Help!
The Beatles
750 €
Estimated vinyl value [2026 Valuation]
Technical Identification Sheet
| RELEASE NUMBER (Discogs ID) | 735564 |
| Excel File Row | 143 |
| Date Added to Archive | 27/09/2026, 12:56:46 |
| Pressing Year | 1965 |
| Pressing Type (Press) | 1ST |
| Country of Pressing | UK |
| Record Label | Parlophone |
| Stereo / Mono | MONO |
| Catalogue Number | PMC 1255 |
| Barcode | N/A |
| Matrix / Runout Side A | XEX 549-2 PT 2 ("1ST Pressing KT") |
| Matrix / Runout Side B | XEX 550-2 HO 18 |
| Sleeve Condition | NM |
| Media Condition | NM |
| Inner Sleeve Condition | NM |
| Genre | Beat |
| External Link | View Original Release ↗ |
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Story & Background
This first Parlophone pressing of *Help!* from 1965 comes with an interesting fact about its iconic cover that debunks a deeply rooted myth among enthusiasts. Many believe that the Fab Four, with their semaphore signal-style poses, were actually signalling the letters H-E-L-P.
The truth, however, is quite different and more connected to photographic aesthetics. Photographer Robert Freeman initially tried to have them assume the correct positions for "H.E.L.P." using semaphore code, but the result appeared awkward and unphotogenic. He therefore decided to arrange the musicians in more harmonious and visually appealing poses, without worrying about the correspondence with the actual signals of the international semaphore code. The final sequence, often deciphered as "N-U-J-V" or another combination without a literal meaning, was a pure artistic choice for visual impact, making the image memorable even without a coded message.
Image Gallery
Official Tracklist
- A1 - Help!
- A2 - The Night Before
- A3 - You've Got To Hide Your Love Away
- A4 - I Need You
- A5 - Another Girl
- A6 - You're Going To Lose That Girl
- A7 - Ticket To Ride
- B1 - Act Naturally
- B2 - It's Only Love
- B3 - You Like Me Too Much
- B4 - Tell Me What You See
- B5 - I've Just Seen A Face
- B6 - Yesterday
- B7 - Dizzy Miss Lizzy
Audio / Video Preview