Some Soul Sunday...

I have featured the great William Bell a couple of times previously, back here in 2011 and more recently with his 1972 classic "Fifty Dollar Habit", but I feel you can never get too much of a good thing so today's post features another classic Bell track.

When you have written and recorded a track that has been recorded by the likes of Otis Redding, The Wailers, The Byrds and The Triffids you know you must have done something right. "You Don't Miss Your Water" was originally released on the Stax label back in 1961, and like many songs of that era, started life as a B side, before some DJ's realising the potential of the track, flipped it over and started playing it instead of the A side, "Formula Of Love".

He may not be the first name that springs to mind when people consider legendary soul singers from the 60's but William Bell, for me, is one of the great singer/songwriters whose best work on Stax ranks alongside the label's finest.

You Don't Miss Your Water

Fifty Dollar Habit...

On one of the comments on Sunday's Judy Clay posting, I was reminded of her great duet with William Bell. I have posted before,back in 2011, about this much underrated and understated of soul singers who was one of the principal architects of the Stax/Volt sound, but as you can never have too much of a good thing I felt it was time for another airing of his prodigious talent.

Best known for "Private Number" and his debut single from 1961 "You Don't Miss Your Water" he had a recording career stretching over 30 years. I can't claim to be an expert on his work but I have always been fond of this track from his 1972 release on Stax, "Phases Of Reality".

I don't recall posting a track with an electric sitar before on Spools..not sure if it is just me but it reminds me of "Papa Was A Rolling Stone"...Hope you enjoy...

Fifty Dollar Habit

Soul Sunday....

In a distinguished career as a singer, songwriter and producer, William Bell has come to define the essence of "soul." Born in Memphis but based in Atlanta since 1970, William Bell was one of the pioneers of the classic Stax/Volt sound, joining such other illustrious musical forces at that label as Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, Isaac Hayes, Booker T. & the MG's and The Staple Singers.

He had one of the Stax label's earliest hits with the classic "You Don't Miss Your Water" back in 1961.He is probably best known for "A Tribute To A King", his own personal tribute to Otis Redding but if you dig a bit deeper there's a wealth of great material out there. For a start there is this compilation that is well worth investigating. If you are feeling a tad more adventurous this double CD from Stax contains two albums of sublime material from one of the most underrated and understated soul singers of all time. Just listen to opening track "I Forgot To Be Your Lover" and feel your heart melting to this soul classic. Sublime....

William Bell - I Forgot To Be Your Lover