New Spins
DOOLEY SILVERSPOON: ‘Let Me Be The No. 1 (Love Of Your Life)’ (Parts 1 & 2) (Seville SEV 1020)
By far the strongest disco cut from his superb hustling LP, this romping and swirling Sonny Casella-produced example of the Sound Of New New York is hopefully the one to break him here like it’s doing in the States. If you dig this, get the even better Jeanne Burton: ‘Nobody Loves Me Like You Do’ (SEV 1010), which is what alerted me to S.O.N.N.Y. in the first place.
★ JH PICK
BAY CITY ROLLERS: ‘Money Honey’ (Bell 1461)
Heavy guitar, pounding disco rhythm and police-siren type noises make this their most useable to date.
★ JH PICK
CHRIS BARTLEY: ‘I See Your Name’ (Right On! RO 105)
Great catchy brass and lazy though punchy beat (all emphasized on instrumental flip) help Chris sound like the sweetest thing this side of heaven. Much better than the label’s attempts at funk, it’s a really happy dancer.
TROGGS: ‘(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction’ (Penny Farthing PEN 901)
Not exactly hard to visualize, Reg Presley and the Stones’ classic are made for each other! Thumping chug rhythm, buzzing guitars, ‘Wild Thing’ vocal.
★ JH PICK
WOMBLES: ‘Let’s Womble To The Party Tonight’ (CBS 3794)
Worthy of Roy Wood, this spirited Rock-A-Boogie combines Andrews Sisters and Bill Haley amidst party noises to emerge as messy fun.
★ JH PICK
GARY GLITTER: ‘She-Cat, Alley Cat’ (Bell 1451)
All the DJs say that this is the side – and they’re right as usual! Funky Fatback Band bouncy beat makes it a yum yum.
★ JH PICK
WINNERS’ CIRCLE: ‘Born A Star’ (Warner Bros. K 16614)
Energetic though effetely-sung UK hustler, which scores via the bubbling enthusiasm of Pete Wingfield and others. Try the instrumental version flip, with synthetic lead – it really cooks!
LAUREL AITKEN: ‘Fatty Bum Bum Gone To Jail’ (Horse HOSS 111)
Not similar in sound, but the association should make this reggae thudder a disco biggie. ‘Fatty Had A Baby’ next, maybe?
★ JH PICK
SILVERCLOUD: ‘Northern Soul’ (EMI 2371)
With “how to do the” lyrics, this crass cash-in is so funny it deserves to be heard. It would’ve been right at home on Cameo-Parkway!
THIRD TIME AROUND: ‘Soon Everything Is Going To Be Alright’ (Contempo CS 2076)
Hypnotically repetitive rhythm pushes this fast whomper stomper along, making it oddly distinctive. Backing-track A-side, vocal group B, both extremely good. In fact this is brilliant, and I can’t wait to try it!
★ JH PICK
VENTURES: ‘Superstar Revue’ (UA UP 36009) (Billboard chart debut 9/6/75)
Hustle, Don’t Run – the new command from these veteran twangers, who are buried in brass and chix on this US disco hit. It’s a fast thumper with longer disco flip, and it should work well.
BUTCH BARKER: ‘The Joker’ (Creole CR 113)
Otis Redding bass line and synthetic lead, plus a few maniacal laughs, on an effectively happy instrumental dancer.
PEARLS: ‘The Cheater’ (Private Stock PVT 39)
Frisky updating of Bob Kuban’s 1966 disco classic.
Time for more of them golden oldies…
1: What a dream!
DECCA ARE one sneaky record company! They’ve sat back while I asked in print who has the UK rights to the old Cameo-Parkway catalogue – Including all of CHUBBY CHECKER’S Twist material. Then they rush out completely unannounced a superb two-album compilation of the Cameo-Parkway Story from 1957 to 1972! (London DREAM-U3/4).
Titled THE AMERICAN DREAM, as is a companion volume devoted to the London label, this 24 track set contains many of the Philadelphia-based company’s huge US hits. That means everything from THE RAYS’ Silhouettes and ZACHERLE’S normally exorbitantly-priced Dinner With Drac to DEE DEE SHARP’s Ride and CHUBBY’S Limbo Rock.
In between, disco jocks get such goodies as The Twist, Pony Time, Let’s Twist Again and Dancin’ Party from MR CHECKER (whose rare impersonations-filled debut, The Class, is a hlghspot).
