol Records|Capitol]]
| mono LP
| MAS 2386
|-
| stereo LP
| SMAS 2386
|-
| Worldwide reissue
| 15 April 1987
| [[Apple Records|Apple]], Parlophone, [[EMI]]
| Compact Disc
| CDP 7 46439 2
|-
| United States
| 21 July 1987
| Capitol
| stereo LP
| CLJ 46439
|-
| Japan
| 11 March 1998
| [[Toshiba-EMI]]
| CD
| TOCP 51115
|-
| Japan
| 21 January 2004
| Toshiba-EMI
| [[Remaster]]ed LP
| TOJP 60135
|-
| Worldwide reissue
| 11 April 2006
| Apple/Capitol/EMI
| CD reissue of US LP
| CDP 0946 3 57500 2 7
|-
| Worldwide reissue
| 9 September 2009
| Apple/Capitol/EMI
| CD stereo remaster
| CDP 0946 3 82415 2 2
|}

==See also==
* [[Outline of the Beatles]]
* [[The Beatles timeline]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

;Sources
{{Refbegin|30em}}
* {{Cite book |author=The Beatles |author-link=The Beatles |url=https://archive.org/details/beatlesanthology0000unse_y2k8 |title=The Beatles Anthology |publisher=[[Chronicle Books]] |year=2000 |isbn=978-0-8118-2684-6 |location=San Francisco |url-access=registration}}
* {{cite AV media notes
| publisher=[[Apple Records]]
| year=2009
| title=Help!
| others=[[The Beatles]]
| type=CD liner notes
| ref={{SfnRef|Apple Records|2009}}
}}
* {{cite book |editor-last1=Brackett |editor-first1=Nathan |editor-last2=Hoard |editor-first2=Christian |year=2004 |title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide |edition=4th |location=New York, NY |publisher=Fireside/Simon & Schuster |isbn=0-7432-0169-8 |url=https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac }}
* {{Cite book |last=Coleman |first=Ray |author-link=Ray Coleman |url=https://archive.org/details/lennondefinitive0000cole |title=Lennon: The Definitive Biography |publisher=[[Pan Books]] |year=1995 |isbn=978-0-330-34568-2 |edition=Revised |location=London |url-access=registration}}
* {{cite book |last=Davies |first=Hunter |author-link=Hunter Davies |url=https://archive.org/details/beatlesillustrat00davi |title=The Beatles: The Authorized Biography |publisher=[[W. W. Norton & Company]] |year=2006 |isbn=978-0-393-32886-8 |edition=Updated |location=New York |url-access=registration}}
* {{Cite book |last=Everett |first=Walter |url=https://archive.org/details/beatlesasmusicia00ever |title=The Beatles as Musicians: The Quarry Men through ''Rubber Soul''. |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |year=2001 |isbn=978-0-19-514105-4 |location=New York, NY |author-link=Walter Everett (musicologist) |url-access=registration}}
* {{cite book
| last=Freeman
| first=Robert
| title=The Beatles: A Private View
| year=2003
| publisher=Barnes & Noble
| location=NY
| isbn=1-59226-176-0
}}
* {{cite book|last=Gendron|first=Bernard|title=Between Montmartre and the Mudd Club: Popular Music and the Avant-Garde|year=2002|publisher=University of Chicago Press|location=Chicago, IL|isbn=978-0-226-28737-9}}
* {{cite book |last=Gould |first=Jonathan |url=https://archive.org/details/cantbuymelovebea0000goul_h8o2 |title=Can't Buy Me Love: The Beatles, Britain, and America |publisher=[[Three Rivers Press]] |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-307-35338-2 |location=New York |url-access=registration}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Guesdon |first1=Jean-Michel |url=https://archive.org/details/allsongsstorybeh00unse |title=All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Beatles Release |last2=Margotin |first2=Philippe |publisher=[[Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers]] |year=2013 |isbn=978-1-57912-952-1 |location=New York, NY |url-access=registration}}
