Bell and James

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

Bell and James
OriginPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Years active1978-1981
LabelsA&M Records
Past membersLeRoy Bell
Casey James

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 No. 7 on the Billboard R&B singles chart and No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1979. It sold over one million copies in the U.S., plus the same track reached No. 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. Billboard, Allmusic.com
  4. Billboard Singles, Allmusic.com.
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