They get Bristol Stomp and Hully Gully Baby from LEN BARRY & THE DOVELLS, Mashed Potato Time and Gravy from DEE DEE SHARP, The Wah-Watusi and Don’t Hang Up from THE ORLONS, plus all BOBBY RYDELL’S major hits.
Collectors should note, incidentally, that THE APPLEJACKS’ track is in fact Mexican Hat Rock Twist.
All these, and a Volume Two Is to follow In February! Why couldn’t Decca have put us out of our misery earlier by announcing their coup?
The other American Dream set, The London American Legend (London DREAM-R1/2) is a more soulful affair, with classics by BETTY HARRIS, MAXINE BROWN, BARBARA MASON, ERMA FRANKLIN and SAM COOKE mixed in with the obvious hits by LITTLE EVA, BOBBY “BORIS” PICKETT, DOBIE GRAY, CAROLE KING, THE EXCITERS and THE RAINDROPS.
Wotta collection to start with! Then there are mid-Sixties punk-rock things by THE CASTAWAYS, CHARTBUSTERS, STRANGELOVES, VOGUES, KNICKERBOCKERS and McCOYS, together with big ones by THE RANDELLS, DALE & GRACE, THE COOKIES, NEIL DIAMOND and TERRY STAFFORD.
Both these sets are in brilliant, crystal-clear unenhanced mono, and have excellent notes by co-compller Adam White.
Right now, with a Twist revival looming, the Cameo set is likely to be of most use to jocks, although the London one is obviously invaluable too if you need the UK hits that it contain.
Both will teach everyone a hell of a lot about our musical roots.
STOP PRESS
CHUBBY CHECKER’S original Let’s Twist Again Is being re-issued as a single next Friday, November 21! Coupled with his version of The Twist, which topped the US charts twice, In 1960 and 1962, this sure-fire Christmas party smash will be on London HLU 10512.
2: On the same theme
Just come out is THOSE WERE THE DAYS – 26 Memorable Radio Themes (UA LP UAG 29739). A must for all MOR jocks with a taste for nostalgia, this superb album recreates the themes from such immediate memory-jerks as Music While You Work, The Archers, Housewives’ Choice and Family Favourites! Even the re-formed Stargazers reprise their famous On The Air before launching into Take It From Here. Bossed by Paul Fenoulhet, the London Concert Orchestra also makes the Paul Temple Theme and Henry Hall’s Here’s To The Next Time sound useful for discos.
Similarly, a maxi-single from about three years ago (Columbia DB 8966, probably deleted) combines the actual original recordings of the
themes from Pick Of The Pops, Desert Island Discs, and Dick Barton. The latter is also on the new LP, but this is the authentic version by the Charles Williams Concert Orchestra.
Used imaginatively, these can be a lot of fun!
3: Where seen
HERE ARE more oldies shops recommended by readers – remember, we need info from you to help us compile a nation-wide list of suppliers!
From Colin McLean (Hamilton): Silverdales, 1288 Argyl St, Glasgow, for Soul and pop.
From Brian Hawkins (West Wickham): Broad Green Record Centre, 266 London Rd, West Croydon, Surrey, plus two whose addresses he’s unsure of, Backtrack in Hertford and “a shop In King Street. Gt. Yarmouth”.
From Sid Tyler (proprietor): El Cid’s Disc Spot, Cross Keys, Leicester Rd, Loughborough, Leics, for original label 45s 1957-1970, starting at 40p.
dj hot line
ROD STEWART: This Old Heart Of Mine (Riva) goes straight to the top for Peter Greig (Route 66 Disco, Piympton), and even the funky Sound Machine Disco (Welwyn Garden City) finds it enough like Al Green to make it a breaker.
Les Aron (Bali-Hai & Farm Clubs, Bognor Regis) sez “Whoopee it’s there!” about HELLO, three months after I printed his “SMASH” for comment. Les also lists his all-time oldies top ten, headed by CHUBBY CHECKER: Let’s Twist Again (Columbia) and including JEFF BECK: Hi Ho Silver Lining (Rak), which does wonders for twistin’ Tony Farmer (Bailey’s, Watford) amongst others as well.
JOHN ASHER: Let’s Twist Again (Creole) a breaker for Dougall DJ (Kilsyth) and Tom Russell (Kirkintilloch), while Colin McLean (Acas Club, Hamilton) finds THE BEATLES: Twist And Shout (Parlophone) a big local favourite and Willy Cash (Untouchables Disco, Appleby) charts SAM COOKE: Twistin’ The Night Away (RCA).
