Title:	Help!
Credits:	John Lennon - Paul McCartney
Recorded:	EMI Studios, London, 13 April, 1965
Producer:	George Martin
Engineer:	Norman Smith
Locations:	Help! - track 1

The title song of the Beatle's second feature film and soundtrack album. The film was shot between 24 February and 13 May 1965 and premiered on 29 July 1965. Like A hard Day's Night, this was a John Lennon composition, and one which in later years would reflect upon an early "message" song, it's lyric bearing a greater meaning than that first obvious. Again like its movie predecessor, 'Help!', was written to order, with the name of the film agree upon. Writing a song called Eight Arms To Hold You, the film's cumbersome working title, would not have proved an easy proposition.

The Beatles recorded 'Help!' in twelve takes. Three mono mixes were prepared on April 18, with the third being used for the film. The first two mixes were never used. A stereo mix for the US market was also prepared this day, but was never used. New mono and stereo mixes for release (remixes 4 and 2 respectively) were prepared on June 18. It appears as if the same instrumental track, but a different vocal, was used for the stereo and mono releases.

The mono release of the US LP "Help!" contains the stereo mix with the separate tracks combined into one. On April 30, 1987 the album, "Help!" was released in both the US and the UK on the CD format. George Martin remixed the album in stereo for this release.

Takes 1 - 12 and a "take 13" have all found their way onto various bootleg. ("Take 13" may actually be a rough mix.) The released version with a count-in has also been bootlegged.

The Beatles did perform this song live on the UK TV show "Blackpool Night Out" on August 1, 1965. They also recorded an appearance for "The Ed Sullivan Show" on August 14, which was aired September 12. The former performance was released in both the US and the UK on March 19, 1996 on "The Beatles Anthology Volume 2." The latter performance is available on several bootlegs.

During 1965 The Beatles performed "Help!" at live concerts including Shea Stadium (August 15), Atlanta (August 18), two shows at the Sam Houston Coliseum (August 19) and the Hollywood Bowl (August 29). All of these performances are available on different bootlegs.

The Beatles also performed a concert at the Hollywood Bowl on August 30, 1965. This performance was recorded and released on the album "The Beatles At The Hollywood Bowl" in the US on May 4, 1977 and in the UK on May 6, 1977.

During rehearsals for the aborted "Get Back" film/album project John Lennon and Paul McCartney performed a comical version of this song (23.32) on January 23, 1969. This performance has been bootlegged.

Late in 1970 John recorded an ad-lib of this song which has been bootlegged and can be found on "Lost Lennon Tapes Volume 2" (CD).

Paul performed this song at his concert at King's Dock in Liverpool on June 28, 1990. This song was performed as part of a Lennon medley and was released on December 3, 1990 as a bonus track on the second 'All My Trials' CD single in the UK only.