Ring My Bell

Last updated
"Ring My Bell"
Ring My Bell by Anita Ward US vinyl red label A-side.png
One of side-A pressing labels of the US 7-inch vinyl single
Single by Anita Ward
from the album Songs of Love
B-side "If I Could Feel That Old Feeling Again"
Released1979
Genre
Length
  • 4:28 (album)
  • 3:30 (7" single)
  • 8:11 (12")
Label Juana Records (through TK)
Songwriter(s) Frederick Knight
Producer(s) Frederick Knight
Anita Ward singles chronology
"Ring My Bell"
(1979)
"Make Believe Lovers"
(1979)
Music video
"Ring My Bell": TopPop on YouTube

"Ring My Bell" is a 1979 disco song written by Frederick Knight. The song was originally written for eleven-year-old Stacy Lattisaw as a teenybopper song about children talking on the telephone. [3] When Lattisaw signed with a different label, American singer and musician Anita Ward was asked to sing it instead, and it became her only major hit. [4]

Contents

"Ring My Bell" went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, the Disco Top 80 chart and the Soul Singles chart. [5] It also reached number one on the UK Singles Chart. [6] [7] It also garnered Ward a nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance at the 1980 Grammy Awards. [8]

Composition

The song is noted for its innovative use of the Synare electronic drum, playing a decaying high-pitched tom tone on the first beat of every bar. It also uses chimes. The lyrics concern a woman encouraging her partner to relax with her after a hard day at work. [9]

The lyric "You can ring my bell" was seen as sexually suggestive according to 1984 book The Slanguage of Sex, "'You can ring my bell any time you want to' would be regarded as a 'come-on' phrase in the US if used by a female," and "Songs like 'Ring My Bell' by Anita Ward caused scarcely a raised eyebrow in the '70s." [10] Billboard magazine included the song on its list of the 50 sexiest songs of all time. [9] Songwriter Frederick Knight, however, said that he deliberately avoided any overly suggestive lyrics, wanting to project a clean-cut image for Ward. [11]

Legacy

The significance of "Ring My Bell" to the history of disco music is discussed in Episode 3 of the 2024 PBS series Disco: Soundtrack of a Revolution. [12]

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [52] Platinum150,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [53] Gold500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Collette version

"Ring My Bell"
Single by Collette
from the album Raze the Roof
B-side "Save Yourself"
ReleasedFebruary 27, 1989 [54]
Recorded Studios 301, Sydney
Length3:22
Label CBS
Songwriter(s) Frederick Knight
Producer(s) Kirke Godfrey, Peewee Ferris
Collette singles chronology
"Ring My Bell"
(1989)
"All I Wanna Do Is Dance"
(1989)

"Ring My Bell" was covered by New Zealand-born Australian pop singer Collette. It was released in 1989 as her debut single. The song peaked at number 5 on the ARIA Charts and was certified gold by ARIA. [55]

Track listing

A. "Ring My Bell" – 3:22
B. "Save Yourself" – 4:06
A1. "Ring My Bell" (Ring-a-Ling Mix) – 6:12
A2. "Ring My Bell" (Ding-Dong Mix) – 5:41
B1. "Save Yourself" (Survival Mix) – 5:53
B2. "Save Yourself" (Pow Wow Mix) – 6:39

Charts

Certification

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [55] Gold35,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Take My Breath Away</span> 1986 single by Berlin

"Take My Breath Away" is a song written by Giorgio Moroder and Tom Whitlock for the 1986 film Top Gun, performed by American new wave band Berlin. It won the Academy Award for Best Original Song as well as the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song in 1986.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ma Baker</span> 1977 song by Boney M.

"Ma Baker" is a song by disco group Boney M., released as a single in 1977. It was the first single of their second album Love for Sale and their third consecutive chart-topper in Germany.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Funkytown</span> 1980 single by Lipps Inc.

