Easter Monday’s Reading all-dayer has had to change venue due to a new fire limit at the Top Rank. Billed as “the biggest soul disco in Europe” and with the registered trading name of the “National Soul Festival”, the funky all-dayer will now be held at Mecca’s Tiffanys in Purley, on the Brighton Road. In fact Purley Tiffanys will be the venue for all future festivals featuring DJ’s Chris Hill, Robbie Vincent, Greg Edwards and Chris Brown – so beware of imitations!
With a capacity of 3,000 and allegedly better food than the Top Rank, Purley will also have many stalls selling discs, T-shirts and the like. However, tickets now cost £2.25 in advance or £3.00 on the door (but are likely to be sold out long before the day), although tickets already bought for Reading are still valid for Purley at the old price.
Coach party discounts are available from Pete Matthews on Bracknell 21880. As last bank holiday’s festival was virtually the Nuremburg Rally of soul, this Easter you really had better be there or be square!
Hot Vinyl
BLONDIE: ‘Denis (Denee)’ (Chrysalis CHS 2204)
Dynamite revival of Randy & The Rainbows’ ‘Denise’ – their 1963 Four Seasons-ish original is on Philips 6146706 – but Blondie adds French bits and punk attack.
GEORGE DUKE: ‘Reach For It’ LP (Epic EPC 82216)
Superb full length 4:54 ultra-heavy slow funk title track is a US soul smash but unissued here on 45.
PETER BROWN: ‘Dance With Me’ (from LP ‘Do You Wanna Get Funky With Me’, TK TKR 82514) (BNDA debut 1/7/78)
Exceptionally good album includes the full length title track (in the US the LP title is ‘Fantasy Love Affair’), but this sparse funker is the brilliant new import hit track.
DOOLEY SILVERSPOON: ‘Mr. Deluxe, Pts. 1 & 2’ (Seville SEV 1027)
Eerily echoing atmospheric strange thumper, oddly compelling and hitting already.
CERRONE: ‘Supernature’ LP (Atlantic K 50431) (BNDA debut 11/26/77)
Finally out, the gay import hit LP is full of Donna Summer-style and other Eurodisco-type gimmicks and is extremely exciting, if rather drawn out for average dancers.
GALLAGHER & LYLE: ‘Showdown’ (A&M AMS 7332)
Surprise new disco hit, a mid-paced cool pop swayer.
PISTONS: ‘Standing In The Rain’ (Sonet SON 2122)
Donna Summer-ish long bass line before a bouncy but hoarse bloke does John Paul Young’s Euro and now US disco hit.
CLAUDJA BARRY: ‘Johnny Johnny (Please Come Home)’ (Mercury 6198188) (BNDA debut 1/7/78)
Huge US Eurodisco smash by a gorgeous gal (pictured sleeve!), getting gay support here.
DISCOPOLIS: ‘Night Patrol’ / ‘Gitano’ (Pye 7N 25767)
Belgian theme tune-type fast hustler, pretty zingy and a Santa Esmeralda-ish flip.
CAMERON: ‘Close Encounters Of The Third Kind’ (Rak 272)
Jauntily obvious treatment of the new ‘Star Wars’ of which Gene Page’s Arista version is now 12-inched.
FLAMING EMERALDS: ‘Have Some Everybody’ (Grapevine GRP 104)
Exciting northern-slanted stomper by ex-Detroit Emeralds with the Floaters’ backing band.
LE PAMPLEMOUSSE: ‘Le Spank’ LP (Pye NSPL 28244)
Full 10:30 title track hit, and some other goodies too.
JOHNNY GUITAR WATSON: ‘It’s A Damn Shame’ (DJM DJS 10838)
Bouncy solid funker with great thickly-textured vocal sound.
BAR-KAYS: ‘Let’s Have Some Fun’ (Mercury 6167617)
Clichéd heavy funk burbler, OK but not their best.
INNER CITY EXPRESS: ‘Shu’ Dig Dancin’’ (Ebony EYEC 5)
Derivative disco jiggler on 12in, makes all the right noises.
HELEN DAVIS: ‘Satisfaction’ (Carrere EMI 2753)
Yet another Eurohit Stonesdiscomania medley, shrill but big sur le Continent, and out on limited 12in (as is last week’s Sheila & B. Devotion).
TIMMY THOMAS: ‘Touch To Touch’ (TK TKR 6017) (BNDA debut 2/18/78)
Hot Chocolate-type semi-slow plodder.
DUSTY SPRINGFIELD: ‘A Love Like Yours’ (Mercury DUSTY 1)
Martha & Vandellas’ old lurching singalong swayer.
