a disco classic! In the spring of 1979,this song came out of nowhere and became a huge sensation.I remember thinking it was a new Donna Summer song.Early in her career,she used a sexy,whispery voice on her recordings,similiar to what Anita Ward does here.

Great song,great times Damn,I miss that era!

This is one of my favorite songs of all time. I think there were about 3 or 4 versions of the song issued in the beginning. I remember spinning my 45 so much. Then I heard the 12in version and fell in love with the song all over again.

Don't forget the b-side.

I remember this lame version from back in the day I prefer the original version!

daPrettyman said:

I think there were about 3 or 4 versions of the song issued in the beginning.

Interestingly,this song was originally intended for Stacy Lattisaw.It had different lyrics about young teens chatting on a hotline.It was re-written with "adult" lyrics and given to Anita Ward.The funny thing is...it wasn't meant to be a hit.They were trying to establish Anita as a Deniece Williams-type artist who sings mostly ballads."Ring My Bell" was added to her album as a filler disco track (the rest of the album is mostly ballads).However,the song took off,radio played it to death,and Anita became a disco diva by accident.

whatever happened to her?

scriptgirl said:

whatever happened to her?

After "Ring My Bell",she released a second album in late 1979.Titled Sweet Surrender,it bombed and I never heard anything from her again....

THE CUT!

scriptgirl said:

whatever happened to her?

Ms. Ward has made a career off that one song; I guess you guys missed in 2002 New York Time Squard New Year Eve celebration. She still performing, world wide. She was suppose to release an album last year but its been delayed.

the first single from her second album was a song called "Don't Drop My Love"....a very generic,forgettable disco track that went nowhere.It's hard to understand why she couldn't find another catchy,infectious song like "Ring My Bell" to sing.

"Don't Drop My Love" by Anita Ward (1979)

SoulAlive said:

the first single from her second album was a song called "Don't Drop My Love"....a very generic,forgettable disco track that went nowhere.It's hard to understand why she couldn't find another catchy,infectious song like "Ring My Bell" to sing.

Wasn't she under some crazy contract with Frederick Knight? For some reason I remember reading about a dispute they had or something.

Who's Frederick Knight?

scriptgirl said:

Who's Frederick Knight?

[Edited 5/2/12 16:14pm]

MickyDolenz said:

scriptgirl said:

Who's Frederick Knight?

[Edited 5/2/12 16:14pm]

He's a damn good songwriter. I think he's still writing for Malaco Records' acts.

He co-wrote one of my favorite Bobby Bland tracks.

yeah, still never heard of the guy

Frederick is kind of a regional thing, like Joe Hinton or OV Wright. This is his most well known tune. Mick Jagger remade it in the early 1990's.

TD3 said:

scriptgirl said:

whatever happened to her?

Ms. Ward has made a career off that one song; I guess you guys missed in 2002 New York Time Squard New Year Eve celebration. She still performing, world wide. She was suppose to release an album last year but its been delayed.

I saw her in concert before.In the late 90s,she appeared at one of our 'Super Oldies' concerts.In addition to her hit single,she also performed the Gloria Gaynor classic "I Will Survive".

scriptgirl said:

yeah, still never heard of the guy

I recommend you look him up. You will recognize a few of his songs. Some have been remade by others.

If you listen to 80s and 90s southern blues (mostly Malaco Records), you'll definitely recognize some of his stuff. I think he's a good songwriter.

Great song recorded at the Malaco studio right here in Jackson.

daPrettyman said:

This is one of my favorite songs of all time. I think there were about 3 or 4 versions of the song issued in the beginning. I remember spinning my 45 so much. Then I heard the 12in version and fell in love with the song all over again.

I'm glad I didn't buy the 12 Inch. It's the same as the album version.

SoulAlive said:

I remember this lame version from back in the day I prefer the original version!

daPrettyman said:

I think there were about 3 or 4 versions of the song issued in the beginning.

That version is on a disco compilation CD I have. It's horrible.

vainandy said:

daPrettyman said:

This is one of my favorite songs of all time. I think there were about 3 or 4 versions of the song issued in the beginning. I remember spinning my 45 so much. Then I heard the 12in version and fell in love with the song all over again.

I'm glad I didn't buy the 12 Inch. It's the same as the album version.

Actually, there are 2 different album versions. I learned that by accident. My cousin had a version of the album where "Ring My Bell" clocked in at about 5 minutes and a friend of mine had the version that had the 8 minute version. The 5 minute version is similar to the single version, but the ending is longer (if I'm remembering correctly). I will have to double check when I get home.

MickyDolenz said:

Remember this one...

^^Never heard of that version or the group either. I used to hear the Frederick Knight version on the radio though. At the time I didn't know who sang it, I just called it the guy version.

vainandy said:

SoulAlive said:

I remember this lame version from back in the day I prefer the original version!

That version is on a disco compilation CD I have. It's horrible.

Yep,it's on several disco compilations,including the 4-CD 'Disco Box' set by Rhino.Don't know this version is used...it's WHACK!

MickyDolenz said:

^^Never heard of that version or the group either. I used to hear the Frederick Knight version on the radio though. At the time I didn't know who sang it, I just called it the guy version.

This one was a minor hit in the 90s. I used to HATE it (and still do).

I vaguely remember Frederick's. I've only heard it once or twice.

I was like 7 or 8 when this came out Just a baby Love it though