Maggie Bell - Suicide Sal (1975) Reissue 1997

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Maggie Bell - Suicide Sal (1975) Reissue 1997

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"Suicide Sal"(1975) was the second solo album by white, soul /blues belter, Glasgow-born Maggie Bell, sometimes called the Scottish Janis Joplin. Bell, formerly lead singer of the well-known Scottish group "Stone the Crows," has a voice unrivaled for its passion and power. She came from a musical family, began singing with local dance bands as a kid, and went to Germany in the late 1960's, to sing at American military bases, where she certainly picked up a few songs for the repertory. Nevertheless, Bell generally concerns herself, in the repertory I know, at least, with women's issues.

The album that followed on the heels of Queen of the Night was produced by the label's famed Jerry Wexler, as was its predecessor. Of that album, Bell says, "The funny thing about `Queen of The Night' is that I made two previous albums for Atlantic in New York - one with Felix Papalardi of Mountain, and the other with Felix Cavaliere of the Young Rascals - which were never released." The studio threw top-drawer talent at those pre-"Queen," unreleased albums – Luther Vandross backed her– as it did at "Queen," and "Suicide."

"Suicide" was initially recorded at Ringo Starr's studio at Tittenhurst Park in England, which had once been John Lennon's home: it's where they filmed John and his wife Yoko for their long-lived anthem"Imagine." In continuance of the Beatles' influence, Bell gives us a rollicking take of "I Saw Him Standing There," by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. She says, "I used to do a great version of that on stage with Pete Wingfield. I thought it was just as good as Joe Cocker's `With a Little Help from My Friends.'"

Bell wrote the title song herself: she has said that Suicide Sal, a great music hall queen of the time, was an aunt. That performer was immensely popular in Scotland, and particularly in Glasgow, her home town, where everyone called her "Suicide Sal - she's everyone's pal." "I Was in Chains" is a well-loved, nostalgic Scottish favorite, written by the Sutherland brothers: it comes with bagpipes. Jimmy Page of "Led Zeppelin" chipped in on "If You Don't Know," which was written for Bell by her one-time pianist/keyboarder Pete Wingfield. We also get the hard rocking "What You Got," and "In My Life," a ballad by Leo Sayer and Dave Courtney. "It's Been So Long" rounds off the album.

It wasn't easy for a girl singer to break through the rock and roll barriers of the 1970's. There weren't many female artists around, and surely very few Scots girls singing the blues professionally. Maggie and her remarkable voice live quietly in Rotterdam, Holland these days: she's married a Dutchman. She still sings and tours.

Review by Stephanie De Pue, Amazon.com

The success of Angel Air's series of Maggie Bell reissues can be easily judged by the Scottish singer's return to the U.K. after residing for years abroad, a planned autobiography, and her intention of touring. Although critically feted in the U.K., Bell, both solo and with her former band Stone the Crows, never quite achieved the commercial breakthrough everyone had so expected. Always a bridesmaid, never a bride, Bell's recording career was punctuated by a sole Stone the Crows charting album. With that band's demise in 1973, the soul singer went solo, releasing the (again) critically acclaimed Queen of the Night album, with 1975's Suicide Sal following. A tougher, more energized set than its predecessor, Sal's electrifying live feel reflects the incendiary stage shows Bell and her new backing band had been playing in the intervening time between recordings. The two bonus tracks, recorded at a gig later that year, capture their live ferocity. Intriguingly, the funky, fiery title track, an homage to Bell's Aunt, a music hall star, is one of only two originals on this set. The second, the lavishly bluesy "If You Don't Know" was penned by band keyboardist Pete Wingfield, and boasts a guesting Jimmy Page on guitar. The storming "Coming on Strong" also has a Bell connection, being co-penned by ex-Crow Colin Allen and Zoot Money. The rest of the album comprises astutely chosen covers drawn from an eclectic selection of artists. One of the standouts is "It's Been So Long," a powerful gospel number written by the Pretty Things' Phil May, who not only rewrote some of the lyrics for Bell, but added his backing vocals to the song. Free's classic "Wishing Well" gets a sensational workout, while that band's offshoot Kossoff, Kirke, Tetsu & Rabbit's "Hold On" is taken to new emotive heights. From barrelling Beatles pop to the Sutherland Brothers poignant Gaelic ode, from ballads to hefty rock & roll, Bell struts across this set with style and such assurance, that even Aunt Sal must have been impressed. One of Britain's greatest soul singers, showcased at her best, this magnificent album also includes an excellent, expansive biography of this crucial artist.

Review by Jo-Ann Greene, Allmusic.com

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Maggie Bell - Suicide Sal (1975) Reissue 1997

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Maggie Bell - Suicide Sal (1975) Reissue 1997

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Maggie Bell - Suicide Sal (1975) Reissue 1997

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