Private Number

Album: Best of William Bell (1968)
Charted: 8 75
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Songfacts®:

  • This was written by William Bell and Booker T. Jones for Otis Redding, who died just before the session took place. Bell had a #31 UK hit with "Tribute To A King," a poignant goodbye to Otis Redding.
  • William Bell was the first male vocalist ever signed to Stax Records and he remained a mainstay with them throughout the '60s, as one of the main architects of the Stax sound. This was his biggest UK hit while in the States his only Top 40 hit was the 1977 #10 charting song "Tryin' To Love Two." Judy Clay had previously linked up with white singer songwriter Billy Vera with whom she recorded her only American Top 40 hit "Country Girl-City Man." As the first racially integrated duo, Vera and Clay unfortunately received much racist criticism. Judy Clay tragically died in a car accident in 2001. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Edward Pearce - Ashford, Kent, England, for above 2

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