Help Me

written by Sonny Boy Williamson (II)/Willie Dixon/Ralph Bass;
first recorded by Sonny Boy Williamson (II) in 1963;

40+1 suggested versions:

Sonny Boy Williamson (II)
Help Me (3:10)
Recorded in Chicago, IL, January 11, 1963;
Originally released by Pye in 1963
on the 7" single "Sonny Boy Williamson: Help Me";
Also released by Chess in 1964
on the EP "Sonny Boy Williamson: Help Me";
Also released by Chess in 1966
on the album "Sonny Boy Williamson: More Real Folk Blues"
Writing credits are labeled to Sonny Boy Williamson

Sonny Boy Williamson - harmonica, vocals
Matt Guitar Murphy - guitars
Lafayette Leake or Billy Emerson - organ
Milton Rector - bass
Al Duncan - drums
Harmonica solo at the beginning, after the 1st & 2nd verses by Sonny Boy Williamson

Paul Butterfield
Help Me (2:17)
Recorded at Mastertone Studios, New York City, Winter 1964;
Originally released by Elektra in 1995
on the album "The Paul Butterfield Blues Band: The Original Lost Elektra Sessions"
Writing credits are labeled to Rice Miller (aka Sonny Boy Williamson)

Paul Butterfield - harmonica, vocals
Mike Bloomfield - guitars
Elvin Bishop - guitars
Jerome Arnold - bass
Sam Lay - drums
Harmonica solo at the beginning & in the mid by Paul Butterfield

Junior Wells
Help Me (A Tribute to Sonny Boy Williamson) (4:09)
Recorded in Chicago, IL, December 1965;
Originally released by Vanguard in 1966
on the album "Chicago/The Blues/Today Vol. 1"
Writing credits are labeled to Sonny Boy Williamson/Ralph Bass

Junior Wells - harmonica, vocals
Buddy Guy - guitars
Jack Myers - bass
Fred Below - drums
Harmonica solo at the beginning, in the mid & at the end by Junior Wells

Charlie Musselwhite
Help Me (3:30)
Recorded in 1966;
Originally released by Vanguard in 1967
on the album "Stand Back! Here Comes Charley Musselwhite's South Side Band"
Writing credits are labeled to Justo Carreras/Joe Farver/Sam Ward

Charlie Musselwhite - harmonica, vocals
Harvey Mandel - guitars
Barry Goldberg - organ
Bob Anderson - bass
Fred Below - drums
Harmonica solo after the 1st verse & at the end by Charlie Musselwhite
Guitar solo after the 2nd verse by Harvey Mandel

Canned Heat
Help Me (3:13)
Recorded in Los Angeles, CA, April 1967;
Originally released by Liberty in 1967
on the album "Canned Heat"
Writing credits are labeled to Sonny Boy Williamson/Ralph Bass

Alan Wilson - harmonica, vocals
Henry Vestine - guitars
Ray Johnson - piano
Larry Taylor - bass
Frank Cook - drums
Harmonica solo at the beginning, in the mid & at the end by Alan Wilson

Ten Years After
Help Me (9:51)
Recorded at Decca Studios, London, UK, September 1967;
Originally released by Deram in 1967
on the album "Ten Years After"
Writing credits are labeled to Sonny Boy Williamson/Ralph Bass

Alvin Lee - guitars, vocals
Chick Churchill - organ
Leo Lyons - bass
Ric Lee - drums
Guitar solo in the mid by Alvin Lee

Black Cat Bones
Help Me (12:39)
Recorded at Tottenham Court Road, London, UK, 1967;
Originally released by Sunbeam in 2008
on the album "Paul Kossoff with Black Cat Bones: Paul's Blues"
Writing credits are labeled to Justo Carreras/Joe Farver/Sam Ward

Paul Tiller - harmonica, vocals
Paul Kossoff - lead guitar
Derek Brooks - rhythm guitar
Stuart Brooks - bass
Frank Perry - drums
Harmonica solo at the beginning, before & after the 2nd verse by Paul Tiller
Guitar solo after the 1st verse & at the end by Paul Kossoff

