Save Me (Clodagh Rodgers song)

"Save Me" is a song written by Guy Fletcher and Doug Flett and originally recorded in 1976 by the Irish singer Clodagh Rodgers, for her album of the same title, and released as a single.^[1]

Rodgers's recording failed to chart, but two versions released in the US the following year appeared in Billboard magazine. A recording of the song by Merrilee Rush debuted on the magazine's Hot 100 in the issue dated June 11, 1977, and reached number 54 during its seven weeks there.^[2] Her version also had a two-week run to number 49 on the magazine's Easy Listening chart that began the following month, in the issue dated July 2.^[3] That same issue also marked the first appearance of a recording of the song by Donna McDaniel that made it to number 90 pop over the course of five weeks.^[4]

In 1977 in Sweden Brian Chapman's version of "Save Me" entered the charts at number 12 and reached a high of number 5 on the Swedish Charts in February 1978, and held a number 5 position for a total of 2 weeks, making his version of the song, the highest charting hit version to date. The song remained in the Swedish charts for a total of 10 weeks.

In 1979 the South African group Clout reached the top ten with the song in South Africa^[5] and other countries. And in 1981 Australian-American Helen Reddy recorded it for her album Play Me Out.

"Save Me" was covered again in 1983 by American country music artist Louise Mandrell. It was released in February as the second single from her album Close Up, and Mandrell's then-husband, R.C. Bannon, is credited as a co-writer for rewriting the verses on her version. The song reached number six on Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart and was also her first Billboard top 10 single.^[6]

Chart performance

References