Disco News
Ian Levine, Blackpool’s celebrated “New York” DJ/producer, seems to be handling discos promotion now for United Artists! Both Arista and Chrysalis are revising their DJ mailing lists under new disco dept heads, too: send full work details to Tony Berry, Arista Disco Dept, 49 Upper Brook Street, London W1Y 2BT, and to Gill Watkins, Chrysalis Records, 12 Stratford Place, London W1N 9AF.
DJ Chris Archer’s gig at March Cromwells got gutted by fire recently so he’s helping Jon Taylor at Norwich Cromwells for the time being.
Capuchino from Bromley has won the audition to jock at Radhill’s plush Busby’s, Wednesday through Saturday. South Harrow Circles’ Tory Barnfield now has the prestigious post of musical director at Mayfair’s Saddle Room, the very first of the French-inspired “discotheques” to open in London just prior to the Twist boom.
Both the Strathclyde and South Eastern Disco Assns have had committee shakeups, with Mike McLean and Theo Loyla being voted chairman of their respective associations.
New Spins
MANU DIBANGO: ‘Big Blow’ / ‘Aloko Party’ (Decca FR 13755)
Already huge on import alone, it’s a happy fast Afro-funk-jazz leaper which may be too subtle for pop dancers but has funky fans freaking! 5:40 long on 7 in, with a new even faster flip.
ROY AYERS: ‘Freaky Deaky’ (Polydor 2006896)
War-like jerky fast funker, hot on the heels of ‘Running Away’ (possibly London’s biggest-ever non-hit disco smash?).
AL HUDSON & THE SOUL PARTNERS: ‘If You Feel like Dancin’’ (ABC 4203)
Great infectious funky chugger, due on 12 in next week, too!
BILLY PRESTON: ‘Wide Stride’ (from LP ‘A Whole New Thing’, A&M AMLH 64656)
Sensational funky synthesizer strutter, a US soul hit although originally a B-side, it’s big on import but not due for 45 here (yet!).
LINDA CLIFFORD: ‘From Now On’ (Curtom K 17078) (BNDA debut 12/10/77)
Gradually intensifying Candi Staton-type soul thudder, good after Odyssey, finally out here on 3:39 7 in and 3:39/5:10 12 in.
MORRIS JEFFERSON: ‘Spank Your Blank Blank, Pts. 1 & 2’ (Parachute RRS 502)
Funky slow bump-tempo soul screamer for the new US dance craze.
BLACKSMOKE: ‘(Your Love Has Got Me) Screamin’’ (Casablanca CAN 120)
Fantastic panting chunky funker with an almost Sam & Dave feel, and a lovely slow flip too.
MANDRILL: ‘Funky Monkey’ / ‘Can You Get It (Suzie Caesar)’ (Arista ARIST 12-164)
Dynamite funky 12 in, the happy fast A-side and catchy chanting bump flip both being huge on import – though maybe a bit specialist.
LAMONT DOZIER: ‘Sight For Sore Eyes’ (Warner Bros. K 17070)
Sexily-sung sinuous plodder, rather strong.
B.T. EXPRESS: ‘Shout It Out’ (EMI INT 548)
Great catchy slow funky chanter, their best in a while.
JOLLY BROTHERS: ‘Conscious Man’ (Magnum GUN 1002)
Jaunty easy-paced reggae with much radio support.
DENIECE WILLIAMS: ‘We Have Love For You’ (CBS 5931)
Sexy stop-start smoocher.
BLACKBYRDS: ‘Soft And Easy’ / ‘Street Games’ (Fantasy FTC 150)
Double A-sided gorgeous sexy smoocher and fast funky flier.
PARLIAMENT: ‘Bop Gun’ (Casablanca CAN 115)
Powerful if specialist P-Funk bumper, good mixed out of George Duke.
GENE PAGE: ‘Close Encounters Of The Third Kind’ (Arista ARIST 171)
Van McCoy-type US disco victor of the new ‘Star Wars’-like movie theme race.
TINA CHARLES: ‘I’ll Go Where Your Music Takes Me’ (CBS 6062)
Quietly building innocuous MoR-aimed revival of Jimmy James’s hustler.
SHEILA & B. DEVOTION: ‘Singin’ In The Rain, Pts. 1 & 2’ (Carrere EMI 2751) (BNDA debut 2/11/78)
Fairly dire over-fast Europop massacre of Gene Kelly’s classic, full of dated disco cliches but oddly with some supposedly discerning radio DJ support.
PETULA CLARK: ‘I’m Not In Love’ (CBS 6103)
Surprising gently hustling discofication of 10cc’s classic.
LEE VANDERBILT: ‘Funky Tropical’ (RCA PB 5066)
Biddu-produced fast funky jumper with Brass Construction touches.
UNCLE SAM: ‘Oh Pretty Woman’ (Ariola ARO 116)
Euro-disco update of Roy Orbison’s classic.
