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{{Short description|Scottish rock vocalist}}
{{Short description|Scottish singer}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{lead too short|date=February 2016}}
{{lead too short|date=February 2016}}
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| name = Maggie Bell
| name = Maggie Bell
| image = Maggie Bell with Stone the Crows (1970).jpg
| image = Maggie Bell with Stone the Crows (1970).jpg
| caption = Maggie Bell and James Dewar of Stone the Crows, 1970
| caption = Bell and James Dewar of Stone the Crows, 1970
| image_size =
| background = solo_singer
| background = solo_singer
| birth_name = Margaret Bell
| birth_name = Margaret Bell
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|birth_place = [[Maryhill]], [[Glasgow]], Scotland
|birth_place = [[Maryhill]], [[Glasgow]], Scotland
| death_date =
| death_date =
| origin = Glasgow, Scotland
| genre = [[Rock music|Rock]], [[blues rock]]
| instrument = Vocals
| occupation = Singer
| genre = [[Rhythm and blues]], [[blues rock]], [[blues]], [[Rock music|rock]]
| occupation = Singer-songwriter
| years_active = 1967–present
| years_active = 1967–present
⚫
| associated_acts = Power<br />[[Stone the Crows]]<br />Midnight Flyer<br />[[The British Blues Quintet]]<br />[[The Manfreds]]<br />[[Chris Farlowe]]<br />Brian Joseph Friel
| label = [[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]], [[Swan Song Records|Swan Song]], [[Angel Air Records|Angel Air]]
⚫
| website = {{url|maggiebell.co.uk}}
⚫
| associated_acts = Power<br />[[Stone the Crows]]<br />Midnight Flyer<br />[[The British Blues Quintet]]<br />[[The Manfreds]]<br />[[Chris Farlowe]]<br />[[Brian Joseph Friel]]
⚫
| website = {{url|http://maggiebell.co.uk/}}
| current_members =
| past_members =
}}
}}


'''Margaret Bell''' (born 12 January 1945 in [[Maryhill]], [[Glasgow]], Scotland) is a [[Scottish people|Scottish]] rock vocalist. She came to fame as co-lead vocalist of the blues-rock group [[Stone the Crows]],<ref>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}}.</ref> and was described as the UK's closest counterpart to American singer [[Janis Joplin]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/stone-the-crows-mn0000629396/biography|title=Stone the Crows &#124; Biography & History|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=5 February 2020}}</ref>
'''Margaret Bell''' (born 12 January 1945) is a Scottish vocalist. She came to fame as co-lead vocalist of the [[blues rock]] group [[Stone the Crows]],<ref>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}}.</ref> and was described as the UK's closest counterpart to American singer [[Janis Joplin]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/stone-the-crows-mn0000629396/biography|title=Stone the Crows &#124; Biography & History|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=5 February 2020}}</ref> Bell was also prominently featured as a guest vocalist on the song "[[Every Picture Tells a Story (song)|Every Picture Tells a Story]]" (1971) by [[Rod Stewart]].


==Career==
== 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.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-10-06|title=Maggie Bell of Stone the Crows and the 1970s blues-rock: interview with the UK's Janis Joplin|url=https://the-shortlisted.co.uk/maggie-bell-stone-the-crows-interview/|access-date=2021-10-09|website=The Shortlisted|language=en-GB}}</ref> Bell was introduced to [[Leslie Harvey]], by his older brother [[Alex Harvey (musician)|Alex]], after getting up on stage to sing with the latter. 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.<ref>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}}.</ref>


