Flimsy jingle freebie!
DISCO ’75 visitors will not only get the chance to see Capital Radio in action but also be given free copies of Capital jingles to use on their own shows.
The NADJ – run National DJ Convention and Exhibition, Disco ’75 is to be held on September 8th/9th at London’s Bloomsbury Centre Hotel, from which on the second day, Tuesday, Capital’s lunchtime Cash On Delivery Show will be broadcast live. Radio freaks (as most DJs must surely be) will see how a studio works when famous Dave Cash gets behind the decks, aided by glamorous gal producer Annie Challis and an army of hard drinking engineers. There may even he an in-person appearance by the station’s lofty record librarian (hullo). Seriously though, throughout the day there will be a steady trickle of Capital’s celebrated DJs – stars like Kenny Everett, Roger Scott, Nicky Horne, Graham Dene, Peter Young, Greg Edwards, Tony Myatt, maybe even Mike Aspel and Gerald Harper – all behaving themselves and shaking hands with the visitors.
Better even than this though for most will be the news that every DJ visiting Disco ’75 will be given a free flimsy disc containing a set of Capital jingles. The flimsies will be designed so that the jingles and linking Capital DJ greetings can be dubbed separately onto tape and used as a set of individual stabs and voice-overs to make disco presentations sound even more impressive. How long before every pub, club and disco DJ is conning that they broadcast on 194?!
HOT TIP
From the Bindle Stiff mobile disco, Hullbridge, near Southend, Essex: “Great idea I just came across – during singalongs at such as weddings, you can have slides of the words made up, so that the people who don’t know the words to things like Run Rabbit Run or Only Girl In The World can join in. It’s most effective.” Nice one, JR!
New Spins
Bop shoo wubbuddy Booby doo wup, doc
SPARROW: Oh Doctor (CBS 3527)
What’s the cure when all your girl can say is “Bop shoo wubbuddy dooby doo wup”? In best doo-wop style the creamy-singing guys in Sparrow ask the doctor (played by Humphrey Bogart), and their ’50s-type slowie picks up where Mud leave off. Great.
RUSS REGENT AND HIS RHYTHMAIRES: The Happy Organ (20th Century BTC 1004)
Atmospheric subdued auditorium FX intro and then Russ romps through the old Dave “Baby” Cortez instrumental with a rapid clapping rhythm that (although not aimed that way) will probably break up North before sweeping the nation.
BANZAI: Chinese Kung Fu (Contempo CS 2068)
Excruciatingly dull unless you’re out on the floor, the Disco Version flip is nothing like as direct as the plug side of this disco stomping instrumental that’s already selling big as an import. Catchy Chinoiserie melody and lotsa Hoo! Ha! Could even hit.
PEOPLES CHOICE: Do It Any Way You Wanna / The Big Hurt (Philadelphia, Int. PIR 3500)
Another much imported, this buoyant disco thumper is basically instrumental yet the flip is surprisingly an authentic slow Blues vocal. Leon Huff penned/prod.
CALHOON: (Do You Wanna) Dance, Dance, Dance (Phil Spector Int. 2010007)
Climbing Stateside after a slow start, this Philly dance dance dancer (tho’ not produced by Phil) could get ’em saying yes, yes, yes.
GLORIA SCOTT: Just As Long As We’re Together (In My Life There Will Never Be Another) (Casablanca CBX 512)
Complicated title, especially as the flipside instrumental version is just the bit that’s in brackets. Anyway, it’s a semi-slow lurching ambiguous beater with a mixture of Motown and modern influences, soulfully sold by Glo.
THE SUPREMES: He’s My Man (Tamla Motown TMG 950)
Already hailed by many as a return to form, this comes-and-goes rhythm plopper ain’t the Three Degrees but will please their bank manager.
AMAZING BLONDEL: Be So Happy (DJM DJS 407)
A revelation if you thought a name like that meant Folk, this smoothly churning US-styled UK blue-eyed beater is truly lovely and joins Sparrow as my fave of the week.
THE MAIN INGREDIENT: The Good Old Days (RCA 2587)
Nice bouncily thudding bass line but a bit low on originality. Still, it goes well with Dolly My Love.