Meanwhile Alex Henderson (Victoria Bars, Weymouth), who indirectly started the Twist craze anyway, says, “Can I get on Creole’s mailing list?”!! Fickle Alex is actually now pushing DAVE CLARK FIVE: Bits & Pieces (Columbia), ATLANTA DISCO BAND: Bad Luck (US Scorpio) and BIDDU: Jump For Joy (Epic).
BIDDU: I Could Have Danced All Night (Epic), on the A-side, is the biggest thing since teabags, reports Robert Land (Volume 1 Roadshow, Southport), who worked it hard before it got that way.
Ray “Rosko” Robinson (Tiffany’s, Leicester), who’s still got DOOLEY SILVERSPOON: As Long As You Know (Seville) charted, infos that JASON SINCLAIR: The End Of The World (Cactus) has always packed his floors, while its original flip (on Horse) Is re-titled as THE DREAD ORCHESTRA: Symphony Of The Apes (Thunderbird).
Club work in York is needed by experienced Bob Stevens (104 Scott St, Perth PH2 8LU), who moves there later this month.
Julian St John (Grecian Rooms, Bridlington) flips Child’s Prayer for HOT CHOCOLATE: Everything Should Be Funky (Rak) after a tip from dancin’ Stuart Hickey . . . 90 Degrees Inclusive a Reggae-Rock group to look out for, following their great gig at Phebes Club (Stoke Newington) last Saturday.
Merseymania lives again next Wednesday 19 November when I play the hits from 1963 at the Lord Nelson in London’s Holloway Road . . . fab! gear!
star tip
THIS WEEK’S Star Tip is from Ashley Eatly (Ashley’s Disco, Ferryside, Dyfed). who suggests amongst several oldies segues the following party medley: GARY GLITTER: The Clapping Song (Sounds Superb LP, Always Yours), SLADE: Get Down And Get With It (Polydor), 1910 FRUITGUM CO: Simon Says (Buddah), JOE LOSS: Hokey Cokey (MfP LP). As Ashley says, these all tell you to do certain things and you get assorted limbs flying everywhere!
UK Disco Top 20 – November 15, 1975
01 11 Roxy Music – Love Is The Drug – Island
02 01 George McCrae – I Ain’t Lyin’ – Jay Boy
03 03 Trammps – Hold Back The Night – Buddah
04 18 Jim Capaldi – Love Hurts – Island
05 04 Esther Phillips – What A Diff’rence A Day Makes – Kudu
06 re David Bowie – Space Oddity – RCA
07 08 Van McCoy & The Soul City Symphony – Change With The Times – Avco
08 16 Hello – New York Groove – Bell
09 02 Drifters – There Goes My First Love – Bell
10 13 Gloria Gaynor – Do It Yourself – MGM
11 10 Maxine Nightingale – Right Back Where We Started From – United Artists
12 09 Dee Clark – Ride A Wild Horse – Chelsea
13 07 Four Seasons – Who Loves You – Warner Bros.
14 06 Natalie Cole – This Will Be – Capitol
15 20 Faith, Hope & Charity – To Each His Own – RCA
16 — Rod Stewart – This Old Heart Of Mine – Riva
17 — Elton John – Island Girl – DJM
18 — ABBA – SOS – Epic
19 — Jigsaw – Sky High – Splash
20 12 George Benson – Supership – CTI
james’ top ten
1 LOVE HURTS Jim Capaldi (Island)
2 LOVE IS THE DRUG Roxy Music (Island)
3 THIS OLD HEART OF MINE Rod Stewart (Riva)
4 WHY DID YOU DO IT Stretch (Anchor)
5 RIGHT BACK WHERE WE STARTED FROM Maxine Nightingale (UA)
6 I COULD HAVE DANCED ALL NIGHT Biddu (Epic)
7 IN THE MOOD Joe Bobs Nashville Sound Company (US Capitol)
8 ALL I HAVE TO DO IS DREAM Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (UA)
9 I ONLY HAVE EYES FOR YOU Dick Powell (UA LP)
10 I LOVE TO DANCE LIKE THEY USED TO DANCE Bing Crosby (UA)
BREAKERS
1 AFRICA (INDIAN SUMMER) Joe Dassin (CBS)
2 WIDE-EYED &LEGLESS Andy Fairweather-Low (A&M)
3 SPACED OUT Undisputed Truth (US Gordy)
James Hamilton's Disco Page 