=== Early career ===
⚫
==Power/Stone the Crows==
⚫
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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pingitore |first=Silvia |date=2021-10-06 |title=Maggie Bell of Stone the Crows and the 1970s blues-rock: interview with the UK's Janis Joplin |url=https://the-shortlisted.co.uk/maggie-bell-stone-the-crows-interview/ |access-date=2021-10-09 |website=the-shortlisted.co.uk |language=en-GB}}</ref> Bell was introduced to [[Leslie Harvey]], by his older brother [[Alex Harvey (musician)|Alex]], after getting up on stage to sing with the latter. 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.<ref>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}}.</ref>
⚫
She then rejoined Harvey, forming Power initially known as The Power of Music and eventually The Power. Bell and The Power regularly performed at The Easterhouse Project, run by Archie Hind and Graeme Noble. They also toured [[United States Air Force]] [[military base|base]]s in Germany in the mid 1960s. [[Peter Grant (music manager)|Peter Grant]], who was managing [[The Yardbirds]] at the time, heard 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 then renamed as [[Stone the Crows]], an expression used by Grant upon hearing this band.<ref>{{cite book|last=Welch|first=Chris|year=2002|title=Peter Grant: The Man Who Led Zeppelin|page=23|isbn=0-7119-9195-2}}</ref>


⚫
=== Power/Stone the Crows ===
==First solo album==
[[File:Maggie Bell at Kralingen Music Festival, 1970 (2).jpg|thumb|Bell with Stone the Crows in 1970]]
⚫
Stone the Crows split up in 1973, after Leslie Harvey's accidental death from [[electric shock|electrocution]] on 3 May 1972. Harvey had been an integral part of the band and its music.<ref>{{cite book|last=Yorke|first=Ritchie|year=1999|title=Led Zeppelin: From Early Days to Page and Plant|page=192|isbn=0-86369-744-5}}</ref> Peter Grant remained as Bell's manager after the split, and along with [[Mark London]] offered to help Bell record a solo album. She subsequently recorded two further albums for [[Atlantic Records]], one produced by [[Felix Pappalardi]] and the other produced by [[Felix Cavaliere]]. Neither has yet been released.<ref>[[Chris Welch]], [http://www.kneeling.co.uk/pages/stonethecrows/suicide.asp Liner notes to reissue of ''Suicide Sal''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090727095726/http://www.kneeling.co.uk/pages/stonethecrows/suicide.asp |date=27 July 2009 }}. Retrieved 8 September 2011.</ref> Grant then oversaw her first solo album release ''Queen of the Night'' (1974), which was recorded in [[New York City]] with record producer [[Jerry Wexler]].
⚫
She then rejoined Harvey, forming Power, initially known as The Power of Music and eventually The Power. Bell and The Power regularly performed at The Easterhouse Project, run by Archie Hind and Graeme Noble. They also toured [[United States Air Force]] [[military base|base]]s in Germany in the mid 1960s. [[Peter Grant (music manager)|Peter Grant]], who was managing [[The Yardbirds]] at the time, heard 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 then renamed as [[Stone the Crows]], an expression used by Grant upon hearing this band.<ref>{{cite book|last=Welch|first=Chris|year=2002|title=Peter Grant: The Man Who Led Zeppelin|page=23|publisher=Omnibus |isbn=0-7119-9195-2}}</ref>


==Swan Song and Midnight Flyer==
=== First solo album ===
⚫
Stone the Crows split up in 1973, after Leslie Harvey's accidental death from [[electric shock|electrocution]] on 3 May 1972. Harvey had been an integral part of the band and its music.<ref>{{cite book|last=Yorke|first=Ritchie|year=1999|title=Led Zeppelin: From Early Days to Page and Plant|page=192|publisher=Virgin |isbn=0-86369-744-5}}</ref> Peter Grant remained as Bell's manager after the split, and along with [[Mark London]] offered to help Bell record a solo album. She subsequently recorded two further albums for [[Atlantic Records]], one produced by [[Felix Pappalardi]] and the other produced by [[Felix Cavaliere]]. Neither has yet been released.<ref>[[Chris Welch]], [http://www.kneeling.co.uk/pages/stonethecrows/suicide.asp Liner notes to reissue of ''Suicide Sal''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090727095726/http://www.kneeling.co.uk/pages/stonethecrows/suicide.asp |date=27 July 2009 }}. Retrieved 8 September 2011.</ref> Grant then oversaw her first solo album release ''Queen of the Night'' (1974), which was recorded in [[New York City]] with record producer [[Jerry Wexler]].
⚫
Bell signed to the then newly formed [[Swan Song Records]] in 1974, along with [[Bad Company]] and [[Pretty Things]], as one of the first signings to the label. [[Jimmy Page]] contributed to her second album ''Suicide Sal'' (1975).<ref>{{cite web|author=Jo-Ann Greene |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/suicide-sal-mw0000459433 |title=Suicide Sal - Maggie Bell &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits |website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=2016-06-11}}</ref> Bell then tried to capture past [[blues rock]] glories by fronting Midnight Flyer,<ref>{{cite web|author=Jo-Ann Greene |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/midnight-flyer-mw0000736841 |title=Midnight Flyer - Midnight Flyer &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits |website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=2016-06-11}}</ref> who were a popular live act but their sole eponymous album released in 1981 was not a commercial success.<ref>{{cite book|last=Williamson|first=Nigel|year=2007|title=The Rough Guide to Led Zeppelin|page=[https://archive.org/details/roughguidetoledz0000will/page/110 110]|isbn=978-1-84353-841-7|url=https://archive.org/details/roughguidetoledz0000will/page/110}}</ref>


