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William Bell

Real Name:
William Yarborough
Profile:
The artist, songwriter and producer known as William Bell was born William Yarbrough in Memphis, Tennessee, on July 16, 1939. He began performing in bands as a teenager, releasing his first record with the Del Rios on the local Meteor label in 1957. He developed his songwriting career at the legendary Stax label, and would be a guiding force in the evolution of the Stax sound. In 1961 had released his first solo effort, You Don't Miss Your Water (Til the Well Runs Dry), which would be one of the early hits for the label. He was drafted in 1963 and spent two years in the Army.

In 1967 he released his first solo album, The Soul of a Bell. Albert King had a hit with Bell’s song Born Under a Bad Sign, and Bell released two more albums for Stax, Relating" and Bound To Happen." In 1969 Bell moved to Atlanta and started his own label, Peachtree. At the same time, he left Stax for the Mercury label, where he would release two albums. In 1977 he enjoyed the biggest hit of his career with Trying To Love Two, which sold over two million copies and stayed on the R&B charts for over six months. He was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 1997.

The records that Bell produced for his Peachtree label in the late ‘60s and early 70’s included national acts like Mitty Collier (who had previously recorded with Chess Records), the Nashville-based Johnny Jones and the King Kasuals (whose record Soul Poppin’ was later picked up by Brunswick), as well as more obscure local Atlanta acts like James Fountain, Gorgeous George and Emory and the Dynamics. Bell’s production on these records is considered some of the best of the period, and original copies of some of the rarer titles are sought-after among soul collectors. Unfortunately, no comprehensive reissue of Bell’s Peachtree recordings exists, and few of the records have appeared on compilations.
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Discography

Releases:
You Don't Miss Your Water / Formula Of Love (7", Single)   Stax 1961
Any Other Way / Please Help Me I'm Falling (7")   Stax 1962
Just As I Thought / I'm Waiting On You (7")   Stax 1963
A Tribute To A King (LP)   ATCO Records 1967
One Plus One / Eloise (Hang On In There) (7", Single)   Stax 1967
I Forgot To Be Your Lover / Bring The Curtain Down (7")   Stax, Stax 1968
Love-Eye-Tis (7")   Stax 1968
My Baby Specializes / Left Over Love (7")   Stax 1968
Private Number / Love-Eye-Tis (Single) (3 versions)   Stax 1968
Private Number / Mrs. Robinson / I Wanna Testify (7")   Stax 1968
Bound To Happen (LP)   Stax 1969
Happy (7", RE)   Stax 1969
I Can't Stop / I Need You Woman (7", Single)   Stax 1969
Leave The Girl Alone / All I Have To Do Is Dream (7")   Stax 1970
Phases Of Reality (Album) (2 versions)   Stax 1972
I've Got To Go On Without You / You've Got The Kind Of Love I Need (7")   Stax 1973
Relating (LP, Album)   Stax 1973
Tryin' To Love Two / If Sex Was All We Had (7", Single)   Mercury 1976
Coming Back For More (Album) (2 versions)   Mercury 1977
Easy Comin' Out (Hard Goin' In) (7")   Mercury 1977
It's Time You Took Another Listen (LP)   Mercury 1977
Private Number / My Baby Specializes (2 versions)   Stax 1977
Passion (LP, Album)   Wilbe Recording Corporation 1985
(I Don't Want To Wake Up) Feelin' Guilty / Headline News (12")   Pinnacle Records 1986
Headline News (12")   Absolute Records (2) 1986
I Don't Want To Wake Up (Feelin' Guilty) / Whatever You Want (You Got It) (12")   Rams Horn Records 1986
Passion (The Froggy Mix) (12")   Tout Ensemble Records 1986
