New Spins
MECO: ‘Star Wars Theme / Cantina Band’ (RCA XB 1028) (BNDA debut 7/23/77)
Here it is, the sensational smash hit disco treatment of the big US sci-fi movie theme! Full of freaky effects and great stereo, it bridges into more music from the flick before ending on the catchy theme again.
EDDIE HENDERSON: ‘Say You Will’ (Capitol CL 15937)
Driving fast jazz-funk trumpet twirler, madly infectious and already a dancefloor filler!
PIONEERS: ‘My Good Friend James’ (Mercury 6007147)
Terrific sophisticated swinger In Lou Rawls/Natalie Cole style which deserves to hit . . . and I’m not biased by the title!
SMOKEY ROBINSON: ‘Theme From Big Time’ (from LP ‘Big Time’, Motown STML 12068) (BNDA debut 8/6/77)
Slow synth before the 9:31 leaper hits a happy Philly All Stars/Marvin Gaye rhythm lick that goes through some Brick-type breaks.
GIORGIO: ‘From Here To Eternity’ / ‘Too Hot To Handle’ (Oasis 1) (BNDA debut 8/6/77)
Confusion reigns, but now these fast electronic thudders are definitely the single, out this week. Pity really, as the original ‘Utopia’ choice was more Donna-ish.
VARIOUS ARTISTS: ‘The Deep’ LP (Casablanca CAL 2018)
Both fast and slow versions of Donna’s own ‘Down Deep Inside’, but Beckett’s ‘Disco Calypso’ rhythm rattler’s the reason for getting the LP.
MILLIE JACKSON: ‘If You’re Not Back In Love By Monday’ (Spring 2066843)
Great sultry deep soul smoocher, good flip too.
FOSTER BROTHERS: ‘Make Believin’’ (Rocket ROKN 530)
Attractive blue-eyed soft rock floater.
BO KIRKLAND & RUTH DAVIS: ‘Easy Loving’ (EMI INT 536)
Freddie Hart’s country slowie-turned-soul smoocher doesn’t keep on doin’ what they did but could click even so.
STEVE MILLER BAND: ‘Jungle Love’ (Mercury 6078812)
Great freaky stereo intro, to a messily exciting chunky rocker.
DOOLEY SILVERSPOON: ‘Closer To Loving You’ (Seville SEV 1025/12)
Sparse sounding soul galloper from Sonny Casella, 12-inched for a longer version with some exciting breaks.
ALI BABA BAND: ‘Abdullah’s Wedding’ (Contempo CS 2128)
Silly ‘Mustapha’-type mock Arabic chanter with funky fast rhythm, 12-inched promotionally.
DOROTHY MOORE: ‘I Believe You’ (Epic EPC 5573)
Meandering soul smoocher with grow-on-you appeal.
MARILYN MCCOO & BILLY DAVIS JR: ‘Look What You’ve Done To My Heart’ (ABC 4191)
Pleasant enough jittery swayer, pressed in bright red vinyl (first 10,000).
HERB REED & SWEET RIVER: ‘What’s Your Name, What’s Your Number’ (PVK 067)
The Flamingo’s Nate Nelson and this original Platter get 12-inched for a slinky slow lurcher with today’s soul sound.
YOUNGHEARTS: ‘Number One Attraction’ (ABC 4192)
Good northern stormer with ‘60s Impressions/Temptations sound.
FLAVOR: ‘Don’t Freeze Up’ (Motown TMG 1079)
Tricky falsetto soul swinger with some DJ support.
DOOBIE BROTHERS: ‘Little Darling (I Need You)’ (Warner Bros. K 16989)
Marvin Gaye’s old romper sounds bright if insubstantial.
DEAD END KIDS: ‘Glad All Over’ (CBS 5589)
Dave Clark’s classic stamper, weakened by added party atmosphere.
MODELS: ‘Freeze’ (Step Forward 3)
Hey, dese punks is good!
MOTORS: ‘Dancing The Night Away’ (Virgin VS 181)
Beefy chugger, more rock than punk.
KISS: ‘Then She Kissed Me’ (Casablanca CANL 110)
Considering the label’s other artists, what a pity this laboured heaviness has to be its first (beautifully packaged) UK 12-incher.
HANK THE KNIFE & THE JETS: ‘Guitar King’ (Sonet SON 2001)
Lively pop-rocker from ‘75, about Duane and not Elvis.
PETER BLAKE: ‘Lipsmackin’ Rock ‘N Rollin’’ (UA UP 36295)
The ‘Lip Smackin’ Pepsi Cola’ jingle for pop fun.
GEORGE FAITH: ‘All The Love I’ve Got’ (Black Swan BS 5)
Good beaty reggae throbber, on limited 12-inch. Likewise, his laid back reggaefications of the soul classics ‘Midnight Hour’ / ‘Turn Back The Hands Of Time’ (BS 4).
RICO: ‘Dial Africa’ (Island IPR 2002)
Live reggae trombone throbber on limited 12-inch.
