MADELINE BELL— Bell's A Poppin' (1967-2004) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Though born in New Jersey, smooth soul diva Madeline Bell enjoyed her greatest success in the United Kingdom (where she began living in 1963), and her first album, 1967's Bell's a Poppin', is a thoroughly enjoyable example of British pop record-making at its most poised and professional. Bell had a world-class voice and sang supper-club soul in the manner of Dionne Warwick and Dusty Springfield (the latter of whom was a friend of Bell's and often used her as a backing vocalist); those looking for Southern soul grit will be disappointed, but Bell's a Poppin' is a marvelous example of the British equivalent of Brill Building pop. The arrangements are clever and sophisticated, the musicians are spot-on throughout, producer John Franz adds just the right amount of polish without rubbing away the personality of the music, and Bell's vocals tell a story just beautifully, boasting smarts and understated passion while maintaining a firm sense of control and balance throughout. Franz also rounded up some great songs for Bell, with Doc Pomus & Mort Shuman, Burt Bacharach & Hal David, John Sebastian, and Nick Ashford & Valerie Simpson among the tunesmiths represented on this disc. Fans of the slicker side of Northern soul and great mid-'60s pop-soul will delight in Bell's a Poppin'. [RPM's 2004 reissue adds a handful of non-LP singles that are every bit as enjoyable, especially "Don't Come Running to Me" and an interesting cover of the Beatles' "You Won't See Me."] Mark Deming  
Tracklist :
1 Picture Me Gone 2:59
Al Gorgoni / Chip Taylor
2 You Don't Love Me No More 1:55
Charles Blackwell
3 Baby I'll Come Right Away 2:22
Nickolas Ashford / Valerie Simpson
4 Beat the Clock 2:47
Richard Gottehrer / Jon Stroll
5 Mr. Dream Merchant 2:43
Jerry Ross / Larry Weiss
6 Can't Get Used to Losing You 2:25
Doc Pomus / Mort Shuman
7 Soul Time 2:31
Shirley Ellis
8 I'm Gonna Make You Love Me 2:52
Kenny Gamble / Leon Huff / Jerry Ross
9 I'm Gonna Leave You 3:05
Madeline Bell / Lesley Duncan / Dusty Springfield
10 The Last One to Be Loved 3:02
Burt Bacharach / Hal David
11 I Didn't Want to Have to Do It 2:32
John Sebastian
12 Mercy Mercy Mercy 3:05
Joe Zawinul
13 What the World Needs Now Is Love 2:59
Burt Bacharach / Hal David
14 I Can't Wait Until I See My Baby's Face 2:36
Jerry Ragovoy
15 Don't Come Running to Me 2:48
Jimmy Wisner
16 I Really Got Carried Away 2:19
Margo Lewis / Gary Lyons / Doris Payne
17 One Step at a Time 2:16
Joshie Armstead / Nickolas Ashford / Valerie Simpson
18 You Won't See Me 3:26
John Lennon / Paul McCartney
19 Climb Ev'ry Mountain 2:17
Oscar Hammerstein II / Richard Rodgers
20 It Makes No Difference Now
Norman Newell / Iller Pattacini

MADELINE BELL — Doin' Things (1968-2004) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Madeline Bell's final '60s album was, like her first (1967's Bell's a Poppin'), made in Britain under the production supervision of John Franz. And, like its predecessor, it unsurprisingly bore some resemblance to Dusty Springfield's late-'60s work, both because Franz also worked with Springfield, and because Bell sang backup vocals on Springfield records. To stretch the comparison even further, Bell had a style similar to Springfield's (especially in her slight vibratos at the end of phrases), as well as a similar bent for varied soul-pop material. The overall impression was something of a Springfield with a closer connection to genuine black American soul -- a connection that was honest enough, given that Bell was an African-American singer. The songs on Doin' Things, however, weren't as strong as the better material that Springfield interpreted. Still, it's a solid enough record, whether you're coming at it from a sub-Springfield angle or not, and it did contain some obscure compositions by Van McCoy, Billy Vera, Georgie Fame ("For Your Pleasure"), and John Lennon and Paul McCartney ("Step Inside Love," which the Beatles never recorded, but which Cilla Black had previously done for a British hit single). Interestingly, John Paul Jones -- who would join Led Zeppelin shortly afterward, and plays bass as a session musician on the album -- wrote one of the songs, "Hold It," as well as co-writing two others with Bell. [The 2004 CD reissue on RPM, in addition to including thorough historical liner notes, also adds six bonus tracks from 1968-1969 singles, among them the Bell-Springfield composition "Go Ahead On."] Richie Unterberger   
Tracklist :
Goin' Things LP    
1    Help Yourself    2:27
Mark Barkan / Scott English / Jerry Ross
2    After All Is Said And Done    3:10
Ritchie Adams / Victoria Pike / Teddy Randazzo
3    Doin' Things Together With You    2:52
Van McCoy
4    It's Up To You    2:42
Billy Vera
5    For Your Pleasure    3:54
Clive Powell
6    To Sir With Love    3:06
Don Black / Mark London
7    Hold It    2:43
John Paul Jones
8    Step Inside Love    2:28
John Lennon / Paul McCartney
9    Gotta Get Away From Here    3:00
Madeline Bell
10    No Sun Today    2:54
Fred Anisfield / Scott English / James Last
11    Ain't Gonna Cry Any More    2:55
Madeline Bell
12    Finding You, Loving You    3:08
Clive Westlake
Singles    
13    Go Ahead On    2:41
Madeline Bell / Dusty Springfield
14    Thinkin'    2:33
Madeline Bell
15    Don't Give Your Love Away     3:22
Maury Laws
16    What'm I Supposed To Do    2:10
Madeline Bell
17    We're So Much In Love    2:39
Van McCoy
18    How Much Do I Love You    2:48     
Madeline Bell
Credits :
Accompanied By – Arthur Greenslade (faixas: 1, 3, 4, 6, 13 to 15), Derek Wadsworth (faixas: 18), Ian Green (faixas: 5, 7, 8), Keith Mansfield (faixas: 2, 10, 12), Keith Roberts (faixas: 16, 17)
Composer, Vocals – Madeline Bell