HELP!

I find "Help" the most charming Beatles album. It's a transition between the exuberance of 'A Hard Day's Night' and the following psychedelia. I heard someone once mention that the boys were tired here and such like. Well, I wouldn't mind being tired if it meant I could churn out songs like 'Ticket To Ride', 'Yesterday', the folky 'I've Just Seen A Face' and 'You've Got To Hide Your Love Away.' These tracks are fantastic.

It's way above what most bands were producing at the time and still sounds remarkably fresh and vibrant over forty years later. The Beatles original albums are so much more rewarding than any compilations. They each give a snapshot of where they were at the time. But blink and you've missed a few beats as the next album was always different. Other artists have also successfully reinvented themselves but The Beatles did it with practically every album.

Other worthy tracks on "Help" include 'The Night Before' which is a fast catchy number with good organ and great backing vocals. I've loved that one since I was a boy. "I Need You" is a simple but effective Harrison number. The arrangements are excellent here too, including some atmospheric guitar tricks. 'You're Gonna Lose That Girl' is one of those lost Lennon classics that one finds on most Beatles albums. Check out the nice carribean drumming which gives the music a greater impact. Finally, listen out for "It's Only Love" and "Tell Me What You See". They are also really beautiful songs.

On the whole this album can be terribly underrated. It finds The Beatles at or very near their mid-peak. I rediscovered it recently and I forgot how good it was. It's a must have for Beatles fans.