KRAFTWERK: ‘Showroom Dummies’ (Capitol 12 CLX 104)
Euro-synthetics of the wrong (non-disco) sort, but 12-inched regardless.
BE BOP DELUXE: ‘Japan’ (Harvest HAR 5135)
‘Fame’-era Bowie-style slow thumper, short and inconclusive.
LLOYD RYAN’S EXPRESS: ‘Hammer Head’ (PVK 004)
Exotic jungle rhythms.
DANIEL JACKSON EXPLOSION: ‘Cinderella (Queen Of The Dance)’ (Contempo CS 2129)
Bouncy pounder, 12-inched promotionally.
JACKSON FIVE: ‘Skywriter’ / ‘I Want You Back’ / ‘The Love You Save’ (from EP ‘Jukebox Gems’, Motown TMG 1081)
Badly dated dancers, 12-inched promotionally.
THEO VANESS: ‘I Got You, You Got Me’ (EMI 2675)
Dutch disco dross, 12-inched promotionally.
MARTYN FORD: ‘Going To A Disco’ (Mountain TOP 30)
Disappointingly ponderous slow chugger.
CATHERINE CHAPLIN: ‘You Made Me Love You’ (EMI 2678)
Judy Garland’s ‘Mr. Gable’ becomes Kermit in a straight slow re-make for gay crowds!
NANCY WILSON: ‘I’ve Never Been To Me’ (Capitol CL 15936)
Disturbingly distraught classy soul smoocher.
Mix Master
Keith Black (Warwick 48465) has another sizzling mix! Trammps ‘Dark Side Of The Moon’ (Atlantic) to last instrumental break, seguing on brass into ‘Trammps Disco Theme’ (Philadelphia Int’l), mixing into ‘Love Epidemic’ (Philadelphia Int’l – the last two by Trammps), mixing during the last “we gotta spread”s into rhythm of Carrie Lucas ‘I Gotta Keep Dancing’ (Soul Train), gradually mixing near end into Olympic Runners ‘Keep It Up’ (RCA), seguing in last instrumental break to main beat of Biddu Orchestra ‘Summer Of ‘42’ (Epic), seguing from last staccato bit into Donna Summer ‘Love’s Unkind’ (GTO LP). Like I said, Keith, don’t move South . . . that’s my style!
Hot Vinyl
Chris Hill (Ilford, Lacy Lady) – whose funky fans evidently upset the Northern contingent on Bank Holiday at Reading Top Rank – import tips:
SILVETTI: ‘Primitive Man’ (Salsoul LP cut) (BNDA debut 9/24/77)
ODYSSEY: ‘Native New Yorker’ (RCA LP cut) (BNDA debut 8/27/77)
EL COCO: ‘Cocomotion’ (AVI LP cut) (BNDA debut 8/20/77)
LENNY WILLIAMS: ‘Choosing You’ / ‘Shoo Doo Fu Fu Ooh’ (ABC LP cuts) (BNDA debut 7/30/77)
BROTHER TO BROTHER: ‘Dancing Singin’’ / ‘We Love To Party’ (Turbo LP cuts)
And UK tips:
EDDIE HENDERSON: ‘Say You Will’ / ‘Funk Surgeon’ (Capitol)
IN CROWD: ‘We Like Reggae’ (Cactus)
PIONEERS: ‘My Good Friend James’ (Mercury)
NINA SIMONE: ‘My Baby Just Cares For Me’ (Bethlehem LP cut)
UK Disco Top 50 – September 10, 1977
01 01 Space – Magic Fly – Pye
02 02 Donna Summer – I Feel Love – GTO
03 03 Floaters – Float On – ABC (12″)
04 05 Donna Summer – Deep Down Inside – Casablanca
05 07 Rah Band – The Crunch – Good Earth
06 08 Emotions – Best Of My Love – CBS
07 04 Jean Michel Jarre – Oxygene – Polydor
08 09 Candi Staton – Nights On Broadway – Warner Bros.
09 06 Philadelphia All-Stars – Let’s Clean Up The Ghetto – Philadelphia Int’l
10 15 Showaddywaddy – You Got What It Takes – Arista
11 12 Belle Epoque – Black Is Black – Harvest (12″)
12 11 Boney M – Ma Baker – Atlantic
13 10 Danny Williams – Dancing Easy – Ensign
14 16 Ritchie Family – Quiet Village – Polydor
15 17 Donna Summer – Love’s Unkind – GTO (LP)
16 13 Dooleys – I Think I’m Gonna Fall In Love With You – GTO
17 RE Osibisa – The Warrior – Bronze
18 RE Olympic Runners – Keep It Up – RCA (12″)
19 14 Biddu Orchestra – Soul Coaxing – Epic (12″)
