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Norma Jean Bell

Real Name:
Norma Jean Bell
Profile:
Norma Jean Bell is the name and driving force behind the mysterious and sought after Detroit based Pandamonium label. A long term player on the US house scene, Norma has built a reputation throughout the music industry as a Detroit legend and is ranked firmly alongside revered producers such as Carl Craig, Mike Banks, Moodymann, Theo Parrish et al. Having worked very closely with long time friend Kenny Dixon Jnr, Norma is one of a number of women finally bursting out of the 'house diva' box and coming into their own as respected producers. A saxophonist, singer and producer, Norma Jean Bell was once a member of Frank Zappa's touring band, but in the '90s reincarnated herself in the dance world. Bell's breakthrough solo LP 'Come Into My Room' was released in 2001 garnering kudos for its simmering house and Bell's own fluent saxophone work. She also showed the breadth of her experience, with nods to jazz legend John Coltrane, funk, disco and pop.
Sites:
In Groups:
Variations:
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Discography

Releases:
Moodymann EP (EP) (2 versions)   Grassroots Records 1994
I Like The Things You Do For Me (2 versions)   Balance Prescription 1996
I'm The Baddest Bitch (In The Room) (Maxi) (4 versions)   Pandamonium ... 1996
Nobody Is Gonna Love You... (Like I Do!) (2 versions)   Pandamonium 1996
Love Me In The Rain (2 versions)   Pandamonium 1997
Dreams / Love's Got It's Hooks In Me (12")   Pandamonium 1998
I'm The Only Queen (12")   Pandamonium 1998
One Of Those Nights (Late Night Mix) (12", S/Sided)   Pandamonium 1998
Do You Want To Party? (12")   Pandamonium 1999
Friday Nite (Remixes) (12")   Pandamonium 1999
Come Into My Room (12")   Pandamonium 2001
Come Into My Room (Album) (2 versions)   Peacefrog Records 2001
Dreams / Mystery (12")   Peacefrog Records 2001
London Fog (12")   Pandamonium 2001
Love Me In The Rain (CD, Album)   Pandamonium 2001
Nobody (12", S/Sided, W/Lbl)   Peacefrog Records 2001
4 AM (12")   Pandamonium 2002
Fun Comin On (12")   Pandamonium 2003
I'm The Only Queen (12")   Funky Chocolate 2003
You're Beautiful (12", S/Sided, W/Lbl)   Pandamonium 2003
Classic Series Vol. 1 (2 versions)   Funky Chocolate 2004
Do You Wanna Party? / Late Night Show (12")   Funky Chocolate 2008
Remixes:
It Shows (12") It Shows (Extended Mix) Pandamonium 1996
What Cha Do For Me (12") What Cha Do For Me (NJ... Pandamonium 1999
Production:
It Shows (12")   Pandamonium 1996
Silentintroduction (2x12", Album) Sunday Morning Planet E 1997
I'm Gonna Get Ya! (12") I'm Gonna Get Ya (Full... Pandamonium 1999
What Cha Do For Me (12")   Pandamonium 1999
Appears On:
Garden Of Love Light (Album) (4 versions) Garden Of Love Light, ... Atlantic ... 1976
Private Eyes (Album) (4 versions)   Columbia ... 1976
Solid (LP, Album)   Buddah Records 1976
I Cry, I Smile (LP, Album)   Atlantic 1977
Rock On (Album) (6 versions)   Arista ... 1979
Urban Dancefloor Guerillas (Album) (3 versions) Acupuncture CBS ... 1983
Moodymann EP (12", W/Lbl, Promo, EP)   Grassroots Records 1994
Long Hot Sex Nights / The Dancer (2 versions) Long Hot Sex Nights KDJ 1995
Your Love (Single, Maxi) (2 versions) Your Love (Kevin Saund... 6 x 6 Records ... 1995
The Dance (12")   Prescription 1996
The Dancer (Maxi) (5 versions) Long Hot Sex Nights After Midnight ... 1996
Find Another Woman (Maxi) (2 versions)   Groovilicious 1998
Live And Rare (Comp) (4 versions) Baddest Bitch (Motorba... F Communications ... 1998
Geology - A Subjective History Of Planet E - Volume One (CD, Comp) Sunday Morning (Remix) Planet E 1999
I'm Gonna Get Ya! (12")   Pandamonium 1999
What Cha Do For Me (12")   Pandamonium 1999
Abstract Fusion 2 (CD, Comp) Fabulous Track Mode 2000
Forevernevermore (CD, Album)   Toy's Factory 2000
People Make The World Go Round (12", Promo, W/Lbl) People Make The World ... Planet E 2000
G2 - Geology - A Subjective Study Of Planet E - Volume Two (CD, Comp, Mixed) People Make The World ... Planet E 2001
Andrés (CD, Album)   Mahogani Music 2003
Defected In The House (Part 1) (2x12", Comp) I'm The Baddest Bitch ITH Records 2003
