War Child's landmark 1995 charity album HELP celebrates 25th anniversary

26 August 2020 - Press release

 

Re-release on Wednesday 9^th September – exactly 25 years since its debut

 

• HELP to be made available on digital and streaming platforms for the first time

• HELP to be re-issued on limited edition vinyl – 2020 copies only!

Originally mastered by Brian Eno with artwork by John Squire and featuring exclusive images from the original recording sessions shot by Lawrence Watson at Abbey Road Studios.

The album features tracks from Oasis and Friends, The Boo Radleys, The Stone Roses, Radiohead, Orbital, Portishead, Massive Attack, Suede, The Charlatans vs. The Chemical Brothers, Stereo MCs, Sinéad O'Connor, The Levellers, Manic Street Preachers, Terrorvision, The One World Orchestra (Bill Drummond and Jimmy Cauty), Planet 4 Folk Quartet (Andrew Weatherall and David Harrow), Terry Hall and Salad, Neneh Cherry and Trout, Blur and The Smokin' Mojo Filters (Paul McCartney, Paul Weller and Noel Gallagher)

The original HELP album was recorded in a single day in September 1995 across multiple studios and released less than a week later, in a time before WeTransfers, iPhones and email, HELP raised over £1.25 million enabling War Child to bring much needed emergency support to thousands of children caught up in the Bosnian conflict. 

A quarter of a century later and the hugely revered album's legendary status continues to grow as it's discovered by new generations of music fans.  No charity album before or since has managed to achieve what HELP achieved and attract such a credible and stellar line-up to create such a relevant, respected and cool album – recently described by Q magazine as "the best charity album ever made."

At a time when children affected by war are facing Coronavirus, a crisis as deadly as the bombs and bullets they have survived, help is needed more than ever. To celebrate turning 25 the album will be made available on digital and streaming services for the first time as well as a limited-edition re-issue on vinyl – just 2000 copies.

Looking back now, the HELP album is a phenomenal achievement made possible by an exceptional collaborative spirit.  1995 was a golden time for British music with young indie and underground acts storming the mainstream and the summer's infamous race for number one between Blur and Oasis. But even they were willing to come together to support some of the world's most vulnerable children – "We'll put aside our differences for the cause – and it's the only time you'll see the two of us agreeing on anything" Noel Gallagher said at the time in an interview. 

At the time the situation in the Bosnian conflict was drastically deteriorating. Hundreds of thousands had lost their lives, and the fighting had displaced millions from their homes. War Child looked to the music industry to raise much needed emergency funds and raise awareness of the worsening conflict to help support as many children as possible. A music industry collective led by Go! Discs Tony Crean, The Stone Roses and Manic Street Preachers publicist Terri Hall, Black Grape publicist Anton Brookes and legendary music PR Rob Partridge took immediate action opening their contact books and pulling together an unbelievable line-up of artists and support from studios, producers, engineers, labels, retailers, production and distribution staff.

Inspiration and direction came from John Lennon who around the release of 1970's 'Instant Karma' said, "The best record you can make is recorded on a Monday, cut on Tuesday, pressed up on Wednesday, packaged on a Thursday, distributed on Friday, in the shops on Saturday..." and this is exactly what all those involved did.

The result was staggering and instantly changed the perception of what a charity album could be, whilst raising a spectacular amount of money and shining a light on this serious issue. The industry came together with 20 of the most relevant artists and did something truly amazing whilst creating an incredible snapshot of one of the most exciting and unparalleled eras in British music.

The album included several pivotal and poignant moments. Radiohead's Lucky was a preview of what would eventually become OK Computer, the Manic Street Preachers first studio track since the disappearance of Richey Edwards, Oasis and Friends just weeks before releasing What's The Story Morning Glory and the one off creation of the supergroup The Smokin' Mojo Filters – made up of Paul McCartney, Noel Gallagher and Paul Weller.

Months after the release in November 1995 – and a more than fitting tribute for its impact – Tony Blair attended the Q Awards to present a specially created award to the album saying, "At a time when there was a danger of the West turning its back on the war in Bosnia, it helped put it back in the headlines and reactivate public interest. It helped us be aware of our responsibilities to other people."

The original ambition had been to try and raise £200,000 – but the album went on to make over six times that amount, enabling War Child to support thousands of children affected by the war in Bosnia. It also set the charity on the proud course it now follows, as an expert humanitarian agency which, together with its partners, provides support to over half a million children a year in 15 countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America. 

Talking about the album's legacy Rob Williams, CEO War Child UK said: "The HELP album enabled War Child UK to bring security and education to thousands of children in 1995 and created an enduring bond between the UK music industry and the fate of children caught up in wars. Since then War Child UK has developed into a global charity, helping over 1.5 million children to recover from the trauma of war, get access to education, and move on to productive adult lives.  We draw our strength from the musicians, artist and donors who came together around the HELP album in 1995."

War Child will also be hosting a brand new podcast 'HELP - The Story of the War Child Album' which will launch on all podcasting platforms the week of release. Hosted by Matt Everitt and produced by Cup & Nuzzle, it documents the creation of the groundbreaking HELP album and includes brand new interviews with artists including Paul Weller, Ed O'Brien from Radiohead, James Dean Bradfeld from The Manic Street Preachers. Tim Burgess from The Charlatans, Dave Rowntree from Blur, Marijne van der Vlugt from Salad, Adrian Utley from Portishead and many of the key figures behind the record's creation.

Full track listing:

Side A

1. Oasis and Friends – "Fade Away"
2. The Boo Radleys – "Oh Brother"
3. The Stone Roses – "Love Spreads"
4. Radiohead – "Lucky"
5. Orbital – "Adnan"

Side B

1. Portishead – "Mourning Air"
2. Massive Attack – "Fake the Aroma" (alternate version of "Karmacoma")
3. Suede – "Shipbuilding"
4. The Charlatans vs. The Chemical Brothers – "Time For Livin'"
5. Stereo MCs – "Sweetest Truth (Show No Fear)"

Side C

1. Sinéad O'Connor – "Ode to Billie Joe"
2. The Levellers – "Searchlights"
3. Manic Street Preachers – "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head"
4. Terrorvision – "Tom Petty Loves Veruca Salt"
5. The One World Orchestra featuring The Massed Pipes and Drums of the Children's Free Revolutionary Volunteer Guards (aka The KLF) – "The Magnificent"

Side D

1. Planet 4 Folk Quartet – "Message to Crommie"
2. Terry Hall and Salad – "Dream a Little Dream of Me"
3. Neneh Cherry and Trout – "1, 2, 3, 4, 5 "
4. Blur – "Eine kleine Lift Musik"
5. The Smokin' Mojo Filters – "Come Together"