FONTELLA BASS Rescue me REACTION - One of the super super songs of the 60s!

[@dhausmig]

I was born in 1950 and heard this as a teen. The announcers pronounced her last name like the fish (bass) rather than the clef below baritone.

[@anneschreck5136]

Cynthia, you keep bringing us the ones that I always liked and never knew who they were. I really enjoy that. Thank you and Harri!

[@Cynthia...]

You are welcome Anne, I also have songs like that also.

[@rickroden7666]

She was lovely and we loved this song. Grew up with us.

[@jdw5678]

Chicago soul at its finest, on Chess Records, one of the big three soul labels of the '60s along with Motown and Stax. Fontella Bass, Billy Stewart, Etta James, Mitty Collier, Tony Clarke, the Radiants, the Dells, Terry Callier, and a host of others comprised the output of this great label, along with so many legendary blues recordings the previous decade.

[@asteverino8569]

Back when the 60's MoTown sound was cooking, I thought this was another one by a MoTown super group. Radio was king.

[@justabaker5609]

Absolutely no better music!!

[@iandowney4630]

Oh, how I love this song! It’s great to see Fontella looking just as groovy as you please and singing soul like she means it. Many thanks, Cynthia, for this 60s classic, and to Harri for your classic reaction 🎉

[@Cynthia...]

@@iandowney4630 So glad that you liked it Ian.

[@rwschumm]

Fantastic Golden Oldie! :)

[@dpausa]

mighty fine, mighty fine, mighty fine !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@hookalakah]

Fontella Bass didn't record for Motown, headquartered in Detroit. She recorded for Chess Records, in Chicago. Louis Satterfield lays down that bass line.

[@ladycharliestallworth2280]

Thank you.

[@laurabrevitz3944]

THOSE DANCERS THO 😂 Love this song! Thanks for the reaction, Harri!

[@iandowney4630]

@@laurabrevitz3944 They were sooo groovy 😂

[@VirginiaPeden-Harrington-qd5zu]

OH how that takes me back to my teenage years. Love it as much now as I did then.

[@mariaportengen2959]

Great soul music. I grew up with this fantastic music.

[@themajicman745]

My home girl! When I first heard this as a kid I thought it was Aretha Franklin. Check out her little brother David Peaston's music here on the KZbin. A lot of people don't realize that Bobby Darin was at Motown for a quick minute.

[@angelamiller6275]

When music was REAL!

[@tinaallen512]

At the time,many ppl thought it was a song recorded by Aretha Franklinbut one she did not do

[@patswanson2870]

I never new who sang this song. It’s nice to put a face to a song after all these years.

[@donnakubiski5572]

I owned the 45 so I always knew who sang it. It's good to hear it again since I can't remember the last time I did. Great song!

[@John_Chu]

Great selection, Cynthia! One of Chess Records most successful forays into soul music (Chess was known for blues and rock and roll mostly - Muddy Waters and Chuck Berry notably). Her producer on this song was Billy Davis who left Chess in 1968 and became a very successful advertising jingle producer, primarily for Coca-Cola. He was the producer of such classic jingles as "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony)", "It's the Real Thing", "Things Go Better with Coke" and "Country Sunshine." Thanks Cynthia & Harri.

[@Cynthia...]

Good to know John and glad you enjoyed it.

[@iandowney4630]

@@John_Chu Chess was a great label!

[@Imadrummin]

Oh yeah!! Fontella is striking. Heard this song over the years but didn't know it was her. Thanks Cynthia....now I know. Love the song!!👋👋👋

[@Cynthia...]

Thank you Imadrummin, and so glad that you liked and knew it.

[@davebzen795]

Cynthia - What a wonderful submission and trip back to the 60s. Fontella Bass' "Rescu Me" crowded the airwaves back then. A true classic as was Harri's reaction and commentary.

[@geoff6942]

Fontellas voice reminds me of the great Betty Wright, RIP, who many regard as the queen of soul.

[@iandowney4630]

@@geoff6942 She did Clean Up Woman, didn’t she?

[@geoff6942]

@@iandowney4630 That's the one that brought her to my attention. Superb record.

[@iandowney4630]

@@geoff6942 It’s a fantastic slice of soul, no doubt about it. And they do have very similar voices. Good call!

[@maryanderson2759]

LOVE this song. Thanks for playing it

[@827dusty]

It's not on the "Motown" label, but it sure sounds like it. Great old song from the mid 60s. Thanks for the memories Harri.

