- (This page covers both Help Yourself and the related Peel session band Tyla Gang.)
Help Yourself, known to their fans as "The Helps", were an English rock band of the early 1970s whose style developed from "American-flavoured country-rock ... to acid-drenched psych." Help Yourself formed in London in 1970, originally as a backing band for singer-songwriter Malcolm Morley.
(Read more at Wikipedia).
Links To Peel[]
The band's fluid lineup featured musicians who would go on to play with a range of Peel sessions bands through the mid-1970s, including Man, Deke Leonard and Ducks Deluxe. Sean Tyla and Ken Whaley both recorded sessions with the Tyla Gang.
Festive Fifty Entries[]
- None
Sessions[]
Help Yourself BBC Sessions 1972 & 1973
Three sessions. No known commercial release. Ken Whaley also one session with Man (1974), one with Tyla Gang (1978); Martin Belmont three with Ducks Deluxe (1973-75); Paul Burton one with Deke Leonard (1973); Sean Tyla three with Ducks Deluxe (1973-75), three with Tyla Gang (1977-78).
1. Recorded 1971-04-26. First broadcast 08 May 1971, repeated 10 July 1971.
- Crazy Cajun Cakewalk Man / Running Down Deep / Old Man
2. Recorded 1972-04-25. First broadcast: 19 May 1972. Repeated 30 June 1972.
- Johnny B Goode / Re-Affirmation / Let It Roll / While Away (first TX on 30 June 1972 repeat)
3. Recorded 1973-04-10. First broadcast: 17 April 1973. Repeated 18 September 1973.
- Amy / Blown Away / Who Killed Paradise / Man, We're Glad We Know You
- Tyla Gang / Sean Tyla
Three sessions, released on Pool Hall Punks Complete Recordings 1976 - 1978 3xCD, 2016 (Cherry Red CDTRED677).
1. Recorded 1977-05-30. First broadcast: 06 June 1977. Repeated: 28 June 1977
- Young Lords / Don't Shift The Gear / Wizz Kid / Speedball Morning
2. Recorded 1977-10-04. First broadcast: 20 October 1977. Repeated 15 November 1977, 20 January 1978
- On The Street / Don't Turn Your Radio On / Styrofoam / Dust On The Needle
3. Recorded 1978-08-09. First broadcast: 15 August 1978. Repeated 12 September 1978.
- No Roses / It's Gonna Rain / Spanish Streets / Moonlight Ambulance
Live[]
- 13 June 1971: Sunday Show concert, with Lancaster
- unknown tracks
Other Shows Played[]
- 17 March 1972: Strange Affair (LP - Strange Affair) United Artists
- 19 December 1972: Mommy Won't Be Home For Christmas (7") United Artists
- 12 July 1973: Blown Away (LP – The Return Of Ken Whaley) United Artists (brief JP link ; "it's a good noise that, actually..")
- Tyla Gang
- 04 October 1977: Dust On The Needle (7") Beserkley BZZ 5
- 11 October 1977: Styrofoam (v/a album - Hits Greatest Stiffs) Stiff FIST 1
- 11 October 1977: Texas Chainsaw Massacre Boogie (v/a album - Hits Greatest Stiffs) Stiff FIST 1
- 01 December 1977: Whizz Kids (album - Yachtless) Beserkley BSERK-11
- 05 December 1977: Hurricane (album - Yachtless) Beserkley BSERK-11
- 05 December 1977: Dust On The Needle (album - Yachtless) Beserkley BSERK-11
- 05 December 1977: On The Street (album - Yachtless) Beserkley BSERK-11
- 13 December 1977: New York Sun (album - Yachtless) Beserkley BSERK-11
- 13 December 1977: Speedball Morning (album - Yachtless) Beserkley BSERK-11
- 13 December 1977: Don't Shift The Gear (album - Yachtless) Beserkley BSERK-11
- 02 August 1978: American Mother (LP Moonproof) Beserkley
- 02 August 1978: Suicide Jockey(LP Moonproof) Beserkley
- 02 August 1978: Flashing In The Subway(LP Moonproof) Beserkley
- 19 October 1978: Rodeo (yellow vinyl LP-Moonproof)' (Beserkley)