Ben Cree, fighting back at the rebels within the National Association of Disc Jockeys, is claiming majority support from his regional officers. However, out of twenty-two serving officers, only nine had written to him by Monday morning, with six votes of confidence and three resignations.
This compares with the rebel faction’s figure of fifteen officers having declared by telephone their intention to resign and support a new breakaway DJ federation.
In a move which may affect the feelings of some exhibitors, Cree has conceded that an NADJ-mounted Disco ’76 show need not necessarily be run by himself. He mentions the possibility of recalling from Oslo his Scandinavian officer, Neil Jensen, who helped run Disco ’75, and he remains confident that the NADJ can put on a trade show by Christmas.
Meanwhile, Dave Durie of Optikinetics has invited a professional exhibition organiser to attend the manufacturers’ and DJs’ meeting on September 6 at London Ski Club.
Last week’s story may have given a false impression of Mr. Durie’s role, overstating his involvement with an “action group” that does not exist. He was merely the first person to take up a suggestion of Roger Squire to contact members of the disco industry and invite them to a meeting to discuss the formation of an industry association, at which meeting he will be but one of many interested parties.
Our apologies for any embarrassment to Mr. Durie and Optikinetics, and also to Ben Cree, Roger Squire, Dougall DJ and all the exhibitors at Disco Scotland (who somehow became “happy customers”!).
New Spins
GEORGE BENSON: ‘Breezin” (Warner Bros. K 16797) (Billboard chart debut 11/6/76)
Subtly lovely title track of his monster US LP, it’s a lazily jaunty jazz guitar instrumental that’s already huge here for funky jocks.
NATURE ZONE: ‘Porcupine’ (London HLU 10537) (Billboard chart debut 7/3/76)
Ultra-powerful sparse but funky groover with Latin bits and a big bouncy beat that’s bang up to date. A biggie, believe me!
CHARLIE RASP: ‘Randy Rooster’ (EMI 2429)
Deceptively simple instrumental thudder that’s known to all good DJs – but not to radio, for whom it’s being reserviced.
UNDISPUTED TRUTH: ‘You + Me = Love’ (Warner Bros. K 16804) (Billboard chart debut 7/24/76)
Ignore the vocal plug side as the fast thunking synthetic flip is the disco smash, and better in every way.
SOULFUL DYNAMICS: ‘Jungle People’ (Epic EPC 4463)
Call-and-answer pounder with ‘In Zaire’ feel and catchy “hey, hey, hey”s.
LINDA RONSTADT: ‘That’ll Be The Day’ (Asylum K 13053)
Great radio fodder, driving enough for Pop/Rock discos too.
KIRBY: ‘Love Letters’ (Anchor ANC 1031)
Slowed right down ‘Albatross’-style guitar instrumental treatment.
CISSY STONE: ‘Gone But Not Forgotten’ (Decca F 13646)
Still there and growing, a gaily skipping fast hustler by the New Faces belter.
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD: ‘You’ve Got Extra Added Power In Your Love’ (Invictus INV 4507)
Voice boxes, kalimbas ‘n things on a purposefully thumping jumper.
LEE MARVIN: ‘O’Reilly’s Daughter’ (Polydor 2058766)
Blatantly bawdy romper for rowdy crowds.
ROSE BANKS: ‘Darling Baby’ (Tamla Motown TMG 1037)
Elgins oldie soulfully sold as a yearning slowie.
NATALIE COLE: ‘Mr. Melody’ / ‘Can We Get Together Again’ (Capitol CL 15880) (Billboard chart debut 12/11/76)
Sophisticated swinger worthy of Ella Fitzgerald, double “A” sided with what sounds like ‘This Will Be, Part 2’.
JOHNNY JONES: ‘Purple Haze’ (Brunswick BR 37)
Mellower mix than the Hendrix cut but otherwise the same Rex Garvin-like version, flipped with FRED HUGHES’s ‘Baby Boy’ for Northern fans.
CHARLES EARLAND: ‘We All Live In The Jungle’ (Mercury 6167414)
Messy chanted funker and a spacey slow-starting Jazz-Funk ‘Intergalactic Love Song‘ flip, while better yet is his Isleys-ish LP track, ‘From My Heart To Yours‘ (specially imported ‘Odyssey’ LP, SRM-1-1049).
FREEWAY: ‘Crazy ‘Bout Your Love’ (Paladin PAL 1)
Coolly hustling flipside thudder.
