On this day in music history: October 30, 1965 - “Rescue Me” by Fontella Bass hits #1 on the Billboard R&B singles chart for 4 weeks, also peaking at #4 on the Hot 100 on November 20, 1965. Written by Carl Smith and Raynard Miner, it is the biggest hit for the R&B vocalist from St. Louis, MO. The daughter of famed gospel singer Martha Bass (Clara Ward Singers) and sister of R&B singer David Peaston (“Two Wrongs (Don’t Make It Right)” ), Fontella Bass gets her big break working as a background singer for blues legend Little Milton (“We’re Gonna Make It”), who records for legendary Chicago R&B label Chess Records. Bass auditions for staff producer and songwriter Billy Davis who is blown away by her powerful and soulful voice, who signs her to the label in 1964. Bass has a hit right out of the gate with “Don’t Mess Up A Good Thing” (#5 R&B, #33 Pop), a duet with Bobby McClure in early 1965. The follow up “You’ll Miss Me (When I’m Gone)” (#27 R&B, #91 Pop), doesn’t perform as well, and Davis looks to find more material for Bass to record on her own. Turning to Chess staff songwriters Carl Smith and Raynard Miner, the pair write “Rescue Me” over a weekend in August of 1965, with Bass also contributing lyrics (though she is not credited on the released record). Certain that they have a hit, Davis goes into Chess’ Chicago studio with the pair to cut the instrumental track. “Rescue Me” is cut with the labels’ studio band which includes a then twenty three year old drummer named Maurice White (Earth, Wind & Fire), Charles Stepney (vibes), Louis Satterfield (bass), Leonard Caston (piano), Sonny Thompson (organ), Gerald Sims and Pete Cosey (guitars), and a seventeen year old receptionist and secretary named Minnie Riperton on background vocals. Bass records her lead vocal in just a couple of takes. Released as a single on Chess’ Checker Records subsidiary in September of 1965, “Rescue Me” is an immediate smash, racing up the R&B and pop singles charts simultaneously. Though Fontella Bass does not match the success of her million selling single, “Rescue Me” has enduring popularity and is regarded as one of the greatest R&B records of all time. The song has been covered numerous times over the years, including versions by Linda Ronstadt, Cher, Pat Benatar, Tom Jones, Melissa Manchester and Diana Ross. Bass’ original version is used to hilarious effect in the Whoopi Goldberg film “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” in 1986. Fontella Bass’ original recording of “Rescue Me” is inducted into the Grammy Hall Of Fame in 2015.
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