After ABBA: The Album came ABBA: The Movie, and after ABBA: The Movie last Thursday night at London’s Cafe Royal there was ABBA: The Party. At this post-premiere celebration ABBA: The Group were awarded their latest batch of platinum albums, and a star-studded host of guests were entertained by the Pasadena Roof Orchestra and, at the very end, by yours truly. Aye, there’s the rub – I’d just come on at 1:15 am when I was told that the party was to end at 1:35! 20 minutes playing time for 13 hours of humping gear and hanging about . . . oh well!
Disco News
Salsoul Records, recently with RCA, are being re-launched in the UK by EMI on March 10th with an exciting release schedule of Charo’s ‘Dance A Little Bit Closer’, Anthony White’s ‘I Can’t Turn You Loose’ / ‘Block Party’, First Choice’s ‘Dr Love’ and – on limited 12in – Bunny Sigler’s ‘Let Me Party With You’. Also, EMI’s Licensed Label Division has a new disco promotion head in Steve Turner.
Steve Orme, recently RM’s sub-editor, and Stevenage Mecca jock Pete Banks have opened Sound Power Studios at 15 Town Square Chambers in Stevenage especially for DJs, with radio presentation courses costing £7.50 an hour.
Stephen Jaye (Nuneaton 387424 or 61182) needs go-go girls for regular work with his roadshow.
Finally, all French-speaking jocks interested in the Continental scene should get the great, lavishly produced French disco monthly magazine ‘Discobox’ whose subscription details are available from Discobox Service Abonnement, 11 Rue de Provence, Paris, France. Ca va?
New Spins
MICHAEL ZAGER BAND: ‘Let’s All Chant’ (Private Stock PVDD 1) (BNDA debut 1/14/78)
Dynamite US disco smash 7:05 12in, also a possibly even stronger 3:07 7in (PVT 143), it’s got lotsa trendy “oop oop” and other chants, an odd classical type break – and a good flip too! Look out, the ex-Ten Wheel Drive guy (no relation to Zager and Evans) could be the next Chic.
OLYMPIC RUNNERS: ‘Keepin’ It Up’ LP (RCA PL 25124) (‘Keep It Up’ BNDA debut 11/12/77)
The great ‘Keep It Up’, terrific gently jazzy ‘Solar Heat’ and hunky funky ‘Down To The Bone’ stand out on a superbly consistent disco LP.
MAINSTREET: ‘No Appointment Necessary’ (State STAT 74)
Billy Ocean-style happy old-fashioned singalong pop-soul churner, horribly commercial.
MARY WELLS: ‘My Guy’ / ‘What’s Easy For Two Is So Hard For One’ (Motown TMG 1100)
All-time classics, say no more!
BRASS CONSTRUCTION: ‘We’ / ‘Get It Together’ (UA UP 36360) (BNDA debut 12/3/77)
At last the two biggest UK LP cuts – typical funky groovers – back to back.
LONNIE SMITH: ‘Funk Reaction’ (TK TKR 6021)
Hot funky 5:51 sparse jitterer with disco chix and Stevie Wonder-ish vocal.
BROOKLYN DREAMS: ‘Music, Harmony And Rhythm’ (RCA XB 1040) (BNDA debut 4/8/78)
Yearning mid-tempo soul group swayer, rather good.
DIONNE WARWICK: ‘Do You Believe In Love At First Sight’ (Warner Bros. K 17104)
Quite infectious fast clapping canterer.
JEAN KNIGHT: ‘Mr Big Stuff’ / VEDA BROWN: ‘Short Stopping’ (Stax 2007)
Enduring old funk classics fit in well with Kellee Patterson.
KELLY MARIE: ‘Make Love To Me’ (Pye 7N 46044)
Ludicrously, her UK-issued ‘Run To Me’ is now a hot import 12in – so don’t wait until this subtle catchy thumper hits back from New York, too.
TAVARES: ‘The Ghost Of Love’ (Capitol CL 15968)
Bright and breezy formula romper, pressed in green vinyl for some reason.
MJ WILLIAMS: ‘I Found Love Dancing On The Disco Floor’ (Ariola ARO 109-12)
Biddu-produced 100mph 12in zinger.
LEON HAYWOOD: ‘Baby Reconsider’ (Fantasy FTC 151)
Tamla-type dated northern stomper.
TEE CEES: ‘Disco Love Bite, Pts. 1 & 2’ (DJM DJS 10842)
‘Tubular Bells’-type slow start to a slithering strings Euro pounder, quite strong. There’s a whole LP of it on DJF 20531.
