Month: March 1977

Florida’s TK label is now distributed here on its own logo by RCA, who hosted a big launching party last week that was attended by several of the TK stars.  Full details next week.

New Spins

ROSE ROYCE: ‘I Wanna Get Next To You’ (MCA 278)
’60s-type soul slowie, atmospheric and lovely, with edited ‘Sunrise‘ flip.

TAVARES: ‘Whodunit’ (Capitol CL 15914)
‘Dragnet’-type intro to a good but slow rhythm swayer with catchy lyrics.

PETER GABRIEL: ‘Solsbury Hill’ (Charisma CB 301)
Haunting yet jaunty modern rock monster.  Continue reading “March 26, 1977: Rose Royce, Tavares, Peter Gabriel, Santana, George Hamilton IV”

New Spins

D.C. LARUE: ‘Overture (All We Need Is Love)’ (Pye 7N 25740) (Billboard chart debut 12/4/76)
Chugging funky snorter with old Stax touches even, rather strong.

GRAHAM PARKER & THE RUMOUR: ‘Hold Back The Night’ (from EP ‘The Pink Panther’, Vertigo PARK 001)
Long a Parker stage fave, the Trammps classic’ll hold them back no more.  Dy-na-mite!

GARY WRIGHT: ‘Are You Weepin” (Warner Bros. K 16908)
Another similar ’60s-style soul chugger, modern in sound only.  Continue reading “March 19, 1977: D.C. Larue, Graham Parker & The Rumour, Gary Wright, Bugatti & Musker, Smokey Robinson”

New Spins

STEVE GIBBONS BAND: ‘Tulane’ (Polydor 2058855)
Great choogling Chuck Berry rocker that I’ve been mixing out of ZZ Top’s ‘Arrested For Driving’ and Queen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VJealB31eE

J.A.L.N. BAND: ‘Street Dance’ / ‘Nija Walk’ (Magnet MAG 901)
Good “live” medley of the old Fatback biggies.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eamL5JBdcM8

BLUE MAGIC: ‘Three Ring Circus’ / ‘Sideshow’ (Atlantic K 10910)
Crafty, as Barry Biggs has recorded both – yes, both – these original sweet slowies, and his ‘Circus’ has yet to come!  Continue reading “March 12, 1977: Steve Gibbons Band, J.A.L.N. Band, Blue Magic, Frank Sinatra, Boney M”

Hot Vinyl!

Imports set the trends for the future and are much used by the hipper club jocks.  This page hasn’t reviewed many imports as I think that most DJ’s find it hard enough getting ordinary domestic releases, let alone US hot wax!

However, there is now such interest in twelve-inch disco pressings that imports are becoming more widely accepted.

To help give an ahead-of-the-minute guide to the Stateside vinyl that’s likely to be big here, I’ve recruited a regular panel of top funky club DJ’s to give their current top tips.  This week we hear from Chris Hill of Ilford’s Lacy Lady fame, and from Tony Clark of Newcastle’s Julie’s – Tony also works at Callers Record Shop in Newcastle, supplying everyone from Ian Levine on down.

Tony’s tips are:

LA EXPRESS: ‘Dancing The Night Away’ (Caribou)

TIMMY THOMAS: ‘Stone To The Bone‘ (Glades) (Billboard chart debut 3/12/77)

ARTHUR PRYSOCK: ‘I Wantcha Baby‘ (Old Town LP cut) (mentioned in Billboard column 1/15/77, Billboard chart debut 1/29/77)

LATIMORE: ‘It Ain’t Where You Been‘ (Glades LP cut)

DOOLEY SILVERSPOON & JEANNE BURTON: ‘Am I Losing You‘ (Cotton 12″)

MILLIE JACKSON: ‘There’s Something About You‘ (Spring LP cut)

and, one that Chris has been on for a long time too, BO KIRKLAND & RUTH DAVIS: ‘You’re Gonna Get Next To Me‘ (Claridge LP cut), currently vied for by several UK record labels, it’s so hot!

Chris tips:

URBIE GREEN: ‘Another Star’ (CTI LP cut)

JOE THOMAS: ‘Funky Fever‘ (Groove Merchant 12″) (mentioned in Billboard column 12/25/76)

GARY BARTZ: ‘Mother Nature‘ (Prestige LP cut)

BOOKER T & THE MGS: ‘Sticky Stuff‘ (Asylum LP cut)

CROWN HEIGHTS AFFAIR: ‘Far Out‘ (De-Lite LP cut) (Billboard chart debut 11/6/76)

LAKESIDE: ‘Taboo‘ (ABC LP cut)

JIMMY SMITH: ‘Can’t Hide Love‘ (Mercury LP cut)

CHAPLIN BAND: ‘Let’s Have A Party‘ (EMI 12″)  Continue reading “March 5, 1977: import tips from Chris Hill & Tony Clark”