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.
J.A.L.N. BAND: ‘Street Dance’ / ‘Nija Walk’ (Magnet MAG 901)
Good “live” medley of the old Fatback biggies.
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!
FRANK SINATRA: ‘Strangers In The Night’ (Reprise K 14474)
Essential smoocher.
BONEY M: ‘Sunny’ (Atlantic K 10892) (mentioned in Billboard column 10/9/76, Billboard chart debut 11/20/76)
Bobby Hebb’s third disco update in a year, professional if uninspiring.
BIDDU: ‘Girl You’ll Be A Woman Soon’ (Epic EPC 5023)
Deep-voiced slow ‘n pretty hustling of Neil Diamond, flipped by the Tina Charles LP’s ‘Boogiethon‘ cut.
OTIS WAYGOOD BAND: ‘Get It Started’ (Decca F 13688)
Catchy fast rhythm jiggler with Heatwave chances.
HONKY: ‘Join The Party’ (Creole CR 137)
Simple fast funky UK rattler, causing interest.
LALO SCHIFRIN: ‘Roller Coaster’ (CTI CTSP 008)
Exciting, less cluttered, ‘Jaws’-like rhythm track.
BYRON LEE DRAGONAIRES: ‘Disco Magic’ (Dynamic DYN 122)
The T-Connection original of this synthetic bubbler is due out again on TK, but this lively cover’s getting DJ tips too.
HUMAN BEINZ: ‘Nobody But Me’ (Capitol CL 15529)
US punk rock revival of Isleys oldie, now oddly big as a Northern stomper!
JERRY LEE LEWIS: ‘Return Of Jerry Lee’ (Charly CS 1023)
Good R&R novelty – George Klein’s famous cut-up with questions about Lee’s notorious 1958 UK tour answered by bits from his hits.
DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES: ‘Ennui On The Mountain’ (RCA PB 9053)
Dynamite lurching plodder from their first RCA LP.
STEELY DAN: ‘Kid Charlemagne’ (ABC 4124)
Distinctive semi-slow schlurper.
LEW LEWIS BAND: ‘(You’d Better) Watch Yourself’ (UA UP 36217)
Get it on and boogie!
DENIECE WILLIAMS: ‘Free’ (CBS 4978)
Huge US slinky slowie.
PATTI BOULAYE: ‘Stop It I Like It’ (Handkerchief HANKY 20)
Hypnotic easy thumper with Stretch beat.
JOE: ‘How Can I Resist’ (GTO GT 84)
Ex-Stretch members re-tread their hot stuff rhythm.
SERGIO MENDES: ‘The Real Thing’ (Elektra K 12244)
Subtle little Stevie Wonder chugger and kinda tricksy.
AL DE LORY: ‘Right On’ (Capitol CL 15911)
San Remo Strings-style Northern instrumental, not bad.
DARRELL BANKS: ‘Angel Baby’ (Atlantic K 10879)
Northern clapper by the late soulster.
LAW: ‘Shelter Of Your Arms’ (MCA 268)
Motown-ish churner which gets a bit too clever.
JIM CAPALDI: ‘Goodbye My Love’ (Island WIP 6383)
The Jimmy Hughes/Searchers oldie, hustled-up so much he sounds female!
JAMES AND BOBBY PURIFY: ‘Get Closer’ (Mercury 6167500)
Singalong pop swayer.
Hot Vinyl
Import tips this week come from “Fat Man” Graham Canter, resident at London’s Gullivers club in Mayfair and from Les Spaine of Liverpool’s Timepiece club.
