Tavares have a new maxi out . . . and the big news is that the first 25,000 copies have been pressed in the popular 12 inch disco format, yet sell at a normal 70p!
Featuring one track from each of their four albums, it’s unfortunately not all that disco orientated as both ‘I Hope She Chooses Me’ and ‘Strangers In Dark Corners’ are slow, and the driving ‘My Ship’ is rather dated. However, the happily bouncing lead track (Capitol 12 CL 15905) is ‘Mighty Power Of Love’ from the ‘Sky High’ set which has already produced their last two hits, and although not as strong it should do well.
Capitol have plumped for the 45 rpm speed for their UK 12 inchers, incidentally, while so far our Disco Poll participants seem fairly well divided in favour of both 45 and 33rpm. Full poll results will hopefully be ready by next week’s issue, so stay tuned!
New Spins
MASS PRODUCTION: ‘Welcome To Our World’ LP (Cotillion K 50331) (Billboard chart debut 10/23/76)
Bigger than Brass Construction for many DJ’s, the great title track’s a compulsive polyrhythmic funky stomper, while other good ‘uns are ”I Like To Dance‘, ‘Wine Flow Disco‘, and ‘Magic‘.
BRICK: ‘Dazz’ (Bang 004) (Billboard chart debut 9/4/76)
Monster US cool funker, combining disco and jazz with hypnotic results.
BLACKBYRDS: ‘Unfinished Business’ LP (Fantasy FTA 3007) (LP Billboard chart debut 12/4/76)
Title track and ‘Time Is Movin’‘ groove in the Brass Construction bag.
ARCHIE BELL & THE DRELLS: ‘Where Will You Go When The Party’s Over’ (Philadelphia Int’l PIR 4803)
Slow-starting attractive hustler.
MIKE & BILL: ‘Things Won’t Be This Bad Always’ (Arista AS 0180)
DJ demanded, this perky hustler is out on special limited import only.
VARIOUS: ‘Disco Dancers Vol. II’ (CBS 81816)
Useful compilation, the biggies being recent hits by Wild Cherry, Boz Scaggs, Archie Bell, the Manhattans and disco hitlets by Tower Of Power, the O’Jays, and Earth, Wind & Fire.
THELMA HOUSTON: ‘Any Way You Like It’ LP (Motown STML 12049) (LP Billboard chart debut 1/15/77)
The full long ‘Don’t Leave Me This Way’ and funky title track are top US disco hits.
SUPREMES: ‘You’re My Driving Wheel’ (from LP ‘Mary, Scherrie & Susaye’, Motown STML 12047) (mentioned in Billboard column 11/6/76, Billboard chart debut 11/13/76)
Massive in America, it’s a characterless Silver Convention-ish hustler.
ELVIN BISHOP: ‘Keep It Cool’ (from LP ‘Hometown Boy Makes Good’, Capricorn 2429147)
Suitably cool hustler in Boz Scaggs style, with Tower Of Power backing.
BOBBY WOMACK: ‘Home Is Where The Heart Is’ (CBS 4827)
Good gravelly rap intro isn’t quite sustained by the happily whapping song.
GORILLAS: ‘Gatecrasher’ (Chiswick S 8)
Raucous Sixties-style rock, and a boogie flip too.
NUTZ: ‘Wallbanger’ (A&M AMS 7272)
Freaky fast rock noises.
DR. JOHN: ‘Right Place, Wrong Time’ (Atlantic K 10877)
Sinister slow chugger from ’73, flipped by the happy ‘Such A Night‘.
Mix-Master
Paul Nice has honed his New York style of mixing to a fine art by playing to the roller skaters at Pickett’s Lock Sports Centre, Edmonton, and now wants to see if dancers can keep up with him! Book him on 01-597-0568 if you like the sound of this marathon mix: VAN MCCOY ‘Soul Cha Cha’ (H&L) / WALTER MURPHY ‘Flight ’76 Part 2’ (Private Stock) / ORIGINALS ‘Down To Love Town’ (Motown) / BONEY M ‘Daddy Cool’ (Atlantic) / CLASSICODISCO ORCHESTRA ‘For Elise’ (Transatlantic) / CANDI STATON ‘Run To Me’ (Warner Bros.) / O’JAYS ‘Message In Our Music’ (Philadelphia Int’l) / SISTER SLEDGE ‘Cream Of The Crop’ (Cotillion) / JESSE GREEN ‘Flip’ (EMI) / MIKE & BILL ‘Things Won’t Be This Bad Always’ (Arista) / MASS PRODUCTION ‘ Welcome To Our World’ (Cotillion LP cut).