==Solo again and B. A. Robertson==
=== Swan Song and Midnight Flyer ===
⚫
Bell signed to the then newly formed [[Swan Song Records]] in 1974, along with [[Bad Company]] and [[Pretty Things]], as one of the first signings to the label. [[Jimmy Page]] contributed to her second album ''Suicide Sal'' (1975).<ref>{{cite web|author=Jo-Ann Greene |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/suicide-sal-mw0000459433 |title=Suicide Sal - Maggie Bell &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits |website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=2016-06-11}}</ref> Bell then tried to capture past [[blues rock]] glories by fronting Midnight Flyer,<ref>{{cite web|author=Jo-Ann Greene |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/midnight-flyer-mw0000736841 |title=Midnight Flyer - Midnight Flyer &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits |website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=2016-06-11}}</ref> who were a popular live act but their sole eponymous album released in 1981 was not a commercial success.<ref>{{cite book|last=Williamson|first=Nigel|year=2007|title=The Rough Guide to Led Zeppelin|page=[https://archive.org/details/roughguidetoledz0000will/page/110 110]|publisher=Rough Guides Limited |isbn=978-1-84353-841-7|url=https://archive.org/details/roughguidetoledz0000will/page/110}}</ref>
⚫
Returning to a solo career, she had her biggest [[chart hit|hit]] in the UK in 1981 [[Duet (music)|duetting]] with [[B. A. Robertson]] on a [[cover version]] of "[[Hold Me (1933 song)|Hold Me]]" which reached No. 11 in the [[UK Singles Chart]]. Bell also performed at many charity [[Gig (musical performance)|gig]]s during this period.


=== Solo again and B. A. Robertson ===
⚫
==Television==
⚫
Returning to a solo career, she had her biggest [[chart hit|hit]] in the UK in 1981 [[Duet (music)|duetting]] with [[B. A. Robertson]] on a [[cover version]] of "[[Hold Me (1933 song)|Hold Me]]" which reached No. 11 in the [[UK Singles Chart]]. Bell also performed at many charity gigs during this period.
⚫
While working with Stone the Crows, Bell was the subject of a BBC documentary in the 1972 ''Sounding Out'' series.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/bfb508e470b24aaca2ca172befff0c0c|title=Sounding Out: Maggie Bell with Stone The Crows|publisher=[[BBC Genome Project]]|date=1972-02-24|access-date=2019-05-19}}</ref> Bell sang the end credits theme for the late 1970s [[ITV Network|ITV]] detective drama ''[[Hazell (TV series)|Hazell]]'', with lyrics written by Judy Forrest and music by [[Andy Mackay]]. Her song "No Mean City", written by [[Mike Moran (music producer)|Mike Moran]], was the [[theme music]] to the TV crime drama ''[[Taggart (series)|Taggart]]''. She also appeared in a single episode of ''Taggart'' called "Evil Eye" in 1990, playing a gypsy fortune teller named Effie Lambie who is murdered early in the episode.


