November 29, 1975: Gil Scott-Heron, Donna Summer, Penny McLean, Cimarons, The Miracles

New Spins

GIL SCOTT-HERON: ‘Johannesburg’ (Arista 23)
The originator of ‘In The Bottle’, Gil gets a subtle Kasandra-type groove going on this slinky slow funky chanter that’s gradually growing Stateside.  Hypnotic stuff.

DONNA SUMMER: ‘Love To Love You Baby’ (GTO GT 17 – single; GTLP 008 – album)
Out here since March this Munich-made American’s pseudo-sexy monotonous thumper has just caught on big in US discos.  Expanded to fill the whole of one side of the new album, her ‘Pillow Talk’-type cooing and moaning gets spread a bit thin but the Barry White-ish backing’s several shifts could well make her the toast of Britain too.

PENNY MCLEAN: ‘Lady Bump’ / ‘The Lady Bumps On’ (EMI 2365)
Another US biggie from abroad, this bouncy bumper’s being played on Canadian import although it’s probably from Germany, where it’s currently number one.  Penny sounds dreadful, but the B-side continuation is bearable being mainly instrumental with lotsa drums, bass and strings. 

CIMARONS: ‘Wicky Wacky’ (Vulcan VUL 1005)
In fact the flip of ‘Tradition’, this Fatback Band oldie is now absolutely terrific, full of incredibly strong rhythm and an overall James Brown feel.  Dig it in stereo!  Surely nobody can sit still to this?
★ JH PICK

MIRACLES: ‘Love Machine’ (Parts 1 & 2) (Tamla Motown TMG 1015)
Punchy fast beat and staccato singing make this ‘City Of Angels’ album track the Smokey-less guys’ best dance bet to date.  Complete with bits of Bertha Butt growling, it’s real funky fun.

DRIFTERS: ‘Can I Take You Home Little Girl’ (Bell 1462)
More MOR triteness from the veterans, whose ‘Under The Boardwalk’ (Atlantic K 10691) is re-issued too.

DERRICK HARRIOT: ‘Eighteen With A Bullet’ (Trojan TR 7973)
Pete Wingfield’s summertime smash sounds like a pick to click again in this superb reggaefication, the Version flip of which has a terrific stereo gimmick.
★ JH PICK

CHUCK JACKSON: ‘I’ve Got The Need’ (All Platinum 6146310)
Much requested as by the Moments on their ‘Sharp’ LP, this smooth though fast wukka-wukker finds underrated Chuck in fine fettle.

OLD BILL: ‘Cokey Cokey’ (Penny Farthing PEN 900)
Done as a doo-wop slowie, like ‘Eighteen With A Bullet’, this unlikely treatment might make a good joke.  Oddly, there’s also a less inventive pop-reggae version out, by Colonel (Ring ‘O 2017104).

RONNIE DAVIS: ‘Maga Lion’ (Angen ANG 110)
Basic but immensely powerful reggae reworking of ‘Fatty Bum Bum’, now reminiscent of the Maytals’ old ’54-46 That’s My Number’ in its bass-heavy simplicity.

MOHAWKS: ‘The Champ’ (Pama PM 719)
British recorded but totally American in sound, this funky organ instrumental rip-off of ‘Tramp’ was a disco smash in ’68.
★ JH PICK

SMALL FACES: ‘Itchycoo Park’ (Immediate IMS 102)
Happy-go-lucky rhythm and singalong chorus on this 1967 classic.

SAILOR: ‘A Glass Of Champagne’ (Epic EPC 3770)
Bright and breezy modish pop, with neo-Harley mannerised vocals.

BLUE MAGIC: ‘Magic Of The Blue’ (Atlantic K 10689)
Already picking up tips, this Norman Harris-prod Philly hustler starts with a lot of instrumental before the very second-fiddle vocals appear.  Bit like a male Silver Convention.

REVELATION: ‘Get Ready For This’ (RSO 2090167)
Co-prod by Norman Harris, this bouncy smooth thumper features a lead singer who’s actually given a chance, but it’s still a bit slick.

