New Spins
DEAF SCHOOL: ‘What A Way To End It All’ (Warner Bros. K 16812)
Not immediately danceable, but believe me, this zany Sparks/Roxy-type pastiche is gonna be a smash!
GOLDEN FIDDLE ORCHESTRA: ‘The Golden Fiddle March’ (Mountain TOP 13)
Immensely useful for mobile jocks, it’s great “Och aye the noo” Gay Gordons-type music, with a flipside set of ‘Reels’ that’s the best I’ve ever heard on single.
JIMMY SHAND: ‘Bluebell Polka’ (EMI 2513)
More sedately jaunty, Scottish stuff (unfortunately a remake of his ’55 hit).
WILD CHERRY: ‘Play That Funky Music’ (Epic EPC 4593) (Billboard chart debut 9/4/76)
Huge US hit, much imported, in the Funkadelic/Parliament/Bootsy Collins bag.
AFRIC SIMONE: ‘Ramaya’ (Galaxy GY 103)
The original Euro-smash “click” song is indeed now being re-promoted, so accept no substitute.
BIDDU ORCHESTRA: ‘Bionic Boogie’ (Epic EPC 4594)
Bridging the gap until his “new sound” LP in November, this simple stomper’s already a disco delight.
LTG EXCHANGE: ‘Huddle’ (Atlantic K 10824)
Funky jumper that’ll obviously get ’em going in the weeks to come.
MIAMI: ‘Kill That Roach’ (Jay Boy BOY 111) (Billboard chart debut 10/30/76)
Big import sound, a coolly thunking medium groover with jazzy playing and hip muttering.
PAUL NICHOLAS: ‘Dancing With The Captain’ (RSO 2090206)
Delightfully gay Elton & Kiki-type hornpipe romp, faster than the original by BUGATTI & MUSKER (Epic EPC 4586).
PETE WINGFIELD: ‘Bubbling Under’ (Island WIP 6336)
Pete’s back with the doo-wops on a powerhouse slowie that’s full of rumbling bass voices and pent-up emotion. Ooo-whee!
OUT TO LUNCH: ‘Everything’s Nice’ (Transatlantic BIG 547)
Madly inventive vocal harmonies, musical quotes and general brilliance over a choppy funk beat.
RICK SPRINGFIELD: ‘Take A Hand’ (Chelsea 2005075)
Soft start to a driving pounder that’s as bright and exciting as Queen but far too short at just over two minutes.
J. VINCENT EDWARDS: ‘Love Hit Me’ (Pye 7N 45620)
Maxine Nightingale-like Northern beater with squeaky vocal in Newbeats style.
MARLENA SHAW: ‘Love Has Gone Away’ (Blue Note UP 36163) (mentioned in Billboard column 4/3/76)
Big but over-obvious sounding thumper.
TYRONE DAVIS: ‘Give It Up (Turn It Loose)’ (CBS 4580)
Laid back soulster weaving in and out of a rock-solid rhythm with possible Northern appeal. Good flip too.
STEVE GOODMAN: ‘Death Of A Salesman’ (Asylum K 13055)
Jolly yi-hah fun with a macabre twist to the traveling salesman joke.
SAMMY GORDON: ‘Making Love’ (Polydor 2058765)
Haunting semi-slowie with wheezing synthetics and chanting chix.
O’JAYS: ‘Message In Our Music’ (Philadelphia Int’l PIR 4598) (Billboard chart debut 9/11/76)
Faster and messier than, but similar to, ‘I Love Music’.
CHARLES EARLAND: ‘From My Heart To Yours’ (Mercury 6167360)
The Isleys-like album track instrumental is now flip to ‘Intergalactic Love Song‘, a slow-starting funky cha-cha.
ISLEY BROTHERS: ‘Who Loves You Better’ (Epic EPC 4373) (Billboard chart debut 5/22/76)
Typical two-part funky fast grinder.
HARRIS CHALKITIS: ‘New York City’ (Barclay BAR 43)
Yet another NYC, this one’s a good funky Euro B-side.
TONY JACKSON: ‘Sayonara’ (Pye 7N 45617)
Perky ditty with a blatant disco hustle beat.
UK Disco Top 20 – September 18, 1976
01 02 Bee Gees – You Should Be Dancing – RSO
02 11 ABBA – Dancing Queen – Epic
03 04 Chi-Lites – You Don’t Have To Go – Brunswick
04 01 Elton John & Kiki Dee – Don’t Go Breaking My Heart – Rocket
05 03 Tavares – Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel – Capitol
06 06 Jesse Green – Nice And Slow – EMI
07 08 Bryan Ferry – Extended Play (all cuts) – Island (EP)
08 NE Ritchie Family – Best Disco In Town – Polydor
09 13 Real Thing – Can’t Get By Without You – Pye
10 07 Barry White – Baby We Better Try To Get It Together – 20th Century
11 NE Tina Charles – Dance Little Lady Dance – CBS
12 14 KC & The Sunshine Band – Shake Your Booty – Jay Boy
13 10 Johnny Wakelin – In Zaire – Pye
14 NE Tommy Hunt – Loving On The Losing Side – Spark
15 NE Hot Chocolate – Heaven Is In The Back Seat Of My Cadillac – Rak
16 NE Rick Dees – Disco Duck – RSO
17 09 Wings – Let ‘Em In – Parlophone
18 05 David Dundas – Jeans On – Air
19 16 Detroit Spinners – Rubberband Man – Atlantic
20 NE Brothers Johnson – Get The Funk Out Of My Face – A&M
NE = new entry; RE = re-entry
Appeared in Billboard:
#1 (Billboard chart debut 7/10/76)
#2 (mentioned in Billboard column 12/11/76)
#5 (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)
#8 (Billboard chart debut 7/10/76)
#11 (Billboard chart debut 10/23/76)
#12 (mentioned in Billboard column 7/17/76, Billboard chart debut 7/31/76)
#13 (Billboard chart debut 1/15/77)
#16 (Billboard chart debut 9/11/76)
#19 (Billboard chart debut 8/7/76)
#20 (Billboard chart debut 5/15/76)
Songs mentioned in “DJ Hotline”:
JOHN HANDY: ‘Hard Work’ (Impulse)
BONEY M.: ‘Daddy Cool’ (Hansa – German import) (mentioned in Billboard column 9/25/76, Billboard chart debut 11/20/76)
AFRIC SIMONE: ‘Ramaya’ (Galaxy)
MADISON: ‘Let It Ring’ (Magnet)
THE BOONES: ‘My Guy’ (Tamla Motown)
GLADYS KNIGHT: ‘Make Yours A Happy Home’ (Buddah)
BAY CITY ROLLERS: I Only Wanna Be With You (Bell)
SUTHERLAND BROTHERS & QUIVER: ‘When The Train Comes’ (CBS)
HENRY GROSS: ‘Shannon’ (Lifesong)
James Hamilton's Disco Page 