The album's recording was inspired by the concept behind John Lennon's "Instant Karma!" – records, like newspapers, should be released as soon as they are recorded. Help was recorded on Monday, 4 September 1995, mixed on Tuesday 5th and was in shops on Saturday 9th. The original version release did not include any tracklist attached to the sleeve notes; the tracklisting was instead printed as a full-page ad in New Musical Express. Notable tracks include:
A version of Bobbie Gentry's "Ode to Billie Joe" by Sinéad O'Connor. As the makers of the album were putting the final touches to the album, a courier arrived with a tape of O'Connor's contribution. In theory, the song had arrived too late for inclusion in the album, but the producers were so impressed with her haunting rendition that they felt they had to include the song.
An early appearance by Kate Moss with her then boyfriend Johnny Depp on the Oasis contribution, "Fade Away".
A re-recording of "Love Spreads" by The Stone Roses; this is the only studio recording by the band that features drummer Robbie Maddix and keyboard player Nigel Ippinson.
The album's sleeve notes included a contribution from former Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic, as well as artwork by John Squire and Massive Attack's 3-D. It reached number one on the UK albums compilation charts, and would have reached number one on the UK albums chart had the UK chart compilers not refused to accept it as a single artist album (Go! Discs had attempted to get around the chart restriction on various artists albums by declaring that all contributors were members of a one-off supergroup called War Child). In his book A Year with Swollen Appendices, Brian Eno writes bitterly about this decision, claiming that it cost the charity thousands of pounds in lost sales. Nevertheless, the album raised more than £1.25 million for War Child.
Track listing
The full track listing is not given in the booklet as it was not known at the time of printing.
The One World Orchestra featuring The Massed Pipes and Drums of the Children's Free Revolutionary Volunteer Guards (aka The KLF) – "The Magnificent" – 2:15
Planet 4 Folk Quartet (aka Andrew Weatherall and David Harrow) – "Message to Crommie" – 3:48
The Smokin' Mojo Filters' version of "Come Together" was released as a single, reaching number 19 on the UK Singles Chart.[6] Like the Help EP, it featured a variety of artists.
