She worked as a session singer, most notably backing for Dusty Springfield, and can be found on early Donna Summer material as well. Her first major solo hit was a cover version of Dee Dee Warwick's single "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me", which performed better on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart than the original.
Madeline then joined contemporary pop combo Blue Mink, with whom she had a number of Top 20 hits with Philips Records in the UK, including "Melting Pot", "Our World", "Randy", "Banner Man", "Good Morning Freedom", "Sunday", "By The Devil I Was Tempted" and "Stay With Me". Before joining Blue Mink in late 1969 she sang solo, and her cover version of "Picture Me Gone" is still a Northern Soul favourite today, as is "What Am I Supposed To Do", from 1968, a two-minute B-side tune co-written with future Led Zeppelin member John Paul Jones, then working as one of London's most in-demand session bassists (Bell also sang backup on Joe Cocker's Bye Bye Blackbird in 1969, which featured a guitar solo from another Led Zeppelin member, Jimmy Page) Jones later arranged, produced and recorded Bell's 1973 RCA album Comin' Atcha. She also contributed to the soundtrack of the romance film A Touch of Class (1973).
Bell has also provided backing vocals on a number of other artists' recordings notably Tom Parker's neo-classical arrangements and in 1975 performed with Sunny and Sue (originally members of Brotherhood of Man) at the Eurovision Song Contest in Stockholm, Sweden, providing backing vocals for the German entry Ein Lied Kann Eine Brücke Sein performed by Joy Fleming. In 1976 she sang backing vocals on "We can't go on meeting like this", the second album by the band Hummingbird.
Since the 1970s, Madeline Bell has continued singing solo and also performed in a number of stage shows. She lives in Spain with her husband, drummer Barry Reeves, and regularly tours Europe singing jazz and popular songs. In 1982, she added background vocals to the fantasy film Alicja. She then again teamed up with John Paul Jones in 1985, contributing performances ("Take It or Leave It" and "Here I Am") to the soundtrack album Scream for Help.
Solo discography:
Bell's a Poppin (1967)
Doin' Things (1968)
I'm Gonna Make You Love Me (1968)
Comin' Atcha (1973)
This Is One Girl (1976)
Beat out That Rhythm on a Drum (1998)
Blessed (2000)
That's The Way
Madeline Bell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I like it, uh-huh, uh-huh.
That's the way, uh-huh uh-huh,
I like it, uh-huh, uh-huh.
That's the way, uh-huh uh-huh,
I like it, uh-huh, uh-huh.
That's the way, uh-huh uh-huh,
I like it, uh-huh, uh-huh.
When you take me by the hand,
Tell me I'm your loving man,
When you give me all your love,
And do it the very best you can,
Oh, that's the way, uh-huh uh-huh,
I like it, uh-huh, uh-huh.
That's the way, uh-huh uh-huh,
I like it, uh-huh, uh-huh.
That's the way, uh-huh uh-huh,
I like it, uh-huh, uh-huh.
That's the way, uh-huh uh-huh,
I like it, uh-huh, uh-huh.
When I get to be in your arms,
When we're all all alone,
When you whisper sweet in my ear,
When you turn, turn me on,
Oh, that's the way, uh-huh uh-huh,
I like it, uh-huh, uh-huh.
That's the way, uh-huh uh-huh,
I like it, uh-huh, uh-huh.
That's the way, uh-huh uh-huh,
I like it, uh-huh, uh-huh.
That's the way, uh-huh uh-huh,
I like it, uh-huh, uh-huh.
The lyrics to Madeline Bell's song "That's The Way" convey the simple message that the singer likes it when her partner shows affection and love towards her. She enjoys it when he takes her by the hand, tells her he loves her and gives her his all. The chorus, "that's the way, uh-huh uh-huh, I like it, uh-huh, uh-huh" repeats to reinforce this idea. Essentially, the song is a love song that extols the virtues of affection, love and attention from a partner.
The verses of the song go on to describe how the singer enjoys it when she is in her partner's arms and they are alone, and when he whispers sweet words into her ear. This further emphasizes the idea that the singer values affection in her relationship. The song itself is characterized by its catchy, upbeat, and repetitive structure, with the chorus being repeated multiple times throughout the song.
Overall, "That's The Way" is a straightforward and feel-good love song that celebrates the simple pleasures and importance of affection in a relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, that's the way, uh-huh uh-huh,
I approve of the way things are going and I am enjoying myself
I like it, uh-huh, uh-huh.
I am pleased with the current situation and find it enjoyable
When you take me by the hand,
When you show affection and physical touch towards me
Tell me I'm your loving man,
Expressing love and commitment towards me and recognizing me as their partner
When you give me all your love,
Showing affection and care, giving me their full attention and devotion
And do it the very best you can,
Putting forth effort and ensuring that their actions are satisfying and enjoyable to me
When I get to be in your arms,
Being in close proximity and being held in a loving embrace
When we're all all alone,
Having privacy and being in a secluded place with just the two of us
When you whisper sweet in my ear,
Speaking softly and affectionately, expressing intimate thoughts and feelings to me
When you turn, turn me on,
Doing things that arouse me and make me feel sexually attracted
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HARRY CASEY, HARRY WAYNE CASEY, RICHARD FINCH, RICHARD RAYMOND FINCH, ANGEL VALENTINE, JERMAINE FORDE, John Zazueta, Thomas Philip
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind