By the end of 1964 and the start of 1965, it seemed that The Beatles were bigger than ever - they opened 1964 on a sudden hot flash of fame that carried them throughout the entirety of the year with chart-topping EPs, singles, albums, and an acclaimed film adaptation all within the same year. However, if the melancholic and overall tired atmosphere of Beatles for Sale wasn't enough evidence, The Beatles themselves had long gotten over the fairy-tale of fame - the press, constant touring, and screaming fans was starting to burden them, and with a second film in the works they were even more thinly stretched. Even with the pressure, Help! serves as a definitive division line between old and new - Beatlemania's grand last stand, just as the boys cross the ever-crucial border of artistic realization. Between the further use of folk from For Sale, the sharpening of pop genius on the album's best known cuts, and some of The Beatles' most creative moments yet, Help! remains one of the more significant releases in the group's catalog.
For what it's all worth, we aren't fully back to the complete originality of A Hard Day's Night, although we might as well be. Out of 14 songs, only two are covers and both are relegated to the start and end of the second half respectively. They aren't necessarily bad covers, as Ringo's vocal lead on "Act Naturally" is more than suited for his love of country (not to mention Paul's harmony compliments him well), and "Dizzy Miss Lizzy" would make a fine rocker on Beatles for Sale, but the former leaves only a little to be desired and the latter just feels dated on this release - this is with added notice that the song follows the eternally brilliant "Yesterday", but more on that gem later. The album really does take a bit of a dip in the second half after John's solid "It's Only Love", going into what is probably George's weakest Beatle number in "You Like Me Too Much" before being immediately followed by the rushed and messy "Tell Me What You See", both songs that rank in the lower echelon of Beatles songs. For an album that pushes The Beatles forward as much as Help! does, these cuts are nothing but steps backwards.
That's all small potatoes, though, in comparison to nearly everything else on the album, which strikes that perfect balance between Beatlemania pop genius and the seams of artistic exploration being sewn. "Help!" is a great pop number, of course, but it's one with much more sorrow beneath its great hook and clean harmonies - John was going through a depressive phase at the time, and the song is his expression of this. The previous themes from For Sale of heartbreak or darker takes on love are also seen on the fleeting affection of "The Night Before", which remains one of my favorite Paul numbers, John's melancholic ballad "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away", and the iconic chart-topper "Ticket to Ride", complete with iconic riff and drum fill - it remains one of the best examples of The Beatles' pop writing. George also gets a real chance to shine with "I Need You", his first great pop tune - the fascinating guitar work, George's sweet vocals, and great melody makes it arguably on par with some of the Lennon/McCartney work on this release. "You're Going to Lose That Girl" is a killer rock number from John with an underrated guitar solo from George. Paul, on the other hand, pens the album's finest moments - "Another Girl" is an upbeat and frantic rocker with Paul playing guitar for one, and it's another solid album cut. Even with this fun track, the combination of the beautifully optimistic "I've Just Seen a Face" followed by the iconic and heartbreaking "Yesterday" is one of the most impactful and beautiful moments in The Beatles catalog ever, and "Yesterday" may stand as his greatest accomplishment.
Help! is still an album that I can only speak on in terms of the music - I've yet to see the movie despite seemingly good reviews. While I'm not afraid to be critical of this album's shortcomings, it would be completely remiss of me to mention this album without talking about its evolutionary place in The Beatles' catalog - Rubber Soul would release December of 1965, and nothing would be the same afterwards - which makes it one of the most crucial releases in their catalog. Coupled with B-Sides like the raw "I'm Down" or the mournful "Yes It Is", The Beatles were clearly back alive after the more drowsy For Sale, and what would come next proves it. As it stands, my love for Help! is something I've no need to hide away.
RATING: ✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯Listen to Help!.
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