New Spins
MARBOO: ‘Falling In Love In Summertime’ (EMI 2478)
With lots of evocative seaside sound effects, this gentle mid-tempo jogger has that Jesse Green feel and should do well. Resort jocks will need it!
LITTLE NELL: ‘Fever’ (A&M AMS 7234)
Little Willie John’s classic is totally changed into a fast romping hustler with twee whispering from Nell over girlie group chanting. An outsider worth trying.
MICHEL POLNAREFF: ‘Lipstick’ (Atlantic K 10783) (mentioned in Billboard column 5/8/76, Billboard chart debut 5/15/76)
The Frenchman’s New York disco hit is an excitingly building instrumental hustler, fine for funky folk.
PENNY MCLEAN: ‘1-2-3-4 Fire’ (EMI 2479)
The solo Silver Conventioneer had a monstrous New York hit with ‘Lady Bump’, but this happily hustling clompalong follow-up is a bit weak despite initial impact and surface gaiety.
IMPACT: ‘Happy Man’ (Atlantic K 10789) (mentioned in Billboard column 2/21/76, Billboard chart debut 6/12/76)
Fast old-style Temptations-type two-parter with lovely cool singing and plenty of Northern appeal.
DISCO TEX AND THE SEX-O-LETTES: ‘Dancin’ Kid’ (Chelsea 2005069) (Billboard chart debut 11/6/76)
By contrast, a middle-period Temptations-type churner with lead-switching vocals and hustle rhythm.
KEVIN COYNE: ‘Walk On By’ (Virgin VS 148)
Dionne Warwick’s classic gets the throaty Coyne treatment and the jolly tempo gives it a MoR chance, even.
CATE BROS.: ‘Can’t Change My Heart’ (Asylum K 13038)
Pleasant Al Green-type chanter.
WET WILLIE: ‘Baby Fat’ (Capricorn 2089025)
Fairly exciting white funker with good stereo guitars and bouncy beat.
MARLENA SHAW: ‘It’s Better Than Walking Out’ (Blue Note UP 36125) (mentioned in Billboard column 4/3/76, Billboard chart debut 6/5/76)
The ‘Mercy, Mercy, Mercy’ miss is back, on a Bert DeCoteaux-arranged Lee Garrett tune that’s a thudding hustler in this treatment.
SILVER CONVENTION: ‘No, No, Joe’ / ‘Tiger Baby‘ (Magnet MAG 69) (mentioned in Billboard column 3/27/76, Billboard chart debut 4/3/76)
Lacklustre monotonous album tracks, one from each LP, the newer ‘No, No’ being the better bet. Blind faith’ll sell it, I fear.
INSTANT FUNK: ‘Float Like A Butterfly, Round 1’ (Philadelphia Int’l PIR 4291)
Timely tribute to Muhammad Ali, with funky chanting and Ali raps. Round 2’s the bouncy backing track.
ERIC CARMEN: ‘Never Gonna Fall In Love Again’ (Arista 56)
If it hits, this come-and-go romantic swayer will be OK MoR.
CANDLEWICK GREEN: ‘Sign Of The Times’ (Decca FR 13643)
Shimmering strings and a thumping beat dominate this simple unison chanter, which is good Pop.
PUSSYCAT: ‘Mississippi’ (Sonet SON 2077)
If you like ABBA, you’ll love this Euro-Pop chart-topper in 12 countries. ‘Nuff said?!
POLLY BROWN: ‘Love Bug’ (GTO GT 61)
Trite fast pounder in early Gloria Gaynor tradition complete with ‘Buzzin” backing track flip.
HOLIDAY AFFAIR: ‘Tequila’ (Philips 6006539)
Discotised synthetic treatment of the Champs’ classic instrumental.
TONY AUSTIN: ‘Miss You’ (Polydor 2053734)
Slow rip-off of the Chi-Lites sound, quite effective.
DAVID BATTEAU: ‘Festival Of Fools’ (A&M AMS 7231)
Fast subtle Brazilian rhythms with a hint of Conga could be good for sophisticats.
JIMMY CASTOR BUNCH: ‘Bom-Bom’ (Atlantic K 10782)
Exuma-penned phoney West Indian-type knees-up, a bit rough.
BRENDA JONES WITH GROOVE HOLMES: ‘This Is The Me Me (Not The You You)’ (RCA 2688)
Somewhat spiky and shrill staccato semi-hustler.
THE MILLION-AIRS: ‘Boogie Woogie’ (Decca FR 10650)
Close if clinical recreation of Tommy Dorsey’s arrangement, possibly useful for Keith Emerson fans.
UK Disco Top 20 – June 5, 1976
01 02 Silver Convention – Get Up And Boogie – Magnet
02 01 Andrea True Connection – More, More, More – Buddah
03 20 Melba Moore – This Is It – Buddah
04 07 Diana Ross – Love Hangover – Tamla Motown
05 03 Stylistics – Can’t Help Falling In Love – Avco
06 11 Tina Charles – Love Me Like A Lover – CBS
07 05 Jimmy James – I’ll Go Where The Music Takes Me – Pye
08 NE Wings – Silly Love Songs – EMI
09 04 Bellamy Brothers – Let Your Love Flow – Warner Bros.
10 NE Archie Bell & The Drells – Soul City Walk – Philadelphia Int’l
11 06 Hank Mizell – Jungle Rock – Charly
12 15 Candi Staton – Young Hearts Run Free – Warner Bros.
13 10 Lee Garrett – You’re My Everything – Chrysalis
14 NE Rolling Stones – Fool To Cry – Rolling Stones
15 NE Mistura feat. Lloyd Michels – The Flasher – Route
16 NE Wurzels – Combine Harvester – EMI
17 18 Cliff Richard – Devil Woman – EMI
18 09 Fox – S-S-S-Single Bed – GTO
19 14 Mud – Shake It Down – Private Stock
20 12 Sutherland Brothers & Quiver – Arms Of Mary – CBS
NE = new entry; RE = re-entry
Appeared in Billboard:
#1 (mentioned in Billboard column 2/14/76, Billboard chart debut 3/13/76)
#2 (mentioned in Billboard column 1/3/76, Billboard chart debut 1/17/76)
#3 (mentioned in Billboard column 3/13/76, Billboard chart debut 4/3/76)
#4 (Billboard chart debut 2/28/76)
#7 (Billboard chart debut 4/17/76)
#10 (Billboard chart debut 11/29/75)
#12 (Billboard chart debut 4/17/76)
#19 (Billboard chart debut 10/30/76)
Songs mentioned in “DJ Hotline”:
MAUREEN MCGOVERN: ‘The Continental’ (20th Century)
PASADENA ROOF ORCHESTRA: ‘Top Hat, White Tie And Tails’ (Transatlantic)
DION: ‘The Wanderer’ (Philips)
DAVID BOWIE: ‘TVC 15’ (RCA)
James Hamilton's Disco Page 