Suicide Sal (1975) was the second solo album, on Atlantic Records, to be released 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. (by Stephanie DePue)
Personnel:
Maggie Bell (vocals)
Hugh Burns (guitar)
Brian Breeze (guitar, vocals)
Paul Francis (drums)
Delisle Harper (bass)
Pete Wingfield (keyboards)
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Roy Davies (keyboards)
Ray Glynn (guitar)
Jimmy Page (guitar)
Jimmy Jewell (saxophone)
Cuddley Judd (bagpipes)
Mickey Keene (guitar)
Billy Lawrie (bass)
Mark London (vocals)
Clark Terry (guitar)
Tracklist:
01. Wishing Well (Yamauchi/Rogers/Kirke/Kossoff/Bundrick) 3.35
02. Suicide Sal (Bell/London/Clifford/Trengove/Wingfield) 3.45
03. I Was In Chains (Sutherland) 3.04
04. If You Don't Know (Wingfield) 3.54
05. What You Got (Armstrong) 2.55
06. In My Life (Courtney/Faith) 3.10
07. Comin' On Strong (Money/Allen) 4.07
08. Hold On (Kirke/Kossoff) 4.49
09. I Saw Him Standing There (Lennon/McCartney) 4.18
10. It's Been So Long (May) 4.30
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11. Coming On Strong (live) (Money/Allen) 5.54
12. Going Down (live) (Nix) 5.13
