East On Soul
Jim Higginson, one of the funky jocks at Spennymoor’s Top Hat in Co. Durham, explains a certain amount about the Eastern Soul phenomenon in the North East.
He notes that there is little demand for the old type of Northern Soul in the area’s established clubs, probably because its fans are too young to get in – although, he adds, the hardcore are obviously over 16.
What has happened, however, is that the modern New York disco sounds which Ian Levine spins over in Blackpool – and which are so controversial among Northern fans – are equally popular with funk in the Top Hat at least.
While of course funky records can be big elsewhere in Britain too, it remains strange that the ones which get reported as hits in the South East, East Anglia and East Midlands only seem to catch on in the North East and never further west.
Anyway, now that the Brighouse And Rastrick Brass Band are so big in the charts, the latest trend seems to be for clog dancing! Let me know when that catches on with you!
Tea Break! Round Two
Ron Greenfield suggests we start asking jocks for their funny experiences; I suggest jocks should send in their favourite one-liner jokes, suitable for disco use.
Either way, Ron’s own amusing antic was during a gig in an old church hall with only one mains socket, where the vicar pulled the plug so he could boil a kettle… halfway through the evening! Talk about a tea-break!
New Spins
COACHOUSE RHYTHM SECTION: ‘Nobody’s Got Time Pts. 1/2’ (Ice 3, via Anchor)
Already hot for some, Eddy Grant’s funkily jumping chanter is like an updated Equals, with synthetic backing.
SHOWDOWN: ‘Keep Doin’ It’ (State STAT 63)
Full – length 12” version of the happy bumper – Pity it’s so late.
FOUR TOPS: ‘For Your Love’ (ABC 4199)
UK recorded hustle revamp of The Yardbirds oldie, on 12” but not on their ‘The Show Must Go On’ LP (ABCL 5223), whose much better 7:04 title track has funky support.
JOHN OTWAY AND WILD WILLY BARRETT: ‘Cor Baby That’s Really Free’ (Polydor 2053951)
Catchy punk-ish romper. Could be huge.
FESTIVAL SINGERS: ‘Happy Birthday To You’ / ‘For He’s A Jolly Good Fellow’ / ‘Auld Lang Syne’ (EMI 2718)
Plain and simple for singalongs – and pretty well vital for every DJ!
JOHN CHRISTIE: ‘Here’s To Love’ / ‘Here’s To Rock ‘N’ Roll’ (EMI 2728)
Last years ‘Auld Lang Syne’ hit and a disjointed oldies medley flip.
PAUL NICHOLAS: ‘Grandma’s Party’ (RSO 2090216)
And another ‘Auld Lang Syne’ hit from last year reactivated.
FRANKIE ALLEN: ‘Just A Country Boy’ (Rockfield UP 36337)
Sensational Elvis tribute recreates his early RCA sound almost perfectly.
ROBERT GORDON: ‘The Fool’ (Private Stock PVT 127)
Sanford Clark’s classic 1956 rocker revived on a 78rpm 12”, selling at 15 bob!
BING CROSBY: ‘Goodnight Sweetheart’ / ‘Where The Blue Of The Night‘ (Decca F 13740)
Vintage 1931 closedown smoochers!
CRAWLER: ‘Stone Cold Sober’ (Epic EPC 5873)
Lovely gentle cool rocker, revived from July.
DEAD BOYS: ‘Sonic Reducer’ (Sire 6078609)
Head – bashing – pogo – a – gogo, with good phasing effects.
RORY BLOCK: ‘Help Me Baby’ (Chrysalis CHS 2176)
Intense little Thelma – type builder.
VIOLA WILLS: ‘Let’s Love Now’ (Arista 151)
Thelma – type hustler.
JACKIE PAYNE: ‘It’s Gonna Be Alright’ / ‘I Found Myself’ (Barak BAR 4, via President)
Funky chugger and nice soul swinger flip.
JIMMY HELMS: ‘Black Joy’ (Pye 7N 46031)
Jaunty mid tempo movie song.
EMOTIONS: ‘Shouting Out Love’ (Stax 501)
Previously unissued old semi – slowie.
QUINT: ‘Hold Me’ (UA UP 36328)
Real Thing type slow tripper from Kent.