Graham tips:
MINNIE RIPPERTON: ‘Stick Together’ (Epic LP cut) (Billboard chart debut 3/26/77)
T-CONNECTION: ‘Do What You Wanna Do‘ (TK 12″) (mentioned in Billboard column 2/19/77, Billboard chart debut 2/26/77)
ISLEY BROTHERS: ‘The Pride, Pts. 1 & 2‘ (T-Neck) (Billboard chart debut 4/16/77)
PATTI AUSTIN: ‘Say You Love Me‘ (CTI)
PLAYERS ASSOCIATION: ‘Love Hangover‘ / ‘Hustlin’‘ (Vanguard LP cuts) (Billboard chart debut 2/26/77)
TIMMY THOMAS: ‘Stone To The Bone‘ (Glades) (Billboard chart debut 3/12/77)
JERRY RIX: ‘Disco Train‘ (AVI 12″) (mentioned in Billboard column 9/25/76, Billboard chart debut 10/30/76)
Les tips:
JOE TEX: ‘Ain’t Gonna Bump No More’ (Epic) (Billboard chart debut 4/2/77)
JEAN CARN: ‘Free Love‘ (Philadelphia Int’l) (Billboard chart debut 1/22/77)
WALTER JACKSON: ‘Player In The Band‘ (Chi-Sound LP cut)
GAP BAND: ‘Out Of The Blue‘ (Tattoo LP cut)
UK Disco Top 20 – March 12, 1977
01 01 Heatwave – Boogie Nights – GTO
02 02 Rose Royce – Car Wash – MCA
03 07 Earth, Wind & Fire – Saturday Night – CBS
04 09 Moments – Jack In The Box – All Platinum
05 05 Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes – Don’t Leave Me This Way – Philadelphia Int’l
06 03 Leo Sayer – When I Need You – Chrysalis
07 06 Thelma Houston – Don’t Leave Me This Way – Motown
08 14 Tavares – Mighty Power Of Love – Capitol
09 11 Boz Scaggs – What Can I Say – CBS
10 04 Boney M – Daddy Cool – Atlantic
11 10 David Parton – Isn’t She Lovely – Pye
12 NE Manhattan Transfer – Chanson D’Amour – Atlantic
13 18 Detroit Spinners – Wake Up Susan – Atlantic
14 NE Cerrone – Love In C Minor – Atlantic
15 17 Stevie Wonder – I Wish – Motown
16 16 Bryan Ferry – This Is Tomorrow – Polydor
17 NE Dead End Kids – Have I The Right – CBS
18 15 David Bowie – Sound And Vision – RCA
19 RE David Soul – Don’t Give Up On Us – Private Stock
20 NE Mac Kissoon – Stone Walls – State
NE = new entry; RE = re-entry
Appeared in Billboard:
#1 (Billboard chart debut 4/23/77)
#2 (Billboard chart debut 10/2/76)
#5 (mentioned in Billboard column 12/6/75, Billboard chart debut 12/20/75)
#7 (mentioned in Billboard column 11/20/76, Billboard chart debut 11/27/76)
#8 (mentioned in Billboard column 6/5/76, Billboard chart debut 7/10/76)
#9 (mentioned in Billboard column 4/3/76)
#10 (mentioned in Billboard column 9/25/76, Billboard chart debut 11/20/76)
#14 (Billboard chart debut 1/15/77)
#15 (mentioned in Billboard column 10/16/76, Billboard chart debut 10/23/76)
Songs mentioned in “DJ Hotline”:
BRENDON: ‘Gimme Some’ (UK)
DEODATO: ‘Peter Gunn’ (MCA LP cut) (Billboard chart debut 10/2/76)
RAH BAND: ‘The Crunch’ (Good Earth)
ACADEMICALS: ‘Time Is Tight’ (Electric)
ARTHUR PRYSOCK: ‘When Love Is New’ (Polydor) (mentioned in Billboard column 10/30/76, Billboard chart debut 11/20/76)
PAUL JABARA: ‘Dance’ (A&M) (Billboard chart debut 9/11/76)
HUGHIE GREEN: ‘For God’s Sake Britain, Wake Up’ (Philips)
BLACK SATIN: ‘Tears, Tears, Tears’ (Buddah)
MARILYN MCCOO & BILLY DAVIS: ‘You Don’t Have To Be A Star’ (ABC)
20TH CENTURY STEEL BAND: ‘Dance Away’ (UA)
CHAPLIN BAND: ‘Let’s Have A Party’ (EMI 12″)
James Hamilton's Disco Page 