New Spins
BRUCE JOHNSTON: ‘Pipeline’ (CBS 5514) (Billboard chart debut 7/16/77)
Dynamite disco retread of the Chantay’s old surfing instrumental, on 7-inch here in all its 6:50 power and glory.
PHILADELPHIA INTERNATIONAL ALL STARS: ‘Let’s Clean Up The Ghetto’ (Philadelphia Int’l PIR 5451) (Billboard chart debut 7/23/77)
Superb funky chugger featuring Messrs Rawls, Paul, Bell, Pendergrass, Levert and Ms Sharp. Try mixing with Marv’s ‘Got To Give It Up’!
JAMES BROWN: ‘Honky Tonk’ (Polydor 2068834)
Specially lengthened happily whapping ’72 version of Bill Doggett’s instrumental classic, with similarly lengthened ‘Brother Rapp‘ flip.
GEORGE BENSON: ‘Gonna Love You More’ (Warner Bros. K 16970)
Lovely lazy slow tripper, even smoochier ‘Valdez‘ flip.
MUSCLES: ‘If It Relaxes Your Mind’ / ‘Music Is Our Message‘ (Big Bear BB 8)
Languidly loping harmony floater, funky flip.
HONEY MONSTER: ‘Sugar Sugar’ (Warner Bros. K 16931)
Gentle fun for telly fans.
JACKSONS: ‘Dreamer’ (Epic EPC 5458)
Pleasant but unsensational swayer.
TRAMMPS: ‘I Feel Like I’ve Been Livin’ (On The Dark Side Of The Moon)’ (Atlantic K 10982) (mentioned in Billboard column 12/25/76, Billboard chart debut 1/22/77)
Ultra-fast throaty churner.
GIBSON BROTHERS: ‘Non-Stop Dance’ (Polydor 2058890)
Continental soulsters on a gruffly exciting fast flier, now spreading here.
BACCARA: ‘Yes Sir, I Can Boogie’ (RCA PB 5526)
German smash, phonetically lisped like Donna Summer meeting Boney M and ABBA.
MIKE DOMINO: ‘Under The Sun’ (PVK 006)
Jerky sparse stomper with disco appeal.
THE MOB: ‘Love Connection’ (Private Stock PVT 109)
Jittery medium thumper with soft phone operator intro.
DIZZY GILLESPIE: ‘Free Ride’ (Pablo 2018004)
Lalo Schifrin’s herky jerky jazz-funk bumper.
LASO: ‘LaSo Square’ (from LP ‘LaSo’, MCA MCF 2804) (Billboard chart debut 5/28/77)
Sirens and chatter spice a fast smooth Salsa rhythm rattler, specialist at 9:55.
MARVIN HAMLISCH: ‘Bond ’77’ (from LP ‘The Spy Who Loved Me’, UA UAG 30098)
Disco synthesizer remake of the old ‘James Bond Theme’, a good mixer.
JOHNNY GREEN: ‘Seven Over From Mars’ (Barak BAR 1)
Semi-slow jiggler with ‘Star Wars’ synthetics.
STARZ: ‘Sing It, Shout It’ (Capitol CL 15932)
Cool rock chugger, pressed on clear yellow vinyl.
HURRIGANES: ‘Get On’ (Sonet SON 2112)
‘Tulane’-type rock pounder.
CCR: ‘Bad Moon Rising’ / ‘Proud Mary‘ / ‘Green River‘ (Fantasy FTC 142)
Their three best, maxied but in strange stereo.
LIFESTYLE: ‘Katrina’ (MCA 308) (Billboard chart debut 4/30/77)
Johnny Johnson’s happy fast rhythm romper.
BLACK BLOOD: ‘Amanda’ (Chrysalis CHS 12/2159)
Vigorous afro-funk chanter and cooler ‘Rastiferia‘ flip, 12-inched at 70p.
THELMA HOUSTON & JERRY BUTLER: ‘It’s A Lifetime Thing’ (Motown TMG 1074)
Mellow relaxed swayer.
UK Disco Top 20 – July 30, 1977
01 01 Donna Summer – I Feel Love – GTO
02 02 Hot Chocolate – So You Win Again – Rak
03 03 Boney M – Ma Baker – Atlantic
04 07 John Miles – Slow Down – Decca
05 06 T-Connection – Do What You Wanna Do – TK
06 12 Danny Williams – Dancing Easy – Ensign
07 05 Gladys Knight – Baby Don’t Change Your Mind – Buddah
08 04 Jacksons – Show You The Way To Go – Epic
09 08 Detroit Emeralds – Feel The Need In Me – Atlantic
10 17 Lovers – Discomania – Epic
11 11 Tony Etoria – I Can Prove It – GTO
12 RE Rah Band – The Crunch – Good Earth
13 NE Jigsaw – If I Have To Go Away – Splash
14 RE Dave Edmunds – I Knew The Bride – Swan Song
15 15 Joe Tex – Ain’t Gonna Bump No More – Epic
16 NE Commodores – Easy – Motown
17 NE Floaters – Float On – ABC
18 NE Paul Nicholas – Heaven On The 7th Floor – RSO
19 16 Peter Brown – Do You Wanna Get Funky With Me – TK
20 NE Barry Biggs – Three Ring Circus – Dynamic
NE = new entry; RE = re-entry
Appeared in Billboard:
#1 (Billboard chart debut 5/28/77)
#3 (Billboard chart debut 8/6/77)
#4 (Billboard chart debut 3/12/77)
#5 (mentioned in Billboard column 2/19/77, Billboard chart debut 2/26/77)
#8 (Billboard chart debut 12/25/76)
#9 (mentioned in Billboard column 8/7/76, Billboard chart debut 4/30/77)
#10 (mentioned in Billboard column 5/7/77, Billboard chart debut 5/14/77)
#15 (Billboard chart debut 4/2/77)
#19 (Billboard chart debut 4/9/77)
Songs mentioned in “DJ Hotline”:
CAMEO: ‘Post Mortem’ (Casablanca)
NEW YORK PORT AUTHORITY: ‘I Got It’ (Invictus) (mentioned in Billboard column 5/7/77)
PEOPLES CHOICE: ‘Jam Jam Jam’ (Philadelphia Int’l)
DYNAMIC SUPERIORS: ‘Nowhere To Run’ (Motown LP cut) (Billboard chart debut 6/18/77)
CARRIE LUCAS: ‘I Gotta Keep Dancin” (Soul Train) (Billboard chart debut 3/19/77)
GRACE JONES: ‘I Need A Man’ (Polydor) (Billboard chart debut 4/9/77)
BIDDU ORCHESTRA: ‘Soul Coaxing’ (Epic)
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