New Spins
Following a marathon listen to a whole three weeks’ worth of new releases, here at last is an up-to-date New Spins section . . . in case anyone was worried.
ALFIE KHAN SOUND ORCHESTRA: ‘Law Of The Land’ (Atlantic K 10894)
At last this legendary German instrumental version of the Temptations tune is out here! Although from ’74, it has the ‘Jaws’ sound and should smash.
DOUBLE EXPOSURE: ‘Ten Percent’ LP (Salsoul SZS 5503) (LP mentioned in Billboard column 6/26/76, LP Billboard chart debut 9/4/76)
As well as the full superb 6:51 title track, there’s the (less good) 7:00 ‘My Love Is Free‘ US disco hit. A pity radio’s not on ’em.
MASS PRODUCTION: ‘Welcome To Our World’ (Cotillion K 10898) (Billboard chart debut 10/23/76)
Now on 45, and even edited to 3:58 it’s a funky classic of our time.
BURLESQUE: ‘Bananas’ (Arista 87)
Great singalong conga, fun for rowdy Rock fans and stoned smokers everywhere!
JIMMY JAMES: ‘Life’ (Pye 7N 45665)
Slick fingersnapping swayer, instantly catchy chorus.
CERRONE: ‘Love In C Minor’ / ‘Black Is Black’ (Atlantic K 10895) (Billboard chart debut 1/15/77)
Pounding Eurodisco goodies, big in USA, much edited from long LP cuts.
MAXINE NIGHTINGALE: ‘Love Hit Me’ (UA UP 36215)
How come J. Vincent Edwards’s equally good original of the simple happy romper never got the radio exposure this has already had?
MUSCLE SHOALS HORNS: ‘Bump De Bump Yo Boodie’ (Bang 005)
Strong chanted brassy funker.
FAT LARRY’S BAND: ‘We Just Want To Play For You’ (from ‘Feel It’ LP, WMOT K 50330) (mentioned in Billboard column 10/30/76, Billboard chart debut 12/25/76)
Fashionable funkiness fills most tracks, this Sly-style cut being just the most immediate of many good ‘uns.
BERT WEEDON: ‘Rocking Guitar’ (Polydor 2058832)
Corny R ‘n R medley sounds authentic, so is good MoR.
RAY STEVENS: ‘In The Mood’ (Warner Bros. K 16875)
The Henhouse Five Plus Too cluck and moo the Glenn Miller tune for silly fun.
RAH BAND: ‘The Crunch (Pt. 2)’ (Good Earth GD 7)
Jaunty basic Pop stomper with electronic voice effects.
LOVE UNLIMITED ORCHESTRA: ‘Theme From King Kong’ (20th Century BTC 2325) (Billboard chart debut 1/15/77)
Typical syrupy strings and rattling rhythm.
OLYMPIC RUNNERS: ‘Personal Thang’ (Chipping Norton CHIP 3)
Bumpy funker seems a bit busy, but their ‘Hot To Trot’ LP (NOR 1) has a simpler ‘Say What You Wanna But It Sure Is Funky’ and other pastiches of current US noises.
SISTER SLEDGE: ‘Cream Of The Crop’ (Cotillion K 10876)
The Philly sisters turn the beat around and head hitwards.
MIRACLES: ‘Spy For Brotherhood’ (CBS 4936) (Billboard chart debut 1/15/77)
100 mph Northern churner for Jamo Thomas fans.
BLACK SATIN: ‘Tears, Tears, Tears’ (Buddah BDS 452)
Thundering ambiguous-beat hustler with Drifters touches.
JAMES WELLS: ‘All I Ever Need Is Music’ (Polydor 2058824) (Billboard chart debut 3/26/77)
Booming bass and catchy pop tune – has producer Ian Levine sold out?!
ESSENCE: ‘Brother John’ (Epic EPC 4757)
‘Wake Up Johnny’!
MIQUEL BROWN: ‘First Time Around’ (Pye 7N 45658)
Squeaky gal on a formula romper.