RAFFAELLA CARRA: ‘Do It, Do It Again’ (Epic EPC 6094)
Continental conga-type kicker, madly jolly.
ROC MCKUEN: ‘Amor’ (DJM DJS 10826)
Huskily sung gay little Latin-American romp, good MoR.
BOZ SCAGGS: ‘1993’ (CBS 6096)
Freakily slow-starting successor to ‘Lido Shuffle’.
MICHELLE PHILLIPS: ‘Victim Of Romance’ (A&M AMS 7340)
Jack Nitzsche-produced authentic copy of vintage Phil Spector.
RAY TISSIER: ‘See You In LA’ (Ensign ENY 11)
Sorta ‘Shaft’ meets the Bee Gees – kinda odd!
MELBA MOORE: ‘Standing Right Here’ (Buddah BDS 464) (BNDA debut 4/7/79)
Gorgeous slow-starting subtle jittery swayer.
ISAAC HAYES: ‘Moonlight Lovin’’ (from LP ‘New Horizon’, Polydor 2391313) (BNDA debut 12/10/77)
Jiggly long monotonous mid-tempo cymbal schlurper, and a fast gay update of ‘Stranger In Paradise’.
Hot Vinyl
Bob Jones (Chelmsford Dee Jay’s & Mr Jones) – as well as being hot for Cameo, Kay-Gees and Southroad Connection – import tips:
KONGAS: ‘Gimme Some Lovin’’ / ‘Dr. Doo-Dah’ (Crocus LP cuts – French import) (BNDA debut 1/14/78)
TRUE EXAMPLE: ‘Love Is Finally Coming My Way’ (Gold Mind 12”) (BNDA debut 1/21/78)
WAYNE ST. JOHN: ‘Something’s Up’ (Salsoul 12”) (BNDA debut 1/14/78)
THP ORCHESTRA: ‘Two Hot For Love’ (Butterfly LP cut) (BNDA debut 8/20/77)
UK Disco Top 50 – February 25, 1978
01 01 Stargard – Which Way Is Up – MCA
02 02 Odyssey – Native New Yorker – RCA (12″)
03 06 War – Galaxy – MCA
04 03 Althea & Donna – Uptown Top Ranking – Lightning
05 04 Heatwave – The Groove Line – GTO
06 10 Eruption – I Can’t Stand The Rain – Atlantic
07 09 Bob Marley & The Wailers – Jamming – Island
08 08 Bee Gees – Stayin’ Alive – RSO
09 05 Chic – Dance Dance Dance – Atlantic
10 21 Peter Brown – Do You Wanna Get Funky With Me – TK
11 07 Donna Summer – Love’s Unkind – GTO
12 13 ABBA – Take A Chance On Me – Epic
13 11 Darts – Come Back My Love – Magnet
14 19 Manu Dibango – Big Blow / Aloko Party – Decca
15 18 Baccara – Sorry I’m A Lady – RCA
16 NE Sheila & B. Devotion – Singin’ In The Rain – Carrere (12″)
17 15 Earth, Wind & Fire – Fantasy – CBS
18 16 Bill Withers – Lovely Day – CBS
19 14 Rod Stewart – Hot Legs / I Was Only Joking – Riva
20 24 Raydio – Get Down / Jack And Jill – Arista
21 12 Commodores – Too Hot Ta Trot / Zoom – Motown (12″)
22 23 Brotherhood Of Man – Figaro – Pye
23 28 Roy Ayers – Freaky Deaky – Polydor
24 20 Roberta Kelly – Zodiacs – Oasis
25 46 Yellow Dog – Just One More Night – Virgin
26 44 Mandrill – Can You Get It – Arista (12″)
27 26 T-Connection – On Fire – TK (12″)
28 36 Andrea True Connection – What’s Your Name, What’s Your Number – Buddah
29 22 Al Hudson – If You Feel Like Dancin’ – ABC (12″)
30 35 Eastside Connection – You’re So Right For Me – Creole (12″)
31 33 Rose Royce – Wishing On A Star – Whitfield
32 40 Lenny Williams – Choosing You – ABC (12″)
33 48 Tonight – Drummer Man – TDS
34 17 El Coco – Cocomotion – Pye
35 29 People’s Choice – Jam, Jam, Jam – Philadelphia Int’l
36 NE Blondie – Denis (Denee) – Chrysalis
37 32 Earth, Wind & Fire – Magic Mind – CBS
