Archie Bell And The Drells

[Mick Boyle]

Had the pleasure of meeting Archie in a record shop in the states, I asked him about A Thousand Wonders only coming out on Spanish. He could not recall the reason why but said he didn't sing it as he swooped places with one of the Drells for that track. I was told that a program for Fleetwood was produced before the cancellation and in the program there was interview with Archie and he commented about when he sang the song 

[Goldsoul]

Archie was indeed scheduled to play Fleetwood several years ago. The IRS stopped him due to monies owed by the singer in his native US.

We promoted him at SoultripUSA held at the Hilton, New Jersey in 2006.

I asked how he was doing and he replied 'Great...I have the No.1 record on the Country charts' ! 

Nice man and easy to deal with. I suspect he's had one too many managers/advisors during his long career. 

[phillyDaveG]

I saw Archie &TD live in the mids 8ts in of all places Hitchin!

 

Top quality group, some favs;

 

"TIGHTEN UP" (1968 ATLANTIC LP)

(Prod. Lee Frazier)

Best tracks - "Tighten up (part 1)"/"When you left heartache began"/"A thousand wonders"

 

"I CAN'T STOP DANCING" (1968 ATLANTIC LP)

(Prod. Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, & Lee Frazier)

Best tracks - "I can't stop dancing"/"I've been trying"/"Love will rain on you"

 

"THERE'S GONNA BE A SHOWDOWN" (1969 ATLANTIC LP)

(Prod. Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, & Lee Frazier)

Best tracks - "I love my baby"/"(There's gonna be a) showdown"/"Giving up dancing"/"Girl you're too young"/"My balloon's going up"/"Here I go again"/"Go for what you know"/"Just a little closer"

 

"DANCE YOUR TROUBLES AWAY" (1975 T.S.O.P. LP)

(Prod. Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, Bunny Sigler, John Whitehead, Gene McFadden, etc.)

Best tracks - "Let's groove"/"I could dance all night"/"The soul city walk"/"I love you (but you don't even know it)"

 

"WHERE WILL YOU GO WHEN THE PARTY'S OVER" (1976 PHILADELPHIA INT. LP)

(Prod. John Whitehead, Gene McFadden, Victor Carstaphen, & Bunny Sigler)

Best tracks - "Don't let love get you down"/"Where will you go when the party's over"/"Right here is where I want to be"/"Everybody have a good time"

 

"HARD NOT TO LIKE IT" (1977 PHILADELPHIA INT. LP)

(Prod. John Whitehead, Gene McFadden, Victor Carstaphen, & Roland Chambers)

Best tracks - "It's hard not to like you"/"There's no other like you"/"Real good feeling"

 

"STRATEGY" (1979 PHILADELPHIA INT. LP)

(Prod. Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, Gene McFadden, John Whitehead, Archie Bell, etc.)

Best tracks - "Show me how to dance"/"We've got something"/"Strategy"/"We got 'em dancin'"

 

"I NEVER HAD IT SO GOOD" (1981 BECKET LP) - minus the Drells

(Prod. Unknown)

Best tracks - "I never made love"/"Harder and harder"

 

+ I love my baby"/"Get it from the bottom"/"I wish"/"Don't let the music slip away"/"Deal with him"/"I just want to fall in love"/"Love at first sight"/"Archie's in love"/"Let the world know you got soul"/"I can't face you baby"/"One night affair"/"Smile"/"Slow down baby"/"Dog eat dog"/"Low down" on Atlantic

"Dancing to your music" on Glades

"Touchin you" on WMOT & a few more.