⚫
=== Television ===
⚫
In 1990 she appeared in four episodes of the BBC drama series ''[[Your Cheatin' Heart (TV series)|Your Cheatin’ Heart]]''.
⚫
While working with Stone the Crows, Bell was the subject of a BBC documentary in the 1972 ''Sounding Out'' series.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/bfb508e470b24aaca2ca172befff0c0c|title=Sounding Out: Maggie Bell with Stone The Crows|publisher=[[BBC Genome Project]]|date=1972-02-24|access-date=2019-05-19}}</ref> Bell sang the end credits theme for the late 1970s [[ITV Network|ITV]] detective drama ''[[Hazell (TV series)|Hazell]]'', with lyrics written by Judy Forrest and music by [[Andy Mackay]]. Her song "No Mean City", written by [[Mike Moran (music producer)|Mike Moran]], was the [[theme music]] to the TV crime drama ''[[Taggart]]''. She also appeared in a single episode of ''Taggart'' called "Evil Eye" in 1990, playing a gypsy fortune teller named Effie Lambie who is murdered early in the episode.


⚫
In 1990, she appeared in four episodes of the BBC drama series ''[[Your Cheatin' Heart (TV series)|Your Cheatin’ Heart]]''.
⚫
In 2009 she provided the singing voice of rock singer Esme Ford (played by [[Joanna Lumley]]) in the episode "Counter Culture Blues" of the [[ITV Network|ITV]] series ''[[Lewis (TV series)|Lewis]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0068369 |title=Maggie Bell |publisher=[[Internet Movie Database]]|access-date=2016-06-11}}</ref>


⚫
In 2009, she provided the singing voice of rock singer Esme Ford (played by [[Joanna Lumley]]) in the episode "Counter Culture Blues" of the [[ITV Network|ITV]] series ''[[Lewis (TV series)|Lewis]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0068369 |title=Maggie Bell |publisher=[[Internet Movie Database]]|access-date=2016-06-11}}</ref>
⚫
==Netherlands and The British Blues Quintet==

⚫
=== Netherlands and The British Blues Quintet ===
After living in the [[Netherlands]] for twenty years, Bell returned to the UK in early 2006 and joined [[The British Blues Quintet]], sharing lead vocals with [[Zoot Money]]. Also featuring former Stone The Crows drummer [[Colin Allen]] and bassist [[Colin Hodgkinson]], the band quickly became established on the UK and European live blues circuit. Their debut album, ''[[The British Blues Quintet|Live in Glasgow]]'' (2007), was recorded at one of their first gigs, on Glasgow's Renfrew Ferry in 2006. In addition, Bell toured with [[Chris Farlowe]] in the autumn of 2006 and [[The Manfreds]] during 2006 and 2008.
After living in the [[Netherlands]] for twenty years, Bell returned to the UK in early 2006 and joined [[The British Blues Quintet]], sharing lead vocals with [[Zoot Money]]. Also featuring former Stone The Crows drummer [[Colin Allen]] and bassist [[Colin Hodgkinson]], the band quickly became established on the UK and European live blues circuit. Their debut album, ''[[The British Blues Quintet|Live in Glasgow]]'' (2007), was recorded at one of their first gigs, on Glasgow's Renfrew Ferry in 2006. In addition, Bell toured with [[Chris Farlowe]] in the autumn of 2006 and [[The Manfreds]] during 2006 and 2008.


In January 2016, the Hamburg Blues Band featuring Maggie Bell and [[Krissy Matthews]], performed at the [[Quasimodo (music venue)|Quasimodo Club]] [[in Berlin]], Germany.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.quasimodo.de/index.php?id=114&L=1&tx_cal_controller%5Bgetdate%5D=20160122&tx_cal_controller%5Bview%5D=event&tx_cal_controller%5Btype%5D=tx_cal_phpicalendar&tx_cal_controller%5Buid%5D=19866&tx_cal_controller%5Blastview%5D=view-list%7Cpage_id-148&cHash=9c763024d7|title=Quasimodo Berlin: The Hamburg Blues Band feat. Maggie Bell & Krissy Matthews|website=Quasimodo.de|access-date=10 June 2016}}</ref>
In January 2016, the Hamburg Blues Band featuring Maggie Bell and [[Krissy Matthews]], performed at the [[Quasimodo (music venue)|Quasimodo Club]] in Berlin, Germany.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.quasimodo.de/index.php?id=114&L=1&tx_cal_controller%5Bgetdate%5D=20160122&tx_cal_controller%5Bview%5D=event&tx_cal_controller%5Btype%5D=tx_cal_phpicalendar&tx_cal_controller%5Buid%5D=19866&tx_cal_controller%5Blastview%5D=view-list%7Cpage_id-148&cHash=9c763024d7|title=Quasimodo Berlin: The Hamburg Blues Band feat. Maggie Bell & Krissy Matthews|website=Quasimodo.de|access-date=10 June 2016}}</ref>