The Soul Of A Bell (2 versions)   Atlantic ... 1991
The Very Best Of (CD, RM)   Stax 2007
Every Man Oughta Have A Woman / A Tribute To A King (7")   Stax  
Getting Out Of Your Bed / Short Circuit (7")   Wilbe Recording Corporation  
Headline News (12")   Wilbe Recording Corporation  
Production:
Purple Haze (7", Single)   Brunswick 1968
Funk Pump (LP)   Aware 1974
Purple Haze (7", Single, RE)   Cream Records (2) 1976
Purple Haze / Baby Boy (7", Promo, Dou) Purple Haze Brunswick 1976
Funkytown Vol. 1 (CD) Passion (Froggy Remix) Rush Records 1986
Upfront 1 (2xLP, Comp) Headline News (Extende... Serious Records (2) 1986
Do You Really Love Me (7")   Wilbe Recording Corporation 1987
Do You Really Love Me (12")   Wilbe Recording Corporation 1987
Don't Start A Fire (LP)   Wilbe Recording Corporation 1987
Don't Start A Fire (12")   Wilbe Recording Corporation 1987
Exposed (LP)   Domino Records UK 1987
Street Sounds 87-2 (LP, Comp) Do You Really Love Me Street Sounds 1987
Street Sounds 87-2 (Cass, Comp) Do You Really Love Me Street Sounds 1987
Right Love, Wrong Man (7")   Wilbe Recording Corporation 1988
Essential 60's Northern Soul Dancefloor Classics Volume 1 (CD, Comp) Purple Haze Deepbeats 1994
The Stax Story (4xCD, Comp, RM)   Stax 2008
Let's Take A Look At Our Life (7")   Peachtree Record Company  
Pretty Little School Girl (7")   Peachtree Record Company  
Appears On:
Otis Blue / Otis Redding Sings Soul (Album) (10 versions) You Don't Miss Your Water Volt ... 1965
Plays The Great Memphis Hits (LP) You Don't Miss Your Water ATCO Records 1967
Shake / You Don't Miss Your Water (7") You Don't Miss Your Water Atlantic 1967
Purple Haze (7", Single) Horsing Around Brunswick 1968
Sweetheart Of The Rodeo (Album) (6 versions) You Don't Miss Your Water Columbia ... 1968
Wheels Of Fire (Album) (9 versions) Born Under A Bad Sign Polydor ... 1968
Best Of Cream (Comp) (3 versions) Born Under A Bad Sign Polydor ... 1969
Blues News (LP, Comp, Whi) Born Under A Bad Sign Chess, Polydor 1969
Heavy Hits! (LP, Comp) You Don't Miss Your Wa... Columbia 1969
Soul Limbo (Album) (3 versions) Born Under A Bad Sign Stax ... 1969
Home Style (LP, Promo) Born Under A Bad Sign Cotillion 1970
The Deep Soul Of Stax (LP, Album, Comp) Bring The Curtain Down... Stax 1970
The "Killer" Rocks On (2 versions) You Don't Miss Your Water Mercury 1972
Carol Grimes (LP, Album) Private Number Decca 1975
The Prophet Of Soul (LP, Album)   Soul International 1976
Harvest Heritage 20 Greats (LP, Comp) Private Number (Single... Harvest, Harvest 1977
New Orleans Heat (LP, Album) Born Under A Bad Sign Ariola Benelux 1978
New Orleans Heat (LP, Album) Born Under A Bad Sign Tomato 1978
Carol Grimes (LP, Album, RE) Private Number Charly Records (3) 1979
Crash And Burn (LP, Album) Born Under A Bad Sign Polydor 1980
You Don't Miss Your Water / It's All Over Now / All These Things (7") You Don't Miss Your Water Charly Records Ltd. 1980
I Don't Know (12", Single) Every Day Will Be Like... Hansa 1982
Strange Brew - The Very Best Of Cream (Comp) (2 versions) Born Under A Bad Sign Polydor ... 1983
You Don't Miss Your Water Till Your Well Runs Dry (Maxi) (3 versions) You Don't Miss Your Wa... Hot Records (2) 1985
Absolute Music 1 (2xLP, Comp) To Be A Lover EMI Music (Sweden), Virgin Scandinavia AB, Grammofon AB Electra 1986
Alexis Korner And... 1961 - 1972 (2xLP, Comp) You Don't Miss Your Wa... Castle Communications 1986
I Don't Want To Wake Up (Feelin' Guilty) / Whatever You Want (You Got It) (7") I Don't Want To Wake U... Wilbe Recording Corporation 1986
The Best Of Booker T. & The MGs (Comp) (2 versions) Born Under A Bad Sign Fantasy ... 1986
