New Spins
BRASS CONSTRUCTION: ‘Changin” (UA UP 36134) (mentioned in Billboard column 1/17/76, Billboard chart debut 1/31/76)
Everyone’s second fave LP track, it’s a bouncily clomping hunk of funk that lacks the catchiness of ‘Movin”. Edited, but the flip is all of ‘Dance‘.
OHIO PLAYERS: ‘Who’d She Coo?’ (Mercury 6167385) (Billboard chart debut 9/18/76)
The only choice disco cut from their new ‘Contradiction’ album, this bubblingly cheerful “hoochie-coochie-coo” chanter is bouncy funk at its best.
ROY AYERS UBIQUITY: ‘Evolution’ (Polydor 2066671)
Ultra-taut tricksily funky hi-hat tapper, a big New York import, which could be good up North. ‘Mystic Voyage’ flip’s a sophisticated smoocher.
EDGAR HAYES: ‘In The Mood’ (from LP ’16 Big Band Greats – Vol. 2′, MCA CDLM 8046)
Don’t groan! This is actually the very first, pre-Glenn Miller version – recorded February 17, 1938 – and it’s interestingly different in a fruitily brassy way. Plus, it really swings! Amongst other goodies on the album are ARTIE SHAW’s 1950 treatment of ‘The Continental‘ and JIMMY LUNCEFORD’s lovely 1935 ‘My Blue Heaven‘.
SONNY WORTHING: ‘La Belle France’ (Transatlantic BIG 542)
‘Knock Knock Who’s There’-styled bouncealong gaiety, simple minded enough to be good jolly MoR.
ONE HUNDRED TON AND A FEATHER: ‘It Only Takes A Minute’ (UK 135)
Fiddle intro and a Pop approach on Jonathan King’s cover of a recent Tavares thumper. Steadily ticking rhythm has gained DJ support, and it looks like a hit.
KAY-GEES: ‘Hustle Wit Every Muscle’ (Polydor 2001675) (mentioned in Billboard column 6/21/75)
A popular import last year, the Kool gang’s busily jittery street funker is already dated – but maybe that won’t matter. ‘Let’s Boogie‘ flip could be bigger here now, though.
PLEASE: ‘Ego Trippin” (Decca FR 13649)
German-based Filipino funksters on a Mike Vernon-produced rhythm jiggler that just keeps on going, quite effectively.
THE KNACK: ‘Pick It Up’ (Atlantic K 10739)
Dutch-based blue-eyed funksters on an ‘Elusive’ type leaper that should be of interest. Check the similar ‘Always‘ flip too.
VIVIVAKI: ‘Come Along To The Rock Show’ (Sonet SON 2079)
Pinching riffs left, right and centre, this Swedish B-side makes a nice ballsy intro for a spot of heavy rock.
IAN MATTHEWS: ‘Brown Eyed Girl’ (CBS 4256)
Ian’s jaunty tribute to Van Morrison has crossed over from radio to the college crowds, and could even go MoR.
FLEETWOOD MAC: ‘Rhiannon’ (Reprise K 14430)
Following US success, this great subtly grooving throbber has caught on with campus kids.
STRING DRIVEN THING: ‘Cruel To Fool’ (Charisma CB 286)
Clever cool swayer in the ‘Rhiannon’ groove, good for relaxing rock fans.
STEVE GIBBONS BAND: ‘Johnny Cool’ (Polydor 2058 745)
Solidly pulsating story song, with some great freaky guitar sounds.
GRIMMS: ‘The Womble Bashers Of Walthamstow’ (DJM DJS 679)
Probably punchier and certainly more basic than the more inventive and carefree revival version by THE BASHERS (Virgin VS 154), which will be better for radio.
SEPTIMUS: ‘Telstar (Hustle)’ (Alaska ALA 1020)
Euro-Disco clichés from Norway, not a touch on the Tornados though useable all the same.
MANHATTANS: ‘Kiss And Say Goodbye’ (CBS 4317)
Dead slow US Soul smash, which jocks may consider Chi-Lites-style for their smooch spots.
BARRY BIGGS: ‘Work All Day’ (Dynamic DYN 101)
Atmospheric slow intro to an extremely popular ethnic reggae semi-slowie, different enough to have wide appeal.
AUTOMATIC MAN: ‘My Pearl’ (Island WIP6291)
Ever-descending bass runs and heavy Hendrix influences make this a naggingly intriguing slowie, full of gentle menace.
