A landmark musical collaboration, the HELP album, is set to celebrate its 30th anniversary with a special re-release on October 17, 2025, three decades after its groundbreaking debut as one of the most significant charity projects in music history.
Originally released on September 9, 1995, the album was created to raise funds for children affected by the Bosnian conflict during the Yugoslavian civil war.
Amid the Bosnian crisis, this landmark album mobilized music’s biggest stars to aid war-affected children.
The project made history by being recorded in a single day at Abbey Road Studios and released less than a week later—an extraordinary achievement in the pre-digital era without email or file transfers. Mastered by Brian Eno with artwork by John Squire of The Stone Roses, the album initially raised over £1.25 million for humanitarian aid, prompting Q Magazine to label it “the best charity album ever made.”
The anniversary re-release will include a limited edition 7″ vinyl box set, restricted to 1,000 hand-numbered units consisting of 10 individual 7″ LPs, each containing two original tracks. The album notably peaked at Number 1 on the Official Albums Chart upon its initial release. Collectors will receive three previously unreleased postcards from the 1995 Abbey Road session by photographer Lawrence Watson, with an exclusive fourth postcard available for direct orders from War Child‘s official store. The re-release will also be available as a digital album on streaming platforms for wider accessibility.
The album features an impressive roster of 1990s musical talents, including Oasis, Blur, Radiohead, The Stone Roses, Massive Attack, and Portishead. It significantly captured a historic moment of collaboration amid the Britpop rivalry, with Blur and Oasis recording together, and showcased The Smokin’ Mojo Filters supergroup with Paul McCartney, Paul Weller, and Noel Gallagher.
Fans can further support the cause by following pre-save campaigns and subscribing to editorial playlists featuring these iconic tracks across streaming platforms. HELP’s success helped establish War Child as a leading charity, which has since expanded its aid efforts to 14 countries across multiple continents. The project demonstrates how musicians can generate substantial income while making a social impact through sync licensing opportunities that connect music with meaningful causes. The organization continues its crucial work creating safe spaces and providing psychological support for children in current conflict zones including Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine.
As warfare continues to affect innocent lives globally, the album’s re-release serves as a reminder of music’s enduring power to effect social change while supporting ongoing humanitarian efforts.