PHILLY DEVOTIONS: I Was A Lonely Man (CBS 3453)
Fine falsetto and rapid rhythm on this full fat, soft and rather bland creamy Philly cheese.
BOB SEGER. Katmandu (Capitol CL 15831)
Rock ‘n’ Roll as Tom Jones might sing it on a good day, with witty lyrics and basic big beat.
SHARK WILSON: God Is Standing By (Cactus CT 68)
Reggae slowie by a guy with a telling line in soulful asides.
THE JELLY BEANS: You Don’t Mean Me No Good / I’m Hip To You (Right On! RO 102)
Clap rhythm girls aimed up North, with a lush ‘n’ dreamy flipside slowie that’s much nicer and kinda Shirelles-ish.
Straight from the States
THE KAY-GEES: Hustle Wit Every Muscle (Gang GR 1325)
Theme from America’s Party TV show, this choppy funker’s title tells it all – tho’ it’s nothing like Van McCoy’s simpler Pop sound. Uh, get down!
MERRY CLAYTON: Keep Your Eye On The Sparrow (Ode 66110)
Far removed from Gospel, Merry’s wailing over a terrific thundering and skittering rhythm that’s a joyful noise even so. Good God!
YVONNE FAIR: Love Ain’t No Toy / You Can’t Judge A Book By Its Cover (Motown M1354F)
Once James Brown’s protege and now Norman Whitfield’s funkiest vehicle, grittily growling M/s Fair spits, hollers and shouts it out over filthy dirty bassy bottom and chattering rhythms on both sides here, culled from her “The Bitch Is Black” LP. Amen.
CHRISTOPHER PAUL AND SHAWN: For Your Love (Casablanca NB 838)
Ed Townsend’s ancient warhorse sounds strangely effective given this lushly swaying Osmonds-type treatment by some white but soulful squeakers.
THE DELLS / THE DRAMATICS: I’m In Love (Cadet CA 5710).
Though it tails off, this cool vocal interplay slowie starts with a strongly positive statement that follows 10cc well.
LP Spins
GEORGE McCRAE: George McCrae (Jay Boy JSL 10)
Latest elpee from George, and every cut’s a winner thanks to KC and those cookin’ kids at TK. Extra good are the incredible Take This Love Of Mine (sounds like a smash!) When I First Saw You and the 6:25-long Baby Baby Sweet Baby. Excellent disco album throughout, and those are rare!
KC AND THE SUNSHINE BAND: KC And The Sunshine Band (Jay Boy JSL 9) Another consistent disco goodie from Hialeah, Florida, with the outstanding play it again and again and again trax being the 5:00-plus versions of That’s The Way (I Like It) and Get Down Tonight.
THE FATBACK BAND: Yum Yum (Polydor 2391184)
Funky stuff though less consistent from the Wikki Wakki guys. Best cuts are Yum Yum (Gimme Some), Boogie With Fatback and (Hey) I Feel Real Good. The sexier Feed Me Your Love reveals a different meaning for “get down!” Cover chick’s a yum yum too.
KOOL & THE GANG: Kool & The Gang’s Greatest Hits (Polydor 2310401 ).
No need to list them, they’re all here – from the original 1969 Kool & The Gang to 1974’s Higher Plane and Rhyme-Tyme People. Some seem over energetic now maybe, but the funk don’t stop.
HUSTLER: Play Loud (Firefly/A&M AMLH 33001)
Status Quo copiers maybe, but they do it well and indeed will do until the real thing comes along again. Even better than their single, Little People, are Money Maker and – especially – the Down Down raver of the set, the frantic and exciting Who D’Yer Think Yer Foolin’. Yes, play it loud!
