Search - Fontella Bass :: Rescued

More than a one-hit wonder

Laurence Upton | Wilts, UK | 12/09/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Although Fontella Bass has a new lease of popularity thanks to the likes of the Cinematic Orchestra, she is best known for the 1965 hit, Rescue Me, her first solo single for Chess Records subsidiary label Checker. It takes pride of place in this 16 track compilation, which collects the best of her output for Chess, but there is far more to her than that.

Rescued includes one previously unreleased 1968 track (Joy Of Love), one released only in France (Free At Last) and several singles not previously included on album, and there are indications that Checker were slightly caught out by the runaway success of Rescue Me and weren't sure quite what to do with her, as some of the subsequent singles sound like blatant attempts to capitalize on her hit by sounding as much like it as possible. Some of her best material, conversely, was buried on B-sides, for example The Soul Of The Man (the B-side of Rescue Me) and Don't Jump, a duet with Bobby McClure which became a big favourite despite being consigned to the other side of flop single You're Gonna Miss Me.

The biggest omission is the only A-side not to be included, Safe And Sound, an obvious attempt at using a formula to recreate the success of Rescue Me. It can be found on Ace's compilation Where The Girls Are Vol. 3.

Her only album for the label was The New Look, rushed together to cash in on Rescue Me and was largely made up contemporary covers, quickly learned from the records. However, Lester Bowie, best known for his work with the Art Ensemble Of Chicago, who played trumpet on the album sessions, went on to marry Fontella, and they worked productively together when they quit the US for Paris around 1968-1969. Two selections from that LP are included here: Since I Fell For You and Oh No Not My Baby.

Fontella Bass grew up singing and playing piano, as her mother Martha was a major gospel star and all her family were deeply into gospel music. Fontella started out professionally as a piano player in Little Milton Campbell Junior's band in 1961 and became their female vocalist one night by chance when Milton failed to show up and their musical director Oliver Sain got her on stage in his place. She and Bobby McClure later sang in the Oliver Sain Revue, which brought them to the attention of Leonard Chess. Her first couple of singles for the label where duets with Bobby McClure, including the hit single Don't Mess Up A Good Thing.

Perhaps Chess/Checker didn't know quite what they had but is all here in these grooves to be enjoyed today"