==Discography==
==Discography==
===With Stone The Crows (1968–1973)===
===With Stone the Crows (1968–1973)===
*''[[Stone the Crows (album)|Stone The Crows]]'' (1970)
*''[[Stone the Crows (album)|Stone the Crows]]'' (1970)
*''[[Ode to John Law|Ode To John Law]]'' (1970)
*''[[Ode to John Law]]'' (1970)
*''Teenage Licks'' (1971)
*''Teenage Licks'' (1971)
*''Ontinuous Performance'' (1972)
*''Ontinuous Performance'' (1972)
*''BBC Radio 1 1971/72'' (1998)
*''BBC Radio 1 1971/72'' (1998)
*''Coming on Strong'' (2004, also solo recordings)
*''Coming On Strong'' (2004, also solo recordings)


===Solo===
===Solo===
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*''[[It Ain't Easy (Long John Baldry album)|It Ain't Easy]]'', [[Long John Baldry]] (accompanying vocal on duet "Black Girl"), 1971
*''[[It Ain't Easy (Long John Baldry album)|It Ain't Easy]]'', [[Long John Baldry]] (accompanying vocal on duet "Black Girl"), 1971
*''[[Every Picture Tells a Story]]'', [[Rod Stewart]], 1971
*''[[Every Picture Tells a Story]]'', [[Rod Stewart]], 1971
*''[[Tommy (London Symphony Orchestra album)|Tommy]]'', guest singer with [[The Who]], [[London Symphony Orchestra]] and Chambre Choir, 1972
*''[[Tommy (London Symphony Orchestra album)|Tommy]]'', guest singer with [[London Symphony Orchestra]] and [[English Chamber Choir]], 1972
*''[[Banana Moon]]'', [[Daevid Allen]], 1971
*''[[Banana Moon]]'', [[Daevid Allen]], 1971
*''Brian Joseph Friel'', [[Brian Joseph Friel]], 1973
*''Brian Joseph Friel'', Brian Joseph Friel, 1973
*''Arrivederci Ardrossan'', Brian Joseph Friel, 1975
*''Arrivederci Ardrossan'', Brian Joseph Friel, 1975
*''[[Hometown Girls]]'', [[Denny Laine]] (one track: "Street"), 1985
*''[[Hometown Girls (album)|Hometown Girls]]'', [[Denny Laine]] (one track: "Street"), 1985
* ''[[Crimes of Passion (1984 film)|Crimes of Passion]]'', [[Rick Wakeman]] (one track: "It's a Lovely Life"), 1986
* ''[[Crimes of Passion (1984 film)|Crimes of Passion]]'', [[Rick Wakeman]] (one track: "It's a Lovely Life"), 1986
*''Les voix d'Itxassou'', [[Tony Coe]], (one track: "The Patriot Game"), 1989
*''Les voix d'Itxassou'', [[Tony Coe]], (one track: "The Patriot Game"), 1989
Line 117: Line 114:


