Beatles Official Releases Story - Help!

Label Parlophone
Catalogue No.'s PMC 1255 (Mono)
PCS 3071 (stereo)
CDP 7 46439 2 (C.D.)
Matrix No.'s:
Mono : XEX 549-2; XEX 550-2
Stereo: YEX 168-2; YEX 169-1
1982 Mono : XEX 549-3; XEX 550-2
Release date 6th August 1965
30th April 1987 (CD)

Total time 33:22

U.K. Album Chart Detail : Entry Date : 14th August 1965
Highest Position : 1 ... for 9 weeks from 14th August 1965
Weeks in Chart : 37
+2 from 24th July 1971 (reached no.33)
+2 from 9th May 1987 (CD release, reached no.61)

Detail : The Beatles fifth official album release, and second film soundtrack.
Once again, side one contains the seven songs from the film, with side two having 6 tracks recorded during the same period. And yet again, the American version feautured ONLY the film songs with added film score, and the entire track selection were spread over four releases (Beatles VI, Help, Rubber Soul and Yesterday And Today).
In the U.K. "Help!" had advance orders of 250,000 and actually sold 270,000 units in it's first week. Eventually it sold almost One Million copies, with world-wide sales estimated at about 2,500,000.
Naturally it went straight to No.1 where it knocked "The Sound Of Music" off the top slot, but just two months later, it conceded the summit back to "The Sound Of Music".

Cover photography was by Robert Freeman, but no sleeve notes are present.
Any Boy Scout will probably tell you that the semaphore that The Beatles are indicating on the front cover is not H-E-L-P ! ... but spells N-U-J-V !! ... (more tricky to create a song from that title !)

One should also note that the "Takes" were not as counted on previous recordings, in that now the new recording techniques allowed a basic backing track to be laid down, with many overdubs, voices, and additional instrumentation added onto the initial "take".
Therefore we get lower take counts, but the sessions actually taking a lot longer !

It should also be noted that further tracks were recorded in these sessions :
"If You've Got Trouble" (1 take only) on 18th February 1965, which was left unreleased .... AND ....
"That Means A Lot" (6 takes) were recorded 20th Feb, and 30th March and also ignored for release.
"Wait" (4 takes) were recorded 17th June 1965 ... ignored for this release, but brought back out when one track short for the next album (see Rubber Soul)

The album was also part of "The Beatles Collection" 13 album box set (see Beatles Collection).

On 30th April 1987 this album had it's first release on C.D. which was published in stereo, with a catalogue number of CDP 7 46439 2
And on the same day, the record shop H.M.V. produced a special 12" numbered 3 CD Box Set Comprising:
Help
Rubber Soul
Revolver
+ "Beatles Monthly No.12" - July 1964
This set had a catalogue number of BEA CD 25/2, and was in a limited edition of just 2,500 copies.

The C.D. was also part of "The Beatles Box" 15 C.D. box set (see Beatles C.D. Box).

The album was also available on 4" reel-to-reel tape,
1965 - Catalogue number TA-PMC 1255 (3¾ ips twin-track mono tape) - first edition (mono only) in a cardboard box.
1968 - Catalogue number TA-PMC 1255 (3¾ ips twin-track mono tape)
TD-PCS 3071 (3¾ ips 4-track stereo) these editions in a "jewel" box.

Prior to 1973:
The album was released on stereo cassette tape (1⅞ ips) - Catalogue number - TC-PCS 3071.
The album was also released on 8-track stereo continuous play cartridge (3¾ ips) - catalogue no. 8X-PCS 3071

In November 1987 the album was released on cassette tape (stereo only) - Catalogue number - TC-PCS 3071 (Originally released September 1965).

