New Spins
STATUS QUO: ‘Mystery Song’ (Vertigo 6059146)
Wonder if they’ll ever make a single that doesn’t start with a guitar buildup before the rhythm goes WHAM! More full tilt boogie by the best boogiers of the lot.
WINIFRED SHAW: ‘Lullaby Of Broadway’ (UA UP 361131)
The original soundtrack from Busby Berkeley’s chillingly stark dance sequence in ‘Gold Diggers Of 1935’, this great period piece features one hundred pairs of stamping and tapping feet – all in perfect rhythm! I’ve been using it for years, as well as other tracks from its parent album, ‘The Golden Age Of Hollywood Musical’ (UAG 29421).
PHIZZ: ‘Caribbean Queen’ (RSO 2090197)
Trying maybe too hard to be this year’s ‘Fatty Bum Bum’, this perky reggae ditty is causing lots of interest even so. All about a men’s mag centre-spread with a catchy chorus of “in the nude you’re so rude”.
JESSE GREEN: ‘Nice & Slow’ (EMI 2492) (mentioned in Billboard column 4/24/76, Billboard chart debut 5/1/76)
Jesse’s already-popular UK-made hustler is reactivated now with the emphasis placed on the instrumental disco mix version, which is the US hit side. Try it, you’ll like it!
CARL MANN: ‘Ubangi Stomp’ (Charly CS 1013)
Recently released on LP for the very first time, Carl’s Sun-recorded version of the Rockabilly standard is exceptionally exciting and has leapt into favour with all the boppers.
SUTHERLAND BROTHERS & QUIVER: ‘When The Train Comes’ (CBS 4336)
Amazingly like the Doobies in title as well as sound, which is chunkily jiggling rhythm-filled and fine.
SWAMP DOGG: ‘The Other Man’ (DJM DJS 10684)
Little Jerry Williams hits a bouncily funky groove with synthetic burbling and happy melody in the Stevie Wonder bag. The beat’s the big attraction.
LARRY WILLIAMS & JOHNNY “GUITAR” WATSON: ‘Too Late’ (Epic EPC 4421)
A Northern classic from ’67, the dynamic duo’s OKeh label recording is full of that fast churning rhythm and sounds nicely soulful even now.
STARDUST: ‘Golden Oldie Show’ (Sonet SON 2036)
Reactivated from ’73, this perfect summer record has a great US DJ intro and is ideal for starting an oldies spot. Other than that, it’s a lovely semi-slowie, worth much more attention.
THE MIGHTY SPARROW: ‘Dragon Dance’ (Dynamic DYN 103)
Fabulously happy Caribbean calypso-type mento music, with braying brass, carefree conga rhythm and big MoR appeal. Flip’s good too!
RALPH CARTER: ‘Love Is Like An Itching In My Heart’ (Mercury 6167379) (mentioned in Billboard column 4/24/76, Billboard chart debut 5/29/76)
Young Ralph, from the US version of TV’s ‘The Fosters’, hits a solidly whapping beat on his arrival of the Supremes’ 1966 hit. Fast enough for the North first.
HEADS TOGETHER: ‘Disco Truckin’ Mama’ (Charisma CB 287)
British-made funkily jiggling thumper by a bunch of James Brown fans. Pity the voice is so white, otherwise the rhythm’s got it.
UK Disco Top 20 – July 10, 1976
01 04 Candi Staton – Young Hearts Run Free – Warner Bros.
02 01 Real Thing – You To Me Are Everything – Pye
03 03 Bryan Ferry – Let’s Stick Together – Island
04 02 Melba Moore – This Is It – Buddah
05 06 Archie Bell & The Drells – Soul City Walk – Philadelphia Int’l
06 19 War – Me And Baby Brother – Island
07 05 Lee Garrett – You’re My Everything – Chrysalis
08 RE Hundred Ton & A Feather – It Only Takes A Minute – UK
09 07 Wings – Silly Love Songs – EMI
10 10 Rod Stewart – Tonight’s The Night – Riva
11 13 Thin Lizzy – The Boys Are Back In Town – Vertigo
12 14 Walter Murphy – A Fifth Of Beethoven – Private Stock
13 08 Dion – The Wanderer – Philips
14 NE Silver Convention – No, No, Joe – Magnet
15 NE T. Rex – I Love To Boogie – EMI
16 15 Manhattans – Kiss And Say Goodbye – CBS
17 NE Marlena Shaw – Better Than Walking Out – Blue Note
18 NE Our Kid – You Just Might See Me Cry – Polydor
19 11 Mistura feat. Lloyd Michels – The Flasher – Route
20 NE Dorothy Moore – Misty Blue – Contempo
NE = new entry; RE = re-entry
Appeared in Billboard:
#1 (Billboard chart debut 4/17/76)
#2 (Billboard chart debut 11/6/76)
#4 (mentioned in Billboard column 3/13/76, Billboard chart debut 4/3/76)
#5 (Billboard chart debut 11/29/75)
#12 (Billboard chart debut 5/1/76)
#14 (mentioned in Billboard column 3/27/76, Billboard chart debut 4/3/76)
#17 (mentioned in Billboard column 4/3/76, Billboard chart debut 6/5/76)
Songs mentioned in “DJ Hotline”:
JOHNNY “GUITAR” WATSON: ‘I Need It’ (DJM – US import) (Billboard chart debut 9/25/76)
GABOR SZABO: ‘Keep Smiling’ (Mercury LP cut) (Billboard chart debut 10/30/76)
TAVARES: ‘Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel’ (Capitol) (mentioned in Billboard column 5/15/76, Billboard chart debut 5/22/76)
STUART JAMES: ‘I’m In The Mood For Love’ (Bradleys)
TAVARES: ‘It Only Takes A Minute’ (Capitol) (Billboard chart debut 7/26/75)
CHAMPS BOYS: ‘Tubular Bells’ (Philips) (mentioned in Billboard column 4/3/76, Billboard chart debut 4/24/76)
O’JAYS: ‘For The Love Of Money’ (Philadelphia Int’l)
OHIO PLAYERS: ‘Who’d She Coo?’ (Mercury) (Billboard chart debut 9/18/76)
JAMES BROWN: ‘Get Up Offa That Thing’ (Polydor) (Billboard chart debut 9/4/76)
BLACK NASTY: ‘Cut Your Motor Off’ (Big Hit – US import)
James Hamilton's Disco Page 