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In 1979, Singer/songwriter Frederick Knight wrote a song for 11-year-old Staci Lattisaw to record. It was aimed at 'tweens and teens who spent a lot of time on their telephones.
Before she could record it however,, Staci signed with a different record label and all bets were off.
So Frederick handed the song to Anita Ward--which was a genius move... whether he intended it to be or not.
Now, instead of being a teenybopper song about phones, it became a disco song full of sexual innuendo--after some clever lyric changes, of course.
"Ring My Bell" was rather embarrassing for Anita because of her religious beliefs, especially after it became a "Great Song of the '70s," topping the charts in 5 countries, and reaching the Top 10 in TWELVE more!
In the US Alone, it topped the Top 40 at all three of the major music magazines at the time: "Billboard, Cashbox and Record World. Billboard also had it at #1 on the Dance and Soul Charts.
In Canada, it reached #1 on the Top 40, Adult Contemporary, and Urban Music Charts.
TRIVIA: The unique "peww" sound effect at the beginning of each measure was created by an electric drum---which was a new musical "toy" at the time.
Anita Ward ended up being a one-hit wonder, but the sheer magnitude of "Ring My Bell's" Greatness" is heightened by the fact that she was a one-hit wonder all over the world. Embarrassed or not, that's quite a legacy.
"Ring My Bell" by Anita Ward: a "great Song of 1979! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1UkZLT20TI
Tomorrow: Joe Cocker re-lights a torch. Coming June 1: Great Songs of the '80s!
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