As a teenager, Bass was attracted by more secular music. Throughout high school she began singing contemporary R&B songs at local contests and fairs. In 1961, Bass found steady work on the local Leon Claxton Show, playing piano and singing in the chorus. She also began playing piano on blues vocalist Little Milton's records. With the support of Bob Lyons, the manager of St. Louis station KATZ, Bass recorded several songs released through Bobbin Records. She saw no notable success outside her home town, however.
Two years later, she moved to Chicago after a dispute with Little Milton. She auditioned for Chess Records, who immediately signed her as a recording artist. Her first works with the label were several duets with blues singer Bobby McClure, also a newcomer to the label. Released early in 1965, "Don't Mess Up a Good Thing" found immediate success, reaching the top five at R&B radio and peaking at #33 at pop. They followed their early success with "You'll Miss Me (When I'm Gone)" that summer, a song that had mild success, reaching the top 30 at R&B, but barely charting at pop.
After a brief tour, Bass returned to the studio. The result was an original composition with an aggressive bass and drum work by Maurice White, of the future Earth, Wind, & Fire. The song, "Rescue Me," shot up the charts in the fall and winter of 1965. After a month-long run at the top of the R&B charts, the song reached #4 at the pop charts.
She followed with "Recovery," which did moderately well, peaking at #13 at R&B and #37 at pop in early 1966. The same year brought two more R&B hits, "I Can't Rest" (backed with "I Surrender)" and "You'll Never Know." Her only album with Chess Records, The New Look, sold reasonably well, but Bass decided to leave the label after only two years, in 1967.
In 1970 Bass recorded two albums with the Art Ensemble of Chicago, The Art Ensemble of Chicago with Fontella Bass and Les Stances A Sophie. The latter was the soundtrack from the French movie of the same title. Bass' vocals, backed by the powerful, pulsating push of the band has allowed the Theme De YoYo to remain an underground cult classic ever since.
The next few years found Bass at a number of different labels, but saw no notable successes. After her second album, Free, flopped in 1972, Bass retired from music. She returned occasionally, being featured as a background vocalist on several recordings, including those of her husband, Lester Bowie, a jazz trumpeter and member of the Art Ensemble of Chicago. In the 1990s she hosted a short-lived Chicago radio talk show, and has released several gospel records on independent labels.
Like many outstanding artists of her time, Bass experienced a revival of interest. Her still-powerful tones can be heard on the 2002 Cinematic Orchestra album, 'Everyday'.
She has been inducted into the St. Louis Walk of Fame. She is the older sister of R&B singer David Peaston, who was a former Showtime at the Apollo champion.
Fontella Bass, 72, died of heart-attack complications in her home town of St. Louis, Missouri, 26 December 2012. She is survived by four children.
Discography
Albums
* The New Look (1966, Chess) US: #93
* Les Stances A Sophie , with the Art Ensemble of Chicago (1970, Nessa Records)
* The Art Ensemble of Chicago with Fontella Bass, (Prestige Records, 1970)
* Free (1972, Paula)
* From The Root To The Source (1980)
* No Ways Tired (1995, Nonesuch)
* Now That I Found a Good Thing (1996, Jewel)
* Travelin (2001, Justin Time)
Singles
* "Don't Mess Up a Good Thing" (1965, Chess) R&B: #5 US: #33 with Bobby McClure
* "You'll Miss Me (When I'm Gone)" (1965) R&B: #27 US: #91 with Bobby McClure
* "Rescue Me" (1965) R&B: #1 US: #4 UK: #11
* "Recovery" (1966) R&B: #13 US: #37 UK: #32
* "Safe and Sound" (1966) US: #100 (b-side of "Recovery")
* "I Can't Rest" (1966) R&B: #31
* "I Surrender" (1966) R&B: #33 US: #78 (b-side of "I Can't Rest")
* "You'll Never Know" (1966) R&B: #34
This Would Make Me Happy
Fontella Bass Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If I had your heart to call my own
This would make me happy
And I′ll be, I'll be satisfied
I′ll give the world and a heaven too
Just to hear you say you love me
Like I'm loving you
And I'll never, no, I′ll never let you go
And I don′t believe in a miracle
But sometimes, sometimes a dream will come true
And if faith and faith alone can move a mountain
Then what's to keep me, what′s to keep me from having you
If I, if I pray to the stars above
I do believe I could win your love
And this would make me happy
And I know that you'll be happy too
Yeah, yeah, yeah...
