The Bells (band)

The Bells

Company type	Musical group
Industry	Music
Founded	1964
Headquarters	Montreal , Canada
Products	Albums, singles

The Bells, also known as The Five Bells, were a soft rock group originating from Montreal, Canada, active between 1964 and 1974. Throughout their career, they produced five albums alongside numerous singles, with notable hits in the early 1970s such as "Fly Little White Dove Fly" and "Stay Awhile".

History

The ensemble was established in 1964 under the name the Five Bells, featuring South African-born sisters Anne and Jackie Ralph, along with Cliff Edwards, Doug Gravelle, and Gordon McLeod. In 1967, Anne Ralph and Cliff Edwards were married. Their initial significant track, "Moody Manitoba Morning" (composed by Rick Neufeld), achieved a peak position of number 78 on the RPM 100 chart during the spring of 1969.

Following Anne's retirement in 1970 after childbirth, the band shortened its name to the Bells and released "Fly Little White Dove Fly," which climbed into the Canadian top 10. During this period, pianist Frank Mills briefly joined (1970–71) before embarking on a solo career marked by the 1979 American hit "Music Box Dancer." Mills was succeeded by Dennis Will on piano, while Charlie Clark and Mike Waye became part of the lineup as guitarist and bassist/vocalists respectively.

In 1971, their single "Stay Awhile", a duet featuring Jackie Ralph and Cliff Edwards and penned by Ken Tobias, sold four million copies globally. It held the top spot on Canada's RPM 100 chart for two consecutive weeks and reached number seven on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. The R.I.A.A. awarded the single a gold record on May 27, 1971, prior to widespread radio exposure in the United States. This achievement secured them appearances on The Tonight Show, The Merv Griffin Show, and a New Year's Eve performance at New York's Waldorf Astoria alongside Guy Lombardo. In Australia, "Stay Awhile" attained a peak chart position of nine. Another release from 1971, "Lady Dawn," reached number 11 in Canada.

Toward the end of 1972, their rendition of the Beatles' "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" reached number 83 on the RPM 100 chart and climbed to number two on the Adult Contemporary list.

The group disbanded after Cliff Edwards departed to pursue a solo career in 1973. Their last album, Pisces Rising (Polydor, 1973), generated three Canadian top-10 singles: "The Singer," "Hey My Love," and "He Was Me, He Was You." Subsequently, Jackie Ralph reassembled the band with new members Skip Layton (drums) and Will (Wayne) Cardinal (bass), steering their style towards country rock. Both Layton and Cardinal later joined Faro and Ocean, with Layton eventually becoming drummer for Ambush.

In 2007, Guy Maddin incorporated "Moody Manitoba Morning" into his film My Winnipeg. Then in 2014, Jessica Edwards—daughter of Cliff Edwards and Anne Ralph—produced a documentary titled Stay Awhile, which explores the band's history and personal dynamics; it debuted at the Whistler Film Festival.

Discography

Albums

• Dimensions (1969), Polydor, released as the Five Bells
• Love, Luck 'n' Lollipops (1971), Polydor
• Fly, Little White Dove, Fly (1971), Polydor (US No. 90)
• Stay Awhile (1971, EP), Polydor
• Studio "A" (1972), Polydor
• Pisces Rising (1973), Polydor
• The Best of the Bells (1974, compilation), Polydor
• Best of the Bells (1989, compilation), Polydor
• The Best of the Bells (2004, compilation), Universal Music Canada

Singles

• "V'la Le Bon Vent" / "Amen" (1966), as The Five Bells
• "Big City" / "Moody Manitoba Morning" (1969), as The Five Bells
• "Fly Little White Dove, Fly" / "Follow The Sun" (1970) (CAN No. 9)
• "Je Vais Rester" / "Blanc Petit Oiseau Blanc" (1970)
• "Sweet Sounds of Music" (1971)
• "Homeward Bound" / "For Better for Worse" (1971)
• "For Better For Worse" / "To Know You Is to Love You" (1971)
• "Stay Awhile" / "Sing A Song of Freedom" (1971) (CAN No. 1)
• "I Love You Lady Dawn" / "Rain" (1971)
• "Lady Dawn" (1971)
• "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" / "Moody Manitoba Morning" (1972)
• "Oh My Love" / "You You You" (1972)
• "The Singer" / "Love Once Removed" (1973)
• "He Was Me, He Was You" / "Child of Mine" (1973)
• "Hey My Love" (1973)