In 1995, music’s biggest names—Oasis, Blur, Radiohead, Massive Attack, Portishead, Neneh Cherry, and the powerhouse supergroup The Smokin’ Mojo Filters, featuring Sir Paul McCartney, Paul Weller, and Noel Gallagher—came together for a powerful cause: to bring hope to the children of war-torn Bosnia.
The album was recorded in one day in that year, and released a week later. It was a rapid response co-ordinated by charity War Child UK, which you can now get your hands on 30 years down the line.
In a statement on their website, the charity said:
“To mark the 30th anniversary of the iconic ‘HELP’ album, War Child Records are releasing a limited edition 7” box set of the original release. Limited to 1000 units, each hand numbered and including unseen images, this is the ultimate collectors edition.”
“The HELP album was the music industry’s response to the Yugoslavian civil war, inspired by John Lennon’s approach to recording ‘Instant Karma’, the ‘HELP’ album was recorded in a single day, mixed and mastered by Brian Eno and released five days later.”
“The album raised over £1.25million and is still widely regarded as the greatest charity album of all time.”
The album was an instantaneous display of how music and its artists can come together at the drop of a hat and rally to help those in need. It displayed the compassionate and delicate tendencies of the industry’s phenoms in the 1990s and set a precedent for future fundraising.
Most importantly, alongside the money raised for the cause, It increased the awareness of the Yugoslav war at a time of political tension, when social media didn’t brandish the news of the world in front of our helpless eyes. The high profile names and the quality and class of the record made it a global success, drawing eyes to Yugoslavia, which would’ve otherwise turned unknowingly blind.
The tracklist for the album:
Disc 1
A1. Oasis – Fade Away
B1. The Boo Radleys – Oh Brother
DISC 2
A1. The Stone Roses – Love Spreads
B1. Radiohead – Lucky
DISC 3
A1. Orbital – Adnan
B1. Portishead – Mourning Air
DISC 4
A1. Massive Attack – Fake the Aroma
B1. Suede – Shipbuilding
DISC 5
A1. The Charlatans & The Chemical Brothers – Time For Livin’
B1. Stereo MC’s – Sweetest Truth (Show No Fear)
DISC 6
A1. Sinéad O’Connor – Ode to Billy Joe
B1. The Levellers – Searchlights
DISC 7
A1. Manic Street Preachers – Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head
B1. Terrorvision – Tom Petty Loves Veruca Salt
DISC 8
A1. The Massed Pipes And Drums Of The Children’s Free Revolutionary Volunteer Guard & The One World Orchestra – The Magnificent
B1. Planet 4 Folk Quartet – Message To Crommie
DISC 9
A1. Terry Hall & Salad – Dream A Little Dream
B1. Neneh Cherry & Trout – 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
DISC 10
A1. Blur – Eine Kleine Lift Musik
B1. The Smokin’ Mojo Filters – Come Together
“Help- 30th Anniversary Box-Set” is set for release on October 17
“All proceeds will support War Child’s work protecting, educating and standing up for children living through conflict today.”
You can pre-order the album now by clicking here.
