Chess Records’ Attempt to Rival Motown
In 1965, Fontella Bass scored a huge hit with Rescue Me, released on the Chicago-based blues label Chess Records. It became a million-selling record and reached No. 1 on the R&B chart, while also making the pop Top 10.
At the time, Chess was looking to move beyond its Blues roots and compete for the wider radio audience that Berry Gordy was capturing with Motown in Detroit.
The two labels had very different foundations. Motown had developed its distinctive soul sound with the help of its house band, The Funk Brothers, while Chess had built its reputation around blues artists such as Muddy Waters and Chuck Berry.
Rescue Me was a clear example of Chess embracing a more contemporary Soul sound. Its driving rhythm, infectious handclaps, and Fontella’s powerful vocal gave the song an immediate appeal.
There’s also a lovely detail behind the recording. During the writing and recording process, Fontella had worked on the lyrics, but when she came to sing the song, she forgot some of the words. Rather than stopping, she filled the gaps with the now-famous “Mmm-hmm, mmm-hmm” vocal phrases.
Those improvised moments became part of what makes the record so recognisable.
The 28-Year Battle for Payment
Fontella was thrilled when Rescue Me became such a success. She believed she was entitled to songwriting credit for the lyrics, but Chess Records disputed her claim.
When it came time to collect her royalty cheque, the excitement quickly faded. Recalling the experience, she said: “When I saw how little it was, I tore it up and threw it back across the desk.”
Her manager assured her that everything would be sorted out, but the promised resolution never arrived. Her attempts to follow up went unanswered, and insisting on fair compensation earned her a reputation as a troublemaker.
Disillusioned with the music business, Fontella moved to Paris with her husband in 1969 to pursue a recording career in Europe. She continued working through the 1970s and 1980s, although none of her later releases matched the commercial success of Rescue Me.
Then, in 1993, she heard her own song in a television advertisement for American Express. This brought the long-running dispute back into focus. She took legal action over the use of the recording and received $50,000 in a settlement.
It had taken decades for Fontella to receive meaningful compensation connected to the tune that had defined her career.
A Soul Classic That Still Gets the Job Done
For guitarists, Rescue Me is a brilliant example of how a strong rhythm section, a memorable vocal, and a simple, infectious arrangement can carry a tune.
The groove is everything. Rather than filling every space with complicated guitar parts, concentrate on the rhythmic feel and how the chords support Fontella’s vocal. The handclaps and repeated phrases give the recording its forward momentum, making it a natural choice for a Soul or Motown-inspired band.
It does work beautifully as part of a repertoire alongside classic Motown material. The contrast between Chess Records and Motown may have been a matter of label rivalry, but on stage, tunes from both catalogues belong together.
Fontella Bass gave Chess one of its biggest crossover hits. The fact that she had to fight so hard for recognition and payment is a reminder that a million-selling record doesn’t necessarily mean the artist behind it is treated fairly.
Fontella Bass Tunes | Related Pages
Rescue Me | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play Rescue Me by Fontella Bass using chords, lyrics, a chord chart, TAB, backing tracks, and Spytunes video guitar lessons.
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Rescue me, take me in your arms…
Check out the chorus is taught in the course for FREE here: Rescue Me | Guitar Lesson – Step 2.
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