Fontella Bass’ “Rescue Me” is today’s classic song of the day. Released as a single in September of 1965, “Rescue Me” soared to #4 on the Billboard Hot 100, #3 on the Cash Box Top 100, and #1 on Billboard’s Hot Rhythm & Blues chart.
“Rescue Me” took shape during a songwriting and rehearsal session at Chess Studios in Chicago. While the song is officially credited to songwriters Raynard Milner and Carl Smith, Fontella Bass herself was at the session and supposedly contributed to the lyrics.
The recording of “Rescue Me” took place in August of 1965, about a month before the song got released to the public. (Things moved pretty fast back then.) Musicians on the track included Pete Cosey and Gerald Sims on guitars, co-writer Raynard Miller on piano, Sonny Thompson on organ, Charles Stepney on vibes, and Louis Satterfield and Maurice White, both later of Earth, Wind & Fire, on bass and drums, respectively. Minnie Riperton was one of the background singers and Billy Davis produced.
Ms. Bass recalls that she forgot some of the words when recording the out chorus:
“When we were recording that, I forgot some of the words… Back then, you didn’t stop while the tape was running, and I remembered from the church what to do if you forget the words. I sang, ‘Ummm, ummm, ummm,’ and it worked out just fine.”
And here’s today’s daily bonus video of the day, Fontella Bass singing “Rescue Me” live on the November 6, 1965, episode of Shindig! Cute outfit—and that’s Darlene Love and the Blossoms singing backup!
