Ben Cree, head of the National Association of DJs, last week withdrew his earlier offer to resign from the NADJ leadership. The majority of the regional officers have now resigned themselves, and are planning to set up a new British DJ Federation.
Behind the breakaway move are regional officers Theo Loyla (South East), Dougall DJ (South Scotland), Keith Main (North Scotland) and John Harding (West Country). They have organised a meeting on Monday, September 6, at 10am at the Ski Club, 118 Eaton Square, London SW1, to discuss the new Federation and dates for the ill-fated disco trade exhibition.
All manufacturers, retailers, Disco ’76 exhibitors, ex-NADJ officers, record companies and any other bodies are invited to the meeting.
The new Federation will automatically give a one year’s free membership to all current NADJ members, plus a magazine, and will be run by the original NADJ regional officers. The new Federation will also include manufacturers and retailers.
The Disco ’76 show, originally planned for the same date as this new meeting, is still booked at the Bloomsbury Centre Hotel as a temporary measure by Roger Squire, who has advised all exhibitors to contact each other and form a consortium. Squire – because of his retailing position in the trade – feels that he isn’t the right person to either mount or sponsor the show himself.
But he will be putting on at least six private shows in the provinces (including Glasgow) during the next few months, and will participate in any other trade shows sponsored by “responsible” organisers.
Acting now as temporary chairman of the “Disco exhibition action group” is Dave Durie of Optikinetics (Luton 0582-411413), who has contacted all Disco ’76 exhibitors about the September 6 meeting. But it does seem unlikely that any sponsors will miraculously appear by September, and thus the exhibition will almost certainly be postponed until maybe as late as January.
New Spins
EDWIN STARR: ‘Accident’ (GTO GT 65)
Brand new but back in his ‘SOS’ bag, a great joyfully pounding stomper that’s already got everyone talking. Lovely slow ‘Eavesdropper‘ flip too.
RONNIE DYSON: ‘The More You Do It’ (CBS 4462) (mentioned in Billboard column 10/9/76)
Jumbled gospel tempo and some soulfully swinging romanticism in Natalie Cole-type style – a goodie.
ROCKY SHARPE & THE RAZORS: ‘Drip Drop’ (Chiswick SW2)
Excitingly authentic new reading of the old Drifters/Dion rocker, EP-ed with three great slow doo-woppers.
STEAM MACHINE: ‘White Shark’ (Mint CHEW 9)
Over-busy, but the best “Jaws” dancer yet, with film dialogue building over booming bass.
RUMOURS: ‘The Promise Of Love’ (State STAT 25)
Simple pop-soul cymbal-sizzler with a pretty lilt from Ken Gold.
THE DETOURS: ‘Try To Hold On’ (MCA 249)
Bobby Moore cover, now a squeaky soul thumper with good telephone intro and funky ‘Love To’ flip.
DETROIT SPINNERS: ‘The Rubberband Man, Pts. 1 & 2’ (Atlantic K 10607) (Billboard chart debut 8/7/76)
Rather laboured mid-tempo ticker.
SWEET SENSATION: ‘Mail Train’ (Pye 7N 45613)
Mundane plodder, but a Scottish success it seems.
CHICAGO: ‘Another Rainy Day In New York City’ (CBS 4458)
Great summery jiggling slowie.
MORT SHUMAN: ‘Sorrow’ (Philips 60423135)
Hit-writing ex-partner of Doc Pomus, now a star in France singing slowies, rather like Demis Roussos.
PEGGY MARCH: ‘Costa Brava’ (EMI 2566)
Be warned this exists, and it’s all that you’d expect!
MIKE BERRY: ‘Take A Heart’ (Polydor 2058764)
‘Indian Reservation’ rides again, with possible pop appeal.
DAVE EDMUNDS: ‘Here Comes The Weekend’ (Swan Song SSK 19408)
Particularly frantic Everly Bros-style strummer, evidently twisting up a storm for some.
