This album doubled as the soundtrack to the film starring The Beatles, also coincidentally named “Help!”
As an album it probably rates as one of their best with consistency of tracks all the way through. It mixes the light and fluffy with the moody and sensitive, and does it in a way that doesn’t detract from the album.
Songs like “Act Naturally” and “Another Girl” and “Dizzy Miss Lizzy” start the album off on a light, marshmellowy note. There’s no genius songwriting here, but just a gentle carefree way to begin.
“I Need You” and “It’s Only Love” are just a little too slow and reflective for my taste (that’s what you get when you love heavy metal music I guess), and probably tie down the middle of the album a tad too much for my liking.
The second half of the album is where Help! really brings home the bacon. The tempo picks up with “The Night Before”, leading into the upbeat “Ticket to Ride”, McCartney’s wonderful and eternal “Yesterday”, the strains of “You’re Going to Lose That Girl” and “You’ve Got To Hide Your Love” and the lasting memory of the title track “Help!”
It is with this style of album that I believe The Beatles are at their best. On Help! they combine what I would term their ‘kiddie’ songs with their pop tunes. Some of their best ever songs can be found here. What is more, the album progresses without a hiccup, rolling along and flowing so well that before you know it, it’s over, and you feel the desire to listen to it all over again.
Rating: One of my Beatles favourites. 4/5.
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