38 34 Cerrone – Supernature / Give Me Love – Atlantic (LP)
39 30 B.T. Express – Shout It Out / Ride On It – EMI Int’l
40 37 Kellee Patterson – If It Don’t Fit Don’t Force It – EMI
41 49 Samantha Sang – Emotion – Private Stock
42 50 Gene Farrow – Move Your Body – Magnet (12″)
43 NE Southroad Connection – You Like It, We Love It – Mahogany (12″) [Imp]
44 43 Cameo – It’s Serious – Chocolate City (LP) [Imp]
45 25 High Inergy – You Can’t Turn Me Off – Motown
46 NE Gene Page – Close Encounters Of The Third Kind – Arista (12″)
47 27 Linda Clifford – From Now On – Curtom (12″)
48 NE Jimmy Lindsay – Easy – Island
49 NE Real Thing – Whenever You Want My Love – Pye
50 NE Claudja Barry – Johnny Johnny – Mercury
NE = new entry; RE = re-entry
All titles are 7” singles unless noted otherwise
Appeared in Billboard:
#1 (BNDA debut 1/7/78) / #2 (BNDA debut 8/27/77) / #3 (BNDA debut 1/14/78)
#6 (BNDA debut 2/4/78) / #8 (BNDA debut 1/7/78) / #9 (BNDA debut 9/24/77)
#10 (BNDA debut 4/23/77) / #11 (BNDA debut 5/28/77) / #16 (BNDA debut 2/11/78)
#24 (BNDA debut 8/27/77) / #27 (BNDA debut 11/5/77) / #28 (BNDA debut 11/12/77)
#30 (BNDA debut 11/12/77) / #32 (BNDA debut 7/30/77) / #34 (BNDA debut 8/20/77)
#38 (BNDA debut 11/26/77) / #43 (BNDA debut 1/28/78) / #44 (BNDA debut 2/18/78)
#47 (BNDA debut 12/10/77) / #50 (BNDA debut 1/7/78)
Breakers:
1 LE PAMPLEMOUSSE: ‘Le Spank’ (Pye) (BNDA debut 10/22/77)
2 FREE: ‘All Right Now’ (Island)
3 PATTIE BROOKS: ‘Don’t Make Me Wait’ (Casablanca) (BNDA debut 9/24/77)
4 KAY-GEES: ‘Kilowatt Invasion’ (De-Lite LP cut – US import)
5 MASTERMIND: ‘Hustle Bus Stop’ (Prelude – US import)
6 PLAYER: ‘Baby Come Back’ (RSO)
7 INNER CITY EXPRESS: ‘Shu’ Dig Dancin’’ (Ebony 12”)
8 NEW MARKETTS: ‘Theme From M.A.S.H.’ (Satril 12”)
9 TINA CHARLES: ‘I’ll Go Where Your Music Takes Me’ (CBS)
10 MONTREAL SOUND: ‘Music’ (Creole 12”) (BNDA debut 8/13/77
Songs mentioned in “DJ Hotline”:
LULU: ‘Your Love Is Everywhere’ (GTO)
DUSTY SPRINGFIELD: ‘That’s The Kind Of Love I’ve Got For You’ / ‘A Love Like Yours’ (Mercury LP cuts) (BNDA debut 3/11/78)
PETER BROWN: ‘Dance With Me’ (TK LP cut) (BNDA debut 1/7/78)
FLAMING EMERALDS: ‘Have Some Everybody’ (Grapevine)
MICHAEL ZAGER BAND: ‘Let’s All Chant’ (Private Stock 12”) (BNDA debut 1/14/78)
SEEBACH BAND: ‘Apache’ (EMI – Danish import)
AGNETHA FALTSKOG: ‘SOS’ (Cupol – Swedish import)
ORLANDO RIVA SOUND: ‘Moon Boots’ (Salsoul 12” – US import) (BNDA debut 11/19/77)
LAMONT DOZIER: ‘Sight For Sore Eyes’ (Warner Bros.)
CHARO: ‘Dance A Little Bit Closer’ (Salsoul) (BNDA debut 11/19/77)
REGAL DEWY: ‘Love Music’ (Millennium – US import)
BOB MARLEY & THE WAILERS: ‘Is This Love’ (Island)
JOE TEX: ‘Rub Down’ (Epic)
ISAAC HAYES: ‘Moonlight Lovin’’ (Polydor LP cut) (BNDA debut 12/10/77)
RAY TISSIER: ‘See You In LA’ (Ensign)
RAM JAM: ‘Keep Your Hands On The Wheel’ (Epic)
LLOYD PRICE: ‘Stagger Lee’ (ABC 12”)
MAGNIFICENT MERCURY BROTHERS: ‘New Girl In School’ (Logo)
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