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UK Release date : Jul 23, 1985

Help! / I'm Down (UK - Picture disc - 1985)

By The Beatles7" Single • Part of the collection “The Beatles • Singles • 20th Anniversary Picture Discs

Last updated on December 31, 2025


Details

  • UK release date: Tuesday, July 23, 1985
  • Publisher: Parlophone
  • Reference: RP 5305

Timeline

Master release

Related albums

Related sessions

This album was recorded during the following studio sessions:

Track list

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Side 1

  1. Help!

    Written by Lennon - McCartney

    2:21 • Studio versionA

    Paul McCartney : Backing vocals, Bass Ringo Starr : Drums, Tambourine John Lennon : Rhythm guitar, Vocals George Harrison : Backing vocals, Lead guitar George Martin : Producer Norman Smith : Recording engineer

    SessionRecording : Apr 13, 1965Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

    SessionRecording : Apr 18, 1965Studio : EMI Studios, Room 65, Abbey Road

    SessionMixing : Jun 18, 1965Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

Side 2

  1. I'm Down

    Written by Lennon - McCartney

    2:34 • Studio versionA • Mono

    Paul McCartney : Bass, Vocals Ringo Starr : Bongos, Drums John Lennon : Backing vocals, Organ, Rhythm guitar George Harrison : Backing vocals, Lead guitar George Martin : Producer Norman Smith : Recording engineer

    SessionRecording : Jun 14, 1965Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

    SessionOverdubs : Jun 14, 1965Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

    SessionMixing : Jun 18, 1965Studio : EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road


In 1982, to mark the 20th anniversary of the release of “Love Me Do” — The Beatles’ first UK single — EMI reissued the track in a special picture sleeve. A picture disc version was also released.

This reissue marked the beginning of an eight-year campaign: on the 20th anniversary of each of The Beatles’ official UK singles, EMI released a corresponding commemorative edition. Each reissue came in a new picture sleeve and was made available both as a standard black vinyl single and as a picture disc.

For collectors, completing the full set of 22 singles required patience — it wasn’t until 1990 that the final release appeared. Below is the full release schedule for the series:


From The Beatles 20th Anniversary Picture Discs Complete – Catawiki – 22 Limited Edition Picture Discs from the ‘It Was 20 Years Ago Today’ project. A RARE full set of all 22 EMI UK issued picture disc singles – released between October 4, 1982 and March 5, 1990 – as part of the lengthy 20th anniversary re-release project. The 20th anniversary set were issued independently as limited editions. They were re-released approximately 20 years after the original 1960’s releases. The artwork on these picture disc singles mirrors the artwork in the Blue Box Singles set on all but 2 singles. For whatever reason, All you need is love and Hey Jude were redesigned before becoming picture discs.

Paul McCartney writing

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