John Mayall
Help Me (7:15)
Recorded live at Beachcomber Club, Nottingham, UK, November 26, 1967;
Originally released by Decca in 1968
on the album "John Mayall: The Diary of a Band Volume Two"
Writing credits are labeled to Ralph Bass/Willie Dixon

John Mayall - organ, harmonica, vocals 
Mick Taylor - guitars
Keith Tillman - bass
Keef Hartley - drums
Chris Mercer - sax
Dick Heckstall-Smith - sax
Harmonica solo at the beginning, in the mid & at the end by John Mayall

Johnny Winter
Help Me (3:51)
Recorded at the Vulcan Gas Company, Austin, TX, 1967;
Originally released by Sonobeat in 1968
on the album "Winter: The Progressive Blues Experiment";
Also released by Imperial (US) & Liberty (UK/Europe) in 1969
on the album "Johnny Winter: The Progressive Blues Experiment"
Writing credits are labeled to Sonny Boy Williamson/Ralph Bass

Johnny Winter - guitars, vocals
Tommy Shannon - bass
Uncle John Turner - drums
Guitar solo at the beginning, after the 1st & 2nd verses & at the end by Johnny Winter

McKenna Mendelson Mainline
Help Me (10:27)
Recorded in Toronto, CAN, September 5 or 9, 1968;
Originally released by Paragon in 1969
on the album "McKenna Mendelson Blues"
Writing credits are labeled as Traditional

Joe Mendelson - harmonica, vocals 
Mike McKenna - guitars
Dennis Gerrard - bass
Tony Nolasco - drums
Harmonica solo at the beginning, after the 1st verse & before the end by Joe Mendelson
Guitar solo after the 2nd verse by Mike McKenna

Cuby + Blizzards
Help Me (5:38)
Recorded at GTB Studios, Hague, Holland, (prob.) 1969;
Originally released by Phillips in 1969
on the album "Cuby + Blizzards: Appleknockers Flophouse"
Writing credits are labeled to Sonny Boy Williamson

Harry Muskee - vocals
Eelco Gelling - guitars
Helmig van der Vegt - organ, piano
Herman Deinum - bass
Hans Lafaille - drums
Guitar solo in the mid by Eelco Gelling
Bass solo in the mid by Herman Deinum
Piano solo in the mid by Helmig van der Vegt

Luther Allison
You Gotta Help Me (3:52)
Recorded at Sound Studios, Chicago, IL, June 24-25, 1969;
Originally released by Delmark in 1969
on the album "Luther Allison and the Blue Nebulae: Love Me Mama"

Luther Allison - guitars, vocals
Robert Big Mojo Elem - bass
Bobby Davis - drums
Guitar solo at the beginning, in the mid & before the end section by Luther Allison

Otis Waygood Blues Band
Help Me (5:14)
Recorded at EMI Studios, Johannesburg, South Africa, March 1970;
Originally released by Parlophone in 1970
on the album "Otis Waygood Blues Band"
Writing credits are labeled to Ralph Bass/Willie Dixon

Rob Zipper - harmonica, vocals, (prob.) guitars
Leigh Sagar - guitars
Martin Jackson - flute
Alan Zipper - bass
Ivor Rubenstein - drums
Harmonica solo at the beginning, in the mid & at the end by Rob Zipper
Flute solos in the mid by Martin Jackson
Guitar solos in the mid by Leigh Sagar or Rob Zipper

Bacon Fat
Help Me (3:56)
Recorded live at the Black Prince, Bexley, Kent, UK, November 22, 1970;
Originally released by Blue Horizon in 2006
on the album "George Smith & Bacon Fat: The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions"

Rod Piazza - harmonica, vocals
Gregg Schaefer - guitars
Buddy Reed - guitars
J. D. Nicholson - piano
Jerry Smith - bass
Richard Innes - drums
Harmonica solo at the beginning, after the 1st & 2nd verses & at the end by Rod Piazza