This Is Hot Too (LP, Comp) You Don't Miss Your Wa... Hot Records (2) 1986
To Be A Lover (Maxi) (4 versions) To Be A Lover (Mother ... Chrysalis 1986
Whiplash Smile (Album) (5 versions) To Be A Lover Chrysalis ... 1986
Don't Start A Fire (7", Single)   Wilbe Recording Corporation 1987
Memphis Soul Classics (CD) Private Number Warner Special Products 1987
The Otis Redding Story (Comp) (2 versions) You Don't Miss Your Water Atlantic 1987
Vital Idol (Album) (2 versions) To Be A Lover (Mother ... Chrysalis 1987
Billy Idol Songs - 11 Of The Best (Album) (3 versions) To Be A Lover Chrysalis ... 1988
Covers (LP, Album) 悪い星の下に [... Kitty Records (2) 1988
Married To The Mob - Music From The Film (LP) You Don't Miss Your Water Reprise Records 1988
Backtrackin' - Spanning The Career Of A Rock Legend (2xLP, Comp, Gat) Born Under A Bad Sign Castle Communications 1989
No More Boleros (Album) (2 versions) Everybody Loves A Winner Mercury 1989
Good Things (CD, RM) Any Other Way Kent Records 1990
Just In Time For Christmas (CD, Comp) Every Day Will Be Like... I.R.S. Records 1990
Groove Me (7", Single) Every Day Is Like A Ho... Hansa 1991
Groove Me (CD, Maxi) Every Day Is Like A Ho... Hansa 1991
Live 1969/70 (CD, Album) Born Under A Bad Sign NKVD (2) 1991
Stax Gold : Hits 1968 > 1974 (LP, Comp) Private Number, I Forg... Stax 1991
Alimony Blues (CD) Born Under A Bad Sign Aurora (4) 1992
Live At Bottom Line, N. Y. C. March 19th, 1980 (CD) Born Under A Bad Sign Traditional Line 1992
Runaway Train (Single, Maxi) (2 versions) Everybody Loves A Winner Columbia 1993
Blues (Album) (4 versions) Born Under A Bad Sign MCA Records ... 1994
Hell And Back (CD, Album) Born Under A Bad Sign Rykodisc 1994
The Chart Show Ultimate Blues (2xCD, Comp) Born Under A Bad Sign The Hit Label 1994
The Originals (3xCD, Album, Box) To Be A Lover Chrysalis 1995
The Very Best Of Cream (CD, Comp) Born Under A Bad Sign PolyGram 1995
You Do Something To Me (Single) (2 versions) My Whole World Is Fall... Go! Discs 1995
East Memphis Music - The Hits & More... (2xCD)   Rondor Music International 1996
Gimme Some Lovin' (CD, Comp) Private Number Hallmark Records 1996
Jazz & Blues Collection Vol. 79 (CD, Comp, RM) Born Under The Bad Sign Editions Atlas 1996
Those Were The Days (4xCD, Comp) Born Under A Bad Sign Polydor 1997
Blues - Back To The Roots (CD) Born Under A Bad Sign ZYX Music 1998
Blues Masters: The Very Best Of Albert King (CD) Born Under A Bad Sign Rhino Entertainment Company 1999
Classic Soul - 20 All Time Greats (CD, Album) You Don't Miss Your Water Warner.ESP 1999
Northern Soul Memories (2xCD, Comp) Never Too Young To Fal... Castle Pie 1999
Positive-ism (CD)   Epic 1999
Private Number (Single) (2 versions) Private Number Virgin 1999
The Greatest Hits And A Little Bit More.......... (CD, Album, Comp) Private Number Virgin, Virgin 1999
Expansion Team (Album) (2 versions) Worst Comes To Worst Capitol Records 2001
Word Of Mouf (Album) (2 versions) Growing Pains Def Jam South ... 2001
Worst Comes To Worst / Worst Comes To Worst (Remix) (12")   ABB 2001
Introducing (CD, Album) Eloise Warner Music (Germany) 2002
Troubles, Heartaches & Sadness: Hi Records' Deep Soul Sisters 1966-1976 (CD, Comp) Love What You're Doing... Hi Records 2002
BBC Sessions (CD) Born Under A Bad Sign Polydor 2003
Super Live Session (CD, Album, RE, RM, Ltd) Born Under A Bad Sign Toshiba EMI Ltd 2003
Twice As Nice (LP) Forgot To Be Your Lover VP Records 2003
The Rock And Soul Circus (LP, Album) Born Under A Bad Sign ... Dim Mak Records 2004
Complete Eighties (5xCD, Comp + Box) To Be A Lover EMI Music (Australia) 2005
