Fontella Bass - "Rescue Me" – The song that has got everyone humming it within England at the moment (September 2011)

It's the song that is quietly sweeping the nation of England.

Everybody is singing it and I mean everyone.

In most offices, factory floors, or other places of work you can guarantee that you will find someone or several people humming the tune, or blatantly singing the chorus outright of this Northern Soul classic track.

The song that I am referring to is called “Rescue Me” which was originally written by Fontella Bass, Raynard Miner, and Carl Smith in 1965.

It was then released within the same year of 1965 and went on to become Fontella Bass’s best-selling single of her career.

It reached 1 on the R&B charts (Usa) for four weeks and then placed at number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 (Usa). "Rescue Me" also peaked at number eleven on the UK Singles Chart during the same year 1965.

Bass, who was born in 1940 in St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A, recorded the song in three takes at Chess Studios in Chicago, USA. Legendary vocalist Minnie Riperton also provided background vocals for this classic song.

Below is a live performance of Fontella Bass singing - RESCUE ME

However, most people over the years often credit the song to Aretha Franklin, which just isn’t so.

The real truth is that Bass delivered her fiery vocal on "Rescue Me" three years prior to Franklin's commercial breakthrough track that was "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)."

The song's lasting popularity or legacy seems to have hung around for quite some time as it first featured within a TV advertising campaign by American Express, the USA in 1990.

Fontalla has stated within interviews of that time 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.

This experience inspired Bass 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 of a 1993 settlement with American Express and its advertising agency awarding Bass $50,000 plus punitive damages.

"Rescue Me" was also adapted as the jingle for a 1991 TV ad campaign for Pizza Hut, with Aretha Franklin rendering the song as "Deliver Me".

In 2009 "Rescue Me" was utilized in a TV ad campaign by TENA." Rescue Me" has most recently been used in an advertising campaign by L’Oreal’s "Root Rescue" product line, sung in the background of their commercial.

And now we find the song being used by British Gas (UK) as a jingle with their latest Ad break. And everyone is humming the length and breadth of the UK!

Please have a listen to the ad that features this really catchy tune that has got the whole of England humming to it at the moment.

Maybe Fontella Bass should be contacting British Gas (UK) for royalty payments over her Song?

The song is not just become an advertisers' dream as it has been covered by a number of musical artists right across the board since its initial release in 1965 by Fontea Bass.

Artists that come to mind are Elkie Brooks, Shirley Eikhard, Bryan Ferry, Guys 'n' Dolls, Tom Jones, Gayle McCormick, Ann Peebles, Diana Ross, Linda Ronstadt, and Melissa Manchester.

The track has been used in varying lengths within Top Modern Movies such as A Cinderella Story, Air America, Best, I, Robot, Jumpin' Jack Flash, and Sister Act.

Keep on humming the tune England. This soul music classic is sweeping the nation.

Please have a listen to the ad that features this really catchy tune that has got the whole of England humming to it at the moment.

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