UK Disco Top 20 – January 22, 1977
01 02 Stevie Wonder – I Wish – Motown
02 20 Boney M – Daddy Cool – Atlantic
03 06 Rose Royce – Car Wash – MCA
04 03 Showaddywaddy – Under The Moon Of Love – Bell
05 01 Stevie Wonder – Isn’t She Lovely – Motown
06 05 Tina Charles – Dr. Love – CBS
07 10 KC & The Sunshine Band – Keep It Comin’ Love – Jay Boy
08 08 Status Quo – Wild Side Of Life – Vertigo
09 09 Drifters – You’re More Than A Number – Arista
10 07 Paul Nicholas – Grandma’s Party – RSO
11 04 Jesse Green – Flip – EMI
12 12 Leo Sayer – You Make Me Feel Like Dancing – Chrysalis
13 15 Billy Ocean – Stop Me – GTO
14 17 Electric Light Orchestra – Livin’ Thing – Jet
15 19 David Soul – Don’t Give Up On Us – Private Stock
16 NE Eagles – New Kid In Town – Asylum
17 11 Undisputed Truth – You + Me = Love – Warner Bros.
18 13 ABBA – Money, Money, Money – Epic
19 NE Brick – Dazz – Bang [Imp]
20 NE Smokie – Living Next Door To Alice – Rak
NE = new entry; RE = re-entry
Appeared in Billboard:
#1 (mentioned in Billboard column 10/16/76, Billboard chart debut 10/23/76)
#2 (mentioned in Billboard column 9/25/76, Billboard chart debut 11/20/76)
#3 (Billboard chart debut 10/2/76)
#5 (Billboard chart debut 10/30/76)
#7 (Billboard chart debut 10/30/76)
#11 (Billboard chart debut 2/5/77)
#12 (Billboard chart debut 12/18/76)
#17 (Billboard chart debut 7/24/76)
#19 (Billboard chart debut 9/4/76)
Songs mentioned in “DJ Hotline”:
LOVE UNLIMITED ORCHESTRA: ‘Theme From King Kong’ (20th Century)
KARMA: ‘Funk De Mambo’ (A&M) (Billboard chart debut 1/15/77)
CAROL DOUGLAS: ‘Dancing Queen’ (Midland Int’l) (mentioned in Billboard column 11/6/76, Billboard chart debut 1/29/77)
RUTH DAVIS & BO KIRKLAND: ‘You’re Gonna Get Next To Me’ (Claridge LP cut)
PAUL JABARA: ‘Dance’ (A&M) (Billboard chart debut 9/11/76)
BOZ SCAGGS: ‘What Can I Say’ (CBS) (mentioned in Billboard column 4/3/76)
SALSOUL ORCHESTRA: ‘Salsoul 3001’ (Salsoul) (mentioned in Billboard column 8/7/76, Billboard chart debut 9/18/76)
LABBI SIFFRE: ‘Do The Best You Can’ (EMI)
BRASS CONSTRUCTION: ‘Ha Cha Cha’ (UA) (Billboard chart debut 11/20/76)
DETROIT SPINNERS: ‘Wake Up Susan’ (Atlantic)
FLEE-REKKERS: ‘Blue Tango’ (Pye)
STANLEY BLACK: ‘La Cumparsita’ (Decca)
MASS PRODUCTION: ‘Welcome To Our World’ (Atlantic – US import) (Billboard chart debut 10/23/76)
DONNA SUMMER: ‘Spring Affair’ (GTO LP cut) (Billboard chart debut 10/9/76)
JAMES WELLS: ‘All I Ever Need Is Music’ (Polydor) (Billboard chart debut 3/26/77)
DEODATO: ‘Peter Gunn’ (MCA LP cut) (Billboard chart debut 10/2/76)
T-CONNECTION: ‘Disco Magic’ (Seville) (mentioned in Billboard column 7/24/76, Billboard chart debut 9/4/76)
Next week: The Disco Poll results are in!
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