Maggie Bell
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Maggie Bell | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Margaret Bell |
| Born | January 12, 1945 Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland |
| Origin | Glasgow |
| Occupation(s) | singer-songwriter |
| Instrument(s) | singing |
| Years active | 1967-present |
| Label(s) | Atlantic, Swan Song |
| Associated acts | Power, Stone the Crows, Midnight Flyer |
| Website | http://www.maggiebell.co.uk/ |
Maggie Bell (born 12 January 1945, Glasgow, Scotland) is a Scottish rock and blues-rock singer. Vocally regarded by some as Britain's answer to Janis Joplin.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Career
From a musical family, she sang from her teenage years, leaving school at the age of fifteen, to work as a window dresser by day and singer at night.
Bell was introduced to Leslie Harvey, by his older brother Alex, after getting up on stage to sing with him (Alex). Leslie Harvey was, at that time, a guitarist with the Kinning Park Ramblers. Bell joined the group as one of the vocalists. After the band split up, Bell moved to the Mecca Band at the Sauchiehall Street Locarno, and later to the Dennistoun Palais Band.[2] She then rejoined Harvey, forming a group, initially known as Power, eventually travelling to Germany to sing on United States Air Force bases in the mid 1960s. Peter Grant, who was managing The Yardbirds at the time, spotted Power playing at one of these bases, and agreed to produce and manage them, impressed by the vocal ability of Bell and the guitar playing of Harvey. Power was renamed as Stone the Crows, an expression used by Grant upon hearing this band.[3]
This group lasted until 1973, finding that Harvey's death from accidental electrocution, on 2 May 1972, took too much out of the group for them to continue. The live chemistry between Bell and Harvey was missing.[4] Peter Grant remained as Bell's manager after the split, and organised her first solo album, Queen of the Night, which was recorded in New York, with record producer, Jerry Wexler.
[edit] Swan Song era
With the establishment of Swan Song Records in 1974, Bell along with Bad Company and The Pretty Things, were some of the first signings to the label. Jimmy Page contributed to her first album Suicide Sal, and it was overall a moderate seller. Bell then tried to capture past blues-rock glories by fronting Midnight Flyer, a phenomenal live-act, but their sole album (1981) recording was not a commercial success.[5].
Returning to a solo career, she had her biggest hit in the UK in 1981, duetting with B. A. Robertson on a cover version of "Hold Me", reaching number 11 in the UK Singles Chart. Bell also performed at many charity gigs and cabaret shows during this period.
[edit] Television and beyond
Her song "No Mean City", written by Mike Moran, is the theme music to the TV crime drama Taggart. She also appeared in 1990, in a single episode of the programme called "Evil Eye", playing a character called Effie Lambie.[6]
After living in Holland for twenty years, Bell returned to the UK in early 2006 and joined The British Blues Quintet, sharing lead vocals with the veteran UK blues singer and keyboardist, Zoot Money. Also featuring former Stone The Crows drummer Colin Allen, the band have quickly become established on the UK and European live blues circuit. Their debut CD, "Live in Glasgow", was recorded at one of their first gigs, on Glasgow's Renfrew Ferry, in 2006, and released in 2008. In addition, Bell toured with The Manfreds and Chris Farlowe in the autumn of 2006.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Studio albums
- Every Picture Tells A Story (with Rod Stewart) 1970
- Tommy (guest singer with the Who, London Symphony Orchestra and Chambre Choir) 1972
- Queen of the Night 1974
- Suicide Sal 1975
- Great Rock Sensation 1977
- Crimes of the Heart 1988
[edit] Live albums
- Live at the Rainbow, 1974 2002
- Live at Boston, USA, 1975 2002
- Coming On Strong 2004
- The River Sessions 2004
[edit] Guest Appearances
- Hometown Girls (one track: 'In The Street', Denny Laine, 1985)
[edit] Singles
- "Hazell" - 1978 - Number 37 UK - Swan Song Records
- "Hold Me" - 1981 - B. A. Robertson and Maggie Bell - Number 11 UK - Swan Song Records
[edit] Television appearances
- Taggart (1990) as "Effie Lambie"
- Your Cheatin' Heart (1990) as "Roxanne"
[edit] References
- ^ Logan, Nick & Woffinden, Bob (eds.) The New Musical Express Book of Rock, W.H. Allen &Co. Ltd (Star), 1973, p. 48. ISBN 0-352-39715-2.
- ^ Logan, Nick & Woffinden, Bob (eds.) The New Musical Express Book of Rock, W.H. Allen &Co. Ltd (Star), 1973, p. 489. ISBN 0-352-39715-2.
- ^ Welch, Chris (2002). Peter Grant: The Man Who Led Zeppelin, 23. ISBN 0-7119-9195-2.
- ^ Yorke, Ritchie (1999). Led Zeppelin: From Early Days to Page and Plant, 192. ISBN 0-86369-744-5.
- ^ Williamson, Nigel (2007). The Rough Guide to Led Zeppelin, 110. ISBN 1-84353-841-7.
- ^ imdb [1]
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums, 19th, London: Guinness World Records Limited, p. 52. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
