Archie Bell & the Drells

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Archie Bell & the Drells was an American soul and funk group around the singer Archie Bell.

The band was founded in Houston / Texas in 1965 . The quartet , consisting of lead singer Archie Bell and three dancers / background voices, attended high school together and took part in various talent competitions. In 1966 you got a record deal. The first single was called She's My Woman and it was a flop.

The big success came in 1968 with a new record company with the hit Tighten Up . The song became No. 1 on the US hit parade and a million seller .

Together with Phillysound producers Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff , more songs were placed in the charts, but they did not come close to the great success of Tighten up . From 1970 onwards there were only minor successes in England with the singles Here I Go Again . There's Gonna Be A Showdown and Soul City Walk , then the group fell apart.

Members

  • Archie Bell (born September 1, 1944 in Henderson , Texas)
  • James Wise (born May 1, 1948 in Houston, Texas)
  • Willie Pernell (born April 12, 1945 in Houston, Texas)
  • Lee Bell (born January 14, 1946 in Houston, Texas)

At times also:

  • Billy Butler
  • Joe Cross
  • Lucious Larkins

Discography

Albums

year title Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements
(Year, title, rankings, weeks, awards, notes) 		Remarks
US US R&B R&B
1968 Tighten Up US142 (8 weeks)
US 		R&B15 (22 weeks)
R&B
1969 I can't stop dancing - R&B28 (4 weeks)
R&B
There's gonna be a showdown US163 (3 weeks)
US 		-
1975 Dance Your Troubles Away US95 (20 weeks)
US 		R&B11 (20 weeks)
R&B
1977 Where Will You Go When The Party's Over - R&B47 (3 weeks)
R&B
1979 Strategy - R&B37 (9 weeks)
R&B

More albums

  • 1977: Hard Not To Like It
  • 1981: I Never Had It So Good

Singles

year Title
album 		Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements
(Year, title, album , rankings, weeks, awards, notes) 		Remarks
UK UK US US R&B R&B
1968 Tighten Up
Tighten Up 		- US1
gold
gold

(15 weeks)US 		R&B1 (15 weeks)
R&B
I Can't Stop Dancing
I Can't Stop Dancing 		- US9 (10 weeks)
US 		R&B5 (10 weeks)
R&B
Do The Choo Choo
I Can't Stop Dancing 		- US44 (7 weeks)
US 		R&B17 (7 weeks)
R&B
Love Will Rain On You
I Can't Stop Dancing 		- - R&B25 (3 weeks)
R&B
There's gonna be a showdown
There's gonna be a showdown 		UK36 (5 weeks)
UK 		US21 (11 weeks)
US 		R&B6 (10 weeks)
R&B
Chart entry in UK only 1973
1969 I Love My Baby
There's Gonna Be a Showdown 		- US94 (3 weeks)
US 		R&B40 (2 weeks)
R&B
Girl You're Too Young
There’s Gonna Be a Showdown 		- US59 (7 weeks)
US 		R&B13 (9 weeks)
R&B
My Balloon's Going Up
There's Gonna Be a Showdown 		- US87 (4 weeks)
US 		R&B36 (5 weeks)
R&B
A World Without Music
 - US90 (2 weeks)
US 		R&B46 (3 weeks)
R&B
Here I Go Again
There's Gonna Be a Showdown 		UK11 (10 weeks)
UK 		- -
Chart entry in UK only in 1972
1970 Don't Let The Music Slip Away
 - US100 (1 week)
US 		-
Wrap it up
 - US93 (2 weeks)
US 		R&B33 (5 weeks)
R&B
1973 Dancing To Your Music
 - US61 (9 weeks)
US 		R&B11 (10 weeks)
R&B
Ain't Nothing For A Man In Love
 - - R&B36 (5 weeks)
R&B
1975 I Could Dance All Night
Dance Your Troubles Away 		- - R&B25 (13 weeks)
R&B
The Soul City Walk
Dance Your Troubles Away 		UK13 (10 weeks)
UK 		- R&B42 (9 weeks)
R&B
1976 Let's Groove (Part 1)
Dance Your Troubles Away 		- - R&B7 (12 weeks)
R&B
Don't Let Love Get You Down
Where Will You Go When The Party's Over 		UK49 (4 weeks)
UK 		- -
Chart entry in UK only 1986
1977 Everybody Have A Good Time
Where Will You Go When The Party's Over 		UK43 (4 weeks)
UK 		- R&B68 (7 weeks)
R&B
Glad You Could Make It
Hard Not To Like It 		- - R&B63 (14 weeks)
R&B
1978 I've Been Missing You
Hard Not To Like It 		- - R&B56 (6 weeks)
R&B
1979 Strategy
Strategy 		- - R&B21 (16 weeks)
R&B
1981 Any Time Is Right
I Never Had It So Good 		- - R&B49 (11 weeks)
R&B

More singles

  • 1969: Just A Little Closer

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ For more information on the title, see Bronson. Fred: The Billboard Book of Number One Hits . 3rd revised and expanded edition. New York City, New York: Billboard Publications, 1992, p. 240
  2. ^ Whitburn, Joel: Top Pop Singles 1955-1993 . Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Ltd., 1994, p. 42
  3. ^ White, Adam: The Billboard Book Of Gold And Platinum Records . 2nd revised edition, London: Omnibus Press, 1990, p. 26
  4. ↑ Ehnert, Günter (Ed.): Hit Records. British Chart Singles 1966-1984 . Hamburg: Taurus Press, 1990, p. 22
  5. ↑ a b Chart sources: UK US
  6. ↑ Music Sales Awards: US