When William Bell recorded his debut solo single, “Formula of Love,” in 1961, the thought of its B-side becoming an all-time soul classic was probably not foremost on his mind. But the Memphis-born singer-songwriter caught the attention of DJ’s with his seamless, honest tale of regret called “You Don’t Miss Your Water.” While the public didn’t catch on immediately, more and more listeners gradually became aware of what they were missing, and nearly a dozen artists across genres have remade it in the five decades since (most prominently, the late Otis Redding).
When William Bell recorded his debut solo single, “Formula of Love,” in 1961, the thought of its B-side becoming an all-time soul classic was probably not foremost on his mind. But the Memphis-born singer-songwriter caught the attention of DJ’s with his seamless, honest tale of regret called “You Don’t Miss Your Water.” While the public didn’t catch on immediately, more and more listeners gradually became aware of what they were missing, and nearly a dozen artists across genres have remade it in the five decades since (most prominently, the late Otis Redding).
In case you haven’t been keeping up with Mr. Bell—or perhaps even thought that he had retired—here’s some fresh new evidence that he hasn’t lost his one ounce of the magic that he conveyed on that first recording more than 50 years ago. Still actively touring and running his own label (Wilbe Records), William recently stopped by Radio 6 in The Netherlands to give a stunning acoustic performance of “You Don’t Miss Your Water,” accompanied by guitarist Peter Corn. Check it out below and let us know what you think!
by Justin Kantor