Walt's Vinyl Albums
Walt's Vinyl Albums is about vinyl albums from the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. I have rebranded and changed the name from Vinyl Bound. In it, I explore the creation of some of the most iconic albums ever created. Just like before, I dive deep into the passion behind the music. Welcome.
Walt's Vinyl Albums
Why Maggie Bell's 1974 Masterpiece Deserves Your Attention Today
Dive into the fascinating story of Maggie Bell, Scotland's answer to Janis Joplin, and her criminally overlooked masterpiece "Queen of the Night" from 1974. This blues powerhouse emerged from Glasgow's notorious Maryhill Estate—a neighborhood with no hot water or indoor plumbing—where girls were expected to either get pregnant young or work at the sausage factory. Bell had other plans.
By age 15, she was performing in rough bars frequented by American soldiers and local gangsters, discovering that music could be her escape route. Her journey took her through various bands before forming Stone the Crows with her brother Leslie. Tragedy struck when Leslie was electrocuted on stage during a soundcheck, but Bell persevered. She became the first woman signed to Swan Song Records, where she collaborated with legendary producer Jerry Wexler (who had worked with Aretha Franklin and Ray Charles) to create an album of remarkable depth and versatility.
From the heartbreaking ballad "We Had It All" to the jazzy intrigue of "After Midnight" to the soul-stirring "A Woman Left Lonely," Bell's voice carries both grit and smoothness, capturing raw emotion in ways modern recording techniques simply cannot replicate. Though she toured with AC/DC and Earth, Wind & Fire, mainstream American success eluded her—making this episode an essential introduction to a blues icon who deserves wider recognition. At 80, Bell continues creating music and leaving an indelible mark on Britain's musical tapestry.
Hit the notification bell to be notified of future deep dives into vinyl treasures, and remember to spend those albums loudly and proudly. The emotion captured in these vintage recordings—musicians playing together live in the studio—offers a musical experience we can never duplicate today.
Walt's Vinyl Albums podcast is on 14 other podcast stations including, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podcast Addict, Deezer, and many more. You can contact us via email at: walter@waltsvinylalbums.com
Welcome to Walt's Vinyl Albums. Today I spin the tale on Maggie Bell's 1974 Queen of the Night album. Now, if you haven't heard of Maggie Bell, I can tell you she is the UK's Janis Joplin. Maggie Bell was born in Glasgow, scotland, in 1945. She grew up in a musical family and began singing when she was quite young. While Bell's childhood fostered her artistic skills, it was also tough. Her family lived in the Maryhill Estate, a notoriously run-down Glasgow neighborhood. Reflecting on her life at Maryhill, bell remembers that there was no hot water or inside toilets, and when you went to school you just got beat up regularly by the teachers and the headmasters. As far as they were concerned, you were either going to get pregnant or work in the Wall's sausage factory, and that was it. Your whole life was already mapped out for you.
Speaker 1:Bell soon realized that she needed to leave Glasgow and felt the music was her ticket out. She dropped out of school at the age of 15 and began playing at local bars, many of which were frequented by rowdy gangsters and groups of American soldiers. These gigs paid more than her day job, and being a musician seemed to insulate her from the gang activity that would otherwise plague typical patrons. Bell, who would eventually develop an icon in the world of blues, was first exposed to the genre when she began singing the Alex Harvey soul band. She played with Alex Harvey for a short while before he decided that his band's sound was too harsh for her voice and suggested that she join her younger brother Leslie's band, the Kenning Park Ramblers. The Ramblers eventually split and Bell played with a few other groups before reuniting with Leslie. Together they formed a band called the Power of Music. The group toured around Europe and played at US military bases in Germany.
Speaker 1:In 1970, producer Peter Grant stumbled across the power and was deeply impressed. He offered to produce and manage the band alongside Mark London, and in 1970, the band changed its name to Stone the Crows, an expression used by the Brits when one is shocked and surprised. They were an amazingly talented band, due in large part to Bell's outstanding vocals. Nevertheless, the band was not very commercially successful. The little momentum that they had was derailed by a tragic accident. Two years after their formation. Bell and Leslie were still playing together and were engaged to be married. During a sound check, leslie was electrocuted by a microphone and was killed instantly. Stone could not sustain the loss and permanently dissolved in 1973. Luckily, bell was not without a lifeline. Grant, who once managed the band, became an executive at Swan Song Records and signed Bell in 1974. She was the first woman signed by Swan Song and recorded two solo albums with them. The first was Queen of the Night, and I own that album. I own the original press. I love this album with all my heart.
Speaker 1:The album was recorded in New York City with Jerry Wexler, a producer who worked with Ray Charles, aretha Franklin and Dusty Springfield. The two worked tirelessly on the record, combing through hundreds of songs to narrow the track list down to 11. The result of their hard work is a masterful yet raw compendium of songs that capture Bell's incredible vocal depth. The album is multifaceted. It is at once home to the heartbreaking ballad we had it All and the jazzy and carefree After Midnight, a song that contains the essence of intrigue, mystery and excitement. Maggie Bell also recorded A Woman Left Lonely. This song right here, my absolute favorite of the album and, I believe, one that reaches so deep into the soul that the lights come on. Bell is at once energetic and soulful, gritty and smooth, meshing seamlessly with each piece. You know, queen of the Night was so successful that Belle was urged to work on another album, suicide Sal, which she released in 1975.
Speaker 1:Belle toured around the world with her band, with other top artists like Earth, wind, fire and ACDC. How exciting was that? While Bell's popularity largely failed to manifest in the US and I have no clue why, because I live here and I love her she cemented her place in the UK and by me doing this podcast, I'm hoping to bring her music to light today, in 2025. Europe loved her as well and they loved her as a musical icon. Belle continues to nurture her musical passion even at the age of 80. She is collaborating with many people. I don't know where she's at, I don't know how long she's got to go, but I would sure love to talk with her someday, maybe put her on a podcast in the future. I have reached out. She has collaborated with countless artists and has left an indelible mark on Britain's music tapestry.
Speaker 1:I want to thank you for joining me today as I explored the story behind Maggie Bell's 1974 Queen of the Night. Don't forget folks. Albums of the past are extremely important. They have done things in recording studios that we can never duplicate today, and we only get that one shot to have it in our grasp. So own an original album from the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s, any chance you can get, I don't care what genre it is. The amount of compassion and emotion that is in that music, because they are recording live with the full band, is unbeatable. Hit the notification bell, that way when I do pop up with the new podcast, you will be notified. I want to dive deep into the legends of albums, so remember, as always, spend those albums loudly and proudly. I will see you soon. You.