"Help Me" is a

blues standard Blues standards are blues songs that have attained a high level of recognition due to having been widely performed and recorded. They represent the best known and most interpreted blues songs that are seen as standing the test of time. Blues ...

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 st ...

in 1963. The song, a mid-tempo twelve-bar blues, is credited to Williamson, Willie Dixon, and

Ralph Bass Ralph Basso Jr. (May 1, 1911 – March 5, 1997), known as Ralph Bass,The birth surname of Ralph Bass's paternal grandfather, who was born in Italy, was DuBasso. was an American rhythm-and-blues record producer and talent scout for several indepen ...

and is based on the 1962 instrumental hit "

Green Onions "Green Onions" is an instrumental composition recorded in 1962 by Booker T. & the M.G.'s. Described as "one of the most popular instrumental rock and soul songs ever" and as one of "the most popular R&B instrumentals of its era", the tune is a ...

" by Booker T. and the MGs. "Help Me" became a hit in 1963 and reached number 24 in the

Billboard R&B chart The Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart ranks the most popular R&B and hip hop songs in the United States and is published weekly by '' Billboard''. Rankings are based on a measure of radio airplay, sales data, and streaming activity. The chart had 100 ...

. 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 crea ...

albums including '' His Best''.

References

External links

Sonny Boy Williamson II Help Me
{{authority control 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