Ten Years After
Help Me (10:54)
Recorded live in Amsterdam, Holland, January 26, 1973;
Originally released by Chrysalis in 1973
on the album "Ten Years After: Recorded Live"
Writing credits are labeled to Sonny Boy Williamson/Ralph Bass

Alvin Lee - guitars, vocals
Chick Churchill - organ
Leo Lyons - bass
Ric Lee - drums
Guitar solo in the mid by Alvin Lee

Coloured Balls (feat. Billy Thorpe)
Help Me/Rock Me Baby (11:25)
Recorded live at the Sunbury Festival, Sunbury, Victoria, Australia, January 29, 1973;
Originally released by Mushroom in 1973
on the album "Summer Jam"
Writing credits are labeled to Sonny Boy Williamson/Ralph Bass & B. B. King/Joe Josea

Billy Thorpe - vocals
Lobby Loyde - guitars
Leo De Castro - guitars, second vocals (in the mid)
John Miglans - bass
Trevor Young - drums
Guitar solo at the beginning, after the 1st & 2nd verses by Lobby Loyde

Junior Wells
Help Me (8:55)
Recorded live at the Bottom Line, New York City, NY, January 9, 1978;
Not released officially;
Released on the bootleg album "Buddy Guy & Junior Wells: Live at the Bottom Line"

Junior Wells - harmonica, vocals
Buddy Guy - guitars 
Phil Guy - guitars
Douglas Fagen - tenor sax
Kenny Ray - bass
Merle Perkins - drums
Harmonica solo after the 1st verse & at the end by Junior Wells
Guitar solo after the 2nd verse by Phil Guy
Guitar solo before the 3rd verse by Buddy Guy
Sax solo after the 3rd verse by Douglas Fagen

Magic Slim
Help Me (3:51)
Recorded in Paris, France, November 19, 1978;
Originally released by Black and Blue in 1978
on the album "Magic Slim: Highway Is My Home"
Writing credits are labeled to Sonny Boy Williamson

Magic Slim - guitars, vocals 
Alabama Pettis Jr. - guitars
Nick Holt - bass
Fred Below - drums
Guitar solo at the beginning, in the mid & at the end by Magic Slim

Rainer Baumann
Help Me (9:13)
Recorded live at Onkel Pö, Hamburg, Germany 1980;
Originally released by Sireena in 2002
on the re-released album "Rainer Baumann Band: Meet Me in the Bottom"
Writing credits are labeled to Rice Miller (aka Sonny Boy Williamson)

Rainer Baumann - guitars
Kai Weirup - guitars, vocals
Uwe Wegner - bass
Günter Remer - drums
Guitar solo at the beginning, after the 1st & 2nd verses & before the end by Rainer Baumann

Zora Young
Help Me (5:22)
Recorded at Anagramme Studio, Paris, France, February 15-17, 1982;
Originally released by Paris Album in 1982
on the album "Zora Young/Bonnie Lee/Big Time Sarah: Blues with the Girls"
Writing credits are labeled to Sonny Boy Williamson/Ralph Bass/Zora Young

Zora Young - vocals
Stephane Guerault - tenor sax
Hubert Sumlin - lead guitar
Larry Martin - guitars
Paul Pechenaert - guitars
Michel Carras - piano
Zox - bass
Vincent Daune - drums
Sax solo after the 1st verse by Stephane Guerault
Guitar solo before & after the 2nd verse by Hubert Sumlin

Billy Branch
Help Me (6:53)
Recorded at Odyssey Sound Studio, Chicago, IL, June 30, 1982;
Originally released by L+R in 1982
on the album "Lurrie Bell & Billy Branch: Chicago's Young Blues Generation"
Writing credits are labeled to Sonny Boy Williamson

