Madeline Bell - Bell's A Poppin' (1967) Reissue 2004
XLD | FLAC | Image (Cue&Log) ~ 272 Mb | Mp3 (CBR320) ~ 125 Mb | Scans ~ 96 Mb
Pop-Soul, Soul | Label: RPM Records | # RPM 281 | Time: 00:53:37
XLD | FLAC | Image (Cue&Log) ~ 272 Mb | Mp3 (CBR320) ~ 125 Mb | Scans ~ 96 Mb
Pop-Soul, Soul | Label: RPM Records | # RPM 281 | Time: 00:53:37
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.