[@debbiechang5781]

This is wonderful. I have always loved this without knowing who this was. Fantastic choice and reaction. Thanks Harri and Cynthia 🌸✌️

[@glenndespres5317]

Diamonds, Harri! Diamonds!! And the dancers in the background! Groovy baby, yeah! 😅

[@sammybeck7794]

Thank you Harry for taking me back in time. I love this song and I love Fontella Bass. By the way her last name is pronounced like the fish

[@Cynthia...]

Thank you Harri, This was one of those great songs to dance to, and I had an outfit similar but with a skirt.

[@iandowney4630]

incredibly groovy outfit 😍

[@Cynthia...]

@@iandowney4630 why thank you Ian. 😂

[@iandowney4630]

@@Cynthia... you are most welcome, you groovy girl 💃🏻

[@Cynthia...]

@@iandowney4630 😂✌️🎸🇨🇦

[@anneschreck5136]

I would love to see a photo in that outfit. I'm sure you rocked it.

[@marybaillie8907]

From the 1966 album, "The New Look" Fontella had a mega hit, with this great R&B tune, reaching the top 40 R&B and remaining for 19 weeks. Maurice White and Louis Satterfield from Earth,Wind and Fire played the drums and the bass respectively. Minnie Ripperton sang with the backup vocals. Fontella was signed with Checker records, Harri and the humming at the end happened, when the sheet music fell to the floor and they improvised the end of the record by humming the tune. Great reaction Harri. ❤ Thanks Cynthia, great memory. 👏👏 Cheers from Canada ❤❤🇨🇦🇨🇦

[@iandowney4630]

Many thanks, Mary. Minnie Ripperton on backing vocals- never knew that!

[@Cynthia...]

@@marybaillie8907 thank you Mary. ❤️🇨🇦

[@HarriBestReactions]

Wow! Minnie Ripperton

[@iandowney4630]

@@HarriBestReactions who knew…?!

[@Cynthia...]

⁠@@iandowney4630 I didn’t know Minnie Ripperton was in that, how amazing. I guess I’ll have to start adding a bit more information for Harri. I usually just like to make it short and somewhat sweet. 😂

[@justabaker5609]

I have this on a 45. Great choice.

[@frenchietyana7991]

Thank you for reacting to my grandmother’s song! Loved it! 🙏🏼

[@elizabethbrown6384]

Hallelujah! Someone is reacting to my favorite Motown One Hit Wonder!

[@kaarhildtorset4850]

I love Motown music its my favorite music❤

[@miltonslocum8957]

Great request Cynthia!! And really enjoyed your reaction Harri!! This was a big hit and released in 65 by Chess Records. Also future Earth Wind and Stars, drummer Maurice White and bassist Louis Satterfield, were backing musicians on the track. Also a young Minnie Riperton sang backup vocals! Fontella Bass was supposed to get credit royalties for co-writing the lyrics, but never did. She left the label in 67 and retired in the early 70's. She was at a very low point in her life when on New Year's Day in 1990 she heard her song being used in an American Express commercial. She sued American Express and reached a settlement in 92 for 50K plus punitive damages. It helped revive her career. Unfortunately, many in the early music industry were treated poorly. Again, great request and reaction!!❤

[@Cynthia...]

Thanks, as usual Milton and good information.

[@miltonslocum8957]

@@Cynthia... You're welcome!

[@patriciatolliver4057]

Patty-This takes me right back to high school.

[@bryanforis1839]

Great voice Dennis Coffey he produced and guitar 🎸 great music

[@agnetesorensenelbom5085]

Do remember this song, would not know who sang. Love the performance, the dansers 🥰 Thank you Cynth great songchoice and Thank you Harri

[@Cynthia...]

Glad that you liked it Agnete.

[@bradsense7431]

Harri I noticed the bass drum had name of a mid sixties television show out of the USA called - Shindig.

[@angelomaurizio1668]

When I'd first heard this song thought it was Aretha Franklin. And looks like Darlene Love as a background singer in the middle....

[@VincentAgostino-gy6hr]

Great song… on my little transistor radio with my cheap tinny earpiece at night hiding under the covers from my parents… listening to WABC in New York past my bedtime 😂

[@anthonymussari8783]

This performance was from a US show called Shindig back in 1965. That's Darlene Love in the middle of the 3 girls to the right...The Blossoms!!!

[@arronhaggerty8426]

Yes she was signed as a motown artist, Aritha Franklin did a cover of this song as well, and it was a big hit for her to.