==Television appearances==
==Television appearances==
*''[[Taggart (series)|Taggart]]'' (1990) as "Effie Lambie"
*''[[Taggart]]'' (1990) as "Effie Lambie"
*''Your Cheatin' Heart'' (1990) as "Roxanne"
*''Your Cheatin' Heart'' (1990) as "Roxanne"
* ''[[Down Among the Big Boys]]'' (1993) as Jean Donnelly
* ''[[Down Among the Big Boys]]'' (1993) as Jean Donnelly
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==External links==
==External links==
{{cc}}
*{{IMDb name|id=0068369|name=Maggie Bell}}
*{{IMDb name|id=0068369|name=Maggie Bell}}
*[{{Allmusic|class=album|id=r747324|pure_url=yes}} Midnight Flyer] at [[AllMusic]]
*[{{Allmusic|class=album|id=r747324|pure_url=yes}} Midnight Flyer] at [[AllMusic]]
*[http://www.epmusic.biz/artist/Maggie%20Bell Maggie Bell licensing]
*[http://www.epmusic.biz/artist/Maggie%20Bell Maggie Bell licensing]{{Dead link|date=November 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}
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[[Category:Atlantic Records artists]]
[[Category:Atlantic Records artists]]
[[Category:British blues singers]]
[[Category:British blues singers]]
[[Category:Scottish women singers]]
[[Category:20th-century Scottish women singers]]
[[Category:People from Maryhill]]
[[Category:People from Maryhill]]
[[Category:Swan Song Records artists]]
[[Category:Swan Song Records artists]]
[[Category:21st-century Scottish women singers]]

Latest revision as of 21:16, 15 March 2024

Maggie Bell
Bell and James Dewar of Stone the Crows, 1970
Bell and James Dewar of Stone the Crows, 1970
Background information
Birth nameMargaret Bell
Born (1945-01-12) 12 January 1945 (age 79)
Maryhill, Glasgow, Scotland
GenresRock, blues rock
OccupationSinger
Years active1967–present
Websitemaggiebell.co.uk

Margaret Bell (born 12 January 1945) is a Scottish vocalist. She came to fame as co-lead vocalist of the blues rock group Stone the Crows,[1] and was described as the UK's closest counterpart to American singer Janis Joplin.[2] Bell was also prominently featured as a guest vocalist on the song "Every Picture Tells a Story" (1971) by Rod Stewart.

Career

[edit]

Early career

[edit]

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.[3] Bell was introduced to Leslie Harvey, by his older brother Alex, after getting up on stage to sing with the latter. 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.[4]

Power/Stone the Crows

[edit]
Bell with Stone the Crows in 1970

She then rejoined Harvey, forming Power, initially known as The Power of Music and eventually The Power. Bell and The Power regularly performed at The Easterhouse Project, run by Archie Hind and Graeme Noble. They also toured United States Air Force bases in Germany in the mid 1960s. Peter Grant, who was managing The Yardbirds at the time, heard 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 then renamed as Stone the Crows, an expression used by Grant upon hearing this band.[5]

First solo album

[edit]

Stone the Crows split up in 1973, after Leslie Harvey's accidental death from electrocution on 3 May 1972. Harvey had been an integral part of the band and its music.[6] Peter Grant remained as Bell's manager after the split, and along with Mark London offered to help Bell record a solo album. She subsequently recorded two further albums for Atlantic Records, one produced by Felix Pappalardi and the other produced by Felix Cavaliere. Neither has yet been released.[7] Grant then oversaw her first solo album release Queen of the Night (1974), which was recorded in New York City with record producer Jerry Wexler.

Swan Song and Midnight Flyer

[edit]

Bell signed to the then newly formed Swan Song Records in 1974, along with Bad Company and Pretty Things, as one of the first signings to the label. Jimmy Page contributed to her second album Suicide Sal (1975).[8] Bell then tried to capture past blues rock glories by fronting Midnight Flyer,[9] who were a popular live act but their sole eponymous album released in 1981 was not a commercial success.[10]

Solo again and B. A. Robertson

[edit]

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" which reached No. 11 in the UK Singles Chart. Bell also performed at many charity gigs during this period.

Television

[edit]

While working with Stone the Crows, Bell was the subject of a BBC documentary in the 1972 Sounding Out series.[11] Bell sang the end credits theme for the late 1970s ITV detective drama Hazell, with lyrics written by Judy Forrest and music by Andy Mackay. Her song "No Mean City", written by Mike Moran, was the theme music to the TV crime drama Taggart. She also appeared in a single episode of Taggart called "Evil Eye" in 1990, playing a gypsy fortune teller named Effie Lambie who is murdered early in the episode.