Billy Branch - harmonica, vocals
Lurrie Bell - guitars
Eli Murray - guitars
J. W. Williams - bass
Mose Rutues Jr. - drums
Harmonica solo at the beginning, after the 1st & 2nd verses, before the 3rd verse & before the end by Billy Branch
Guitar solo before the 3rd verse by Lurrie Bell

John Mayall
Help Me (6:45)
Recorded live in Frankfurt or Bonn or Münster, Germany, April 19-21, 1987;
Originally released by Entente in 1987
on the album "John Mayall's Bluesbreakers: The Power of the Blues"
Writing credits are labeled to Ralph Bass/Willie Dixon

John Mayall - organ, harmonica, vocals
Coco Montoya - guitars
Walter Trout - guitars
Bobby Haynes - bass
Joe Yuele - drums
Harmonica solo at the beginning & after the 2nd verse by John Mayall
Organ solo after the 1st by John Mayall
Guitar solo before & after the 2nd verse & at the end by Coco Montoya

Chicago Beau
Help Me (8:35)
Recorded live at Púlsinn Music Club, Reykjavik, Iceland, April 18 or 20, 1991;
Originally released by Platonic in 1991
on the album "Jimmy Dawkins/Chicago Beau & Vinir Dóra: Blue Ice"
Writing credits are labeled to Rice Miller (aka Sonny Boy Williamson)

Chicago Beau - harmonica, vocals
Blue Ice Bragason - guitars
Gudmundur Petursson - guitars
Haraldur Porrsteinsson - bass
Asgeir Oskarsson - drums
Guitar solo at the beginning & in the mid by Blue Ice Bragason
Harmonica solo at the beginning & in the mid by Chicago Beau

Walter Trout
Help Me (6:57)
Recorded live at the Skanderborg Festival, Denmark, August 10, 1991;
Originally released by Provogue in 1992
on the album "Walter Trout Band: No More Fish Jokes"

Walter Trout - guitars, vocals
Danny "Mongo" Abrams - organ
Jimmy Trapp - bass
Frank Cotinola - drums
Organ solo at the beginning, after the 1st verse by Mongo Abrams
Guitar solo after the 2nd verse to the end by Walter Trout

Junior Wells
Help Me (5:51)
Recorded live in at Buddy Guy's Legends, Chicago, IL, November 13-15, 1996;
Originally released by Telarc in 1997
on the album "Junior Wells: Live at Buddy Guy's Legends"
Writing credits are labeled to Sonny Boy Williamson

Junior Wells - harmonica, vocals
Stevie Lizard or Andy Wahllof - guitars
Johnny Fingers Iguana - organ
Harmonica solo after the 1st, 2nd & 3rd verses by Junior Wells
Organ solo at the end by Johnny Fingers Iguana

Mick Pini
Green Onions & Help Me (6:48)
Recorded at Factory Studio, April 14-15, 1997;
Originally released by Stormy Monday in 1997
on the album "The Mick Pini Band: Ain't No Foolin'"
Writing credits are labeled to Booker T. Jones & Sonny Boy Williamson

Mick Pini - guitars, vocals
Julian Grudgings - organ
Graham Lacey - bass
Michael Hellier - drums
Solos at the beginning:
Organ solos by Julian Grudgings/Guitar solo by Mick Pini/Organ solo by Julian Grudgings
Solos at the end
Guitar solo by Mick Pini/Organ solo by Julian Grudgings

Phil Guy
Help Me (6:52)
Recorded live at Blues Special Club, Buenos Aires, Argentina, August 16-18, 1997;
Originally released by Blues Special in 1997
on the album "Phil Guy: Another Guy"
Writing credits are labeled to Rice Miller (aka Sonny Boy Williamson)

Phil Guy - guitars, vocals
Omar Itcovici - guitars
Miguel De Ipola - organ
Mauro "Easy Baby" Diana - bass
Adrian Flores - drums
Guitar solos in the mid by Phil Guy/Omar Itcovici/Phil Guy
Guitar solo at the end by Phil Guy