20 19 Bruce Johnston – Pipeline – CBS
21 RE Steve Gibbons Band – Tulane – Polydor
22 NE Elvis Presley – Way Down – RCA
23 18 Ohio Players – O-H-I-O – Mercury
24 NE Stevie Wonder – Another Star – Motown
25 RE J.A.L.N. Band – I’ve Got To Sing – Magnet (12″)
26 RE Lovers – Discomania – Epic
27 NE Elvis Presley – Jailhouse Rock – RCA
28 RE C.J. & Company – Devil’s Gun – Atlantic
29 NE Mink De Ville – Spanish Stroll – Capitol (12″)
30 NE Claudja Barry – Sweet Dynamite – Mercury
31 RE T-Connection – Do What You Wanna Do – TK (12″)
32 RE Jonathan Richman – Roadrunner – Berserkley
33 RE Instant Funk – It Ain’t Reggae (But It’s Funky) – Philadelphia Int’l
34 NE Idris Muhammad – Turn This Mutha Out / Could Heaven Ever Be Like This – Kudu
35 20 Smokey Robinson – Vitamin U – Motown
36 RE New York Port Authority – I Got It – Invictus
37 RE Four Seasons – Down The Hall – Warner Bros.
38 NE Baccara – Yes Sir I Can Boogie – RCA
39 RE Dennis Coffey – Wings Of Fire / Free Spirit – Atlantic (LP)
40 NE Space – Tango In Space / Carry On, Turn Me On – Pye (LP)
41 RE Celi Bee & The Buzzy Bunch – One Love – TK (12″)
42 NE Morning, Noon & Night – Bite Your Granny – UA
43 NE People’s Choice – Jam, Jam, Jam – TSOP
44 NE Isley Brothers – Livin’ The Life / Voyage To Atlantis – Epic (LP)
45 RE Deniece Williams – That’s What Friends Are For – CBS
46 NE Thin Lizzy – Dancing In The Moonlight – Vertigo
47 NE Elvis Presley – Hound Dog / Blue Suede Shoes – RCA
48 RE Cameo – Post Mortem / Rigor Mortis – Casablanca
49 NE Elvis Presley – Return To Sender – RCA
50 NE John Forde – Stardance – EMI
NE = new entry; RE = re-entry
Breakers:
1 MUSCLES: ‘If It Relaxes Your Mind’ (Big Bear)
2 MECO: ‘Star Wars Theme / Cantina Band’ (RCA) (BNDA debut 7/23/77)
3 CAMOUFLAGE: ‘Bee Sting’ (State 12”) (BNDA debut 6/18/77)
4 LEO SAYER: ‘Thunder In My Heart’ (Chrysalis) (BNDA debut 12/10/77)
5 ROBERT GORDON: ‘Red Hot’ (Private Stock)
6 BONEY M: ‘Belfast’ (Atlantic LP cut)
7 LASO: ‘LaSo Square’ (MCA LP cut) (BNDA debut 6/11/77)
8 BOB MARLEY & THE WAILERS: ‘Waiting In Vain’ (Island)
9 COMMODORES: ‘Brick House’ (Motown LP cut) (BNDA debut 4/16/77)
10 MARLENA SHAW: ‘Go Away Little Boy’ (CBS)
Appeared in Billboard:
#1 (BNDA debut 6/4/77) / #2 (BNDA debut 5/28/77) / #4 (BNDA debut 7/2/77)
#6 (BNDA debut 6/11/77) / #9 (BNDA debut 7/23/77) / #11 (BNDA debut 6/18/77)
#12 (BNDA debut 8/6/77) / #14 (BNDA debut 7/9/77) / #15 (BNDA debut 5/28/77)
#17 (BNDA debut 3/5/77) / #18 (BNDA debut 11/12/77) / #20 (BNDA debut 7/16/77)
#24 (BNDA debut 10/23/76) / #26 (BNDA debut 5/14/77) / #28 (BNDA debut 4/23/77)
#30 (BNDA debut 3/26/77) / #31 (BNDA debut 2/26/77) / #33 (BNDA debut 12/25/76)
#39 (BNDA debut 6/18/77) / #40 (BNDA debut 6/4/77) / #41 (BNDA debut 4/9/77)
#42 (BNDA debut 7/9/77)
Songs mentioned in “DJ Hotline”:
CAROLE BAYER SAGER: ‘Don’t Wish Too Hard’ (Elektra)
BOOMTOWN RATS: ‘Lookin’ After No. 1’ (Ensign)
JOHN BARRY: ‘The Deep’ (Casablanca)
DAVID RUFFIN: ‘I Can’t Stop The Rain’ (Motown)
THE MOB: ‘Love Connection’ (Private Stock)
PEACOCK: ‘Rose Marie’ (UA)
JERRY BUTLER: ‘Chalk It Up’ (Motown) (BNDA debut 4/2/77)
SKEETS BOLIVER: ‘Moonlight In Jeopardy’ (Thunderbird)
DEAD END KIDS: ‘Glad All Over’ (CBS)
T-CONNECTION: ‘Disco Magic’ (TK LP cut) (BNDA debut 9/4/76)
ROD STEWART: ‘Sweet Little Rock ‘N Roller’ (Mercury)
PEACHES & HERB: ‘We’re Still Together’ (MCA)
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