Month: April 1976

New Spins

SILVER CONVENTION: ‘Discotheque Volume 2’ LP (Magnet MAG 5011) (LP mentioned in Billboard column 3/27/76, Billboard chart debut 4/17/76)
A predictable but effective disco formula makes ‘No No Joe’, ‘San Francisco Hustle‘ and ‘You’ve Got What It Takes‘ into dancefloor rivals for lead track ‘Get Up And Boogie’ in the States, while here the catchy clapping rhythm pattern of ‘Play Me Like A Yoyo’ could be bigger.

AC/DC: ‘It’s A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘N Roll)’ / ‘Can I Sit Next To You Girl’ (Atlantic K 10745)
Not to be missed by rock jocks, these Aussie youngsters boogie Stones/Elton John-style, with bagpipe noises yet! Yeah, they get it on — and possibly even more on the punkier flip.

DONNA SUMMER: ‘Love Trilogy’ LP (GTO GTLP 010) (LP mentioned in Billboard column 3/6/76, Billboard chart debut 3/20/76)
Side one flows without a gap through ‘Try Me’, ‘I Know’, ‘We Can Make It’ and ‘Try Me I Know We Can Make It’. . . clever, huh? This time it’s all quite funky, fast and bouncy, with the energy level picking up at each shift in emphasis until the very last section, which is the only weak link.  Continue reading “April 24, 1976: Silver Convention, AC/DC, Donna Summer, The Moments, Alan White”

New Spins

BABE RUTH: ‘Elusive’ (Capitol CL 15869) (Billboard chart debut 11/29/75)
A funky disco hit since last year, this joyfully leaping album cut is finally out on 45, though edited in half.

MANDRILL: ‘Panama’ / ‘Disco-lypso’ (UA UP 36103) (Billboard chart debut 1/24/76)
Happy calypso-ish A-side should be good MoR while the funkier flip (a US hit) is much stronger disco fare.

THE CORRIES: ‘Wha Wadna ‘Fecht For Charlie’ (EMI 2447)
‘Jungle Rock’ cum ‘Burundi Black’ drumming sound makes this jig-type folk song a left-fielder that could reward adventurous jocks.  Continue reading “April 17, 1976: Babe Ruth, Mandrill, The Corries, Jonathan King, Teagarden Revival”

New Spins

KOOL AND THE GANG: ‘Love And Understanding’ (Polydor 2001645)
This perturbing funky hustler has a long instrumental build-up to some KC-type chanting which oozes in through the rhythmic crescendo, only to end in a strange mid-air anti-climax.

JEFF PERRY: ‘Love Don’t Come No Stronger’ (Arista 51)
Slow intro to a happily romping Pop-Soul hand-clapper of wide appeal.

SUZANNE STEVENS: ‘Make Me Your Baby’ (Capitol CL 15861).
Maddeningly nagging melody sung by a cool Anne Murray/Helen Reddy voice over lightly hustling backing.  Continue reading “April 10, 1976: Kool And The Gang, Jeff Perry, Suzanne Stevens, Glenn Miller, Easy Street”

New Spins

KEITH EMERSON: ‘Honky Tonk Train Blues’ (Manticore K 13513)
ELP’s Keith turns to his “other” piano as he knocks out a great swinging version of Meade Lux Lewis’s 1930s boogie-woogie raver. Authentic in every way, Benny Goodman-type backing and all!

ATLANTA DISCO BAND: ‘Bad Luck’ (AriolaAmerica AA 102) (Billboard chart debut 10/4/75)
A disco smash since last year on import, this ultra-rhythmic bumpy bass and jiggly guitar instrumental is an established classic already. Drummer Earl Young was never busier!

MEL BLANC: ‘I Taut I Taw A Puddy-Tat’ (Capitol CL 15866)
Probably best if used only in part, as a surprise insert, this vintage silliness is indeed Tweetie-Pie and friend of cartoon fame. Lotsa laffs, while the flip’s ‘That’s All Folks’.  Continue reading “April 3, 1976: Keith Emerson, Atlanta Disco Band, Mel Blanc, Chubby Checker, Mutter Slater”