Johnny B. Moore
Help Me (4:56)
Recorded at ACME Recording, Chicago, IL, March 2-3, 1998;
Originally released by Wolf (prob.) in 2002
on the album "Johnny B. Moore: Born in Clarksdale, Mississippi"
Writing credits are labeled to Rice Miller (aka Sonny Boy Williamson)

Johnny B. Moore - guitars, vocals
Ken Barker - piano
Willie Kent - bass
Larry Taylor - drums
Guitar solo at the beginning & after the 2nd verse by Johnny B. Moore
Piano solo after the 1st verse by Ken Barker

Chris Aaron (feat. Corey Sterling)
Help Me (4:47)
Recorded at Palomino Studio, Madison, WI, (prob.) 2000;
Originally released by Express Sly in 2000
on the album "Chris Aaron/Corey Sterling: Get Off"

Corey Sterling - vocals
Chris Aaron - guitars
Adam Henry - keyboards
Matt Miller - bass
Dave Schoepke - drums
Electric piano solo in the mid by Adam Henry
Guitar solo in the mid & at the end by Chris Aaron

Michael Coleman
Help Me (6:43)
Recorded at Riverside Studio, Chicago, IL, July 3-4, 2000;
Originally released by Delmark in 2000
on the album "Michael Coleman: Do Your Thing!"

Michael Coleman - guitars, vocals
Matthew Skoller - harmonica
Marty Sammon - piano
Sam Green - bass
Merle Perkins - drums
Harmonica solo at the beginning, after the 1st verse by Matthew Skoller
Piano solo after the 2nd verse by Marty Sammon
Guitar solo at the end by Michael Coleman

Nimmo Brothers
Help Me (8:24)
Recorded live at the Cottierís Theatre, Glasgow, UK, May 6, 2001;
Originally released by Armadillo in 2004
on the album "Nimmo Brothers: Live Cottiers Theatre Glasgow"

Stevie Nimmo - guitars, vocals
Alan Nimmo - guitars
Lindsay Coulson - bass 
Mark Barrett - drums
Guitar solo at the beginning, after the 1st verse by Stevie Nimmo
Guitar solo after the band introduction to the end by Alan Nimmo

Melvin Taylor
Help Me (5:39)
Recorded at Sounds Unreel, Memphis, TN, September 5-6, 2001;
Originally released by Evidence in 2002
on the album "Melvin Taylor & the Slack Band: Rendezvous with the Blues"

Melvin Taylor - guitars, vocals
Lucky Peterson - organ
Dave Smith - bass
Steve Potts - drums
Brian Bignac - percussion
Guitar solo at the beginning, in the mid & at the end by Melvin Taylor

Big Daddy G. (feat. Tortoise Blue)
Help Me (7:36)
Recorded live in Fredericton, New Brunswick, CAN, September 12, 2001;
Originally released by Reggies in 2002
on the album "Big Daddy G: Blue Sound - Live at the Harvest Fest"

Tortoise Blue - harmonica, organ, vocals
Big Daddy G. (aka Dave Glover) - guitars
Richard Bell - piano
Wayne Deadder - bass
Ted Peacock - drums
Guitar solo in the mid by Big Daddy G.
Harmonica before the end by Tortoise Blue

Charlie Musselwhite
Help Me (9:28)
Recorded live at Famous Daveís, Minneapolis, MN, August 16, 2002;
Not released officially;
Released on the bootleg album "Charlie Musselwhite: Live at Famous Dave's Minneapolis"

Charlie Musselwhite - harmonica, vocals
Kirk Fletcher - guitars
Bob Welsh - guitars
Felton Crews - bass
Paul Revelli - drums
Harmonica solo at the beginning, after the 1st & 2nd verses & at the end by Charlie Musselwhite
Guitar solo after the 3rd verse by Bob Welsh
Guitar solo before the 4th verse by Kirk Fletcher

Miller Anderson
Help Me (8:07)
Recorded at KDS, Chiswick, London, UK, (prob.) 2003;
Originally released by Delicious in 2003
on the album "Miller Anderson: Bluesheart"
Writing credits are labeled to Rice Miller (aka Sonny Boy Williamson)

