THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

571-Archie Bell & the Drells-Here I Go Again.

1969-It didn’t chart in the UK until 1972, when reaching Number 11.

Best Bit-At 0.06. There have been some unusual names for backing groups over the years. According to my research ‘Drell’ is a fairly uncommon surname, but is in use. In science fiction a ‘Drell’ is a ‘Reptilian Humanoid,’ that evolved on the arid world of ‘Rakhana,’ but the most likely reason this band were called the ‘Drells,’ is because it rhymes with ‘Bell.’

Archie Bell was born on September 1st, 1944, in Henderson, Texas, United States, he is the second oldest of seven brothers, including the ‘NFL’ football player Ricky Bell, (1955-1984) and Jerry Bell, who is a former world karate champion, and a former member of the American ‘R&B’ and ‘Funk’ groups the ‘Dazz Band,’ and ‘New Birth.’ Archie Bell is also related to the music producer and songwriter Thom Bell (1943-2022) (see also best songs 765 and 183.) Archie Bell founded Archie Bell & the Drells in Houston, Texas, United States, in 1966, with his friends James Wise, Willie Parnell and Billy Butler, (1945-2015) and they would remain active through until 1980, in total there were seven different members come and go. Following the split of the group, Archie Bell released a solo Album called ‘I Never Had It So Good,’ in 1981, he then continued to tour on and off as ‘Archie Bell & the Drells’ for many years, with differing touring musicians. In more recent times he has recorded a ‘Blues’ Album, and a ‘Country Music’ Album. On April 16th, 2013, the Mayor of Houston, Annise Parker, honoured Archie Bell, Lucious Larkins, and James Wise, with a proclamation of ,Archie Bell and the Drells Day.’

Archie Bell and the Drells who recorded in the genres of ‘Funk,’ ‘R&B,’ ‘Soul,’ and ‘Southern Soul,’ released their first three studio Albums on the ‘Atlantic Records’ label between 1968-1969, they then moved to ‘Philadelphia International’ records, where their other four studio Albums were issued between 1975-1979, there is also a greatest hits compilation covering the ‘Philadelphia International’ years released in 1990. The singles discography of Archie Bell and the Drells includes 25 singles released between 1968-1981, of which three of those tracks have made the Billboard Hot 100 in America, with their debut single ‘Tighten Up,’ reaching Number 1 in 1968. In America ‘Here I Go Again’ has never charted, while in the UK, they have also had three top 40 hits with ‘Here I Go Again’ peaking the highest at Number 11.

‘Here I Go Again’ was co-written, and co-produced by the legendary songwriting and production duo of Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, (see also best songs 1001-896-725-648-604-338-322 and 258) with the musicians on the track credited to the ‘Leon Huff and Thom Bell’s Orchestra.’ The track was one of six singles issued from ‘There’s Gonna Be a Showdown,’ the third studio Album from Archie Bell and the Drells, from 1969. On it’s release ‘Here I Go Again’ stalled at Number 112 in America on Billboard, and it also failed to chart in the UK. Due to the popularity of the ‘Northern Soul’ scene (see best songs 969) in the UK, the song gained a cult following, and when it was re-issued in 1971, it became a UK hit, peaking at Number 11.

Kenneth Gamble was born on August 11th, 1943, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, together with Leon Huff he has written or produced in excess of 3000 songs. Gamble and Huff were also responsible for founding the ‘Philadelphia International Records’ label in 1971, which would go on to take the mantle of the Number one ‘Soul Music’ record label from ‘Motown’ records in the 1970’s. ‘Philadelphia International Records’ were also a leading light in the development of ‘Disco’ music, with their in house musicians, and orchestra’s laying down the sound that would become the most popular music of the second half of the 1970’s. Together, Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff have co-written three Billboard Number 1 singles, including ‘TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia’) for ‘M.F.S.B. featuring the Three Degrees,’ in 1974, which had been written especially as the theme music for the American musical television program ‘Soul Train,’ which specialised in African/American musical performers. Kenny Gamble has also written, or co-written four Billboard top 40 hits without Leon Huff, including the 1973 track ‘Break Up to Make Up,’ with Thom Bell and Linda Creed, (1948-1986) which reached Number 3 on Billboard for The Stylistics.

‘Here I go again, thinking with my heart, here I go again, blinded by the dark. , I should have learned my lesson, you hurt me before, but every time I see ya, I keep running back for more.’