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.
SANTANA: ‘Carnival’ / ‘Let The Children Play’ (CBS 5102)
Two joyous rhythm rattlers just like their classic old dancers.
GEORGE HAMILTON IV: ‘I Wonder Who’s Kissing Her Now’ (Anchor ANC 1039)
Joe E. Howard’s vintage smoocher makes perfect MoR.
TRAMMPS: ‘Hold Back The Night’ (Buddah BDS 437)
Timely re-service of the great original.
TONY ETORIA: ‘I Can Prove It’ (GTO GT 89)
Slinky Papa Don-produced chugger by an unusual-sounding Welshman.
FULL ALERT: ‘Sheer Enjoyment’ (Polydor 2058848)
Moody Manikin commercial becomes a semi-‘Jaws’ most effectively.
WILTON PLACE STREET BAND: ‘Disco Lucy’ (Island WIP 6386) (Billboard chart debut 12/18/76)
Telly’s old ‘I Love Lucy’ theme becomes a big ‘Baby Face’-like NY hustler.
DESTINATIONS: ‘I’ve Got To Dance (To Keep From Cryin’)’ (Pye 7N 25741) (Billboard chart debut 9/18/76)
Old fashioned (but new) fast stomper with similar instrumental flip, just right for the North!
MC5: ‘Back In The USA’ (from LP ‘Back In The USA’, Atlantic K 50346)
Great rock mix with Steve Gibbons Band’s ‘Tulane’.
LAVENDER HILL MOB: ‘Nazz Are Blue’ (UA UP 36238)
Canadians get it on the boogie to Jeff Beck.
SHABBY TIGER: ‘Slow Down’ (RCA PB 5009)
Smooth easy-paced clapper, huge in Scotland.
VAN MCCOY: ‘The Shuffle’ (H&L 6105076)
Subtle little instrumental builder, big for some already.
SILVER CONVENTION: ‘Telegram’ (Magnet MAG 86)
Morse code and a perky pop tune for Germany’s Eurovision entry.
LOVE UNLIMITED: ‘I Did It For Love’ (20th Century BTC 130) (Billboard chart debut 2/12/77)
More Morse code, chattering mid-tempo, bit dull.
CRYSTALS: ‘All Grown Up’ (Phil Spector 2010020)
Slightly slower alternative take of their 1964 rocker, flipped by their rare ‘The Twist‘.
LOLEATTA HOLLOWAY: ‘Dreamin” (Salsoul SZ 2022)
Big NY hustler, soulful and slick.
PATTI AUSTIN: ‘Say You Love Me’ (CTI CTSP 009)
Minnie Ripperton meets Barbara Streisand, smoochily.
STEVE BENDER: ‘The Final Thing, Pts. 1 & 2’ (Decca FR 13692) (Billboard chart debut 4/23/77)
Munich thudder wants to funk with you tonight.
EVELYN THOMAS: ‘My Head’s In The Stars’ (20th Century BTC 1029)
Subdued pretty pounder.
FAITH, HOPE & CHARITY: ‘Life Goes On’ (RCA PB 0865) (mentioned in Billboard column 8/7/76, Billboard chart debut 9/18/76)
Lively thumping hustler.
JACKPOT: ‘Midnight’s Alright’ (EMI 2592)
Dutch clapalong catchy pop romper.
RY COODER: ‘He’ll Have To Go’ (Reprise K 14457)
Lovely Mexican treatment of Jim Reeves’s classic smoocher.
MUSIC MAKER: ‘Holy Cow’ (Sonet SON 2102)
Lee Dorsey’s oldie adds a string quartet for gentle fun.