HOT CHOCOLATE: ‘Man To Man’ (Rak 238)
And some people criticize Al Green’s records for all sounding the same . . .
SIMON SAID: ‘Put Some More Flavour’ (Atlantic K 10773)
Speaking of Al Green, this girlie group’s flipside slowie has his sort of beat on a soulfully strutting groin-grinder that’s really strong.
SIDNEY BARNES: ‘I Hurt On The Other Side’ (Charly CS 1007)
“Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide”-type Northern churner, flipped by THE ROBBINS’ organ treatment of The Olympics’ ‘Good Lovin”, which I bet was big in Belgium.
ERNIE ANDREWS: ‘Fine Young Girl’ (Capitol CL 15873)
Specialised Northern stuff, with that 1965 Fred Smith-type sound.
DON THOMAS: ‘Come On Train’ (DJM DJS 670)
Reputedly in demand up North, a dated though evidently recent Gene Chandler copyist, with instrumental flip.
UK Disco Top 20 – June 19, 1976
01 01 Melba Moore – This Is It – Buddah
02 20 Real Thing – You To Me Are Everything – Pye
03 02 Andrea True Connection – More, More, More – Buddah
04 04 Silver Convention – Get Up And Boogie – Magnet
05 11 Candi Staton – Young Hearts Run Free – Warner Bros.
06 05 Wings – Silly Love Songs – EMI
07 07 Lee Garrett – You’re My Everything – Chrysalis
08 08 Archie Bell & The Drells – Soul City Walk – Philadelphia Int’l
09 03 Bellamy Brothers – Let Your Love Flow – Warner Bros.
10 09 Mistura feat. Lloyd Michels – The Flasher – Route
11 06 Stylistics – Can’t Help Falling In Love – Avco
12 RE Wurzels – Combine Harvester – EMI
13 13 Tina Charles – Love Me Like A Lover – CBS
14 NE Dion – The Wanderer – Philips
15 19 Bryan Ferry – Let’s Stick Together – Island
16 18 Mud – Shake It Down – Private Stock
17 10 Jimmy James – I’ll Go Where The Music Takes Me – Pye
18 NE Walter Murphy – A Fifth Of Beethoven – Private Stock
19 15 Hank Mizell – Jungle Rock – Charly
20(tie) 14 Diana Ross – Love Hangover – Tamla Motown
20(tie) RE Billy Paul – Let’s Make A Baby – Philadelphia Int’l
NE = new entry; RE = re-entry
Appeared in Billboard:
#1 (mentioned in Billboard column 3/13/76, Billboard chart debut 4/3/76)
#2 (Billboard chart debut 11/6/76)
#3 (mentioned in Billboard column 1/3/76, Billboard chart debut 1/17/76)
#4 (mentioned in Billboard column 2/14/76, Billboard chart debut 3/13/76)
#5 (Billboard chart debut 4/17/76)
#8 (Billboard chart debut 11/29/75)
#16 (Billboard chart debut 10/30/76)
#17 (Billboard chart debut 4/17/76)
#18 (Billboard chart debut 5/1/76)
#20(Diana Ross) (Billboard chart debut 2/28/76)
Songs mentioned in “DJ Hotline”:
SYLVERS: ‘Boogie Fever’ (Capitol)
WARREN SMITH: ‘Red Cadillac And A Black Mustache’ (Charly)
BILLY LEE RILEY: ‘Flying Saucers Rock ‘N Roll’ (Charly)
AC/DC: ‘It’s A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘N Roll)’ (Atlantic)
MARLENA SHAW: ‘It’s Better Than Walking Out’ (Blue Note) (mentioned in Billboard column 4/3/76, Billboard chart debut 6/5/76)
DANNY & THE JUNIORS: ‘At The Hop’ (ABC)
PARLIAMENT: ‘Tear The Roof Off The Sucker (Give Up The Funk)’ (Casablanca) (Billboard chart debut 9/18/76)
TAVARES: ‘Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel’ (Capitol – US import) (mentioned in Billboard column 5/15/76, Billboard chart debut 5/22/76)
B.T. EXPRESS: ‘Energy To Burn’ (EMI LP cut)
EQUALS: ‘Funky Like A Train’ (Mercury LP cut)
CHAMPS BOYS: ‘Tubular Bells’ (Philips) (mentioned in Billboard column 4/3/76, Billboard chart debut 4/24/76)
ROYAL SHOWBAND: ‘The Hucklebuck’ (EMI)
DOLLY PARTON: ‘Jolene’ (RCA)
James Hamilton's Disco Page 