And a this, this will make me happy
And I know that you′ll be happy too (you'll be happy too)
In Fontella Bass's song "This Would Make Me Happy," the singer expresses a desire to possess the love and heart of another person. The singer imagines that if the object of her affection loved her in return, she would be happy and satisfied. The singer is willing to give up anything, including the world and even heaven, to hear the object of her affection tell her that they love her. She believes that if she could just have the love of the person she desires, it would bring her happiness.
The singer knows that miracles are rare, but she hopes that her dream of winning over her love interest can come true. She has faith that she could move mountains with her love and is determined to win over the person she desires. The singer even entertains the idea of praying to the stars above to help her win the love of the person she desires. Overall, the song conveys a sense of longing for a love that seems just out of reach and a determination to pursue it no matter what.
Line by Line Meaning
If your love was mine alone
Having your love all to myself would bring me immense joy and satisfaction.
If I had your heart to call my own
If you gave me your heart and devoted yourself entirely to me, I would feel complete and content.
This would make me happy
Being the sole recipient of your love would bring me true happiness.
And I′ll be, I'll be satisfied
Having you all to myself will give me a sense of contentment and fulfillment.
I′ll give the world and a heaven too
I am willing to give up anything and everything just to hear you tell me that you love me as much as I love you.
Just to hear you say you love me
Your love and affection mean everything to me, and hearing you profess your love to me would be the ultimate reward.
And this will make me happy
Your love and devotion are the key to my happiness and contentment.
And I'll never, no, I′ll never let you go
Once I have your love, I will hold on to it tightly and never let it go.
And I don′t believe in a miracle
I don't believe in fate or miracles, but sometimes dreams can come true.
But sometimes, sometimes a dream will come true
Occasionally, wishes and desires do become reality.
And if faith and faith alone can move a mountain
If faith is enough to achieve the seemingly impossible, then surely it can help me win your love.
Then what's to keep me, what′s to keep me from having you
If faith and determination can conquer obstacles, what is preventing me from achieving my ultimate goal of being with you?
If I, if I pray to the stars above
If I wish and hope for your love with all my heart and soul.
I do believe I could win your love
I have faith that I can win your love and devotion.
And this would make me happy
Successfully winning your love would bring me immense joy and happiness.
And I know that you'll be happy too
In gaining your love, I know that you will also be happy and content in our relationship.
And a this, this will make me happy
Knowing that we both love and care for each other will bring me true happiness and contentment.
And I know that you′ll be happy too (you'll be happy too)
I am certain that once we come together, you will also find true happiness in our love and affection for each other.
Writer(s): Oliver Jr Sain
Contributed by Mila I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@chelcv
If your love was mine alone
If I had your heart to call my own
This would make me happy
And I'll be I'll be satisfied
I'll give the world and a heaven too
Just to hear you say you love me
Like I'm loving you
And this will make me happy
And I'll never, no I'll never let you go
And I don't believe in a miracle
But sometimes, sometimes a dream will come true
And if faith and faith alone can move a mountain
Then what's to keep me, what's to keep me from having you
If I, if I pray to the stars above I do believe I could win your love
And this would make me happy and i know that you'll be happy too
(Yeah,yeaaahhhhhh)
And a this this will make me happy and I
know you'll be happy too (you'll be happy too)
@helinatrice4894
TEOTFW has the best soundtrack ever I love 50s music😭
@oskarwittje8348
Yessass!!!
@sydhawdon9095
I'm watching it now, there's some amazing songs that I've never heard before. I loved "Laughing on the outside.😁
@jgibbyondatrack
@@sydhawdon9095great one! and ricky nelsons "lonesome town" he was a legend, gone way too soon in his life
@tykesgroove
"It's strange. When someone's very important and you haven't seen them for a long time, as soon as you do it's easier to breathe"
@Junior10847
One of the hardest lines of the show Fr
@mekhinaima62
here because this is my granny ❤️ had no idea this was on a show!
@miguelr3135
As a 21 year old i can say it gives me such nostalgia to an era my Eyes Have Never Seen.
@runehomie
There's a word for this feeling; Anemoia : a longing for a time you've never known.
@grantharrismusic
No smartphones, no internet, probably not even a television, no air conditioning, most likely no useless college degree. As a 53-year-old I'm laughing my head off at your comment. It's more naivete than nostalgia.