PLAYER: ‘Baby Come Back’ (RSO 2090254)
Bee Gees-ish slowie, reissued since hitting US No 1.
FREE: ‘All Right Now’ (Island IEP 6)
The full-length 6:11 LP version, maxied with ‘My Brother Jake’ and ‘Wishing Well’!
BUDDY KNOX: ‘Party Doll’ (Pye 7N 25765)
1957 rockabilly classic by Buddy Holly’s mate.
SHAKIN’ STEVENS: ‘Justine’ (Track 2094141)
Don & Dewy/Righteous Bros rocker by the ‘Elvis’ star.
Mix Master
Motown have made promo 12in copies of the complete Commodores ‘Live!’ segue of ‘I Feel Sanctified’ / ‘Brick House’, which should aid hip jocks in mixing ‘Sanctified’’s “doop-doop” bits into Heatwave’s hit. Also with some “doop-doop”s, Cameo’s great Brass Construction-ish ‘It’s Serious’ (US Chocolate City CCLP 2004) is fast becoming the day’s hottest import LP. Great mixes are from the drum break in Al Hudson’s UK 12in into the intro of Chic’s hit (the rhythms overlap perfectly!) and from the brass break in Odyssey’s 12in into King Errisson’s ‘Manhattan Love Song’ (US Westbound WT 307) on the hot ‘LA Bound’ import LP.
Hot Vinyl
Chris Hill (Ilford Lacy Lady) import tips:
CAMEO: ‘It’s Serious’ (Chocolate City LP cut) (BNDA debut 2/18/78)
JOE BISSO: ‘Love Somebody’ (Mercury LP cut – French import)
SINE: ‘Chimi’ / ‘Just Let Me Do My Thing’ (Prelude LP cuts)
MANU DIBANGO: ‘Motapo’ (Fiesta LP cut – French import)
JOEY GILMORE: ‘Funny Feeling’ (Blue Candle LP cut)
WAYNE ST. JOHN: ‘Something’s Up’ (Salsoul 12”) (BNDA debut 1/14/78)
CARL BEAN: ‘I Was Born This Way’ (instrumental) (Motown 12”) (BNDA debut 1/28/78)
LORRAINE JOHNSON: ‘The More I Get The More I Want’ (Prelude LP cut)
VOLTAGE BROS: ‘Happening In The Streets’ (Lifesong LP cut)
UK Disco Top 50 – February 11, 1978
01 04 Althea & Donna – Uptown Top Ranking – Lightning
02 01 Odyssey – Native New Yorker – RCA (12″)
03 07 Stargard – Which Way Is Up – MCA
04 02 Chic – Dance Dance Dance – Atlantic
05 06 War – Galaxy – MCA
06 05 Heatwave – The Groove Line – GTO
07 03 Donna Summer – Love’s Unkind – GTO
08 08 Bob Marley & The Wailers – Jamming – Island
09 09 El Coco – Cocomotion – Pye
10 13 Commodores – Too Hot Ta Trot / Zoom – Motown (12″)
11 17 Bee Gees – Stayin’ Alive – RSO
12 14 People’s Choice – Jam, Jam, Jam – Philadelphia Int’l
13 15 Baccara – Sorry I’m A Lady – RCA
14 16 T-Connection – On Fire – TK (12″)
15 31 Eruption – I Can’t Stand The Rain – Atlantic
16 10 Lenny Williams – Choosing You – ABC (12″)
17 11 Roberta Kelly – Zodiacs – Oasis
18 49 Rod Stewart – Hot Legs – Riva
19 27 Bill Withers – Lovely Day – CBS
20 22 Darts – Come Back My Love – Magnet
21 48 Rose Royce – Wishing On A Star – Whitfield
22 32 Raydio – Get Down / Jack And Jill – Arista
23 23 Brotherhood Of Man – Figaro – Pye
24 RE Peter Brown – Do You Wanna Get Funky With Me – TK
25 29 Linda Clifford – From Now On – Curtom (12″)
26 RE High Inergy – You Can’t Turn Me Off – Motown
27 30 Kellee Patterson – If It Don’t Fit Don’t Force It – EMI
28 24 Donna Summer – Rumour Has It / I Love You / Once Upon A Time – Casablanca (LP)
29 35 Lou Rawls – Lady Love – Philadelphia Int’l
30 NE Gene Farrow – Move Your Body – Magnet (12″)