JACKSON HAWKE: ‘Into The Mystic’ (CBS 4434)
Good clopping treatment of Van Morrison’s classic.
TOMMY HUNT: ‘Loving On The Losing Side’ (Spark SRL 1146)
Boomingly miked but melodic Northern hustler.
JIMMY “SOUL” CLARK: ‘Sweet Darlin’ (Black Magic BM 115)
Fave old Detroit churner from ’67.
FIDELS: ‘Try A Little Harder’ (DJM DJS 10659)
Vintage Northern stuff from Fred Smith.
DORIS JONES: ‘Stranded In The Wilderness’ (NEMS NES 015)
Tear-away tailormade from Ian Levine and Herb Rooney.
LOVE COMMITTEE: ‘Can’t Win For Losing’ (Ariola America AA 105)
Chattering fast rhythm and soulful vocal interplay, but messy.
OSIBISA: ‘Black Ant’ (Feelgood FLG 101)
Muddily recorded jazz-funk instrumental, probably old, but with a modern beat.
UK Disco Top 20 – August 14, 1976
01 01 Elton John & Kiki Dee – Don’t Go Breaking My Heart – Rocket
02 02 Tavares – Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel – Capitol
03 03 Candi Staton – Young Hearts Run Free – Warner Bros.
04 04 David Dundas – Jeans On – Air
05 06 Jimmy James & The Vagabonds – Now Is The Time – Pye
06 05 KC & The Sunshine Band – Shake Your Booty – Jay Boy
07 13 Bee Gees – You Should Be Dancing – RSO
08 12 Dr. Hook – A Little Bit More – Capitol
09 08 Hundred Ton & A Feather – It Only Takes A Minute – UK
10 14 Isley Brothers – Harvest For The World – Epic
11 07 Johnny Wakelin – In Zaire – Pye
12 11 War – Me And Baby Brother – Island
13 NE Little Anthony & The Imperials – Better Use Your Head – UA
14 NE Jesse Green – Nice And Slow – EMI
15 NE Hot Chocolate – Man To Man – Rak
16 NE Trammps – Soul Searching Time – Atlantic
17 RE Billy Ocean – Love On Delivery – GTO
18 10 Bryan Ferry – Let’s Stick Together – Island
19 NE Chi-Lites – You Don’t Have To Go – Brunswick
20 20 Status Quo – Mystery Song – Vertigo
NE = new entry; RE = re-entry
Appeared in Billboard:
#2 (mentioned in Billboard column 5/15/76, Billboard chart debut 5/22/76)
#3 (Billboard chart debut 4/17/76)
#6 (mentioned in Billboard column 7/17/76, Billboard chart debut 7/31/76)
#7 (Billboard chart debut 7/10/76)
#11 (Billboard chart debut 1/15/77)
#14 (mentioned in Billboard column 4/24/76, Billboard chart debut 5/1/76)
#16 (mentioned in Billboard column 4/17/76, Billboard chart debut 4/24/76)
Songs mentioned in “DJ Hotline”:
SONNY WORTHING: ‘La Belle France’ (Transatlantic)
CISSY STONE: ‘Gone But Not Forgotten’ (Decca)
BRIGATI: ‘Groovin” (Elektra)
THE BOTTOM LINE: ‘That’s The Way To Go’ (GTO) (Billboard chart debut 7/4/76)
ACKER BILK: ‘Aria’ (Pye)
FLASH CADILLAC: ‘Did You Boogie With Your Baby’ (Private Stock)
JOHNNY “GUITAR” WATSON: ‘I Need It’ (DJM) (Billboard chart debut 9/25/76)
NEW EDITION: ‘Sunshine Saturday’ (Epic)
THE MIGHTY SPARROW: ‘Dragon Dance’ (Dynamic)
ROGER GLOVER: ‘Love Is All’ (Purple)
James Hamilton's Disco Page 