Ring My Bell

"Ring My Bell" is a 1979 disco song written by Frederick Knight. The song was originally written for then eleven-year-old Stacy Lattisaw, as a teenybopper song about kids 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]

This article is about the song by Anita Ward. For other uses, see Ring My Bell (disambiguation).
"Ring My Bell"
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)
  • 8:12 (12")
LabelJuana 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" 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]

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[51] Platinum 150,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[52] Gold 500,000^

^ 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[53]
RecordedStudios 301, Sydney
Length3:22
LabelCBS
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.[54]

Track listing
  • 7" (CBS 654631)
A. "Ring My Bell" – 3:22
B. "Save Yourself" – 4:06
  • 12"
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
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[54] Gold 35,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also

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. "Disco Top 80". Billboard. May 19, 1979. p. 55. ISSN 0006-2510.
  6. "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. "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. "Billboard – Hits of the World". Billboard. Vol. 91, no. 35. September 1, 1979. p. 57. ISSN 0006-2510.
  13. "Anita Ward – Ring My Bell" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
  14. "Anita Ward – Ring My Bell" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
  15. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 4549a." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
  16. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 4491." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
  17. "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 4538." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
  18. 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.
  19. "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.
  20. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Ring My Bell". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
  21. "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Retrieved June 8, 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Anita Ward".
  22. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 32, 1979" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
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  26. "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (W)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
  27. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  28. "Anita Ward – Ring My Bell". Singles Top 100. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
  29. "Anita Ward – Ring My Bell". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
  30. "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. June 30, 1979. p. 80. ISSN 0006-2510.
  31. "Hot Soul Singles". Billboard. June 16, 1979. p. 90. ISSN 0006-2510.
  32. "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending JUNE 30, 1979". Cash Box. Archived from the original on February 5, 2011.
  33. "Record World Singles" (PDF). Record World. July 7, 1976. p. 27. ISSN 0034-1622. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
  34. "Offiziellecharts.de – Anita Ward – Ring My Bell" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved July 9, 2017.
  35. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 9, 2017.
  36. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  37. "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.
  38. "Kent Music Report No 288 – 31 December 1979 > National Top 100 Singles for 1979". Kent Music Report. Retrieved January 10, 2023 – via Imgur.com.
  39. "Jahreshitparade 1979" (in German). Austriancharts.at. Hung Medien. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  40. "Jaaroverzichten 1979" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  41. "1979 Top 200 Singles". RPM. Vol. 32, no. 13. Library and Archives Canada. December 22, 1979. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  42. "TOP – 1979" (in French). Top-france.fr. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  43. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1979" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  44. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1995" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  45. "End of Year Charts 1979". Recorded Music New Zealand. Retrieved October 30, 2015.
  46. "Top 100 Hits for 1979". The Longbored Surfer. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  47. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – 1979". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 18, 2009.
  48. "The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1979". Cash Box. Archived from the original on August 25, 2012.
  49. "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts: 1979". Offiziellecharts.de (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Archived from the original on 8 May 2015.
  50. "Hot 100 60th Anniversary". Billboard. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
  51. "Canadian single certifications – Anita Ward – Ring My Bell". Music Canada.
  52. "British single certifications – Anita Ward – Ring My Bell". British Phonographic Industry.
  53. "Australian Music Report No 761 – 27 February 1989 > Singles: New Releases". Australian Music Report. Retrieved July 8, 2017 – via Imgur.
  54. "1989 ARIA Singles Chart". ARIA. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  55. "Collette – Ring My Bell". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
  56. "Collette – Ring My Bell". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
  57. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 9, 2017.
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