LABI SIFFRE: ‘Do The Best You Can’ (EMI 2577)
‘Tighten Up’ rhythm, frothy ditty.
SAM & DAVE: ‘Why Did You Do It’ (Contempo CS 2109)
’60s stars return with strings on a ramble through the Stretch hit.
G. BAND: ‘It’s Alright’ (CBS 4974)
Sinister slow Stretch/Climax-style hot stuff.
STANLEY CLARKE: ‘Hot Fun’ (Nemperor K 10889)
Freaky funk-de-luxe, for ultra-hip jocks only!
ROY CASTLE: ‘Don’t Cry For Me Argentina’ (Pye 7N 45664)
Useful “golden trumpet” version.
TOBY: ‘Lester Klaw’ (Rak 247)
J.A.L.N. Band-type thunker.
HITCHHIKERS: ‘Rolling Dice’ (ABC 4160)
Bland but soulful hustler.
MAJORS: ‘It Only Happens’ (Magnet MAG 79)
Real Thing-styled smooth swayer.
PHOEBE SNOW: ‘Shakey Ground’ (CBS 5021) (Billboard chart debut 2/19/77)
Funky slow Temptations song.
RARE PLEASURE: ‘Let Me Down Easy’ (DJM DJS 10738) (Billboard chart debut 8/14/76)
Cooing chix from New York, not Munich.
ENCHANTMENT: ‘Dance To The Music’ (UA UP 36204)
Curtis Mayfield-type funky slowie.
UK Disco Top 20 – February 12, 1977
01 02 Rose Royce – Car Wash – MCA
02 01 Stevie Wonder – I Wish – Motown
03 03 Boney M – Daddy Cool – Atlantic
04 04 Stevie Wonder – Isn’t She Lovely – Motown
05 05 Drifters – You’re More Than A Number – Arista
06 09 Barry Biggs – Side Show – Dynamic
07 RE David Parton – Isn’t She Lovely – Pye
08 07 Moments – Jack In The Box – All Platinum
09 14 David Soul – Don’t Give Up On Us – Private Stock
10 NE Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes – Don’t Leave Me This Way – Philadelphia Int’l
11 16 Jesse Green – Flip – EMI
12 08 Heatwave – Boogie Nights – GTO
13 NE Leo Sayer – When I Need You – Chrysalis
14 06 KC & The Sunshine Band – Keep It Comin’ Love – Jay Boy
15 RE Julie Covington – Don’t Cry For Me, Argentina – MCA
16 RE Undisputed Truth – You + Me = Love – Warner Bros.
17 20 Rose Royce – Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is – MCA
18 12 Brick – Dazz – Bang [Imp]
19 11 Bar-Kays – Shake Your Rump To The Funk – Mercury
20 10 Tina Charles – Dr. Love – CBS
NE = new entry; RE = re-entry
Appeared in Billboard:
#1 (Billboard chart debut 10/2/76)
#2 (mentioned in Billboard column 10/16/76, Billboard chart debut 10/23/76)
#3 (mentioned in Billboard column 9/25/76, Billboard chart debut 11/20/76)
#4 (Billboard chart debut 10/30/76)
#10 (mentioned in Billboard column 12/6/75, Billboard chart debut 12/20/75)
#11 (Billboard chart debut 2/5/77)
#12 (Billboard chart debut 4/23/77)
#14 (Billboard chart debut 10/30/76)
#16 (Billboard chart debut 7/24/76)
#17 (Billboard chart debut 12/25/76)
#18 (Billboard chart debut 9/4/76)
#19 (Billboard chart debut 10/9/76)
Songs mentioned in “DJ Hotline”:
BRASS CONSTRUCTION: ‘Ha Cha Cha’ (UA) (Billboard chart debut 11/20/76)
VAN MCCOY: ‘Soul Cha Cha’ (H&L) (Billboard chart debut 10/9/76)
GALLAGHER & LYLE: ‘Every Little Teardrop’ (A&M)
James Hamilton's Disco Page 