New Spins
LOU RAWLS: ‘You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine’ (Philadelphia Int’l PIR 4372) (Billboard chart debut 5/22/76)
Philly’s classiest since ‘Me And Mrs. Jones’, this creamily sung beautiful hustler builds from a lush intro to a Lee Garrett-type rhythm at the end. If it doesn’t smash there ain’t no justice!
TAVARES: ‘Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel’ (Capitol CL 15876) (mentioned in Billboard column 5/15/76, Billboard chart debut 5/22/76)
With an initial buzz created by the full-length 12-incher, the ‘It Only Takes A Minute’ originators are hit-bound here as they bound along on a rattling-paced happiness-filled two parter. Pure vitality!
JIMMY JAMES & THE VAGABONDS: ‘Now Is The Time’ (Pye 7N 45606)
Edited from the forthcoming album track, Jimmy’s latest Biddu number is an optimistic pounding bouncer with message lyrics. The strong beat’ll do it.
JAMES BROWN: ‘Get Up Offa That Thing’ (Polydor 2060687) (Billboard chart debut 9/4/76)
Anticipating everyone’s relief at his return to form, JB announces “I’m back” before hitting one of his better funky grooves (which continues as ‘Release The Pressure’ on the flip). Uhh, get down!
B.T. EXPRESS: ‘Can’t Stop Groovin’ Now, Wanna Do It Some More’ (EMI INT 522) (Billboard chart debut 5/29/76)
Edited to 3:40, this incredible bouncy funker makes no sense at all, as it’s only just got going before it’s gone! Get the ‘Energy To Burn’ album instead.
TRAMMPS: ‘Soul Searchin’ Time’ (Atlantic K 10797) (mentioned in Billboard column 4/17/76, Billboard chart debut 4/24/76)
Out in short commercial and long DJ form, the solidly thwacking cymbal smasher is full of rhythm but may lack appeal for Pop fans. They sure got rhythm, though.
ANDREA TRUE CONNECTION: ‘Party Line’ (Buddah BDS 445) (mentioned in Billboard column 5/22/76, Billboard chart debut 5/29/76)
She gives us more, more, more, but the lyrics are a lot less intriguing. A miss.
RIMSHOTS: ‘Super Disco’ (All Platinum 6146316) (Billboard chart debut 7/4/76)
Heavily synthesized rhythm chugs along beneath slinky strings and cooing chix, making it an obvious must for many. ‘Groove Bus‘ flip could be good up North.
FAMILY AFFAIR: ‘Love Hustle’ (Pye 7N 45609) (Billboard chart debut 10/30/76)
Leaping liveliness like an energetic Silver Convention – hackneyed maybe, but effective.
MISTA CHARGE: ‘Show Me (What You’re Made Of)’ (Target TGT 112)
Nice bouncing little UK hustler with good stereo FX, by Ian Green and his missus, Rosetta Hightower of Orlons fame.
STARBUCK: ‘Moonlight Feels Right’ (Private Stock)
Steadily ticking melodic mid-tempo sung deadpan in the Looking Glass style with all the lovely lilt of Boffalongo’s ‘Dancing In The Moonlight’. Veteran readers now know I love it!
TED NUGENT: ‘Stormtroopin” (Epic EPC-3900)
Exciting if overly frantic slab of dazzling electric heaviness, for hairy headshakers.
PABLO CRUISE: ‘Lifeline’ (A&M AMS 7241)
Slightly Motown-ish blue-eyed hustler.
BLOOBLO: ‘Ice Cream Man’ (Opal PAL 11)
Rough and ready but refreshingly lively reggae hustler.
MYSTIC LIGHT: ‘Going Down To The Discotheque’ (Klik KL 608)
Summery semi-slowie, like a tiny-voiced falsetto Drifters.
