William Bell started out as a member of the vocal group The Del Rios, recording before Stax on Meteor. At Stax, he recorded at first both with the Del Rios and as a solo artist. His solo career took off after his first, self composed hit "You don't miss your water" - perhaps the earliest full fledged soul 6/8 ballad, as early as 1961.
You don't miss your water / Formula of love - Stax 116 * 1961
Just across the street / There's a love - Stax 125 * 1962
by the Del Rios; William Bell lead vocals on the flip.
Any other way / Please help me, I'm falling - Stax 128 * 1962
I told you so / What'cha gonna do - Stax 132 * 1963
Just as i thought / I'm waiting on you - Stax 135 *1963
Somebody mentioned your name / What can I do to forget - Stax 138 * 1963
I'll show you / Monkeying around - Stax 141 * 1964
Who will it be tomorrow / Don't make something out of nothing - Stax 146 * 1964
Crying all by myself / Don't stop now - Stax 174 * 1965
Share what you got (But keep what you need) / Marching off to war - Stax 191 * 1966
Never like this before / Soldier's goodbye - Stax 199 * 1966
Everybody loves a winner / (You're such a) Sweet thang - Stax 212 * 1967
Eloise (hang on in there) / One plus one - Stax 227 * 1967
Everyday will be like a holiday / Ain't got no girl - Stax 237 * 1967
A tribute to a king / Every man oughta have a woman - Stax 248 * 1968
Private number / Love-eye-tis (With judy Clay) - Stax 0005 * 1968
I forgot to be your lover / Bring the curtain down - Stax 0015 * 1968
My baby specialises / Left over love (with Judy Clay) - Stax 0017 * 1968
All god's children got soul / My whole world is falling down - Stax 0032 * 1969
Soul-a-lujah pt. 1 / pt. 2 - Stax 0040 * 1969
vocals by Wm. Bell with six other Stax artists
Love's sweet sensation / Strung out - Stax 0043 * 1969
duets with Mavis Staples
I need you woman / I can't stop - Stax 0044 * 1969
dueta with Carla Thomas
Born under a bad sign / a smile can't hide (a broken heart) - Stax 0054 * 1969
Leave the girl alone / All I have to do is dream - Stax 0067 * 1970
duets with Mavis Staples / with Carla Thomas
Lonely soldier / Let me ride - Stax 0070 * 1970
A Penny for your thoughts / Till my back ain't got no bone - Stax 0092 * 1971
All the love of a woman / ? - Stax 0106 * 1971
Save us / If you really love him - Stax 0128 * 1972
Lovin' on borrowed time / The man in the street - Stax 0157 * 1973
I've got to go on without you / You're the kind of love I need - Stax 0175 * 1973
Gettin' what you want / All I need is your love - Stax 0198 * 1974
Get it while it's hot / Nobody walks away from love unhurt - Stax 0221 * 1975
To be continued...
The demise of Stax was not necessarily bad news for William Bell. His biggest hit was released just months after Stax closed down: Tryin' to love two, on Mercury, released in 1976, made R&B number one, made the Pop Top Ten, and sold well over a million copies.
William Bell continues to be an active force in southern soul to this day. In 1986 he had a hit with "Headline News". For the past several years he has been running his WilBe label and production company, producing records for himself and for others.
In 1994, he was video taped live on the Story of Stax special, singing "You don't miss you water", with Marvell Thomas acompanying him on piano - a wonderful, thrilling moment of soul caught on videotape.
You can now
browse to William Bell's own site, Wilbe
Productions, Inc.!
LP's
The Soul of a Bell - Stax 709 * 1967
Everybody loves a winner / You don't miss your water / Do right
woman-do right man / I've been loving you too long (to stop now) / Nothing
takes the place of you / Then you can tell me goodbye / Eloise (hang on
in there) / Any other way / It's happening all over / Never like this before
/ You're such a sweet thang
Bound to Happen - Stax 2014 * 1969
Wow ...William Bell - Stax 2037 * 1970
Phases of Reality - Stax 3005 * 1973
Waiting for William Bell - Stax 3012 * 1973
Relating - Stax 5502 * 1974
Comin' Back for More - Mercury * 1977
It's Time You Took Another Listen - Mercury * 1977
...?
Survivor - Kat Family * 1983
Passion * 1986 - ?
On a Roll - Wilbe * 1989
Bedtime Stories - Wilbe - 1992
Additions and track listings to follow...
You don't miss your water stream it or download it
Don't stop now stream it or download it
One plus one stream it or download it
Soldier's Goodbye stream it or download it
Everyday will be like a holiday stream it or download it
Tribute to a king stream it or download it
I forgot to be your lover stream it or download it
Private number stream it or download it
Love-eye-tis stream it or download it
Happy stream it or download it
Tryin' to love two stream it or download it
Let's do something together is featured on the Soul of the Net's Radio Show #3
RealAudio help for soul surfers