UK Disco Top 20 – August 16, 1975
01 01 Typically Tropical – Barbados – Gull
02 07 Stylistics – Can’t Give You Anything (But My Love) – Avco
03 04 Linda Lewis – It’s In His Kiss – Arista
04 02 Van McCoy & The Soul City Symphony – The Hustle – Avco
05 11 Gary Toms Empire – 7-6-5-4-3-2-1 Blow Your Whistle – Epic
06 08 Linda Carr & The Love Squad – Highwire – Chelsea
07 03 Hamilton Bohannon – Foot Stompin’ Music – Brunswick
08 09 Bee Gees – Jive Talkin’ – RSO
09 10 George McCrae – It’s Been So Long – Jay Boy
10 RE Hamilton Bohannon – Disco Stomp – Brunswick
11 06 Moments – Dolly My Love – All Platinum
12 13 KC & The Sunshine Band – That’s The Way (I Like It) – Jay Boy
13 RE Bay City Rollers – Give A Little Love – Bell
14 RE MFSB – Sexy – Philadelphia International
15 NE Soul Fox – Thumb A Ride – Black Music
16 05 Bimbo Jet – El Bimbo – EMI
17 17 Gloria Gaynor – All I Need Is Your Sweet Lovin’ – MGM
18 14 Crystal Glass – Crystal World – Philips
19 15 Calendar – Hypertension – Pi Kappa
20 19 Judge Dread – Je T’aime – Cactus
Breakers:
Major Harris – Love Won’t Let Me Wait – Atlantic
Leon Haywood – Come And Get Yourself Some – 20th Century
Hamilton’s Disco Top 10
1 Nitty Gritty Dirt Band – All I Have To Do Is Dream – United Artists
2 Ritchie Family – Brazil – Polydor
3 Clive Baldwin – Now It’s Paul McCartney etc. – Mercury
4 Stylistics – Can’t Give You Anything (But My Love) – Avco
5 Ray Stevens – Misty – Janus
6 KC & The Sunshine Band – That’s The Way (I Like It) – Jay Boy
7 Susan Maughan – El Bimbo – Ember
8 Hustler – Who D’Yer Think Yer Foolin’ – A & M
9 James Taylor – How Sweet It Is – Warners
10 Jeanne Burton – Nobody Loves Me Like You Do – Seville
Breakers:
Sparrow – Oh Doctor – CBS
George McCrae – Take This Love Of Mine – Jay Boy
La Costa – The Best Of My Love – Capitol
DJ HOT LINE
. . . Ray “Rosko” Robinson (Leicester) opines that VAN McCOY Fire (Avco) should be the next single as the album cut is really going places . . . good to see Jeff Bunting (Hull) picking up on the great JEANNE BURTON Nobody Loves Me Like You Do (Seville) . . . Capital Radio’s Mike Allen tips and flips the IMPRESSIONS Miracle Woman (WB) for soulful sophisticats . . . FRANKIE LAINE Cool Water (CBS) a refreshing Summertime Oldie Pick from Steve Ingram (DJ Enterprises, Weybridge, Surrey) . . . THE GOODIES Sick Man Blues (Bradleys) in such heavy company as CLAPTON, ZEP, FLOYD & WALSH for Peter Dunn (Coppercoins Country Club, Haverfordwest, Pembs) . . . busy Maurice Dale (Wymondham, Norfolk) runs fan clubs for Brenda Lee and (gulp!) Lena Zavaroni, and also programmes Zorba’s disco in Majorca where the jocks have flipped for BRENDA LEE Feel Free (MCA) – at least, that’s what they tell him! . . . John “Jay Jay” Sawers (Stevenston, Ayrshire) writes weekly Platter Chatter for the Irvine Herald as well as DJing yet gets no freebies from Pye or EMI . . . maybe we don’t chart ’em but we can start ’em! – how’s that for the DJs’ slogan? . . . Jay Jay tips CHANTELLES Runaway (Black Magic), another hit bound sound from a DJ-servicing small Indie . . . RITCHIE FAMILY Brazil (Polydor) still big for Jon Taylor (Crockers, Norwich), with MIKE POST COALITION Afternoon Of The Rhino (WB) coming up . . . BRENDA LEE JONES You’re The Love Of My Life (UK) a breakout for Jason “Judge Jay” Mayes (Spankies, Glasgow) . . . please get your Charts and letters in by Wednesday, and mention your club or disco’s name if you want it plugged . . .
James Hamilton's Disco Page 
Some great new releases featured this week- People’s Choice on Philly would even cross over to the pop chart. The Supremes “come back” single was ignored by Radio 1 as was everything else reviewed(what’s new!) although the Fatback Band did chart. Hammy continues to share his “helpful tips” for mobile jocks 1.0- all very “Blue Peter & sticky back plastic”. At least the disco chart is 90% disco this week!
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