R.D. LIVINGSTONE: ‘Let’s Tango’ (Charisma CB 292)
Curtis Mayfield-type mid-tempo squeakiness, attractively undersold by Dandy.
ADAM SURF & THE PEBBLE BEACH BAND: ‘Fun, Fun, Fun’ (Paladin PAL 3)
Fresh reading of the Beach Boys oldie, recently deputed on Capital’s “Cruising”.
MADISON: ‘Let It Ring’ (Magnet MAG 72)
Jaunty Pop thumper, kinda trite.
UK Disco Top 20 – August 21, 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 04 David Dundas – Jeans On – Air
04 07 Bee Gees – You Should Be Dancing – RSO
05 06 KC & The Sunshine Band – Shake Your Booty – Jay Boy
06 05 Jimmy James & The Vagabonds – Now Is The Time – Pye
07 11 Johnny Wakelin – In Zaire – Pye
08 03 Candi Staton – Young Hearts Run Free – Warner Bros.
09 08 Dr. Hook – A Little Bit More – Capitol
10 10 Isley Brothers – Harvest For The World – Epic
11 19 Chi-Lites – You Don’t Have To Go – Brunswick
12 NE Bryan Ferry – Extended Play (all cuts) – Island (EP)
13 NE Lou Rawls – You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine – Philadelphia Int’l
14 20 Status Quo – Mystery Song – Vertigo
15 NE 5000 Volts – Dr. Kiss Kiss – Philips
16 NE Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel – Here Comes The Sun – EMI
17 NE Winifred Shaw – Lullaby Of Broadway – United Artists
18 14 Jesse Green – Nice And Slow – EMI
19 NE Starland Vocal Band – Afternoon Delight – RCA
20 RE Dorothy Moore – Misty Blue – Contempo
NE = new entry; RE = re-entry
Appeared in Billboard:
#2 (mentioned in Billboard column 5/15/76, Billboard chart debut 5/22/76)
#4 (Billboard chart debut 7/10/76)
#5 (mentioned in Billboard column 7/17/76, Billboard chart debut 7/31/76)
#7 (Billboard chart debut 1/15/77)
#8 (Billboard chart debut 4/17/76)
#13 (Billboard chart debut 5/22/76)
#18 (mentioned in Billboard column 4/24/76, Billboard chart debut 5/1/76)
Songs mentioned in “DJ Hotline”:
RITCHIE FAMILY: ‘Best Disco In Town’ (Marlin LP cut – US import) (Billboard chart debut 7/10/76)
EDWIN STARR: ‘Accident’ (GTO)
HANK THOMPSON & HIS BRAZOS VALLEY BOYS: ‘Rockin’ In The Congo’ (Capitol)
GRAHAM PARKER & THE RUMOUR: ‘Soul Shoes’ (Vertigo)
JOHN HOLT: ‘For The Love Of You’ (Clintones – US import)
PEOPLE’S CHOICE: ‘Here We Go Again’ (Philadelphia Int’l) (Billboard chart debut 6/19/76)
LAMONT DOZIER: ‘Right There’
AUTOMATIC MAN: ‘My Pearl’ (Island)
CARL MANN: ‘Ubangi Stomp’ (Charly)
HOT BLOOD: ‘Soul Dracula’ (Creole)
MARBOO: ‘Falling In Love In The Summertime’ (EMI)
JAN & DEAN: ‘Surf City’ (UA)
BARRY BIGGS: ‘Work All Day’ (Dynamic)
TAVARES: ‘It Only Takes A Minute’ (Capitol) (Billboard chart debut 7/26/75)
MISTA CHARGE: ‘Show Me (What You’re Made Of)’ (Target)
PHIZZ: ‘Caribbean Queen’ (RSO)
ACKER BILK: ‘Aria’ (Pye)
BOB WILLIAMSON: ‘Kippers For Tea’ (EMI)
FATBACK BAND: ‘Disco Crazy’ (Spring LP cut) (mentioned in Billboard column 7/24/76)
STARBUCK: ‘Moonlight Feels Right’ (Private Stock)
LARRY WILLIAMS & JOHNNY “GUITAR” WATSON: ‘Too Late’ (Epic)
DENNA BARNES: ‘If You Ever Walked Out Of My Life’ (US import)
James Hamilton's Disco Page 