New Spins
AMANDA LEAR: ‘Blood And Honey’ (Ariola ARO 103)
Watch it, here’s the next Euro-monster to follow Baccara! It even comes in three different lengths, spread between the 7in and a limited 12in (ARO 103-12). You’ve been warned!
SAAR BAND: ‘Magic Mandrake’ (Calendar DAY 111)
Powerfully chugging simple stomper, strong enough to smash and sure to be big.
DIANA ROSS: ‘Gettin’ Ready For Love’ (Motown TMG 1090)
Gorgeous zingy swinger with an old Supremes lilt.
MONTREAL SOUND: ‘Music’ (Creole CR 145) (BNDA debut 8/13/77)
Lively update of the Bar-Kays’ ‘Soul Finger’, already creating a stir.
GRATEFUL DEAD: ‘Dancin’ In The Streets’ (Arista DEAD 1)
Wow — this you won’t believe, but it’s those old stoned hippies gettin’ soulful on the Vandella’s classic! Really good.
JACKSONS: ‘Goin’ Places’ LP (Epic EPC 86035) (BNDA debut 12/3/77)
The over-frantic title track single’s possibly the worst thing on this great collection of Rose Royce-ish funky clappers and lovely slowies!
POCKETS: ‘Come Go With Me’ (CBS 5780) (BNDA debut 1/7/78)
Nicely pent-up jittery funker.
CAMEO: ‘Funk Funk’ / ‘Good Times’ (Casablanca CAN 112)
Slow P-funk, already popular, but the funkily leaping fast flip sounds more exciting.
NEW YORK PORT AUTHORITY: ‘Three Thousand Miles From Home’ LP (Invictus INV 81951)
Out for ages but nobody told me, it’s got the full 4:10 ‘I Got It’ and other funky goodies, all recent hot ‘uns.
RUFUS: ‘Once You Get Started’ (ABC ABE 12004)
Often-overlooked ‘74 funker on a 4-track 12in.
MUSCLES: ‘I’m A Girl Watcher’ (Big Bear BB 12)
Jaunty cool little hustler, soulfully harmonised.
RAZZY: ‘I Hate Hate’ (MGM 2006437)
Greg Edwards’ fave, the magical ‘74 original of Danny Williams’ newie, rushed out again.
CADO BELLE: ‘Gimme Little Sign’ (Anchor AN 1)
Brenton Wood’s classic cooled out nicely on a 12in EP.
SYLVESTER: ‘Over And Over’ (Fantasy FTC 144) (BNDA debut 8/6/77)
Unusual fast funky jumper, somewhat specialist.
DJ Top Ten
Niels Berk of Vaethvej 9, DK-8870 Langaa, Denmark, is a disco music fan rather than a DJ but has plenty to say about the Danish scene. Evidently the jocks there play anything popular – with an accent on the “pop” – although their taste is improving now that many disco 12-inchers are being issued (especially by RCA). These however cost £2-£3, but then ordinary singles are £1.50 and albums (which sell best of all) are £6! Danish radio uses no chart or playlist, so record exposure is sporadic. Sounds like hell, huh? Despite this, these have been recent disco biggies (all on Danish labels):
1 BACCARA: ‘Sorry I’m A Lady’ (RCA)
2 FIRST CHOICE: ‘Doctor Love’ (Salsoul 12”) (BNDA debut 5/21/77)
3 HUES CORPORATION: ‘I Caught Your Act’ (RCA 12”) (BNDA debut 4/9/77)
