Bell, a Grammy-winning producer and
a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, is best known as one of “the Mighty
Three” — a co-creator of the richly-orchestrated “Sound of Philadelphia” brand
of soul along with fellow songwriters and producers Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff.
Together, the Philly trio was responsible for smashes from the O’Jays’ “Back
Stabbers” to Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes’ “I Miss You.”
Independent of Gamble and Huff,
however, Bell was famed for writing and producing creamy, dreamy, harmony-laden
R&B hits of the late ’60s and ’70s such as “La-La (Means I Love You)” and
“Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time)” for the Delfonics, “You Are Everything”
and “Betcha by Golly, Wow” for the Stylistics, and “I’ll Be Around,” “Could It
Be I’m Falling in Love” and “Games People Play” for the Spinners.
There’s also a great quote from Bell in the same article: “All
I wanted to be was a piano player in the rhythm section, then an arranger and a
conductor. I was forced to do these other things, like writing, to get noticed.
I mean, ‘Who is Thom Bell?’ had to be the question at that time. The only bell
they knew in Philly had a crack down the middle. So, I started writing
melodies.”
Favorite songs written or co-written by Thom Bell:
Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart) – The Stylistics
Living A Little, Laughing A Little – The Spinners
A Brand New Me – Dusty Springfield
I’ll Be Around – The Spinners
People Make The World Go Round – The Stylistics
La-La-Means I Love You – The Delfonics
You Are Everything – The Stylistics
I’m Doin’ Fine Now – New York City
Break Up To Make Up – The Stylistics
You Make Me Feel Brand New – The Stylistics
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