AlbumThe album cover features the group spelling out a word in semaphore; the British Parlophone release featured the word 'NUJV', whilst the slightly re-arranged US release on Capitol Records appeared to feature the word 'NVUJ'. However, it may be argued that some of the members of the band have been not only re-arranged but reversed. One finds that, despite the Beatles' poor stature, it spells out 'LPUS' - possibly meaning "Help us", "an LP by us" or "Long Play Us"
Produced by George Martin for EMI Records, the album (in its original British form) contains seven songs that appeared in the movie and seven that did not, including one of the most successful songs in history, the archetypal Paul McCartney ballad "Yesterday".
Even without the presence of the legendary "Yesterday", many critics consider the album Help! worthy of high praise. The album shows The Beatles, but mainly John Lennon, under the influence of Bob Dylan and folk music. The title track reveals Lennon's confusion and cynicism hidden under a maze of rhythms; "It's Only Love" features another tugging vocal by Lennon.
McCartney adds "Yesterday" as well as "Another Girl", a fast moving congo beat pop song; "The Night Before", a standard rock & roll song, and "I've Just Seen A Face", a rollicking Dylanesque folk song often overlooked by Beatle fans.
George Harrison contributes the low-key "I Need You" and the headstrong "You Like Me Too Much".
FilmSpoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.
The film's original working title was "Eight Arms to Hold You". The plot of the movie revolves around a sacrificial ring which Ringo cannot take off. The band is chased around London by members of the Indian cult of the Goddess Kaili, headed by McKern and Bron. In a desperate effort to dispose of the ring, the band resorts to the bumbling efforts of mad scientist Spinetti and assistant Kinnear; when his equipment turns out to have no effect on the ring, Spinetti decides he too must somehow acquire it.
The Beatles said the film was inspired by the Marx Brothers classic Duck Soup; it was also directly satirical of the James Bond series of films. At the time of the original release of Help!, its distributor, United Artists, also held the rights to Duck Soup and the Bond series.
A novelisation, entitled The Beatles in Help!, was written by Al Hine and published by Dell in 1965.
"Free As A Bird" video shows Bungalow Bill entering with his mother and Indians while Ringo is sitting against a breakfast table.
Did Billy come from India a Commonwealth country (but actually he was Canadian)?
Billy entered into the Beatles SOON AFTER the 1964 world wide success of the Boys.
His MAIN aim was to replace Brian Epstein so to control directly the Beatles.
First he entered into the Beatles entourage replacing Neil Aspinall.
Then starting with end of August 1965 he replaced Brian Epstein.
Then, but this time incidentally, he replaced Paul.
Billy "Longneck" Shepherd career as spy inside the Beatles
"One and one and one is three"A talented jewish imitator/actor/performer.
Tripping the Life Fantastic.
(That is my personal final report after 3 years and more of investigation. Thank You All. BeatlePaul)