Somebody Help Me

Background

"Somebody Help Me" is the eleventh track of Revival, the eight solo album of John Fogerty with new material. It was also his first CD with previously unreleased songs since rejoining Fantasy Records in 2005. The piece was written, arranged and produced by John Fogerty and recorded by Jim Scott, Seth Presant and Ryan Freeland at NRG Recording in North Hollywood. The album was released in October 2007. It reached #14 in the USA, #5 in Sweden and #6 in Norway.  

A grinding bluesrock, "Somebody Help Me", describes the lost of love. Fogerty uses blues singers' exaggerating imaginery when he lists the places (Wall of China, Amazon, Nova Scotia) where he's trying to find his woman (Jim Ladd, interview with John Fogerty, KLOS, Los Angeles, September 27th, 2007).  

Personnel

Vocals, guitar: John Fogerty

Guitar: Hunter Perrin

Bass: David Santos

Drums, percussion: Kenny Aronoff

Hammond B-3 organ, Wurlitzer electric piano: Benmont Tench

Live versions

John Fogerty skipped "Somebody Help Me" on the first legs of the Revival Tour in the USA in fall 2007 and saved it for the subsequent Australian circuit. The world premiere of the live version took place in Melbourne on March 19th, 2008.

"Somebody Help Me" stayed in the programming for a longer time than any other cut of Revival. Fogerty played it quite regularly until autumn 2012. The concert version featured a juicy lap steel guitar solo delivered by session man Randy Kohrs in a couple of concerts in summer 2012, including the Lakeside Blues Festival in Järvenpää, Finland.

The song was also added to the set list on his birthday concert at El Rey in Los Angeles on May 28th, 2013. The show was broadcast live by AXS TV in the USA. Fogerty also played the number at Austin City Limits in September 2008 in a concert that was screened live in the USA. 

Surprisingly, Fogerty also delivered the piece once during the summer tour in the USA in 2014. Concert goers in Indianapolis on July 29th were the lucky ones to saw it. The soundboard recording of the show was made officially available as a file. 

"Somebody Help Me" also appears on the Comin' Down the Road concert DVD filmed at Royal Albert Hall on June 24th, 2008. 

Critical reception

"It’s real hard to follow those two ["It Ain't Right", "I Can't Take It No More"], but it also doesn’t seem like they should close the album, so John wisely offers up “Somebody Help Me” and “Longshot,” musically and lyrically ideal finishers. The pace of the entire album is simply perfect, and that’s a big plus." -Charles Andrews, Audio Video Revolution, November 1st, 2007. 

"You will hear some of that familiar bluesy swamp influence that is Fogerty's trademark - "River Is Waiting" and "Somebody" serving as fine examples." -Keith Hannaleck, Enjoy the Music. 

Fans' views

"Kind of a Walkin' In A Hurricane type song only this time the guy has been jilted and now is trying to find her and win her back. The music is more funky than the edgy Hurricane song but similar."

"Straight forward rocker. Great vocals. Reminds me a little of Searchlight, if I was covered with guitar and real drums."

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