BASIC BLACK & PEARL: ‘There’ll Come A Time, There’ll Come A Day’ (Bus Stop BUS 1039)
Evidently from Canada, this soulful and sweet-singing chick gets a good bouncy Al Green-type drumkit pushing her along, and the result’s a grower.

AL GREEN: ‘Full Of Fire’ (London HLU 10511)
Issued (in demo form, anyway) with long disco version flip, Al’s cool newie is just like all the others but with maybe more propulsive bouncy drumming behind him.

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Import Picks

BOTTOM & COMPANY: ‘Here For The Party’ (Motown M1363F)
Bang in the People’s Choice groove, this funky clap rhythm chanter hasn’t shown up yet but is surely bound to become a disco delight.  It sounds more like Britain than do most American R&B hits nowadays.

SOUL TRAIN GANG: ‘Soul Train ’75’ (Soul Train SB 10400)
Tied in with the big US TV show, this Gene Page-arranged hustler is streaming straight to the top in the R&B charts.  Slinky chix coo the lyrics, while flipside the strings and things take over for an instrumental run through that’s rhythmically stronger somehow.  Pretty label design.

S. S. O.: ‘Tonight’s The Night’ (Shady Brook 45-019)
Shrill chix, squeaky strings and a gruff bloke keep giving way to braying brass on the 5:00 disco version of this effective jiggly rhythm semi-slow funkster.  Nice wah-wah synthetics, too.

TOMORROW’S PROMISE: ‘You’re Everything Good To Me’ (Mercury 73790)
The Bert DeCoteaux-arranged rhythm keeps pumping away as the guys do their Temptations impressions and the strings shimmer.  The whole effect is nice and happy, with the rhythm being more of a bumper if anything.  Pleasantly fresh.

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We gave a new twist to the system?

MY THANKS to the many of you who have written in to say that without the co-ordinating impetus given it by this Disco Page, The Twist would never have been a craze again.

As the article that started it all said, I’m surprised that any DJ could be surprised to find the Twist going over well.

It’s remained one of the most obvious crowd rousers ever since its first time around.

Still, it does seem that there were a lot of DJs who hadn’t tried it, and when suddenly all at once they did – bingo! – the sensation that’s sweepin’ the nation.

Never before has a music paper had the influence to start (or, rather, restart) a dance craze.

Neither can many hits have been created without radio plays to promote them.

Now, however, prompted by Record Mirror & Disc, the DJs of Britain have beaten the Beeb and demonstrated the power of the disco by pushing John Asher way up the chart before Chubby Checker.

Similarly, they put the Diversions’ Fatty Bum Bum in the chart despite Carl Malcolm.

It seems that this might be a good opportunity for me to get out and meet some of the club DJs around the country, and help them put on a special Twist night.

I have of course got all the old Twist records, plus all the other similar dance crazes, so that depending on the interest shown we could put on either just a Twist show or else a mammoth extravaganza with all the dance records from ’55 to ’75.

Whether we can find anyone who can DO all those dances is another matter!

Anyway, if any club managers, social secretaries, or the like, are interested, please drop me a line c/o Record Mirror & Disc.

A big deal presentation can be arranged, but basically I’d just like to bring along my box of records and have some fun with the resident DJ, as it’ll be a chance to say “Hi” in person.

Let me know soon, so I can work out an itinerary, huh? See ya!

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dj hot line

THE FIRST inklings of a Jitterbug craze, Renta Santa star Chris Hill (Gold Mine, Canvey Island) charts BENNY GOODMAN: Stompin’ At The Savoy (RCA) and MANHATTAN TRANSFER: Tuxedo Junction (Atlantic) amongst the Southern Soul, and infos that his audiences love to get in the mood between the funky numbers.

Top of his list, though, is RAMSEY LEWIS: Spiderman (US Columbia), also charted by Les “Godfather” Spaine (Timepiece, Liverpool), who sez that a flipped TREMELOES: Ascot Cowboys (DJM) could be a disco biggie.

Maybe it runs in the blood, as both Colin McLean (Acas Club, Hamilton) and Mike McLean (Strathdisco, Glasgow), tip BIDDU: I Could Have Danced All Night (Epic) and LINDA RONSTADT: Heatwave (Asylum).

