"Help Me" is a
blues standard first recorded by
Sonny Boy Williamson II
Alex or Aleck Miller (originally Ford, possibly December 5, 1912 – May 24, 1965), known later in his career as Sonny Boy Williamson, was an American blues harmonica player, singer and songwriter. He was an early and influential blues harp s ...
in 1963.
[
] The song, a mid-tempo
twelve-bar blues
The twelve-bar blues (or blues changes) is one of the most prominent chord progressions in popular music. The blues progression has a distinctive form in lyrics, phrase, chord structure, and duration. In its basic form, it is predominantly ba ...
, is credited to Williamson,
Willie Dixon
William James Dixon (July 1, 1915January 29, 1992) was an American blues musician, vocalist, songwriter, arranger and record producer. He was proficient in playing both the upright bass and the guitar, and sang with a distinctive voice, but he ...
, and
Ralph Bass and is based on the 1962 instrumental hit "
Green Onions" by
Booker T. and the MGs.
"Help Me" became a hit in 1963 and reached number 24 in the
Billboard R&B chart.
The song was later included on the 1966 Williamson compilation ''More Folk Blues''. In 1987, "Help Me" was inducted into the
Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in the "Classic of Blues Recordings" category. It is featured on many Sonny Boy Williamson
greatest hits
A greatest hits album or best-of album is a type of compilation album that collects popular and commercially successful songs by a particular artist or band. While greatest hits albums are typically supported by the artist, they can also be creat ...
albums including ''
His Best''.
References
External links
Sonny Boy Williamson II Help Me
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Blues songs
1963 singles
Sonny Boy Williamson II songs
Van Morrison songs
Songs written by Willie Dixon
Checker Records singles
Songs written by Ralph Bass
Ten Years After songs
1963 songs