Gold (2xCD, Comp) Born Under A Bad Sign Polydor 2005
Planter's Club Volume IV (CD, Comp) Tryin' To Love Two Universal Music (Austria) 2005
The Roots Of Hendrix (CD) Born Under A Bad Sign Mojo Magazine 2005
The Very Best Of Blues Brother Soul Sister (3xCD, Comp + Box) Private Number, Born U... Warner Strategic Marketing (UK) 2005
Home For Christmas (CD, Album) Everyday Will Be Like ... DKE Records 2006
Stax Gold - Memphis Hits (CD, Comp) Everybody Loves A Winn... Warner Platinum 2006
Stax Chartbusters Volume 1 (CD, Comp, Jew) Born Under A Bad Sign Spectrum Music (2) 2007
The Platinum Collection (CD, RM) I Think I Made A Boo Boo Warner Platinum 2007
The Upsetter Selection: A Lee Perry Jukebox (Comp) (2 versions) To Be A Lover Trojan Records 2007
Idolize Yourself - The Very Best Of (Album, Comp) (2 versions) To Be A Lover, To Be A... Capitol Records 2008
Sight & Sound: Classic Performance Live (DVD, PAL, Copy Prot. + CD, Album) To Be A Lover, To Be A... Warner Music Vision 2008
Stax Soul Power! (CD, Comp) I Forgot To Be Your Lover Mojo Magazine 2008
Those Were The Days (4xCD, Comp + Box, Boo) Born Under A Bad Sign Polydor 2008
A Child's Introduction To The Orchestra (LP) Poobah The Tuba Golden Records (2)  
I'd Like To Change Places (7")   Peachtree Record Company  
Shaft / Who's Making Love / Private Number / Time Is Tight (12", EP) Private Number Pye Records, Stax  
Time Ain't Gonna Do Me No Favor / Every Day Will Be Like A Holiday (7") Every Day Will Be Like... Fab Vegas  
Tracks Appear On:
Stax Soul Explosion (LP) Private Number, My Bab... Stax 1968
The Deep Soul Of Stax (LP, Album, Comp) Bring The Curtain Down... Stax 1970
Takin' You There (LP, Gat) Lonely For Your Love Stax 1972
Soul Christmas (LP, Comp) Every Day Will Be Like... Midi 1974
Golden Hour Of Stax Soul (LP, Comp) Happy Pye Records 1976
Hit Explosion (LP, Comp) Trying To Love Two Ronco 1976
Volume 1 Number 6 (2x12") Phases Of Reality Disconet Program Service 1977
Soul Christmas (LP, Comp) Every Day Will Be Like... Atlantic 1978
Double Delight (LP, Comp) Private Number Warwick Records 1979
Stax Gold The 20 Greatest Hits (LP, Comp, W/Lbl) Private Number, My Bab... Stax 1979
Sweet Soul Music (2xLP) Private Number, Lonely... Cambra 1982
75 Juke Box Classics (4xLP, Comp) Private Number Innovative Music Productions 1983
Atlantic Rhythm And Blues 1947 - 1974 Volume 4 1958 - 1962 (CD, Comp) You Don't Miss Your Water Atlantic 1985
Funkytown Vol. 1 (2 versions) Passion (Froggy Remix) Rush Records 1986
The Originals (2xLP, Comp, Gat) Private Number Towerbell Records 1986
Upfront 1 (Comp) (2 versions) Headline News (Extende... Serious Records (2) 1986
Atlantic Soul Classics (Comp) (5 versions) A Tribute To A King Atlantic ... 1987
Memphis Soul Classics (CD) Private Number Warner Special Products 1987
Sixties Mix 2 (2xLP, Mixed) Private Number Stylus Music 1988
Stax Gold : Hits 1968 > 1974 (LP, Comp) Private Number, I Forg... Stax 1991
The Complete Stax-Volt Singles 1959-1968 (9xCD + Box) You Don't Miss Your Wa... Atlantic 1991
The Complete Stax-Volt Singles 1959-1968 - A 26-Track Sampler (CD, Comp, Promo) You Don't Miss Your Wa... Atlantic 1991
Blues Brother Soul Sister Volume Two (CD, Comp) Private Number Dino Entertainment 1993
Stax-O'-Soul (CD) Will You Love Me Tomorrow Ace Records (UK) 1993
Soul Searching (2xCD) Private Number Columbia 1994
The Wind Down Zone Volume 5 (2xLP) Headline News Elevate 1994
Trax From Stax (CD) Private Number Stax 1995
38 Soulklassiker 1960-69 (2xCD, Comp) I Forgot To Be Your Lover Diesel Music 1996
Classic Mellow Mastercuts Volume 4 (Comp) (2 versions) Headline News (Extende... Mastercuts 1996
