American soul singer who became an important part of the European soul/pop/disco scene from the early sixties and on. Member of "Blue Mink" with six top twenty hits on the UK list 1969-73 and also worked as background singer for artists like Kikki Dee, Dusty Springfield, Joe Cocker and Rod Stewart. Her biggest solo hit was a cover of Dee Dee Warwick's "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" wich also reached #26 on Billboard. This was her second album, made before the breakthrough and Blue Mink success. It's an exciting meeting between an American soul singer and British production. She steps into the musical world of Cilla Black, Lulu and Dusty Springfield with the best available crew. Most songs are heavily ochestrated ballads using four prominent conductors - Arthur Greenslade, Keith Mansfield, Derek Wadsworth and Ian Green. Produced by John Franz who worked with Dusty Springfield, Walker Brothers and Shirley Bassey among others. John Paul Jones wrote one of the songs for the album and co-wrote two with Bell apart from playing bass - one of his last big studio contributions before Led Zeppelin. Best friend Dusty Springfield provides background vocals and it's clear she was a big inspiration for the whole thing. Bell sings a lot like her, using similar idiom and vibratos. So considering backing and style it could have stayed with a Springfield spin-off or copy. It's saved by Bell's American soul background, allowing her to make it personal and not just part of the massive production. I hear meticulously arranged British soul with a US twist and it's good. To my knowledge not originally issued in US. UK CD release 2004 on RPM with bonus tracks. First press had label as shown here and fully laminated cover. (FÄV*)
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