My hunch about DANIEL BOONE: I Think Of You (Penny Farthing) finally echoed by Paul Anthony (Walsall), who joins Peter Greig (Route 66 Disco, Plympton) in plugging TROGGS: Satisfaction (Penny Farthing).

Peter meanwhile joins Dougall DJ (Kirkintilloch) in charting GENE PITNEY: Train Of Thought (Bronze).

SAILOR: A Glass Of Champagne (Epic) bubbling under for Jay Jay Sawers (Hotel De Croft, Dairy), as is BUNNY SCOTT: Come On Party (2nd Tracs) for Lee Aron (Life Disco, Bognor Regis) and Jeff Bunting (Hull).

Jon Taylor (Crocker’s, Norwich) already tips PENNY McLEAN: The Lady Bumps On (EMI) . . . DOOLEY SILVERSPOON: Let Me Be The No. 1 (Love Of Your Life) (Seville) rates raves from Steve Day (Chingford), who charts VENTURES: Superstar Review (UA).

JOHNNY CLARKE: I’m Gonna Put It On (Vulcan) a reggae chartbuster for Bob Sampson (Black Cobra Disco, Burgess Hill).

My reviews of BILL AMESBURY: Every Girl In The World Tonight (Power Exchange) and LAURIE HEATH: We Danced It Our Way (EMI) never got printed, so I’m glad to see Doctor John (Disco-Tech, Telford) saying they both go down superbly at his type of gig.

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star tip

THIS WEEK’S good advice comes from funky Les Spaine (Timepiece, Liverpool). Les sez that a good way for dee-jays to keep themselves on the ball is to tape-record their shows every now and then. Small faults and self indulgences can then be picked out when the tape is played back at home.

Also (and this is my advice now), it’s a good idea to have a tape of an earlier show standing by at a gig just in case an emergency calls you away from the turntables.

This tape can also be useful in the early stages of a party when nobody is dancing but suitable music is needed until they start, at which point the DJ can take over live.

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UK Disco Top 20 – November 29, 1975

01 01 Roxy Music – Love Is The Drug – Island
02 02 George McCrae – I Ain’t Lyin’ – Jay Boy
03 13 Stretch – Why Did You Do It – Anchor
04 05 Jim Capaldi – Love Hurts – Island
05 06 Hot Chocolate – You Sexy Thing – Rak
06 17 Rod Stewart – This Old Heart Of Mine – Riva
07 04 Maxine Nightingale – Right Back Where We Started From – United Artists
08 07 Hello – New York Groove – Bell
09 03 Trammps – Hold Back The Night – Buddah
10 — KC & The Sunshine Band – I’m So Crazy ‘Bout You – Jay Boy
11 12 Jigsaw – Sky High – Splash
12 18 John Lennon – Imagine – Apple
13 — Impressions – First Impressions – Curtom
14 — John Asher – Let’s Twist Again – Creole
15 14 Silver Convention – Fly Robin Fly – Magnet
16 11 George Benson – Supership – CTI
17 09 Van McCoy & The Soul City Symphony – Change With The Times – Avco
18 re Four Seasons – Who Loves You – Warner Bros.
19 re Leroy Brown – One Woman Man – EMI
20 16 Dee Clark – Ride A Wild Horse – Chelsea

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james’ top ten

1 WHY DID YOU DO IT Stretch (Anchor)
2 RIGHT RACK WHERE WE STARTED FROM Maxine Nightingale (UA)
3 I COULD HAVE DANCED ALL NIGHT Biddu (Epic)
4 LOVE IS THE DRUG Roxy Music (Island)
5 LOVE HURTS Jim Capaldi (Island)
6 THIS OLD HEART OF MINE Rod Stewart (Riva)
7 IN THE MOOD Joe Bob’s Nashville Sound Company (US Capitol)
8 MONEY HONEY Elvis Presley (HMV)
9 MUSIC WHILE YOU WORK Paul Fenoulhet (US LP)
10 LYIN’ EYES Eagles (Asylum)

BREAKERS
1 WIDE-EYED & LEGLESS Andy Fairweather-Low (A&M)
2 I WANT’A DO SOMETHING FREAKY TO YOU Leon Haywood (20th C)
3 SATISFACTION Troggs (Penny Farthing)