COALKITCHEN: ‘Falling In Love’ (Full Moon EPC 5685)
Dated pop disco formula fodder.
PAT SIMON: ‘George (Disco Tango)’ (Pye 7N 25757)
Silly hybrid hustler that’s better than expected.
SOPHISTICATED LADIES: ‘Check It Out’ (Bareback EMBS 35, via Pye)
Old fashioned soul chix sing Bobby Womack.
EDDIE DRENNON: ‘Would You Dance To My Music’ (Pye 7N 25758)
Pleasant sophisticated hustler.
JERMAINE JACKSON: ‘Take Time’ (Motown TMG 1092)
Unimaginative burbler.
GERALDINE: ‘Wonderful’ (RAK 264)
Trite cliché crammed Euro type bounder.
VIOLA REITTOWSKY: ‘You Can Dance’ (Contempo CS 2126)
Euro monotony with the old Homer Banks / Spencer Davis beat.
PLATTERS: ‘Only You’ (Pye 7N 25760)
Modern thumpalong remake.
SONNY BLAKE: ‘Curiosity’ (Satril SAT 121)
Good follow-on to George Chandler’s ‘Little Girl’!
ANGEL: ‘Winter Song’ (Casablanca CAN 113)
Bowie’s ‘Low’ – like slow lurcher.
ALLMAN AND WOMAN: ‘Move Me’ (Warner Bros K 17057)
Dreary slow hustler.
Donna Summer adds ‘Working The Midnight Shift‘ and ‘Say Something Nice‘ but ‘Rumour Has It’ remains the hottest track (Casablanca LP)
Mix Master
Chris Brown (Elephant And Castle Charlie Chaplin’s) gets intellectual by mixing Greg Lake ‘C’est La Vie‘ (Atlantic), Laurent Voulzy ‘Rockollection’ (RCA), Nite School ‘Do You Speak French‘ (Ensign), LaBelle ‘Lady Marmalade’ (Epic), Manhattan Transfer ‘Chanson D’Amour’ (Atlantic) and Moments ‘ Look At Me I’m In Love’ or ‘Girls’ – the French versions (all Platinum LP). Ca va m’sieur? Mais oui, oui, oui!
Hot Vinyl:
Bob Jones (Chelmsford Dee-Jay’s) import tips:
Mandrill ‘Can You Get It’ / ‘Funky Monkey‘ / ‘Happy Beat‘ – wot not ‘Susie Caesar’ too? – (Arista LP)
Michele ‘Disco Dance‘ / ‘Can’t You Feel It‘ (West End LP)
New Birth ‘Mighty Army‘ / ‘Deeper‘ (Warner Bros LP)
Ingram ‘Get Your Stuff Off‘ (H&L)
Le Pamplemousse ‘Le Spank‘ (Avi 12”)
Chocolate Milk ‘Grand Theft‘ (RCA)
and still tips Cleveland Eaton ‘Bama Boogie Woogie‘ (Ovation 12”).