4 VERONICA UNLIMITED: ‘What Kind Of Dance Is This’ (EMI)
5 LES ALUMETTES: ‘Mustapha’ (RCA)
6 WHISPERS: ‘Make It With You’ (Soul Train 12”) (BNDA debut 7/23/77)
7 SPOOKY & SUE: ‘Do You Dig It’ (EMI)
8 GILLY MASON: ‘Let Me Get To Love You’ (EMI)
9 TOMMY SEEBACK: ‘I Want You’ (EMI LP cut)
10 MCKINLEYS: ‘Funky Street’ (Stuk LP cut)
Hot Vinyl
Bob Jones (Chelmsford Dee-Jay’s) import tips:
EL COCO: ‘Cocomotion’ (AVI LP cut) (BNDA debut 8/20/77)
MARGIE ALEXANDER: ‘Gotta Get A Hold On Me’ / ‘Whatcha Trying To Do To Me’ (Chi-Sound 12”)
LINDA CLIFFORD: ‘From Now On’ / ‘Tonight’s The Night’ (Curtom LP cuts) (BNDA debut 12/10/77)
POCKETS: ‘Come Go With Me’ / ‘Doin’ The Do’ (ABC LP cuts) (BNDA debut 1/7/78)
TRAX: ‘Watch Out For The Boogie Man’ (Polydor LP cut) (BNDA debut 8/27/77)
SAMBA SOUL: ‘Chove Chuva’ / ‘Mas Que Nada’ (RCA 12”)
GARY TOMS EMPIRE: ‘Turn It Out’ (MCA 12”)
EVELYN “CHAMPAGNE” KING: ‘Shame’ (RCA) (BNDA debut 10/1/77)
MASTERMIND: ‘Hustle Bus Stop’ / ‘Mother Nature’ (Prelude LP cuts)
UK Disco Top 50 – November 5, 1977
01 04 Belle Epoque – Black Is Black – Harvest (12″)
02 02 Baccara – Yes Sir I Can Boogie – RCA
03 03 Emotions – Best Of My Love – CBS
04 05 Meco – Star Wars Theme – RCA
05 01 Rose Royce – Do Your Dance – Whitfield (12″)
06 06 Commodores – Brick House / Sweet Love – Motown
07 08 Rokotto – Boogie On Up – State (12″)
08 34 Boney M – Belfast – Atlantic
09 07 Santa Esmeralda – Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood – Philips
10 14 Status Quo – Rockin’ All Over The World – Vertigo
11 10 Giorgio Moroder – From Here To Eternity / Too Hot To Handle – Oasis
12 15 Celi Bee & The Buzzy Bunch – One Love – TK (12″)
13 09 Lenny Williams – Shoo Doo Fu Fu Ooh – ABC
14 12 Whispers – Make It With You – Soul Train (12″)
15 24 Tina Charles – Love Bug / Sweets For My Sweet – CBS (12″)
16 27 Rod Stewart – You’re In My Heart – Riva
17 21 Darts – Daddy Cool – Magnet (12″)
18 16 Ram Jam – Black Betty – Epic
19 13 Brick – Dusic – Bang
20 38 Tom Robinson Band – 2-4-6-8 Motorway – EMI
21 NE DBM – Discobeatlemania – Atlantic (12″)
22 33 Olympic Runners – Keep It Up – RCA (12″)
23 35 Roy Ayers Ubiquity – Running Away – Polydor (LP)
24 28 Donna Summer – I Remember Yesterday – GTO
25 50 Smokie – Needles And Pins – Rak
26 18 Eddie Henderson – Say You Will / Funk Surgeon – Capitol
27 20 Rose Royce – In Full Bloom (all cuts) – Whitfield (LP)
28 26 Pratt & McClain – Happy Days – Reprise
29 19 Barry White – It’s Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next To Me – 20th Century
30 22 Smokey Robinson – Theme From Big Time – Motown
31 NE Roxy Music – Virginia Plain – Polydor
32 36 People’s Choice – Jam, Jam, Jam – Philadelphia Int’l (LP)
33 47 Donna Summer – Love’s Unkind – GTO (LP)
