Emitt Rhodes, Somebody Made For Me | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the 97^th edition of Throwback Vibez (2025), we recollect and reflect on “Somebody Made For Me” by Emitt Rhodes.  

The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶! Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace this column are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome. In the 97^th edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2025), we recollect and reflect on “Somebody Made For Me” performed by Emitt Rhodes.

“Somebody made for me, somebody made for you/ (Ask and you’ll receive) / Mmm, good God in heaven, won’t you help me please?” Prayers sent up! Emitt Rhodes (1950–2020) has been dubbed a cult pop singer-songwriter. Not all musicians become ‘superstars,’ yet that doesn’t mean their craft and musicianship aren’t ultimately respected or eventually acknowledged. Rhodes put his foot into the brief, two-and-a-half-minute gem, “Somebody Made For Me”. “Somebody” originally appeared on his self-titled 1970 album. Conveniently, and more readily available, “Somebody” is the 15^th track on his 2009 compilation, The Emitt Rhodes Recordings (1969 – 1973).  Rhodes wrote the song himself, producing with Harvey Bruce. If you have never heard it up to this point, man, oh, man, are you missing a treat!

Throughout “Somebody Made For Me,” Emitt Rhodes sings beautifully, with incredible ease.  Though he never forces things or oversings, he brings a cool but potent energy. The lyrics are simple: easily accessible and memorable. “Somewhere someone special just for me,” he sings sentimentally in the first verse, continuing, “Somewhere someone special must be.” The second verse is crafted similarly: “Somewhere someone special just for you / Somewhere someone special, it’s true.” Easy, easy on the ears. Beyond his lead vocals, Rhodes gets great support from equally cool background vocalists.  The harmonies are radiant. The melodies are tuneful from the get-go and remain consistently tuneful. There is a nice separation provided on the bridge section.  It differentiates itself from the verses and chorus, yet is related to the theme:

“I’ve been searching all my life

Guess I’ve looked most everywhere

Many girls have caught my eye

But that special one’s not there.”  

One final verse, like the first two, and one final chorus conclude “Somebody Made For Me.” Beyond great singing and sweet songwriting, the music is sensational! The lovely instrumental backdrop features distorted guitar, a fat bass line, piano, a dash of organ (or similar sound), and an anchoring drum groove.  The guitar-led instrumental intro sets the tone.  Also, nerding out, I can’t neglect to highlight the great harmonic progression: I love the fact that Rhodes is more adventurous than I, IV, and V chords.  Perhaps “Somebody Made For Me” was not on your 1970s listening rotation. You need to add this surefire bop immediately!