Thom Bell (January 26, 1943 – December 22, 2022) – Do You Remember Yesterday (1974)
Co-written by Bell, Linda Creed, and Kenny Gamble, this beautiful cover by New York City was originally released by the Intruders.
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Legendary producer and songwriter Thom Bell helped shape 70s soul by producing classic albums for the Delfonics, Stylistics and Spinners, plus many other artists. He had over thirty gold and ten platinum records to his name.
Along with Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, he was one of the architects of the Sound of Philadelphia. They entered into a songwriting and production partnership in 1973, dubbing their publishing company Mighty Three Music.
Bell was a classically trained pianist and multi-instrumentalist genius. He played 18 instruments in total and wrote every note of the classic soul songs he helped create with his longtime lyricist Linda Creed.
In 1974, Bell produced vocal group New York City’s second album, Soulful Road. It was recorded at Sigma Sound Studios, with vocalists Tim McQueen, John Brown, Edward Schell, and Claude Johnson. The group’s backing band featured a pre-Chic Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards. Background vocals were contributed by Linda Creed herself, and Lucille Jones, who later sang background on Jackie Moore’s classic “This Time Baby,” plus Sweethearts of Sigma Evette Benton and Barbara Ingram.
The album was full of great songs, including the single “Happiness Is,” co-written by Joseph B. Jefferson, Bruce Hawes and Charles Simmons, which hit #20 on the R&B charts. But its finest moment was arguably the gorgeous, heartfelt ballad “Do You Remember Yesterday.” Co-written by Bell, Linda Creed, and Kenny Gamble, and originally released by the Intruders in 1971, this remake outshone the original.
As beautiful as “Do You Remember Yesterday” was, it’s impossible to pick only one great song to adequately represent Bell’s amazing output of masterpieces. Here’s a playlist of his rare singles and deep cuts to enjoy while remembering one of the greatest musical geniuses of the twentieth century.
For more listening, here’s the ultimate Thom Bell playlist on YouTube with a total of 457 songs Bell helped create as a writer, arranger or producer. This playlist was compiled by songwriter Preston Glass who was one of Bell's staff writers in the early 80s. Along with Bell, Preston and his brother Allan co-wrote the great but little known Temptations song “Your Lovin’ Is Magic,” released in 1981.
Further info:
“Thom Bell, Building the Sound of Philadelphia,” interview with Terry Gross, Fresh Air, NPR, October 2, 2016.
“A Hall of Fame hitmaker finds happiness and harmony in Bellingham,” by Tom FitzGerald, Seattle Times, February 15, 2018.
“Thom Bell, a Force Behind the Philadelphia Soul Sound, Dies at 79,” obituary, by Bill Friskics-Warren, The New York Times, December 23, 2022.
#soul #PIR #GambleHuffBell #MightyThree #LindaCreed #ThomBell