In a short time, the move paid off. In 1973, they met a friend of singer Jim Stafford, who directed the vocalist to David’s “Spiders and Snakes.” Stafford was immediately taken with the tune, releasing it as his next single; the humorous retelling of David’s boyhood farm experiences would eventually sell over three million copies. The success of “Spiders and Snakes” gave the Bellamy Brothers enough money to move out to Los Angeles, where they began to concentrate on a full-time musical career.
In 1975, the brothers signed to Curb/Warner Bros., releasing their first single, David’s “Nothin’ Heavy.” The song flopped. Dennis St. John, who was a friend of the Bellamys and Neil Diamond’s drummer, suggested that the duo record a song written by Larry E. Williams, one of Diamond’s roadies. After some encouragement, the Bellamy Brothers recorded and released Williams’ song, “Let Your Love Flow.” The song broke the doors wide open for the brothers, topping the pop charts and climbing into the country Top 30, as well as being a major hit in Britain, West Germany, and Scandinavia.
The Bellamy Brothers quickly released their debut album, also called Let Your Love Flow, which became nearly as successful as the single. Their second album, 1977’s Plain and Fancy, was a major success in Sweden and Norway, but it didn’t make much of an impact in America.
The following year, the Bellamy Brothers moved back to America and returned to the family farm in Darby, FL. Not only did they change their address, but they changed their musical direction, moving closer to a straight country sound.
