"Rescue Me" is a rhythm and blues song first recorded and released as a single by American soul singer-songwriter Fontella Bass in 1965.[1] The original versions of the record,[2] and BMI,[3] give the songwriting credit to Raynard Miner and Carl William Smith, although many other sources also credit Bass herself as a co-writer.[4][5][6][7][8] It would prove the biggest hit of Bass's career, reaching #1 on the R&B charts for four weeks and placing at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100.[9][1] "Rescue Me" also peaked at #11 on the UK Singles Chart.[10]
According to writer Robert Pruter in his book Chicago Soul, the song emerged from a songwriting and rehearsal, or "woodshedding", session at Chess Records:[11] " 'Rescue Me' was a terrific example of the Chess studio system at its finest... One Saturday in August 1965, Bass was sitting in a rehearsal studio with producers-writers Carl Smith and Raynard Miner. They were fooling around with the song when arranger Phil Wright walked in, and the ensuing four-way jam session brought forth 'Rescue Me'. [Billy] Davis produced the side..." Bass claimed that, although Smith, Miner and Davis had assured her that her contribution to authorship of the song's lyrics would be acknowledged, this was never done.[12][1]
Bass recorded the song in three takes at Chess Studios in Chicago. Minnie Riperton provided background vocals, and Maurice White and Louis Satterfield, later of Earth, Wind & Fire, were on drums and bass respectively.[12][1] Other musicians on the record included Gene Barge on tenor sax, Pete Cosey and Gerald Sims on guitar, Raynard Miner on piano, Sonny Thompson on organ, and Charles Stepney on vibes.[13] According to Bass, the call-and-response moans heard in the song's fade were unintentional. In an interview with The New York Times in 1989, she said, “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.”[14][15]
Shirley Eikhard put the song onto the Canadian Pop and AC charts in 1974.[19]
In 1974, Cher released it as a single, that was recorded for the album Dark Lady. Allmusic reviewed her version by calling it a good cover choice and noted that it is always good to hear her voice in classics.[31] She reached #82 in Canada.[20]
In 1976, Melissa Manchester remade "Rescue Me" for her Better Days and Happy Endings album; released as a single the track reached #78 on the Billboard Hot 100, the only Hot 100 showing for the song since the original version.
Sass Jordan recorded it for the soundtrack of the 1989 film American Boyfriends; her version reached #44 on the Canadian singles chart.
Pat Benatar added her rendition in 1994 for the soundtrack to the film Speed.
The song was covered by Nu Generation in 1999 and peaked at #8 on the UK charts[27] and #29 in Ireland.
The original version of "Rescue Me" was used in a TV advertising campaign by American Express: Fontella Bass has stated that she was at a low point in her life when on New Year's Day 1990 she was astonished to hear her own voice singing "Rescue Me" on the American Express television ad. The experience gave Bass the inspiration to set her life in order: it also motivated her to make queries over the commercial use of her recording of "Rescue Me" with the ultimate result a 1993 settlement with American Express and its advertising agency awarding Bass $50,000 plus punitive damages.[33]
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