Hot Vinyl
Import tips from Graham Canter, London Gullivers, are:
JAMES & BOBBY PURIFY: ‘Ain’t Got To Love Nobody Else’ (Mercury LP cut)
MACHO: ‘Mucho Macho’ (Event)
GARNET MIMMS: ‘What It Is‘ (Arista) (Billboard chart debut 3/26/77)
MARVIN GAYE: ‘Got To Give It Up‘ (Tamla LP cut) (Billboard chart debut 4/2/77)
FIRST CLASS: ‘This Is It‘ (All Platinum LP cut)
WILLIAM BELL: ‘If Sex Is All We Had‘ (Mercury)
Les Spaine, Liverpool Timepiece, tips:
JOHN DAVIS & THE MONSTER ORCHESTRA: ‘Up Jumped The Devil’ (SAM) (Billboard chart debut 2/26/77)
JERRY BUTLER: ‘I Want To Do It To You‘ (Motown)
SLAVE: ‘Slave‘ LP (Cotillion)
Les’ll be opening a record shop in Liverpool soon, incidentally.
UK Disco Top 20 – March 26, 1977
01 01 Heatwave – Boogie Nights – GTO
02 07 Earth, Wind & Fire – Saturday Night – CBS
03 05 Rose Royce – Car Wash – MCA
04 14 Brendon – Gimme Some – Magnet
05 06 Manhattan Transfer – Chanson D’Amour – Atlantic
06 02 Thelma Houston – Don’t Leave Me This Way – Motown
07 04 Leo Sayer – When I Need You – Chrysalis
08 03 David Bowie – Sound And Vision – RCA
09 NE ABBA – Knowing Me, Knowing You – Epic
10 RE Dead End Kids – Have I The Right – CBS
11 NE Trammps – Disco Inferno – Atlantic
12 09 Boz Scaggs – What Can I Say – CBS
13 13 Cerrone – Love In C Minor – Atlantic
14 12 Bryan Ferry – This Is Tomorrow – Polydor
15 15 Boney M – Daddy Cool – Atlantic
16 RE Mass Production – Welcome To Our World – Cotillion
17 NE Honky – Join The Party – Creole
18 RE Detroit Spinners – Wake Up Susan – Atlantic
19 16 Showaddywaddy – When – Arista
20 08 Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes – Don’t Leave Me This Way – Philadelphia Int’l
NE = new entry; RE = re-entry
Appeared in Billboard:
#1 (Billboard chart debut 4/23/77)
#3 (Billboard chart debut 10/2/76)
#6 (mentioned in Billboard column 11/20/76, Billboard chart debut 11/27/76)
#11 (mentioned in Billboard column 12/25/76, Billboard chart debut 1/15/77)
#12 (mentioned in Billboard column 4/3/76)
#13 (Billboard chart debut 1/15/77)
#15 (mentioned in Billboard column 9/25/76, Billboard chart debut 11/20/76)
#16 (Billboard chart debut 10/23/76)
#20 (mentioned in Billboard column 12/6/75, Billboard chart debut 12/20/75)
Songs mentioned in “DJ Hotline”:
MARTYN FORD ORCHESTRA: ‘Let Your Body Go Downtown’ (Mountain)
ARCHIE BELL & THE DRELLS: ‘Everybody Have A Good Time’ (Philadelphia Int’l LP cut)
ICE: ‘Time Will Tell’ (Creole)
D.C. LARUE: ‘Overture’ (Pye) (Billboard chart debut 12/4/76)
ALFIE KHAN SOUND ORCHESTRA: ‘Law Of The Land’ (Atlantic)
JAMES AND BOBBY PURIFY: ‘Get Closer’ (Mercury)
20TH CENTURY STEEL BAND: ‘Dance Away’ (UA)
STEVIE WONDER: ‘Sir Duke’ (Motown) (mentioned in Billboard column 10/16/76, Billboard chart debut 10/23/76)
MEXICANO: ‘Move Up Starsky’ (Baal)
DELEGATION: ‘Where Is The Love’ (State)
SALSOUL ORCHESTRA: ‘Salsoul 3001’ (Salsoul) (mentioned in Billboard column 8/7/76, Billboard chart debut 9/18/76)
MAC KISSOON: ‘Stone Walls’ (State)
DENNIS WATERMAN: ‘Hooray For Curly Wolf’ (DJM)
James Hamilton's Disco Page 