It’s an expression that nearly everyone knows and understands almost intuitively, with no need for explanation: “You don’t miss your water ‘till your well runs dry.”

William Bell crafted his first single from this simple, familiar homespun sentiment in 1961. Bell signed with Stax upon the recommendation of songwriter / producer Chips Moman, who first saw Bell sing as frontman for the vocal group the Del-Rios.  Moman produced Bell’s “You Don’t Miss Your Water” in Bell’s first recording session as a Stax solo artist.

The sound of Otis Redding certainly comes through Bell’s homogenous vocal blend of downhome country simplicity, foundational gospel faith and blues heartache, simply delivered with no, in an almost conversational tone. For instrumental support, Moman called on a group that included bassist Lewie Steinberg and a relatively unknown (though not for much longer) Booker T. Jones on organ.

As so often happens, “You Don’t Miss Your Water” was almost never heard at all. It was originally pressed as the “B” side to another single (the long-forgotten “Formula of Love”), but once radio stations discovered and began playing the flipside, Bell’s simple tune gathered momentum and ultimately sold about 200,000 copies nationwide. “You Don’t Miss Your Water” not only gave Bell his first hit record, it helped establish Stax Records’ fledgling sound.

This original single version appears on The Soul of a Bell. But since this single was recorded in mono, the album also includes another version from the subsequent 1966 – ’67 album sessions recorded in stereo with the more familiar, standard Booker T. & the MGs lineup supplemented by Isaac Hayes and the Memphis Horns.