50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE RELEASE OF "HELP!"

 

 

 

 

 

The Beatles: Help! released 50 years ago today

The Beatles leave London Airport on February 22, 1965, bound for the Bahamas to begin filming Help!

Today (July 23) marks 50 years since the release of one of The Beatles' finest singles.

Recorded at Abbey Road in 12 takes on April 13, 1965, Help! was written by John in a moving attempt to express his stress after the Beatles' quick rise to success.

"I was fat and depressed and I was crying out for 'Help'," John told Playboy. He later described it as one of his favourite ever songs and one of his first ever attempts at writing from the heart.

Help! went to number one on both the UK and US singles charts in late summer 1965. It was the fourth of six number one singles in a row on the American charts; I Feel Fine, Eight Days a Week, Ticket to Ride, Help!, Yesterday, and We Can Work It Out.