Miller Anderson - guitars, harmonica, vocals
Norman Beaker - guitars
Jon Lord - organ
John Price - bass
Paul Burgess - drums
Harmonica solo at the beginning, after the 1st, 3rd & 4th verses by Miller Anderson
Organ solo after the 2nd verse by Jon Lord

Geoff Achison
Help Me (15:58)
Recorded live at Bamboo Room, Lake Worth, FL, May 6, 2005;
Not released officially;
Released on the bootleg album "Geoff Achison and the Souldiggers: Live at Bamboo Room"

Geoff Achison - guitars, vocals
Oliver Wood - guitars
Marty Kearns - organ
Kris Dale - bass
Sam Kelly - drums
Guitar solo at the beginning, after the 2nd verse by Geoff Achison
Organ solo after the 1st verse by Marty Kearns
Guitar solo before the 2nd verse by Oliver Wood

Dave Walker
Help Me (4:48)
Recorded at Roundel Records, Kent, UK, (prob.) 2005;
Originally released by Mooreland Street in 2005
on the album "Dave Walker & the Ambulators: Mostly Sonny - A Tribute to Sonny Boy Williamson"

Dave Walker - vocals
John O'Leary - harmonica
Ray Majors or Nigel Watson - guitars
Don Crane - rhythm guitar
Roger Cotton - organ
Keith Grant - bass
Mick Avory or Alan Brooks or Chris Hunt - drums
Guitar solo after the 1st & 2nd verses by Ray Majors or Nigel Watson
Harmonica solo before the 3rd verse & before the end by John O'Leary
Organ solo after the 3rd verse by Roger Cotton

John McVey
Help Me (10:24)
Recorded live at Dan Electro's Guitar Bar, Houston, TX, January 27, 2007;
Originally released by D. A. Productions in 2008
on the album "John McVey: Road House Stomp - Live in 2007"

John McVey - guitars, vocals
Mike Sinclair - bass
Richard Cholakan - drums
Guitar solo at the beginning, in the mid & at the end by John McVey

Billy Branch
Help Me (8:18)
Recorded at Riverside Studios, Chicago, IL, (prob.) 2007;
Originally released by Delmark in 2007
on the album "Chris Harper and Sharade Band: Blues Is My Life"

Billy Branch - harmonica, vocals
Chris Harper - harmonica
Gianluca Baroncelli - sax
Stefano Moruzzi - guitars
Giacomo Lauria - organ
Albano Castrese - bass
Enrico Cecconi - drums
Harmonica solo at the beginning, after the 1st verse & before the 3rd verse by Billy Branch
Sax solo after the 2nd verse by Gianluca Baroncelli
Organ solo after the 2nd verse by Giacomo Lauria
Harmonica solo after the 2nd verse by Chris Harper

Jim McCarty
Help Me (8:36)
Recorded live at Callahan's Music Hall, Auburn Hills, MI, August 14, 2008;
Originally released by Cally's in 2011;
on the album "Jim McCarty & Friends: Live from Callahan's"

Jim McCarty - guitars, vocals
Shawn Starsky - guitars
Jason Ricci - harmonica
Todd Edmunds - bass
Ed Michaels - drums
Harmonica solo at the beginning & after the 2nd verse by Jason Ricci
Guitar solo after the 1st verse by Shawn Starsky
Guitar solo after the 3rd verse until the end by Jim McCarty

Ten Years After
Help Me (10:11)
Recorded live at Harley Dome, Cologne, Germany, May 24, 2014;
Originally released by Kultopolis in 2015
on the album "Ten Years After: The Name Remains the Same"

Marcus Bonfanti - guitars, harmonica, vocals
Chick Churchill - organ
Colin Hodgkinson - bass
Ric Lee - drums
Harmonica solo in the mid by Marcus Bonfanti
Guitar solo in the mid & at the end by Marcus Bonfanti