Hot Vinyl
Graham Canter (Mayfair Gullivers), back from Majorca, import tips:
CAMEO: ‘It’s Serious’ (Chocolate City LP cut) (BNDA debut 2/18/78)
JOEY GILMORE: ‘Funny Feeling’ (Blue Candle LP cut)
MARILYN SCOTT: ‘God Only Knows’ (Big Tree)
VOLTAGE BROS: ‘Working Together’ (Lifesong LP cut)
LONNIE JORDAN: ‘Jungle Dancin’’ (MCA LP cut)
SILVER LINING: ‘Silver Lining’ (Dusic 12”)
BOHANNON: ‘Maybe You Can Dance’ (Mercury LP cut)
JAMES T: ‘Beggin’’ (Reid’s World)
And does a great mix from BILL BRANDON ‘Can’t We Just Sit Down And Talk It Over’ / ‘We Fell In Love While Dancing’ (Prelude LP cuts) into JIMMY MCGRIFF: ‘Tailgunner’ (LRC LP cut).
DJ Top Ten
Andrew Gough runs The Golden Age Mobile Disco in West Germany from his home in Krefeld, playing at British Army camps and averaging about 500 miles a week. The pay for discos in Germany is evidently phenomenal, so it’s a pity he doesn’t say what that averages!
1 VERONICA UNLIMITED: ‘Right On’ (Philips – German pressing)
2 MONTREAL SOUND: ‘Music’ (Creole 12”) (BNDA debut 8/13/77)
3 VAN MCCOY: ‘African Symphony’ (H&L)
4 ANTHONY WHITE: ‘I Can’t Turn You Loose’ (Salsoul 12” – US import) (BNDA debut 9/24/77)
5 BZN: ‘The Clown’ (Mercury – German pressing)
6 MUNICH MACHINE: ‘Get On The Funk Train’ (Oasis) (BNDA debut 6/11/77)
7 DEBBY BOONE: ‘You Light Up My Life’ (Warner Bros.)
8 DONNA SUMMER: ‘Love’s Unkind’ (GTO) (BNDA debut 5/28/77)
9 MABEL: ‘I’m Only Here To Rock ‘N Roll’ (Polydor – German pressing)
10 HELEN DAVIS: ‘Satisfaction’ (Carrere – German pressing)
UK Disco Top 50 – February 4, 1978
01 02 Odyssey – Native New Yorker – RCA (12″)
02 01 Chic – Dance Dance Dance – Atlantic
03 03 Donna Summer – Love’s Unkind – GTO
04 05 Althea & Donna – Uptown Top Ranking – Lightning
05 06 Heatwave – The Groove Line – GTO
06 04 War – Galaxy – MCA
07 10 Stargard – Which Way Is Up – MCA
08 07 Bob Marley & The Wailers – Jamming – Island
09 08 El Coco – Cocomotion – Pye
10 09 Lenny Williams – Choosing You – ABC (12″)
11 13 Roberta Kelly – Zodiacs – Oasis
12 11 Carl Douglas – Run Back – Pye
13 21 Commodores – Too Hot Ta Trot / Zoom – Motown (12″)
14 15 People’s Choice – Jam, Jam, Jam – Philadelphia Int’l
15 14 Baccara – Sorry I’m A Lady – RCA
16 12 T-Connection – On Fire – TK (12″)
17 NE Bee Gees – Stayin’ Alive – RSO
18 19 Boz Scaggs – Hollywood – CBS
19 23 Imperials – Who’s Gonna Love Me – Power Exchange
20 20 Roy Ayers Ubiquity – Running Away – Polydor
21 17 Con Funk Shun – Ffun – Mercury (12″)
22 NE Darts – Come Back My Love – Magnet
23 46 Brotherhood Of Man – Figaro – Pye
24 16 Donna Summer – Rumour Has It / I Love You / Once Upon A Time – Casablanca (LP)
25 18 L.T.D. – Back In Love Again – A&M (12″)
26 24 Long Tall Ernie – Do You Remember – Polydor
27 42 Bill Withers – Lovely Day – CBS
28 25 Manu Dibango – Big Blow – Fiesta (12″) [Imp]
29 31 Linda Clifford – From Now On – Curtom (12″)
30 35 Kellee Patterson – If It Don’t Fit Don’t Force It – EMI
31 NE Eruption – I Can’t Stand The Rain – Atlantic
32 NE Raydio – Get Down / Jack And Jill – Arista
33 32 Bonnie Tyler – It’s A Heartache – RCA
34 22 Emotions – I Don’t Wanna Lose Your Love – CBS
35 47 Lou Rawls – Lady Love – Philadelphia Int’l
36 30 Wings – Mull Of Kintyre – Parlophone
37 NE Scott Fitzgerald & Yvonne Keeley – If I Had Words – UA
38 28 Bee Gees – How Deep Is Your Love – RSO
