Since we've already looked at the title track from the fifth Parlophone UK LP and soundtrack to the second movie "Help!" in a previous post, let's look at the rest of the songs on the LP.
The next song which is the second tune on side one and second selection from the UK "Help!" LP/CD is an original Lennon/McCartney composition mainly written by Paul entitled "The Night Before".
This song is played in the movie while the Beatles are surrounded by English Military Men and tanks out in the Salisbury Plains field. A great tune, a nice rocker and a wonderful McCartney vocal. An exciting tune and it's a favourite of mine.
"The Night Before" was recorded on Wednesday February 17 1965 at EMI studio two. There were two basic takes and on this song John Lennon plays the electric piano. Paul's vocals are double tracked and the backing vocals are by John and George. The guitar solo is played in octaves simultaneously by George and Paul.
The next day, on Thursday February 18 1965, "The Night Before" was mixed for mono from the control rooom of Studio Two. The song was mixed for stereo on Tuesday February 23 1965 also from the control room of Studio two. There was also another stereo mix done on Sunday April 18 1965 which was taken away by United Artists, but never used nor released. I find it odd that United Artists would use stereo for the soundtrack in those days as most of the Beatles films used mono soundtracks in the 1960s.
"The Night Before" is available on the Parlophone UK LP/CD "Help!" as well as the North American Capitol LP/CD "Help!". The song is also featured on the EMI/Capitol double LP "Rock And Roll Music".
Incredibly, a scorching version of "The Night Before" was performed for BBC radio on the program "The Beatles Invite You to Take a Ticket To Ride". The airing of the performance took place two months before the release of the album!
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