Black Mahogani (2 versions) Roberta Jean Machine, ... Peacefrog Records 2004
Three Chairs 3 (2 versions) 3 Chairs Theme, Midday... Three Chairs 2004
Underground Classics Vol. 2 (Comp) (2 versions)   Funky Chocolate ... 2005
Back In The Box (2xCD, Sli) I'm The Baddest Bitch ... Back In The Box 2007
Tracks Appear On:
Future Funk Two (CD, Comp) I Like The Things You ... Nova Records 1996
House Masters (2xCD) I Like The Things You ... Javelin Ltd 1996
Jazz In The House 3 (3 versions) I'm The Baddest Bitch Slip 'n' Slide ... 1996
Kinky Tracks: Selected By DJ Sneak & Princess Julia (Comp) (3 versions) I'm The Baddest Bitch ... React 1996
La Collection Chapter 2 (Comp) (3 versions) The Baddest Bitch F Communications ... 1996
React Test Six (CD, Smplr) I'm The Baddest Bitch ... React 1997
DiY Vol. 01 - A House Music Compilation Mixed And Selected By Digs & Woosh (CD, Comp, Mixed) Love's Got Its Hooks I... Distance 1998
Garage Divas - Anthems From The UK & US Underground (CD) I'm The Baddest Bitch ... DCI 1998
Live And Rare (Comp) (4 versions) Baddest Bitch (Motorba... F Communications ... 1998
Paris Is Sleeping - Respect Is Burning Vol. 2 (4 versions) Baddest Bitch (Motorba... Virgin France S.A. ... 1998
Jazz In The House - The Mix Series Volume 2 (3xCD, Comp, Mixed) I'm The Baddest Bitch Slip 'n' Slide 1999
Nu Cool 2 (2xCD, Comp) I'm The Baddest Bitch ... Jazz FM Records 1999
Paris Is Sleeping - Respect Is Burning (3xCD) Baddest Bitch (Motorba... Labels 1999
The Dancer (12") Long Hot Sexy Nights UCA Records 1999
Absolute Jazzy House (CD) I'm The Baddest Bitch Polystar Records 2000
Abstract Fusion 2 (Comp) (2 versions) Fabulous Track Mode ... 2000
10.100 (Comp) (3 versions) Your Perfect Peacefrog Records 2001
Do You Know House? Volume One (Comp) (2 versions) Nobody's Gonna Love Ya V2 Records ... 2001
10 Days Off Soundtrack #4 (2xCD) Nobody Jive 2002
Mastercuts Bar Social (2 versions) I'm The Baddest Bitch ... Mastercuts 2002
Defected In The House (Comp) (2 versions) I'm The Baddest Bitch ITH Records 2003
Jazzcats (CD, Comp) One Of Those Nights KSR 2004
Underground Classics Vol. 1 (3 versions) I'm The Baddest Bitch ... Funky Chocolate ... 2004
Back In The Box (2xCD, Sli) I'm The Baddest Bitch ... Back In The Box 2007
Alumbra Presents Defected In The House (3xCD, Mixed, Comp) I'm The Baddest Bitch ... ITH Records, EQ Recordings 2008
Bargrooves - Bar Anthems (Comp) (2 versions) I'm The Baddest Bitch ... Bargrooves 2008
Unofficial Releases:
On & On (Remix) (12")   Not On Label (Erykah Badu) 1997
I'm The Baddest Bitch (The Moodymann Mixes) (12")   F Communications (2), Play It Again Sam [PIAS] (2) 2008
VOL 3 (12", W/Lbl) I'm The Baddest Bitch ... Not On Label 2009
Remixes (12", Ltd, Promo) I'm The Baddest Bitch ... Not On Label (Motorbass), Not On Label (Björk), Not On Label (Norma Jean Bell)  
Stomp / I'm The Baddest Bitch (12") I'm The Baddest Bitch ... Not On Label, Not On Label  
The Dancer (12", W/Lbl) Long Hot Sexy Nights Not On Label  
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YouTube Videos

Norma Jean Bell - Do You Want To Party? (Kenny Dixon JR Mix)
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Reviews & Discussion

Review by greggcatanzaro Apr 08, 2009
Norma Jean Bell played on a 1976 Gold selling album, "Tommy Bolin Private Eyes". She is credited for saxophone, vocals and percussion. Norma was in the band from April 1976 to the final show on December 3rd, 1976. Bolin would succumb the following morning due to a heroin overdose. (How sad!) What a loss, definitely the most original guitar player of all time.

Other musicians in the Tommy Bolin band:

Reggie McBride
then Jimmy Haslip (Bass)
Narada Michael Walden
then Bobby Berge
then Johnnie Bolin
and last Tony Smith (drums)
Mark Stein
Max Carl (keyboard)
Norma Bell (sax - percussion-back up vocals)
Tommy Bolin (guitar - lead vocals-echoplex)

When i went through the list of Norma's disographies, it did not mention Private Eyes on Columbia Records, you can also see pictures of Norma on all of Tommy Bolin's websites.

As a "Bolin archivist these statements are true."

Gregg C


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