* {{cite book |last=Harry |first=Bill |author-link=Bill Harry |url=https://archive.org/details/ultimatebeatlese00bill |title=The Ultimate Beatles Encyclopedia |publisher=[[Virgin Books]] |year=1992 |isbn=978-0-7868-8071-3 |location=New York |url-access=registration}}
* {{Cite book |last=Harry |first=Bill |author-link=Bill Harry |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eCTXkA_tQ4oC |title=The Ringo Starr Encyclopedia |publisher=[[Ebury Publishing]] |year=2004 |isbn=978-0-7535-4716-8 |location=UK}}
* {{Cite book |last=Hertsgaard |first=Mark |author-link=Mark Hertsgaard |url=https://archive.org/details/dayinlifemusicar0000hert |title=A Day in the Life: The Music and Artistry of the Beatles |publisher=[[Delacorte Press]] |year=1995 |isbn=978-0-385-31377-3 |location=New York |url-access=registration}}
* {{cite news
| last=Kozinn
| first=Allan
| author-link=Allan Kozinn
| title=Interview with George Martin
| date=8 March 1987
| newspaper=The New York Times
| url=http://abbeyrd.best.vwh.net/kozinn.htm
| access-date=18 November 2009
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100109035243/http://abbeyrd.best.vwh.net/kozinn.htm
| archive-date=9 January 2010
| url-status=dead
}}
* {{cite book |last=Lewisohn |first=Mark |url=https://archive.org/details/the-beatles-recording-sessions |title=The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions |publisher=[[Harmony Books]] |year=1988 |isbn=978-0-600-63561-1 |location=New York, NY |author-link=Mark Lewisohn |url-access=registration}}
* {{cite book |last=Lewisohn |first=Mark |author-link=Mark Lewisohn |url=https://archive.org/details/epdf.tips_the-complete-beatles-chronicle |title=The Complete Beatles Chronicle |publisher=[[Harmony Books]] |year=1992 |isbn=978-0-517-58100-1 |location=New York |url-access=registration}}
* {{cite book |last=MacDonald |first=Ian |url=https://archive.org/details/revolutioninhead0003macd |title=Revolution in the Head: The Beatles' Records and the Sixties |publisher=[[Chicago Review Press]] |year=2007 |isbn=978-1-55652-733-3 |edition=Third |author-link=Ian MacDonald |url-access=registration}}
* {{cite book |last=Miles |first=Barry |url=https://archive.org/details/paulmccartneyman0000mile |title=Paul McCartney: Many Years From Now |publisher=[[Henry Holt and Company|Henry Holt]] |year=1997 |isbn=978-0-8050-5248-0 |location=New York, NY |author-link=Barry Miles |url-access=registration}}
* {{Cite book |last=Miles |first=Barry |author-link=Barry Miles |url=https://archive.org/details/beatlesdiaryvolu0000mile |title=The Beatles Diary: Volume 1: The Beatles Years |publisher=[[Omnibus Press]] |year=2001 |isbn=978-0-7119-8308-3 |location=London |url-access=registration}}
* {{cite book |last=Neaverson |first=Bob |url=https://archive.org/details/beatlesmovies0000neav |title=The Beatles Movies |publisher=[[Cassell (publisher)|Cassell]] |year=1997 |isbn=978-0-304-33797-2 |location=London |url-access=registration}}
* {{Cite book |last=Pang |first=May |author-link=May Pang |url=https://archive.org/details/lovingjohn0000pang |title=Loving John |publisher=[[Warner Books]] |year=1983 |isbn=978-0-446-37916-8 |location=New York |url-access=registration}}
* {{Cite book |last=Petridis |first=Alexis |author-link=Alexis Petridis |title=The Beatles: Ten Years That Shook the World |publisher=[[Dorling Kindersley]] |year=2004 |isbn=978-0-7566-0670-1 |editor-last=Trynka |editor-first=Paul |editor-link=Paul Trynka |location=London |pages=176–179 |chapter=''Help!'': Period of Adjustment |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/beatlestenyearst0000unse/page/176 |chapter-url-access=registration}}
* {{cite web
| last=Pollack
| first=Alan W.