"Funkytown" is a song by American disco-funk group Lipps Inc., written and produced by Steven Greenberg and released by Casablanca Records in March 1980 as the second single from the group's 1979 debut studio album Mouth to Mouth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Shot the Sheriff</span> Bob Marley & The Wailers song

"I Shot the Sheriff" is a song written by Jamaican reggae musician Bob Marley and released in 1973 with his band the Wailers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)</span> 1979 single by the Jacksons

"Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)" is a song recorded by the Jacksons for their 1978 album Destiny, and released as a single in early 1979. It peaked at No. 7 in the Billboard Hot 100 in May 1979.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ABBA discography</span>

The discography of Swedish pop music group ABBA consists of nine studio albums, two live albums, seven compilation albums, four box sets, five video albums, 50 singles, and 43 music videos. To date, ABBA have sold more than 150 million records worldwide becoming one of the best-selling music artists in history. They have scored 9 No. 1 singles and 10 No. 1 albums in the UK, becoming the most successful Swedish act of all time on the Official Charts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Exhale (Shoop Shoop)</span> 1995 single by Whitney Houston

"Exhale (Shoop Shoop)" is a song by American recording artist and actress Whitney Houston, featured on the soundtrack for the film Waiting to Exhale. It was released as the lead single from the soundtrack on November 6, 1995, by Arista Records. The song was written and produced by Babyface. A mid-tempo R&B and soul ballad, composed in the key of D-flat major, the song's lyrics speak about growing up and learning to let go. The song garnered mostly positive reviews from critics, many of whom noted Houston's vocal maturity in the song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stayin' Alive</span> 1977 single by the Bee Gees

"Stayin' Alive" is a song written and performed by the Bee Gees from the Saturday Night Fever motion picture soundtrack. The song was released in December 1977 by RSO Records as the second single from the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. The band wrote the song and co-produced it with Albhy Galuten and Karl Richardson. It is one of the Bee Gees' signature songs. In 2004, "Stayin' Alive" was placed at No. 189 by Rolling Stone on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. The 2021 updated Rolling Stone list of 500 Greatest Songs placed "Stayin' Alive" at No. 99. In 2004, it ranked No. 9 on AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs survey of top tunes in American cinema. In a UK television poll on ITV in December 2011 it was voted fifth in The Nation's Favourite Bee Gees Song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kung Fu Fighting</span> 1974 single by Carl Douglas

"Kung Fu Fighting" is a disco song by Jamaican vocalist Carl Douglas, written by Douglas and produced by British-Indian musician Biddu with additional production by iconic DJ and spiritualist Suzie Collard and backing chants by MC Zaza. It was released in 1974 as the first single from his debut album, Kung Fu Fighting and Other Great Love Songs (1974), on the cusp of a chopsocky film craze and rose to the top of the British, Australian, Canadian, and American charts, in addition to reaching the top of the Soul Singles chart. It received a Gold certification from the RIAA in 1974 and popularized disco music. It eventually went on to sell eleven million records worldwide, making it one of the best-selling singles of all time. The song uses the Oriental riff, a short musical phrase that is used to signify Chinese culture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">In the Summertime</span> 1970 single by Mungo Jerry

"In the Summertime" is the debut single by British rock band Mungo Jerry, released in 1970. It reached number one in charts around the world, including seven weeks on the UK Singles Chart, two weeks at number one on the Canadian charts, and number three on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in the US. It became one of the best-selling singles of all-time, eventually selling 30 million copies. Written and composed by the band's lead singer, Ray Dorset, while working in a lab for Timex, the lyrics of the song celebrate the carefree days of summer. The track was included on the second album by the band, Electronically Tested, issued in March 1971.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Upside Down (Diana Ross song)</span> 1980 single by Diana Ross

"Upside Down" is a song written and produced by Chic members Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards. It was recorded by American singer Diana Ross and issued on June 18, 1980 from Motown as the lead single from her eleventh studio album, Diana (1980). The song hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on September 6, 1980 and stayed there for four weeks. It also hit number one on the Billboard Disco and Soul charts. The single was released a full four weeks after the album was released.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?</span> 1978 single by Rod Stewart

"Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?", also written "Da' Ya' Think I'm Sexy", is a song by British singer Rod Stewart from his ninth studio album, Blondes Have More Fun (1978). It was written by Stewart, Carmine Appice, and Duane Hitchings, though it incorporates the melody from the song "Taj Mahal" by Jorge Ben Jor and the string arrangement from the song "(If You Want My Love) Put Something Down On It" by Bobby Womack.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Addicted to Love (song)</span> 1986 single by Robert Palmer