U.S. Import
This was an essential import purchase in 1965 as the American version of the album contained the Beatle songs from the film (no extra's !) ... and six orchestral pieces from the film by The Ken Thorne Orchestra.
This release was on the Capitol label (catno. SMAS 2386).
It was released on 13th August 1965, and stayed at number one in the U.S. for 9 weeks.
The gatefold sleeve for the U.S. release can be seen below



Side 1
Help ! Lennon-McCartney Recorded 13th April 1965 in 12 takes
(Takes 1-8 were the backing track)
Final mix - take 12. 2:16
The Night Before Lennon-McCartney Recorded 17th February 1965 in 2 takes
Final mix - take 2. 2:32
You've Got To Hide Your Love Away Lennon-McCartney Recorded 18th February 1965 in 9 takes
The first Beatle track to have an outside musician brought in to play an extra instrument, Johnnie Scott on Flute.
Final mix - take 9. 2:07
I Need You Harrison Recorded 15th February 1965 in 5 takes
Final mix - had overdubs added to take 5 on 16th February. 2:27
Another Girl Lennon-McCartney Recorded 15th February 1965 in 1 take ... but ...
Final mix - had overdubs added on 16th February. 2:04
You're Going To Lose That Girl Lennon-McCartney Recorded 19th February 1965 in 2 takes (Takes 2 & 3 !)
Final mix - take 3. 2:16
Ticket To Ride Lennon-McCartney Recorded 15th February 1965 in 2 takes (take 1 was a false start)
Final mix - take 2. 3:09

Side 2
Act Naturally Morrison-Russell Recorded 17th June 1965 in 13 takes
12 takes were perfecting the backing, take 13 added Ringo
Final mix - take 13. 2:29
It's Only Love Lennon-McCartney Recorded 15th June 1965 in 6 takes
Final mix - take 6. 1:55
You Like Me Too Much Harrison Recorded 17th February 1965 in 8 takes
Final mix - take 8. 2:34
Tell Me What You See Lennon-McCartney Recorded 18th February 1965 in 4 takes
Final mix - take 4. 2:35
I've Just Seen A Face Lennon-McCartney Recorded 14th June 1965 in 6 takes
Final mix - take 6. 2:02
Yesterday Lennon-McCartney Recorded 14th June 1965 in 2 takes
Final mix - take 2. 2:03
Dizzy Miss Lizzy Williams Recorded 10th May 1965 in 7 takes
Final mix - take 7. 2:53

Mono/Stereo Differences
"Help !" The mono and stereo versions have the same instrumental track, but different vocals.

Released Versions:
First pressings (1965) - Mono and Stereo versions
The standard yellow block writing Parlophone label.
The "All rights of the manufacturer" message around the edge of the label now starts with "The Gramophone Co. Ltd."
The label DOES have "Sold in the U.K..." statement.
The "mono" or "stereo" text on the cover is only in outline block type.

Second pressings (1966) - Mono and Stereo versions
The standard yellow block writing Parlophone label.
The "All rights of the manufacturer" message around the edge of the label now starts with "The Gramophone Co. Ltd."
The label DOES have "Sold in the U.K..." statement.
The "mono" or "stereo" text on the cover is in small solid black type.

Third Pressings (1969) - Mono and Stereo versions
The standard yellow block writing Parlophone label.
The "All rights of the manufacturer" message around the edge of the label starts with "The Gramophone Co. Ltd."
The label does NOT have "Sold in the U.K..." statement.

Fourth Pressings (1969) - Mono and Stereo versions
Now with a silver/black Parlophone label.
The "All rights of the manufacturer" message around the edge of the label now starts with "EMI Records Ltd."
The label has one EMI boxed logo.

Fifth Pressings (1973) - Stereo version only
Silver/black Parlophone label.
The "All rights of the manufacturer" message around the edge of the label now starts with "EMI Records Ltd."
The label has TWO EMI boxed logos.

Sixth Pressings (1982) - Mono version only
Now with a yellow/black Parlophone label.
The "All rights of the manufacturer" message around the edge of the label now starts with "EMI Records Ltd."
This release is on a lightweight vinyl.

Seventh Pressings (1995) - Stereo version only
Now with a Black and Silver Parlophone label.
The sleeve has a printed statement which reads:
"This album has been Direct Metal Mastered From a Digitally Re-mastered Original Tape to give the best possible sound quality"
This release is (surprisingly) on a lightweight vinyl.