25 years since its original release, the star-studded album which went a long way in cementing the close bond between music and War Child is getting a reissue on September 9th.
HELP was a big seller back in 1995, raising much needed funds for the children caught up in the era’s Bosnian conflict, featuring that year’s biggest new heroes such as Noel Gallagher and Oasis, Blur, Radiohead, Manic Street Preachers and Massive Attack, as well as a cover of The Beatles’ Come Together when Paul McCartney and Paul Weller joined Gallagher as The Smokin’ Mojo Filters.
“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,” Rob Williams, CEO of War Child UK, recalls.
“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.”
The reissue will bring HELP to digital and streaming platforms for the first time, while vinyl is also being pressed limited, appropriately, to 2020 copies.
HELP tracklist:
Oasis and friends – Fade Away
The Boo Radleys – Oh Brother
The Stone Roses – Love Spreads
Radiohead – Lucky
Orbital – Adnan
Portishead – Mourning Air
Massive Attack – Fake The Aroma (alternate version of Karmacoma)
Suede – Shipbuilding
The Charlatans vs. The Chemical Brothers – Time For Livin’
Stereo MCs – Sweetest Truth (Show No Fear)
Sinéad O’Connor – Ode To Billie Joe
The Levellers – Searchlights
Manic Street Preachers – Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head
Terrorvision – Tom Petty Loves Veruca Salt
The One World Orchestra featuring The Massed Pipes and Drums Of The Children’s Free Revolutionary Volunteer Guards (aka The KLF) – The Magnificent
Planet 4 Folk Quartet – Message To Crommie
Terry Hall and Salad – Dream A Little Dream Of Me
Neneh Cherry And Trout – 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Blur – Eine Kleine Lift Musik
The Smokin’ Mojo Filters – Come Together