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BELL & JAMES

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“LIVIN’ IT UP (FRIDAY NIGHT)”

(LeRoy “Bell,” Casey “James”)

A & M 2069

No. 15   April 21, 1979

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Florida native LeRoy Bell and Casey James from Port­land, Oregon, met in a Philly-based band called

Special Blend.   Their band broke up, but Bell & James stayed together and formed a songwriting team.

LeRoy’s uncle was Thorn Bell, the producer/ar­ranger/tunesmith for Gamble & Huff and their renowned

“Sound of Philadelphia.”   Bell (drums, gui­tar) & James (guitar, bass, keyboards, synthesizers) were hired

by Uncle Bell’s Mighty Three Music compa­ny to write songs and create demos.   Elton John, L.T.D., MFSB,

Maxine Nightingale, the O’Jays, Freda Payne, Gladys Knight & The Pips, and the Pockets all recorded

some Bell & James tunes.   A sprinkling of their disco ditties appeared in the obscure Jonathan Winters

flick The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh (1979).

At about this time, executives at A & M Records heard one of their demos, and offered the duo a record­ing

contract.   Instant success was theirs: “Livin’ It Up,” Bell & James’ debut disk, went solid gold.   Weeks

later, Elton John repeated the feat with his rendering of their “Mama Can’t Buy Me Love.”   A few more

weeks, and their popularity was on the wane.   Before the onset of their obscurity, three more 45s graced

the middle reaches of the R & B chart through 1980.