William Bell’s Soulful Return
Grant Britt
Posted On June 21, 2016
Now that his voice is being heard once again, William Bell is being hailed as a soul titan. But for too many years, Bell was reduced to a shadow existence as a used-to-be. Bell first got some notice when he wrote and recorded “You Don’t Miss Your Water” in ’61, but Otis’ version in ’67 is the one everybody remembers. In ’67, Bell co-wrote another memorable hit, “Born under A Bad Sign,” with keyboardist Booker T (Booker T and the MGs.) And once again, somebody else stole all the thunder. In this case it was Earl King and his Gibson Flying V that got the attention with it in ’67, then Cream fired it up again the following year. Bell got some notice almost on his own the following year, teaming up with Judy Clay for the soul classic “Private Number.”
He had some sole success with ’66’s “Share What You Got (But Keep What You Need)” and 1968’s “I Forgot to Be Your Lover.” But once again, somebody else made the top of the charts with it, this time Billy Idol with a remake of the song in ’86 as “To Be A Lover.”
Over the years Bell continued to record, adding his mellifluous soul croon to sessions with Johnnie Taylor, Eddie Floyd, Carla Thomas, and Mavis Staples, all on one record, ’69’s “Soul-A-Lujah.” He also put out singles with Staples and Thomas, and continued to put out albums on his own, recording his last one in ’06.
But this time the spotlight is all on him. At 76, his voice hasn’t diminished a bit, still the same mellow caress that makes his version of “Born Under A Bad Sign” a soulful lament rather than an electfried, bellicose announcement of badness.
Even though the song name checks Delta denizens Sonny Boy Williamson and B.B. King, “Mississippi-Arkansas Bridge” epitomizes the classic Stax sound, funky and soulful, sweetened with vocal harmony from Amy Helm.
The gospel-flavored “People Want To Go Home” has the same message and a similar tone as Curtis Mayfield’s train a-coming composition, but it’s Bells’ own, a biblical you-cant-take-it-with-you” parable. Its a cautionary tale about wanting it all “from the sky to the ground,” thinking all along that’s what life was about till it’s time to catch that train and head on home.
For those who think soul is all about screaming your guts out, Bell proves that although it might take a little longer, mellow gets the job done just as good. For William Bell, it’s about time.
