Bell and James

Bell and James
Origin Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Years active 1978-1981
Labels A&M Records
Website Bill and James music play
Past members LeRoy Bell
Casey James

Bell and James was an American soul group from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania formed by Leroy Bell on (drums, guitar) and Casey James (guitar, bass, keyboards).

Career

Both LeRoy Bell and Casey James had played in Special Blend before beginning to write songs together. Bell's uncle Thom Bell got them signed to Gamble & Huff as songwriters for Philadelphia International Records.[1] They wrote tunes for Elton John, MFSB, The O'Jays, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Freda Payne, Phyllis Hyman, The Three Degrees, and others, before A&M Records took notice and signed them to a full album deal in 1978.

Three albums and several hit singles followed, including "Livin' it Up (Friday Night)," which hit #7 on the U.S. Billboard Black singles, and #15 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts in 1979. It sold over one million copies in the U.S., plus the same track reached #59 in the UK Singles Chart.[2]

Discography

Albums

Year Title Label U.S. Black Albums[3] U.S. Pop Albums[3]
1978 Bell & James A&M Records 17 31
1979 Only Make Believe 36 125
1981 In Black And White

Singles

Year Title Chart Positions[4]
U.S. Hot 100 U.S. Black singles
1979 "Livin' It Up (Friday Night)" 15 7
1979 "Shakedown" - 65
"You Never Know What You've Got" - 54
1980 "Only Make Believe" - 50

References

  1. ↑ Biography, Allmusic.com
  2. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 52. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  3. 1 2 Billboard, Allmusic.com
  4. ↑ Billboard Singles, Allmusic.com.
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