The Bells - Songs

ABOUT

The Bells were a Canadian pop/soft rock group that became famous during the early 1970s. They are best known for the steamy male-female romantic duet, "Stay Awhile" (1971).

Formed in 1965 in Montreal, Quebec and first known as The Five Bells, the original lineup consisted of Cliff Edwards, Doug Gravelle, Gordie McLeod, and South African-born sisters Anne and Jackie Ralph. They had several personnel changes and additions that included Frank Mills (later of "Music Box Dancer" fame) who served from 1970-1971 as pianist before going solo. They were signed to Polydor and had their first charting song in Canada in 1969 with "Moody Manitoba Morning." Edwards and Anne Ralph married in 1967, and after the birth of their first child in 1970, Ralph retired and the group name was shortened to The Bells.

The Bells debuted on the U.S. charts in late 1970 with the peace anthem, "Fly Little White Dove Fly," a minor hit that made the Canadian Top 10. Their fame took off the following year worldwide with the Ken Tobias-penned "Stay Awhile" (1971), performed by Jackie Ralph and Cliff Edwards, which topped the Canadian charts, reached the Top 10 on both the U.S. Pop/Rock and Adult Contemporary charts, and soon after went gold. This smash was followed in the U.S. by several other minor hits through 1971 that include "I Love You Lady Dawn" (1971) and "To Know You Is To Love You" (1971), the latter a remake of the similarly-titled Phil Spector-penned oldies classic, "To Know Him, Is To Love Him." In 1973, The Bells released their final album, "Pisces Rising," which produced three Top 10 hits in Canada: "He Was Me," "Hey My Love," and "The Singer."

At the height of their commercial fame, The Bells performed widely and appeared on "The Tonight Show" and "The Merv Griffin Show." They disbanded in 1973 when Cliff Edwards left for a solo career and since then, have reunited a number of times over the years.

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SONGS

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The Bells

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