| year=2009
| author-link=Alan W. Pollack
| title=Notes on&nbsp;... series
| url=http://www.icce.rug.nl/~soundscapes/DATABASES/AWP/awp-notes_on.shtml
| access-date=21 November 2009
| archive-date=6 March 2008
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080306080007/http://www.icce.rug.nl/~soundscapes/DATABASES/AWP/awp-notes_on.shtml
| url-status=live
}} 
* {{cite magazine
| magazine=Rolling Stone
| title=The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
| date=1 November 2003
| url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-20120531/the-beatles-help-20120524
| access-date=19 November 2007
| ref={{SfnRef|Rolling Stone|2003}}
| archive-date=22 October 2012
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022191705/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-20120531/the-beatles-help-20120524
| url-status=live
}}
* {{cite web |last=Ruhlmann |first=William |year=2009 |title=Review of ''Help!'' [US] |work=[[AllMusic]] |url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=release/help%21-us--mr0001055012#review|pure_url=yes}} |access-date=15 September 2024}}
* {{Cite book |last=Sisk |first=Eileen |url=https://archive.org/details/buckowensbiograp0000sisk |title=Buck Owens: The Biography |publisher=[[Chicago Review Press]] |year=2010 |isbn=978-1-55652-768-5 |url-access=registration}}
* {{cite book
| last1=Spignesi
| first1=Stephen J.
| last2=Lewis
| first2=Michael
| title=Here, There, and Everywhere: The 100 Best Beatles Songs
| year=2004
| location=New York
| publisher=[[Black Dog Publishing|Black Dog]]
| isbn=978-1-57912-369-7
| quote=...after the unabashed more-or-less traditional pop rock of ''A Hard Day's Night'' and ''Help!''...
}}
* {{cite book
| last=Sheff
| first=David
| year=2000
| author-link=David Sheff
| title=All We Are Saying: The Last Major Interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono
| publisher=[[St. Martin's Press]]
| location=New York
| isbn=0-312-25464-4
| url=https://archive.org/details/allwearesayingla00lenn
}}
*{{cite book |last=Stannard |first=Neville |editor-last=Tobler |editor-first=John |title=The Long and Winding Road: A History of The Beatles on Record |date=24 June 1982 |publisher=[[Virgin Books]] |location=London |isbn=0-907080-46-4 }}
* {{Cite book |last=Turner |first=Steve |author-link=Steve Turner (writer) |url=https://archive.org/details/harddayswritesto0000turn_c0h1 |title=A Hard Day's Write: The Stories Behind Every Beatles Song |publisher=[[HarperCollins]] |year=1994 |isbn=978-0-06-095065-1 |location=New York |url-access=registration}}
* {{Cite book |last=Turner |first=Steve |author-link=Steve Turner (writer) |url=https://archive.org/details/completebeatless0000turn |title=The Complete Beatles Songs: The Stories Behind Every Track Written by the Fab Four |publisher=[[HarperCollins]] |year=2015 |isbn=978-0-06-244734-0 |location=New York |url-access=registration}}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{Discogs master|type=album|45895|name=Help!}}
* {{IMDb title|qid=Q1131815|description=(the film)}}
* [http://www.beatlesinterviews.org/dba05help.html The Beatles' comments on each song]
* Handwritten lyrics of ''Help!'' in [http://searcharchives.bl.uk/IAMS_VU2:IAMS032-001954841 The Beatles Loan]{{Dead link|date=July 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} at the [[British Library]]

{{Help! (album)}}
{{The Beatles albums}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Help! (Album)}}
[[Category:1965 albums]]
[[Category:1965 soundtrack albums]]
[[Category:The Beatles albums]]
[[Category:Parlophone albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by George Martin]]
[[Category:Albums with cover art by Robert Freeman (photographer)]]
[[Category:Albums arranged by George Martin]]
[[Category:Albums arranged by Paul McCartney]]
[[Category:The Beatles soundtracks]]
[[Category:The Beatles and India]]
[[Category:Capitol Records soundtracks]]
[[Category:Parlophone soundtracks]]