1981 Bell & James – In Black & White

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

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. 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.

 

Tracks

1  Love, Call My Name (Leroy Bell, Casey James) 4:06
2  You Got The Power (Leroy Bell, Casey James) 3:32
3  Gimme The Gun (Leroy Bell, Casey James) 4:28
4  Wind And Rain (Leroy Bell, Casey James) 4:56
5  Is It Fire (Leroy Bell, Casey James) 3:19
6  Runnin’ For Your Life (Leroy Bell, Casey James) 3:40
7  In Spanish Harlem (Leroy Bell, Casey James) 4:10
8  Radiation (Leroy Bell, Casey James) 4:51
9  Don’t Take The Money (Leroy Bell, Casey James) 4:13
10  Renegade (Leroy Bell, Casey James) 4:30

Media

Musicians

1 Love, Call My Name

Bass Neil Stubenhaus
Drums Jeffrey Porcaro
Guitar Casey James
Guitar John Norman
Guitar Robbie Nevil
Keyboards Casey James
Synthesizer Casey James
Percussion Leroy Bell
Percussion Michael Spiro


2 You Got The Power

Bass Neil Stubenhaus
Drums Jeffrey Porcaro
Guitar John Norman
Keyboards Casey James
Synthesizer Casey James
Sax Gary Herbig
Percussion Michael Spiro


3 Gimme The Gun

Bass Neil Stubenhaus
Drums Jeffrey Porcaro
Guitar Casey James
Guitar Robbie Nevil
Synthesizer Casey James
Percussion Michael Spiro


4 Wind And Rain

Bass Neil Stubenhaus
Drums Carlos Vega
Guitar Leroy Bell
Guitar Robbie Nevil
Piano Casey James
Percussion Casey James
Background Vocals Kelly Harland
Background Vocals Patty Holly


5 Is It Fire

Bass Tag Henning
Drums Leroy Bell
Guitar John Norman
Keyboards Casey James
Synthesizer Casey James
Percussion Michael Spiro
Percussion Casey James

 

6 Runnin’ For Your Life

Bass Neil Stubenhaus
Drums Jeffrey Porcaro
Guitar Robbie Nevil
Keyboards Casey James
Synthesizer Casey James
Percussion Michael Spiro


7 In Spanish Harlem

Bass Neil Stubenhaus
Drums Carlos Vega
Guitar Robbie Nevil
Piano Casey James
Percussion Michael Spiro
Percussion Casey James
Background Vocals The Waters


8 Radiation

Bass Neil Stubenhaus
Drums Carlos Vega
Guitar Robbie Nevil
Keyboards Casey James
Synthesizer Casey James
Bugle Michael Spiro
Percussion Michael Spiro
Percussion Casey James

 

9 Don’t Take The Money

Bass Neil Stubenhaus
Drums Jeffrey Porcaro
Guitar Casey James
Guitar Robbie Nevil
Keyboards Casey James
Synthesizer Casey James
Percussion Michael Spiro


10 Renegade

Bass Neil Stubenhaus
Drums Carlos Vega
Guitar Robbie Nevil
Piano Casey James
Synthesizer Casey James
Percussion Michael Spiro
Background Vocals The Waters

Liner Notes

Producer – Bell & James
Arranged By – Casey James
Engineer – Les Brockmann, Marvin Hall, Paul Lani, Ron Gangnes
Mastered By – Wally Traugott
Mixed By – Don Murray
Recorded By – Don Murray

Art Direction – Chuck Beeson
Design – Lynn Robb, Norman Seeff

Recorded At – Monterey Sound Studios
Mixed At – Monterey Sound Studios
Mastered At – Capitol Studios
Overdubbed At – Summit Studio
Record Company – A&M Records