"Addicted to Love" is a song by English rock singer Robert Palmer released in 1986. It is the third song on Palmer's eighth studio album Riptide (1985) and was released as its third single. The single version is a shorter edit of the full-length album version.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Play That Funky Music</span> 1976 single by Wild Cherry

"Play That Funky Music" is a song written by Rob Parissi and recorded by the band Wild Cherry. The single was the first released by the Cleveland-based Sweet City record label in April 1976 and distributed by Epic Records. The performers on the recording included lead singer Parissi, electric guitarist Bryan Bassett, bassist Allen Wentz, and drummer Ron Beitle, with session players Chuck Berginc, Jack Brndiar (trumpets), and Joe Eckert and Rick Singer (saxes) on the horn riff that runs throughout the song's verses. The single hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on September 18, 1976; it was also No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart. The single was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America for shipments of over 2 million records and eventually sold 2.5 million in the United States alone.

"Don't Leave Me This Way" is a song written by Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff and Cary Gilbert. It was originally released in 1975 by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes featuring Teddy Pendergrass, an act signed to Gamble & Huff's Philadelphia International label. "Don't Leave Me This Way" was subsequently covered by American singer Thelma Houston in 1976 and British duo the Communards in 1986, with both versions achieving commercial success.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">September (Earth, Wind & Fire song)</span> 1978 song by Earth, Wind & Fire

"September" is a song by the American band Earth, Wind & Fire released as a single in 1978 on ARC/Columbia Records. Initially included as a track for The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1, "September" was very successful commercially and reached No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot R&B Songs chart, No. 8 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart. The song remains a staple of the band's body of work and has been sampled, covered, remixed, and re-recorded numerous times.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Born to Be Alive (song)</span> 1979 disco song by Patrick Hernandez

"Born to Be Alive" is a song written by French singer Patrick Hernandez. It became a worldwide hit and reached number one on the US Billboard National Disco Action chart in early 1979. The song achieved gold status in the United States, Brazil, Germany and Italy, platinum in Australia and Canada, and silver in the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">And the Beat Goes On (The Whispers song)</span> 1979 single by the Whispers

"And the Beat Goes On" is a 1979 single by the American music group The Whispers. The song was their first of two number-one singles on the Soul chart, and their first Top 20 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 19. "And the Beat Goes On" was the group's only number-one song on the dance chart. It was also their first and biggest hit in the United Kingdom, peaking at number 2 on the UK Singles Chart. The song also peaked at number 27 on the Canadian RPM chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Give Me the Night (song)</span> 1980 single by George Benson

"Give Me the Night" is a song recorded by American jazz and R&B musician George Benson, which he released from his 1980 studio album of the same title. It was written by Heatwave's keyboard player Rod Temperton and produced by Quincy Jones. Patti Austin provides the backing and scat vocals that are heard throughout, and one of Benson's fellow jazz guitarists, Lee Ritenour, also performs on the track.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whitney Houston singles discography</span>

American singer Whitney Houston, known as "The Voice", released 57 singles as a leading artist and 4 as a featured artist. Houston is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, with over 220 million records sold worldwide. In the United States, Houston amassed 11 Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles, all of whom have been certified either gold, platinum, multi-platinum or diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America and was one of a selected group of artists to have a top ten single in the Billboard Hot 100 in four different decades. She is currently ranked in seventh place of the artists with the most number one singles in the history of the Billboard Hot 100. Prior to the introduction of digital singles, Houston sold 16.5 million physical singles in the country, the most ever by a female recording artist. In October 2012, the Official Charts Company claimed Houston was the fourth biggest-selling female singles artist of all time with a sales total of 8.5 million singles in that country.