39 NE Trammps – The Night The Lights Went Out – Atlantic (LP)
40 NE Andrea True Connection – What’s Your Name, What’s Your Number – Buddah
41 NE Samantha Sang – Emotion – Private Stock
42 NE Steve Miller Band – Swingtown – Mercury
43 38 Cerrone – Supernature / Give Me Love / Love Is Here – Atlantic (LP)
44 41 Brass Construction – We / Happy People – UA (LP)
45 NE Mastermind – Hustle Bus Stop – Prelude [Imp]
46 27 Village People – San Francisco – DJM
47 50 Showdown – Keep Doin’ It – State (12″)
48 NE Rose Royce – Wishing On A Star – Whitfield
49 NE Rod Stewart – Hot Legs – Riva
50 NE Earth, Wind & Fire – Fantasy – CBS
NE = new entry; RE = re-entry
All titles are 7” singles unless noted otherwise
Appeared in Billboard:
#1 (BNDA debut 8/27/77) / #2 (BNDA debut 9/24/77) / #3 (BNDA debut 5/28/77)
#6 (BNDA debut 1/14/78) / #7 (BNDA debut 1/7/78) / #9 (BNDA debut 8/20/77)
#10 (BNDA debut 7/30/77) / #11 (BNDA debut 8/27/77) / #16 (BNDA debut 11/5/77)
#17 (BNDA debut 1/7/78) / #20 (BNDA debut 9/24/77) / #24 (BNDA debut 11/12/77)
#25 (BNDA debut 10/22/77) / #29 (BNDA debut 12/10/77) / #31 (BNDA debut 2/4/78)
#34 (BNDA debut 8/28/76) / #39 (BNDA debut 11/26/77) / #40 (BNDA debut 11/12/77)
#43 (BNDA debut 11/26/77) / #44 (BNDA debut 12/3/77) / #46 (BNDA debut 7/30/77)
Breakers:
1 RAY CHARLES: ‘I Can See Clearly Now’ (London)
2 FREDA PAYNE: ‘Love Magnet’ (Capitol 12”) (BNDA debut 11/26/77)
3 CANDI STATON: ‘Listen To The Music’ (Warner Bros.)
4 DAVID BOWIE: ‘Beauty And The Beast’ (RCA)
5 PETER BROWN: ‘Do You Wanna Get Funky With Me’ (TK 12”) (BNDA debut 4/23/77)
6 NAZARETH: ‘Gone Dead Train’ (Mountain)
7 HIGH INERGY: ‘You Can’t Turn Me Off’ (Motown)
8 CARPENTERS: ‘Sweet Sweet Smile’ (A&M)
9 MONTREAL SOUND: ‘Music’ (Creole 12”) (BNDA debut 8/13/77)
10 EARTH, WIND & FIRE: ‘Magic Mind’ (CBS LP cut)
Songs mentioned in “DJ Hotline”:
LA BELLE EPOQUE: ‘Miss Broadway’ (Harvest) (BNDA debut 6/18/77)
LA QUINTA FACCIA: ‘Tornero’ (UA)
SARRAGOSSA BAND: ‘Disco Boogie Boogie’ (Ariola)
JOHN PAUL YOUNG: ‘Love Is In The Air’ (Ariola – German import)
TONY HOLIDAY: ‘Tanze Samba Mit Mir’ (Polydor – German import)
AMANDA LEAR: ‘Queen Of Chinatown’ (Ariola – German import)
KOOL & THE GANG: ‘Slick Superchick’ (De-Lite LP cut – US import)
ISAAC HAYES: ‘Moonlight Lovin’’ (Polydor LP cut – US import) (BNDA debut 12/10/77)
MECO: ‘Close Encounters’ (Millennium – US import) (BNDA debut 1/28/78)
BARRY WHITE: ‘Of All The Guys In The World’ (20th Century – US import)
SANTA ESMERALDA: ‘The House Of The Rising Sun’ (Casablanca LP cut – US import) (BNDA debut 3/4/78)
REVELACION: ‘House Of The Rising Sun’ (Crocus – French import) (BNDA debut 2/18/78)
LE PAMPLEMOUSSE: ‘Le Spank’ (Pye) (BNDA debut 10/22/77)
BILLY PRESTON: ‘Wide Stride’ (A&M LP cut)
RAMSEY LEWIS: ‘Skippin’’ / ‘My Angel’s Smile’ (CBS LP cuts)
SUPERCHARGE: ‘I Think I’m Gonna Fall (In Love)’ (Virgin 12”)
RADIO STARS: ‘Nervous Wreck’ (Chiswick)
GRATEFUL DEAD: ‘Dancin’ In The Streets’ (Arista 12”)
BOZ SCAGGS: ‘1993’ (CBS LP cut)
VISITORS: ‘No Compromise’ (NRG)
JOHNNY G: ‘Call Me Bwana’ (Beggars Banquet)
RON-DELLS: ‘Martian Hop’ (London)
ANDY STARR: ‘Rockin’ Rollin’ Stone’ (MGM LP cut)
PATTIE BROOKS: ‘Don’t Make Me Wait’ (Casablanca) (BNDA debut 9/24/77)
ROD MCKUEN: ‘Amor’ (DJM)
BRAINSTORM: ‘Wake Up And Be Somebody’ (RCA)
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