Ben Cree has resigned his leadership of the National Association of DJs. His announcement cleared the air before disco manufacturers and DJs met on Monday at London’s Ski Club to decide on future trade organisations for the industry.
Divided into two meetings, the DJs and manufacturers each agreed on plans to form their own separate associations.
The unanimous vote was for a new Disc Jockey Federation, DJF (UK), totally disassociated from the NADJ.
Current members will be contacted by the committee of the new Federation, which is still in the discussion stage, but it will not be directly involved in the running of trade exhibitions.
This will be handled by the British Association of Discotheque Equipment Manufacturers, formed after a vote among the sixteen leading manufacturers who attended the meeting, chaired by Dave Durie of Optikinetics. Constituted to further the interests of and promote the British disco industry, BADEM’s first move is to form a steering committee to conduct a three months’ survey within the industry, so that the articles of association will have full industry approval. Membership details of BADEM will be available shortly but meanwhile enquiries will be handled by Optikinetics, Project Electronics or FAI.
One of BADEM’s first aims will be to mount a disco trade show next year. But, stressed Dave Durie, “BADEM will be working closer with the DJF.”
New Spins
SONS OF CHAMPLIN: ‘Hold On’ (Ariola America AA 106) (Billboard chart debut 6/5/76)
Great whomping blue-eyed funker, powered by the beat of the moment. An import fave of mine for some time.
MANHATTAN TRANSFER: ‘Chanson D’Amour’ (from LP ‘Coming Out’, Atlantic K 50291)
Art and Dotty Todd’s dreamy romancer from ’58 is the album’s high point, an MoR must, but there are also more mundane disco dancers and a good Latin track.
JOHN DENVER: ‘Polka Dots And Moonbeams’ (from LP ‘Spirit’, RCA APL1-1694)
Yeah – gulp! – but, honestly, this dead slow Nilsson-esque reading of the old schmaltzy smoocher is lovely MoR and worth single release.
THE HOLLIES: ‘Daddy Don’t Mind’ (Polydor 2058779)
Uh-oh, now the Hollies go disco. Packing a powerful beat, they thud and thump along until a messy guitar break slightly spoils the flow.
PI R SQUARED: ‘Ramaya’ (UK 150)
Unless the Galaxy label can push their Afric Simone original, it looks like Jo King will clean up again with his cover of this jungle-drumming Continental smash.
EVELYN THOMAS: ‘Love’s Not Just An Illusion’ (20th Century BTC 1027)
Attractive fast modern-style hustler, Northern-aimed but much wider in appeal, that’s beautifully souled by wailing Evelyn.
KIKI DEE: ‘I’ve Got The Music In Me’ / ‘How Glad I Am’ (Rocket ROKN 515) (mentioned in Billboard column 5/17/75)
Segued together on the fade intro/outro, these two old hits join the slow ‘Loving & Free’ and ‘Amoureuse’ on an EP selling at 70p.
SPENCER DAVIS GROUP: ‘Gimme Some Lovin” (Island WIP 6318)
The ’66 Homer Banks rip-off, coupled with a lengthened, remixed and overdubbed version of the original.
TROOPER: ‘Don’t Stop Now’ (Epic EPC 4592)
Obviously fans of Free and Bad Co., these noisy lads cop all the licks you know and love.
CHARLIE RICH: ‘Whirlwind’ (Charly CS 1015)
His Memphis-recorded debut from ’60, it’s a Presley-ish fast rocker, long established with the boppers.
GRAHAM CENTRAL STATION: ‘Entrow’ (from LP ‘Mirror’, Warner Bros. K 56235)
Cheerleader drumming makes a snappy but skippable intro to a mainly instrumental funker.
UK Disco Top 20 – September 11, 1976
01 02 Elton John & Kiki Dee – Don’t Go Breaking My Heart – Rocket
02 01 Bee Gees – You Should Be Dancing – RSO
03 03 Tavares – Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel – Capitol
04 04 Chi-Lites – You Don’t Have To Go – Brunswick
05 07 David Dundas – Jeans On – Air
06 10 Jesse Green – Nice And Slow – EMI
07 13 Barry White – Baby We Better Try To Get It Together – 20th Century
08 11 Bryan Ferry – Extended Play (all cuts) – Island (EP)
09 09 Wings – Let ‘Em In – Parlophone
10 06 Johnny Wakelin – In Zaire – Pye
11 NE ABBA – Dancing Queen – Epic
12 05 Jimmy James & The Vagabonds – Now Is The Time – Pye
13 NE Real Thing – Can’t Get By Without You – Pye
14 08 KC & The Sunshine Band – Shake Your Booty – Jay Boy
15 RE Lou Rawls – You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine – Philadelphia Int’l
16 15 Detroit Spinners – Rubberband Man – Atlantic
17 NE Judge Dread – Y Viva Suspenders – Cactus
18 NE Can – I Want More – Virgin
19 18 Johnny “Guitar” Watson – I Need It – DJM
20 NE Fatback Band – Night Fever – Polydor
NE = new entry; RE = re-entry
Appeared in Billboard:
#2 (Billboard chart debut 7/10/76)
#3 (mentioned in Billboard column 5/15/76, Billboard chart debut 5/22/76)
#6 (mentioned in Billboard column 4/24/76, Billboard chart debut 5/1/76)
#10 (Billboard chart debut 1/15/77)
#11 (mentioned in Billboard column 12/11/76)
#14 (mentioned in Billboard column 7/17/76, Billboard chart debut 7/31/76)
#15 (Billboard chart debut 5/22/76)
#16 (Billboard chart debut 8/7/76)
#19 (Billboard chart debut 9/25/76)
#20 (mentioned in Billboard column 7/24/76, Billboard chart debut 8/7/76)
Songs mentioned in “DJ Hotline”:
RICK DEES & HIS CAST OF IDIOTS: ‘Disco Duck’ (RSO) (Billboard chart debut 9/11/76)
WURZELS: ‘I Am A Cider Drinker’ (EMI)
PEOPLE’S CHOICE: ‘Here We Go Again’ (Philadelphia Int’l) (Billboard chart debut 6/19/76)
DINAH WASHINGTON: ‘September In The Rain’ (Mercury)
PHILHARMONIC 2000: ‘Disconcerto’ / ‘Save Our Souls’ (Philips)
BROTHERS JOHNSON: ‘Get The Funk Out Ma Face’ (A&M) (Billboard chart debut 5/15/76)
MICHEL POLNAREFF: ‘Lipstick’ (Atlantic) (mentioned in Billboard column 5/8/76, Billboard chart debut 5/15/76)
J.A.L.N. BAND: ‘Disco Music’ (Magnet)
MIROSLAV VITOUS: ‘New York City’ (Warner Bros. LP cut) (Billboard chart debut 5/15/76)
EDDIE & THE HOT RODS: ‘Live At The Marquee’ (Island EP)
LORD ROCKINGHAM’S XI: ‘Hoots Mon’ (Decca)
TOM JONES: ‘Delilah’ (Decca)
JOHNNY JONES: ‘Purple Haze’ (Brunswick)
MISTA CHARGE: ‘Show Me (What You’re Made Of)’ (Target)
RIMSHOTS: ‘Super Disco’ (All Platinum) (Billboard chart debut 7/4/76)
RONNIE DYSON: ‘The More You Do It’ (CBS) (mentioned in Billboard column 10/9/76)
MILLIE JACKSON: ‘There You Are’ (Spring)
James Hamilton's Disco Page 