The influence of Bob Dylan and a new lyrical address
One of the most significant influences in the sound and letters of “Help!” It was the musician Bob Dylan. The first time The Beatles met Dylan was in August 1964, and that meeting turned out to be a crucial catalyst for the development of Lennon and McCartney as composers.
Dylan, with his introspective and socially aware letters, inspired Lennon in particular to write in a more personal and deep way.
This is clearly reflected in songs like “You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away”an acoustic ballad that moves away from the typical love letters of the band and explores feelings of vulnerability and sadness. Its structure and the use of the flute in the arrangement directly evoke Dylan’s style.
This lyrical change is also evidenced in the main song, “Help!”. In a later interview, Lennon confessed that the song was a request for real aid, a reflection of its depression and the sensation of drowning.
This raw honesty was something that The Beatles had not explored in depth until that time. Dylan’s influence can also be perceived in the letters of McCartney, although to a lesser extent.
Outstanding songs of “Help!”
The album is a treasure of timeless classics that They demonstrate the genius of the Lennon-McCartney duo. In addition to the main song, other outstanding pieces are:
“Yesterday”
One of the most versioned songs in the history of music, composed in its entirety by Paul McCartney. His arrangement, with a string quartet, was a risky decision at the time that resulted in a melancholic and unforgettable ballad. McCartney wrote it after dreaming the melody and, for a while, he touched her for friends and acquaintances asking if they recognized her, fearing to have plagiarized someone without knowing it.
“Ticket to Ride”
With its unique battery rate and a blunt guitar riff, this song stands out for its proto-rock sound. The rhythmic complexity of Ringo Starr and the power of Lennon and Harrison guitars make it an important milestone into its evolution towards heavier sound. Lennon described her as one of the first “heavy metal records”, jokingly, of course, but the intention of going beyond pop was clear.
“I’ve Just Seen Face”
A McCartney Uptempo acoustic track that shows its melodic mastery and its ability to create cheerful and contagious songs.
“You’re Going to Lise That Girl”
A theme closer to its R&B roots, with a powerful chorus and impeccable vocal harmonies.
George Harrison also contributed his own compositions, standing out with “I need you”a love song with an emotional melody that shows its growth as a composer.
Help Disc cover
Differences between the American and British edition
For collectors and fans of The Beatles, the differences between the British edition and the American of Help! They are crucial.
British (original):
The 1965 original album contained 14 songs, seven of which were part of the movie’s soundtrack (Help!, The Night Before, You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away, I need you, Another girl, You’re Going to Lose That Girl and Ticket to Ride). The second face of the album included seven songs that were not in the film, such as the iconic “Yesterday”.
American edition:
Capitol Records, the band’s label in the USA. UU., Decided to launch an album that was more a soundtrack. The American version had only 12 songs, of which 7 were from the film. The seal eliminated the songs not related to the film and replaced them with the incidental music composed of Ken Thorne, which appeared in the film. In addition, the order of the songs was different.
This edition omitted essential issues such as “YESTERDAY”, “I’ve Just Seen on Face” and “It’s only love”which then appeared in other American albums such as Yesterday and Today. This Capitol practice to manipulate the band’s discography was a constant source of frustration for The Beatles.
The movie Help!: A beatle chaos mirror
The movie Help! (1965), directed by Richard Lesterit is an adventure comedy that follows the band in a frantic search to avoid being sacrificed by an oriental sect looking for a ring that has Ringo Starr. The plot, absurd and surreal, is a parody of the films of James Bond and a reflection of the band’s humor.
However, despite its light and fun tone on the screen, Filming was a oratles a oratles. The filming in the Austrian Alps and in the Bahamas was strenuous and the band, feeling lost in the chaos of fame, resorted to the consumption of marijuana to escape reality.
Despite the difficulties behind cameras, the film remains a fascinating historical document. The band, with their costumes and the chaos that surrounded them, became a visual icon for a whole generation.
The legacy of the film is, in many ways, inseparable from the album, since both capture a key moment in the history of The Beatles: the end of their first pop stage and the beginning of its artistic maturity.
60 years after its launch, “Help!” It is not only an album, but a time capsule that transports us to a crucial moment in the history of music. It is the sound of a band that, at the top of the world, dared to ask for help And, in doing so, he found a path to evolve and transcend.
Source: Ambito
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