UK Disco Top 50 – December 3, 1977
01 01 Tom Robinson Band – 2-4-6-8 Motorway – EMI
02 19 Village People – San Francisco / Hollywood / Fire Island – DJM (LP)
03 04 Belle Epoque – Black Is Black – Harvest (12″)
04 40 Chic – Dance Dance Dance – Atlantic
05 06 Santa Esmeralda – Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood – Philips
06 02 Baccara – Yes Sir I Can Boogie – RCA
07 03 Boney M – Belfast – Atlantic
08 10 Status Quo – Rockin’ All Over The World – Vertigo
09 17 Diana Ross – Gettin’ Ready For Love – Motown
10 11 Showaddywaddy – Dancin’ Party – Arista
11 07 DBM – Discobeatlemania – Atlantic (12″)
12 08 Darts – Daddy Cool – Magnet (12″)
13 13 Roy Ayers Ubiquity – Running Away – Polydor (LP)
14 15 Dooleys – Love Of My Life – GTO
15 16 Bee Gees – How Deep Is Your Love – RSO
16 09 Lenny Williams – Shoo Doo Fu Fu Ooh – ABC
17 47 Fantastic Four – Got To Have Your Love – Atlantic
18 NE Wings – Mull Of Kintyre – Parlophone
19 25 Donna Summer – Once Upon A Time (all cuts) – Casablanca (LP)
20 05 Rokotto – Boogie On Up – State (12″)
21 23 Emotions – Best Of My Love – CBS
22 NE Café Crème – Unlimited Citations – Harvest
23 46 Con Funk Shun – Ffun – Mercury
24 33 Le Pamplemousse – Get Your Boom Boom – Barclay
25 50 Emotions – I Don’t Wanna Lose Your Love – CBS
26 27 Vicki Sue Robinson – Turn The Beat Around / Hold Tight – RCA (12″)
27 14 Billy Paul – Only The Strong Survive – Philadelphia Int’l
28 32 Commodores – Brick House – Motown
29 NE Bob Marley & The Wailers – Jamming – Island
30 12 Rose Royce – Do Your Dance – Whitfield (12″)
31 NE Eddie Henderson – Say You Will/Funk Surgeon – Capitol
32 43 L.T.D. – Back In Love Again – A&M
33 RE Jonathan Richman – Egyptian Reggae – Berserkley
34 RE Munich Machine – Get On The Funk Train – Oasis
35 NE El Coco – Cocomotion – Pye
36 NE Mike Theodore Orchestra – The Bull – Atlantic
37 NE Saar Band – Magic Mandrake – Calendar
38 26 Nite School – Do You Speak French – Ensign
39 45 Kenny Everett – Captain Kremmen – DJM
40 35 Jacksons – Goin’ Places – Epic
41 41 Rose Royce – It Makes You Feel Like Dancing – Whitfield LP
42 NE Danny Williams – I Hate Hate – Ensign
43 21 Tina Charles – Love Bug – CBS 12”
44 RE Santana – She’s Not There – CBS
45 31 Laurent Voulzy – Rockollection – RCA
46 37 Kenny Williams – (You’re) Fabulous Babe – Decca
47 NE Procol Harum – A Whiter Shade Of Pale – Cube 12”
48 18 Rod Stewart – You’re In My Heart – Riva
49 NE George McCrae – Kiss Me – TK
50 NE Gibson Brothers – Come To America – Polydor (12″)
NE = new entry; RE = re-entry
All titles are 7” singles unless noted otherwise
Appeared in Billboard:
#2 (BNDA debut 7/30/77) / #3 (BNDA debut 6/18/77) / #4 (BNDA debut 9/24/77)
#5 (BNDA debut 9/3/77) / #13 (BNDA debut 9/24/77) / #17 (BNDA debut 9/24/77)
#19 (BNDA debut 11/12/77) / #21 (BNDA debut 6/11/77) / #24 (BNDA debut 3/26/77)
#25 (BNDA debut 8/28/76) / #26 (BNDA debut 7/9/77) / #28 (BNDA debut 4/16/77)
#30 (BNDA debut 9/24/77) / #32 (BNDA debut 10/22/77) / #34 (BNDA debut 6/11/77)
#35 (BNDA debut 8/20/77) / #36 (BNDA debut 9/3/77) / #40 (BNDA debut 12/3/77)
#41 (BNDA debut 9/24/77)
No Breakers this week.
Thelma Houston, Gonzalez, Carl Douglas – all huge last week, nowhere now. What happened? Chart contributors are meant to list records that have proved their floor-filling capabilities, but I suspect that these (and many others in the past) have been charted by jocks, before they’d tried them. To help keep the Disco Top 50 as consistent as possible, please stop this practice!
Songs mentioned in “DJ Hotline”:
MONTREAL SOUND: ‘Music’ (Creole 12”)
BILL FREDERICKS: ‘Love With You’ (Polydor)
POCKETS: ‘Come Go With Us’ (CBS)
REAL THING: ‘Lightning Strikes’ (Pye)
BOZ SCAGGS: ‘Hollywood’ (CBS)
RICE AND BEANS ORCHESTRA: ‘Disco Dancing’ (Contempo)
BIG JOKE: ‘Disco Cha Cha’ (Barnpre)
DEREK OWEN: ‘Disco 2000’ (Smack)
RORY BLOCK: ‘Help Me Baby’ (Chrysalis)
James Hamilton's Disco Page 