Dance Party (5xCD) Private Number L&D Records 1996
East Memphis Music - The Hits & More... (2xCD) Everybody Loves A Winn... Rondor Music International 1996
L'Epopea Della Stax (CD, Comp) I Forgot To Be Your Lover La Repubblica 1996
Beg Scream & Shout (6xCD, Comp) Private Number, Everyd... Rhino Entertainment Company 1997
Touch My Soul - The X-mas Album (2xCD, Comp) Everyday Will Be Like ... BMG Ariola Media GmbH 1997
Those Boogie Knights & Disco Divas (CD, Comp, Album) Private Number Vox Magazine 1998
Classic Soul - 20 All Time Greats (CD, Album) You Don't Miss Your Water Warner.ESP 1999
Stax Of Soul (2xCD) I Forgot To Be Your Lo... Festival Records 1999
Uncut: Unconditionally Guaranteed - December 2000 (CD, Comp) I Forgot To Be Your Lover Uncut Magazine 2000
Soul Riot (CD) I Forgot To Be Your Lover Mojo Magazine 2001
In God's Country (CD) Born Under A Bad Sign Uncut Magazine 2003
Sampled Volume 4 (2xCD) I Forgot To Be Your Lover Virgin, Circa Records Ltd. 2003
SuperBreaksPresents: StaxBreaks. (CD) I Forgot To Be Your Lover Ace Records (UK) 2003
(The Whole Damn World Is) Going Crazy (Comp) (2 versions) All I Need Is Your Love Stax 2004
Atlantic Gold (Comp) (2 versions) A Tribute To A King Warner Strategic Marketing (UK) 2004
Sock It To 'Em Soul - 60's Club Classics (CD, Comp) Never Like This Before Warner Strategic Marketing (UK) 2004
This Is Soul! (6xCD) Private Number Warner Music UK Ltd. 2004
Planter's Club Volume IV (CD, Comp) Tryin' To Love Two Universal Music (Austria) 2005
The Very Best Of Blues Brother Soul Sister (3xCD, Comp + Box) Private Number Warner Strategic Marketing (UK) 2005
Heart Breaks (CDr, Promo) I Forgot To Be Your Lover Beat Library 2006
Riviera Magazine Presents ... The Men Of Style Mixtape (CD, Mixed) I Forgot To Be Your Lover Sleeping Giant Music 2006
Soul Sides Volume One (Comp) (2 versions) I Forgot To Be Your Lover Zealous Records 2006
Stax Gold - Memphis Hits (CD, Comp) Everybody Loves A Winn... Warner Platinum 2006
Stax 50th Anniversary Celebration (2xCD, RM) You Don't Miss Your Wa... Universal Music International Division 2007
Stax Chartbusters Volume 2 (CD, Comp) I Forgot To Be Your Lover Spectrum Music (2) 2007
The Wants List Vol.3 (Comp) (2 versions) The Man In The Street Soul Brother Records (UK) 2007
Stax Soul Power! (CD, Comp) I Forgot To Be Your Lover Mojo Magazine 2008
Take Me To The River - A Southern Soul Story 1961-1977 (3xCD, Comp + Box) You Don't Miss Your Wa... Ace Records (UK) 2008
The Changing Man (CD, Comp) My Whole World Is Fall... Mojo Magazine 2008
The Stax Story (4xCD, Comp, RM) Private Number, You Do... Stax 2008
Stax: The Soul Of Hip-Hop (Comp, Album) (3 versions) I Forgot To Be My Lover Stax 2009
"Soul-a-lu-ja !" - Stax Soul Selection Volume 2 (LP) Soul-a-lu-ja, My Baby ... Negram  
Kanye West Originals Collection Vol. 2 (LP) Strung Out Side Hustle Entertainment  
Love Break (CDr, Mixed) I Forgot To Be Your Lo... Not On Label  
Shaft / Who's Making Love / Private Number / Time Is Tight (12", EP) Private Number Pye Records, Stax  
Soul Explosion (2xLP, Comp) Private Number Stax  
Soul Is Here To Stay (2xLP, Comp) I Forgot To Be Your Lover Stax  
Soul Nites (LP) Private Number Ronco  
Stax Soul Selection (LP) Private Number Negram  
Story Of Soul When A Man Loves A Woman (2xLP) Private Number Time Wind  
Unofficial Releases:
A Quentin Tarantino Mash-Up (CD, Comp, Mixed) I Forgot To Be Your Lover Not On Label (James Hyman Self-released) 2004
Funk 80 Only The Best Rare Tracks Volume 2 (CD, Comp) Whatever You Want U.K Records 2007
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