34 45 Jacksons – Goin’ Places – Epic
35 42 Leo Sayer – Thunder In My Heart – Chrysalis
36 41 ABBA – The Name Of The Game – Epic
37 NE Vicki Sue Robinson – Turn The Beat Around / Hold Tight – RCA (12″)
38 49 Village People – San Francisco / Hollywood / Fire Island – Casablanca (LP) [Imp]
39 NE Munich Machine – Get On The Funk Train – Oasis (LP)
40 40 Bee Gees – How Deep Is Your Love – RSO
41 37 Stranglers – No More Heroes – UA
42 NE In Crowd – We Play Reggae – Cactus
43 17 Donna Summer – Deep Down Inside – Casablanca
44 25 Brothers Johnson – Right On Time – A&M (12″)
45 NE Billy Paul – Only The Strong Survive – Philadelphia Int’l
46 RE Mass Production – I Believe In Music – Cotillion (LP)
47 NE Tavares – I Wanna See You Soon – Capitol
48 NE Laurent Voulzy – Rockollection – RCA
49 NE Earth, Wind & Fire – Serpentine Fire – CBS
50 RE Ramsey Lewis – Spring High – CBS
NE = new entry; RE = re-entry
All titles are 7” singles unless noted otherwise
Appeared in Billboard:
#1 (BNDA debut 6/18/77) / #3 (BNDA debut 6/11/77) / #4 (BNDA debut 7/23/77)
#5 (BNDA debut 9/24/77) / #6 (BNDA debut 4/16/77) / #9 (BNDA debut 9/3/77)
#11 (BNDA debut 8/6/77) / #12 (BNDA debut 4/9/77) / #14 (BNDA debut 7/23/77)
#22 (BNDA debut 11/12/77) / #23 (BNDA debut 9/24/77) / #24 (BNDA debut 5/28/77)
#27 (BNDA debut 9/24/77) / #29 (BNDA debut 8/27/77) / #30 (BNDA debut 8/6/77)
#33 (BNDA debut 5/28/77) / #34 (BNDA debut 12/3/77) / #35 (BNDA debut 12/10/77)
#37 (BNDA debut 7/9/77) / #38 (BNDA debut 7/30/77) / #39 (BNDA debut 6/11/77)
#43 (BNDA debut 7/2/77) / #46 (BNDA debut 8/6/77)
Breakers:
1 DOOLEYS: ‘Love Of My Life’ (GTO)
2 DD SOUND: ‘Shopping Baby’ (Mercury) (BNDA debut 7/16/77)
3 SHOWDOWN: ‘Keep Doin’ It’ (State)
4 JJ BARNES: ‘How Long’ (Contempo)
5 LOVE & KISSES: ‘I’ve Found Love’ (Barclay) (BNDA debut 6/11/77)
6 MIKE THEODORE ORCHESTRA: ‘The Bull’ (Atlantic LP cut) (BNDA debut 9/3/77)
7 ARCHIE BELL & THE DRELLS: ‘So Glad You Could Make It’ (Philadelphia Int’l LP cut)
8 L.T.D.: ‘Back In Love Again’ (A&M) (BNDA debut 10/22/77)
9 BLUES BUSTERS: ‘Just Don’t Want To Be Lonely’ (Dynamic)
10 KENNY EVERETT & MIKE VICKERS: ‘Captain Kremmen (Retribution)’ (DJM)
Songs mentioned in “DJ Hotline”:
DENIECE WILLIAMS: ‘Baby, Baby My Love’s All For You’ (CBS)
DEREK OWEN: ‘Disco 2000’ (Smack)
FANTASTIC FOUR: ‘Got To Have Your Love’ (Atlantic) (BNDA debut 9/24/77)
LE PAMPLEMOUSSE: ‘Get Your Boom Boom (Around The Room Room)’ (Barclay) (BNDA debut 3/26/77)
SAINTS: ‘Lipstick On Your Collar’ (Harvest)
DBM: ‘Kiss Me’ (Atlantic 12”)
FAT LARRY’S BAND: ‘We Just Want To Play For You’ (WMOT)
MIKE THEODORE ORCHESTRA: ‘Cosmic Wind’ (Westbound LP cut – US import) (BNDA debut 9/3/77)
James Hamilton's Disco Page 