References

  1. Prato, Greg. "Anita Ward – Artist Biography". AllMusic . Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  2. Breihan, Tom (February 10, 2020). "The Number Ones: Anita Ward's "Ring My Bell"". Stereogum . Retrieved July 11, 2023. ...A fun, frisky lightweight dance jam full of barely-disguised sex metaphors and catchy-as-hell hooks.
  3. ""Ring My Bell" – Anita Ward". Super Seventies. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  4. "Ring My Bell by Anita Ward". Songfacts. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  5. 1 2 "Disco Top 80". Billboard . May 19, 1979. p. 55. ISSN   0006-2510.
  6. 1 2 "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 9, 2017.
  7. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 591. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
  8. "Anita Ward". Grammy.com . Retrieved May 3, 2018.
  9. 1 2 "The 50 Sexiest Songs Of All Time". Billboard . February 11, 2010. Retrieved October 13, 2016.
  10. McConville, Brigid; Shearlaw, John (1984). The Slanguage of Sex. Macdonald. p. 31. ISBN   9780356103402.
  11. Grein, Paul (June 9, 1979). "Memphis Teacher's Disk Cracks Top 10". Billboard . p. 9. ISSN   0006-2510.
  12. "Disco: Soundtrack of a Revolution | Stayin' Alive | Episode 3 | PBS". PBS .
  13. "Billboard – Hits of the World". Billboard . Vol. 91, no. 35. September 1, 1979. p. 57. ISSN   0006-2510.
  14. "Anita Ward – Ring My Bell" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
  15. "Anita Ward – Ring My Bell" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
  16. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 4549a." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
  17. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 4491." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
  18. "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 4538." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
  19. Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Anita Ward". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 278. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
  20. "InfoDisc : Tous les Titres par Artiste". InfoDisc (in French). Select "Anita Ward" from the artist drop-down menu. Archived from the original on September 20, 2013. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  21. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Ring My Bell". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
  22. "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Retrieved June 8, 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Anita Ward".
  23. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 32, 1979" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
  24. "Anita Ward – Ring My Bell" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
  25. "Anita Ward – Ring My Bell". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
  26. "Anita Ward – Ring My Bell". VG-lista. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
  27. "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (W)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
  28. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN   84-8048-639-2.
  29. "Anita Ward – Ring My Bell". Singles Top 100. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
  30. "Anita Ward – Ring My Bell". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
  31. "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard . June 30, 1979. p. 80. ISSN   0006-2510.
  32. "Hot Soul Singles". Billboard . June 16, 1979. p. 90. ISSN   0006-2510.
  33. "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending JUNE 30, 1979". Cash Box . Archived from the original on February 5, 2011.
  34. "Record World Singles" (PDF). Record World . July 7, 1976. p. 27. ISSN   0034-1622 . Retrieved September 17, 2017.
  35. "Offiziellecharts.de – Anita Ward – Ring My Bell" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved July 9, 2017.
  36. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 9, 2017.
  37. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  38. "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – Top 100 End of Year AMR Charts – 1970s". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on November 6, 2013. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  39. "Kent Music Report No 288 – 31 December 1979 > National Top 100 Singles for 1979". Kent Music Report . Retrieved January 10, 2023 via Imgur.com.
  40. "Jahreshitparade 1979" (in German). Austriancharts.at. Hung Medien. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  41. "Jaaroverzichten 1979" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  42. "1979 Top 200 Singles". RPM . Vol. 32, no. 13. Library and Archives Canada. December 22, 1979. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  43. "TOP – 1979" (in French). Top-france.fr. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  44. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1979" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 . Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  45. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1995" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  46. "End of Year Charts 1979". Recorded Music New Zealand. Retrieved October 30, 2015.
  47. "Top 100 Hits for 1979". The Longbored Surfer. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  48. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – 1979". Billboard . Archived from the original on June 18, 2009.
  49. "The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1979". Cash Box . Archived from the original on August 25, 2012.
  50. "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts: 1979". Offiziellecharts.de (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Archived from the original on 8 May 2015.
  51. "Hot 100 60th Anniversary". Billboard. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
  52. "Canadian single certifications – Anita Ward – Ring My Bell". Music Canada.
  53. "British single certifications – Anita Ward – Ring My Bell". British Phonographic Industry.
  54. "Australian Music Report No 761 – 27 February 1989 > Singles: New Releases". Australian Music Report . Retrieved July 8, 2017 via Imgur.
  55. 1 2 3 "1989 ARIA Singles Chart". ARIA . Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  56. "Collette – Ring My Bell". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
  57. "Collette – Ring My Bell". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
  58. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 9, 2017.