In 1990, she appeared in four episodes of the BBC drama series Your Cheatin’ Heart.

In 2009, she provided the singing voice of rock singer Esme Ford (played by Joanna Lumley) in the episode "Counter Culture Blues" of the ITV series Lewis.[12]

Netherlands and The British Blues Quintet

[edit]

After living in the Netherlands for twenty years, Bell returned to the UK in early 2006 and joined The British Blues Quintet, sharing lead vocals with Zoot Money. Also featuring former Stone The Crows drummer Colin Allen and bassist Colin Hodgkinson, the band quickly became established on the UK and European live blues circuit. Their debut album, Live in Glasgow (2007), was recorded at one of their first gigs, on Glasgow's Renfrew Ferry in 2006. In addition, Bell toured with Chris Farlowe in the autumn of 2006 and The Manfreds during 2006 and 2008.

In January 2016, the Hamburg Blues Band featuring Maggie Bell and Krissy Matthews, performed at the Quasimodo Club in Berlin, Germany.[13]

Discography

[edit]

With Stone the Crows (1968–1973)

[edit]
  • Stone the Crows (1970)
  • Ode to John Law (1970)
  • Teenage Licks (1971)
  • Ontinuous Performance (1972)
  • BBC Radio 1 1971/72 (1998)
  • Coming On Strong (2004, also solo recordings)

Solo

[edit]
  • Two singles with Bobby Kerr as "Frankie and Johnny" (1966)
  • Queen of the Night (1974)
  • Suicide Sal (1975)
  • Great Rock Sensation (1977, compilation)
  • Crimes of the Heart (1988)
  • Live at the Rainbow, 1974 (2002)
  • Live in Boston, USA, 1975 (2002)
  • Coming on Strong (2004, also with Stone The Crows)
  • The River Sessions, Live in Glasgow 1993 (2004) with Ronnie Caryl, Paul Francis Bass
  • Sound & Vision – Best of Maggie Bell (2008, compilation)

With Midnight Flyer

[edit]
  • Midnight Flyer (1981, re-release: Angel Air SJPCD 198, 2005)
  • Live at Montreux 1981 (2007, CD/DVD)

With The British Blues Quintet

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With Jon Lord Blues Project

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Singles

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[14]

Guest appearances

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Television appearances

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References

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ "Stone the Crows | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  3. ^ Pingitore, Silvia (6 October 2021). "Maggie Bell of Stone the Crows and the 1970s blues-rock: interview with the UK's Janis Joplin". the-shortlisted.co.uk. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ Welch, Chris (2002). Peter Grant: The Man Who Led Zeppelin. Omnibus. p. 23. ISBN 0-7119-9195-2.
  6. ^ Yorke, Ritchie (1999). Led Zeppelin: From Early Days to Page and Plant. Virgin. p. 192. ISBN 0-86369-744-5.
  7. ^ Chris Welch, Liner notes to reissue of Suicide Sal Archived 27 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  8. ^ Jo-Ann Greene. "Suicide Sal - Maggie Bell | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
  9. ^ Jo-Ann Greene. "Midnight Flyer - Midnight Flyer | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
  10. ^ Williamson, Nigel (2007). The Rough Guide to Led Zeppelin. Rough Guides Limited. p. 110. ISBN 978-1-84353-841-7.
  11. ^ "Sounding Out: Maggie Bell with Stone The Crows". BBC Genome Project. 24 February 1972. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
  12. ^ "Maggie Bell". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
  13. ^ "Quasimodo Berlin: The Hamburg Blues Band feat. Maggie Bell & Krissy Matthews". Quasimodo.de. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  14. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 52. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.

Other sources

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  • 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.
  • Welch, Chris (2002). Peter Grant: The Man Who Led Zeppelin. p. 23. ISBN 0-7119-9195-2.
  • Yorke, Ritchie (1999). Led Zeppelin: From Early Days to Page and Plant. p. 192. ISBN 0-86369-744-5.
  • Williamson, Nigel (2007). The Rough Guide to Led Zeppelin. p. 110. ISBN 978-1-84353-841-7.
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