[@flamencoprof]

2013 I run across a few 50's & 60's girl groups, think they're kinda cool, branch into other single acts, end up with 1.3GB or so of .mp3s. This one of my faves. Check out Ruth Brown, especially Anyone But You, Barbara George, Barbara Lynn (guitarist as well), Irma Thomas, Sugar Pie DeSanto, for a start.

[@angieday5183]

Linda Ronstadt has a good version.

[@clodge5196]

You should react to her late brother Mr David Peaston

[@channelthree9424]

For a long time, I thought this was a Aretha Franklin singing this song

[@Dreams4U2]

Side B of this single (yes, I'm dating myself ... I was 11 years old when this song was released) is an incredible blues ballad titled "The Soul of a Man". Give yourself a treat and react to it. :)

[@lavender_granny]

this has always been a favorite and i am ashamed to admit that i thought Diana Ross sang this. well, i was born in 1967

[@mathewcleary167]

At one point in the 70s Elton John sold 2% of all the albums sold in the world

[@kimcutts6153]

Hi Harri, can i please suggest a song from back in the 70s that i think you might know. The artist is Barry Biggs, and the song is "Sideshow". It is a cover, the OGs are Blue Magic, from the early 60s. 👍

[@ladycharliestallworth2280]

I’m a Motown brat, but not every R&B from the 60’s and 70’s is Motown. So many of you reactionaries confuse the music, not to be harsh but please do some research first. I still love your channel.

[@pennyfoxworth5253]

Please do Phyllis Hyman live on David Letterman living all alone

[@samdroid559]

Dudes are playing the horns in the background and I don't hear one horn

[@channelthree9424]

Her last name is Bass as in the fish

[@samdroid559]

What is the name on the bass drum anybody know

[@samdroid559]

What the hell they couldn't find any black musicians

[@danielolson5378]

Released by Chess Records who badly wanted a major hit. So what to do? Well you kinda copy your rivals in Detroit Motown and their sound. This was indeed smash hit and it features a guy named Maurice White on drums whom some years later would found a not so unknown band called Earth Wind & Fire!

[@barbprescott303]

Fontella Bass like te fish, not base.

[@erikheddergott5514]

That is not a Motown Sound. The Tune was released on Chess Records. She was married to Lester Bowie from the Art Ensemble of Chicago. Later she toured and Recorded with Lester Bowie and David Murray.

[@HarriBestReactions]

I have to repectfully disagree with you.That is a 100% Motown.So many other record labels copied them.Some even brought their artists to record there just for the sound.Same thing happened with Stax records.

[@iandowney4630]

@@HarriBestReactions I respectfully agree with you on this, Harri.

[@erikheddergott5514]

@@HarriBestReactions And I have to respectfully redisagree. This Sound comes out of Saint Louis and resembles Stax much more than Motown. Her Manager was Oliver Sain, who also Engineered for Ike Turner and for the Black Artist Group of St. Louis. He directed his Artists mostly to Chess Records. Rescue Me was recorded at Chess. And I think one can hear it. As much as I love your Work and your Channel: Definitely a more Territory Sound than a Pop Sound a la Motown.

[@HarriBestReactions]

@@erikheddergott5514 😀 I like this,its a nice debate..i wish we were on air.This sounds nothing at all like Stax.Stax was a hard raw sound.This is sweet and poppy just like Motown.Its not about where they recorded it.Its them having a ideology.And it was simply to jump on that Motown sound which was arguably at that time the most distinct and popular sound.The only thing here that wasnt typical.Motown is that trombone.Apart from that,Motown all the way 😀

[@erikheddergott5514]

@@HarriBestReactions Chicago Soul had two leanings, one around Curtis Mayfield and Jerry Butler that was obviously closer to Motown whereas the Stuff released on Chess reflected a less polished Sound. By the Way: The People in the Studio like Bunky Green, Pete Cosey but also a lot of Guys who later on became Earth Wind and Fire could surely play a wide Spectrum of Sounds. But the Singer definitely had a strong leaning to Gospel and a shot of Blues. I saw her in the 80ties on European Jazzfestivals where she sang with Lester Bowie. Sometimes my Name Memory is Weakened but the great Singer of Hi Records who sang I can‘t stand the Rain and Betty Wright from Alstom come to mind. I guess we weigh Nuances differently, but the great Thing is that she was never the One Hit Wonder who sparked only for a Short Time. She had a great Reputation in Europe where she played on many Festivals, among that a Program called from the Roots to the Source.