Chart contributors, please note that gremlins made a mess of last week’s piece about the new chart system! For those of you who’d like more room than just a Top 10 and three Breakers, the new idea is to expand the 10 into a Top 20, but because of the point-awarding system by which the finished national disco chart is compiled, the “Bottom Ten” should be given either 3, 2 or 1 points by you, according to dancer reaction. If you can’t cope with 20 places, stick to the old Top 10 and three Breakers. If you’re only playing established disco hits, why not increase your chance of a namecheck by sending in a Jox Yox, Mix Master, Disco Date, or other info. Now that there’s a Disco Top 60, the DJ Hotline has been narrowed down to non-hit titles . . . but this does not mean that the hit-only charts are not needed too, as they’re vital!
Steve Allen, regularly at Peterborough Annabelles and USAF Altonbury (and mobile with entertainment agency on 0733-69589), expands on the Eastern Soul topic by explaining the East Anglia Connection.
“The funky influence in the East Anglla area at least can be tied closely to all the USAF air bases which stretch from Ipswich to Huntingdon. Although not strictly open to the public, being intended for the American servicemen’s entertainment, the bases’ clubs get a large percentage of British audiences – particularly females!
“It’s essential that the mobile jocks who play these venues are up to date with US imports and solid funk, and these sounds do filter through to the outside world, via both the jocks and the audiences. Quite a few of the funky kids around here also go down to catch Chris Hill and the Camberly Frenchies jocks, so they get exposed to all kinds of funk.”
It’s interesting to note, too, that a lot of previously “Northern Soul” DJ’s are now switching to funk and New York sounds, with the emergence of a completely new scene up north.
Disco News
Record Mirror are looking for a keen, committed soul and disco-orientated journalist who can write well – if that’s you, contact Alf Martin! Also, Harrow-based Neil James (01-427 2257 evenings) needs a new gig as Greenford Panels is no longer a funk venue.
Hospital DJ John Clancy’s home-made broadcasting studio in Gillingham is available for very low rates to Medway jocks looking for high quality though non-professional practice facilities and tuition – call him on Medway 53992 (evenings).
Jersey-based Paradise Island Discotheques and Mainstream Productions have moved to 2-6 Belmont Road in St. Helier, where their new DJ studio will make jingles and commercials. Their disco agency books jocks for work in Jersey (call 0534 71715), while their disco record promotion department covers the Channel Islands.
Flashback Records of 3 Marlborough Road, Wroughton, Wiltshire (0793-812327) who supply many West Country and mail order jocks with all UK and US issues, start a series of promotion nights at Newbury Hamiltons Club this Tuesday (21) giving away free records – DJ’s can get free tickets by sending a card/letter heading and sae to Flashback, who are open to offers of other promotion night venues.
New Spins
THE REGAL DEWY: ‘Love Music’ (RCA XB 1032)
Here at long last is that superb soul slowie with the Dells like doo-wop sound, hot on import since last autumn. Definitely my own fave of ‘77, and a must!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpIXC2iUurs
RAYDIO: ‘Is This A Love Thing’ (from LP ‘Raydio’, Arista SPART 1041)
Already hitting, the dynamite jaunty funker joins ‘Jack And Jill’ and ‘Get Down’ on an extremely strong LP.
ASHFORD & SIMPSON: ‘Don’t Cost You Nothing’ (Warner Bros. K 17096) (BNDA debut 1/28/78)
Great jittery sparse funk import smash, finally out on 6:49 12in with an added rhythm break, or on edited 3:39 7in. Continue reading “March 18, 1978: The Regal Dewy, Raydio, Ashford & Simpson, Burundi Stephenson Black, Stargard”
James Hamilton's Disco Page 