31 50 Earth, Wind & Fire – Fantasy – CBS
32 NE ABBA – Take A Chance On Me – Epic
33 21 Con Funk Shun – Ffun – Mercury (12″)
34 20 Roy Ayers Ubiquity – Running Away – Polydor
35 25 L.T.D. – Back In Love Again – A&M (12″)
36 RE Nite School – Do You Speak French – Ensign
37 26 Long Tall Ernie – Do You Remember – Polydor
38 40 Andrea True Connection – What’s Your Name, What’s Your Number – Buddah
39 41 Samantha Sang – Emotion – Private Stock
40 28 Manu Dibango – Big Blow – Decca
41 NE Electric Light Orchestra – Mr. Blue Sky – Jet
42 12 Carl Douglas – Run Back – Pye
43 37 Scott Fitzgerald & Yvonne Keeley – If I Had Words – UA
44 RE David Bowie – Beauty And The Beast – RCA
45 18 Boz Scaggs – Hollywood – CBS
46 NE Roxy Music – Do The Strand – Polydor (12″)
47 42 Steve Miller Band – Swingtown – Mercury
48 NE Linda Ronstadt – Blue Bayou – Asylum (12″)
49 NE George Duke – Reach For It – Epic [Imp]
50 43 Cerrone – Supernature / Give Me Love – Atlantic (LP)
NE = new entry; RE = re-entry
All titles are 7” singles unless noted otherwise
Appeared in Billboard:
#2 (BNDA debut 8/27/77) / #3 (BNDA debut 1/7/78) / #4 (BNDA debut 9/24/77)
#5 (BNDA debut 1/14/78) / #7 (BNDA debut 5/28/77) / #9 (BNDA debut 8/20/77)
#11 (BNDA debut 1/7/78) / #14 (BNDA debut 11/5/77) / #15 (BNDA debut 2/4/78)
#16 (BNDA debut 7/30/77) / #17 (BNDA debut 8/27/77) / #24 (BNDA debut 4/23/77)
#25 (BNDA debut 12/10/77) / #28 (BNDA debut 11/12/77) / #34 (BNDA debut 9/24/77)
#35 (BNDA debut 10/22/77) / #38 (BNDA debut 11/12/77) / #50 (BNDA debut 11/26/77)
Breakers:
1 GENO WASHINGTON: ‘Proud Mary’ (DJM)
2 GALLAGHER & LYLE: ‘Showdown’ (A&M)
3 FREDA PAYNE: ‘Love Magnet’ (Capitol 12”) (BNDA debut 11/26/77)
4 MONTREAL SOUND: ‘Music’ (Creole 12”) (BNDA debut 8/13/77)
5 MILLIE JACKSON: ‘If You’re Not Back In Love By Monday’ (Spring)
6 EASTSIDE CONNECTION: ‘You’re So Right For Me’ (Creole 12”) (BNDA debut 11/12/77)
7 SUPERCHARGE: ‘I Think I’m Gonna Fall (In Love)’ (Virgin 12”)
8 DOOLEY SILVERSPOON: ‘Mr. Deluxe’ (Seville)
9 PARLIAMENT: ‘Bop Gun’ (Casablanca)
10 LE PAMPLEMOUSSE: ‘Le Spank’ (Pye) (BNDA debut 10/22/77)
Songs mentioned in “DJ Hotline”:
NEW MARKETTS: ‘Theme From M.A.S.H.’ (Satril 12”)
SKYWALKER: ‘May The Force Be With You’ (DJM)
RAM JAM: ‘Keep Your Hands On The Wheel’ (Epic)
LULU: ‘Your Love Is Everywhere’ (GTO)
PISTONS: ‘Standing In The Rain’ (Sonet)
BLACKBYRDS: ‘Street Games’ (Fantasy)
THREE DEGREES: ‘Dirty Ol’ Man’ (Philadelphia Int’l)
SHAKIN’ STEVENS: ‘Justine’ (Track)
OZO: ‘Museum Of Mankind’ (DJM)
PLAYER: ‘Baby Come Back’ (RSO)
JIMMY ONDO: ‘Faisons L’Amour’ (MCA)
CHOCOLATS: ‘Medley Discolats’ (Ibach LP cut – French import)
WALKERS: ‘Striptease’ (Philips – Danish import)
MR. WALKIE TALKIE: ‘Boogie Woogie Baby’ (Polydor)
MANDY B. JONES: ‘1-2-3-4 (We Ain’t Got Much Time)’ (CBS)
TOMMI: ‘Disco Satisfaction’ (Private Stock)
CARPENTERS: ‘Sweet Sweet Smile’ (A&M)
ADDRISI BROTHERS: ‘Never My Love’ (Buddah)
ANDY GIBB: ‘Love Is Thicker Than Water’ (RSO)
ROKOTTO: ‘For The Broken Hearted’ (State)
QUINT: ‘Hold Me’ (UA)
REAL THING: ‘Whenever You Want My Love’ (Pye)
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