CHARLIE MCCOY: ‘Boogie Woogie’ (Monument MNT 4383)
Incredible harmonica treatment of Tommy Dorsey’s 1938 version of the Clarence “Pinetop” Smith rouser. Tricky to get away with, but Rock ‘n Roll shows should try it.
LP Trax
DAVID RUFFIN: ‘Everything’s Coming Up Love’ (Tamla Motown STML 12030) (mentioned in Billboard column 5/29/76, Billboard chart debut 6/5/76)
All tracks but one on this Van McCoy penned and produced album have a bright tempo, making the whole LP of interest. Standouts are ‘First Round Knockout’, a marathon thunking hustler that’s wowing New York, ‘Ready Willing And Able‘, a happily skipping hustler, and ‘Discover Me‘, a typical Van McCoy thumper which comes and goes a bit disconcertingly. Unfair maybe, but Melba Moore fans will dig!
PEOPLE’S CHOICE: ‘We Got The Rhythm’ (Philadelphia Int’l PIR 81370) (Billboard chart debut 7/4/76)
Although the zingy fast instrumental ‘Here We Go Again‘ is the US disco hit single, here I feel that ‘Jam Jam Jam (All Night Long)’ could be better – reminiscent of ‘Wang Dang Doodle’, it’s in the boogie bag and should work well with Silver Convention fans.
ISLEY BROTHERS: ‘Harvest For The World’ (Epic EPC 81268) (Billboard chart debut 5/22/76)
The languidly clapping title track is a pleasant enough single, but in America the powerhouse ‘Who Loves You Better’ is the pounding disco hit.
MOTOWN MAGIC DISCO MACHINE: ‘Volume 2’ (Tamla Motown ST 12028) (Billboard chart debut 7/4/76)
Machine is indeed the word for this latest collection of anonymous backing tracks that never got used. ‘Midnight Rhapsody’ is 10:50 of orchestration – early evening warming-up music which might just do for relaxed smooch-hustling on hot summer nights – while ‘Back To Bach‘ is a full-blown 8:39 hustler and ‘Bend A Little‘ is punchier.
UK Disco Top 20 – July 3, 1976
01 02 Real Thing – You To Me Are Everything – Pye
02 01 Melba Moore – This Is It – Buddah
03 03 Bryan Ferry – Let’s Stick Together – Island
04 06 Candi Staton – Young Hearts Run Free – Warner Bros.
05 07 Lee Garrett – You’re My Everything – Chrysalis
06 05 Archie Bell & The Drells – Soul City Walk – Philadelphia Int’l
07 04 Wings – Silly Love Songs – EMI
08 11 Dion – The Wanderer – Philips
09 15 Peter Frampton – Show Me The Way – A&M
10 NE Rod Stewart – Tonight’s The Night – Riva
11 16 Mistura feat. Lloyd Michels – The Flasher – Route
12 09 Silver Convention – Get Up And Boogie – Magnet
13 20 Thin Lizzy – The Boys Are Back In Town – Vertigo
14 13 Walter Murphy – A Fifth Of Beethoven – Private Stock
15 NE Manhattans – Kiss And Say Goodbye – CBS
16 NE Osibisa – Dance The Body Music – Bronze
17 NE Linda & The Funky Boys – Sold My Rock ‘N Roll – Spark
18 10 Bellamy Brothers – Let Your Love Flow – Warner Bros.
19 NE War – Me And Baby Brother – Island
20 RE Parliament – Give Up The Funk – Casablanca
NE = new entry; RE = re-entry
Appeared in Billboard:
#1 (Billboard chart debut 11/6/76)
#2 (mentioned in Billboard column 3/13/76, Billboard chart debut 4/3/76)
#4 (Billboard chart debut 4/17/76)
#6 (Billboard chart debut 11/29/75)
#12 (mentioned in Billboard column 2/14/76, Billboard chart debut 3/13/76)
#14 (Billboard chart debut 5/1/76)
#20 (Billboard chart debut 9/18/76)
No “DJ Hotline” this week.
James Hamilton's Disco Page 