New Spins
ROBERTA KELLY: ‘Getting The Spirit’ LP (Oasis OASLP 505) (BNDA debut 4/8/78)
Sensational happy gospel-disco side-long segue of ‘Oh Happy Day’ / ‘To My Father’s House’ / ‘My Sweet Lord’, taken lickety-split with Giorgio Moroder’s usual gimmicks added to a superb bouncy beat and some real soul singing!
MAYTALS: ‘Toots Presents The Maytals’ LP (State ETAT 16)
Full 5:52 version of the clever ‘Disco Reggae’ hit is longer in every different musical section, and has many great progressions that are missing completely from the edited 12in single. The rest is straight reggae with plenty for purists to use.
DEXTER WANSEL: ‘All Night Long’ / ‘Disco Lights’ (Philadelphia Int’l PIR 6255)
Chunky funk burbler big on import flipped by his long-awaited synthesizer stamper – what a great value 12in!
SINE: ‘Just Let Me Do My Thing’ (CBS 6351)
Largely instrumental synthesizer squeaker with a catchy chorus like the Universal Robot Band, big on import (especially as “improved” by Chris Hill!).
VARIOUS: ‘Fantasy Dancin’’ LP (Fantasy FT 541)
Superb compilation includes Side Effect’s beautiful full-length floater, ‘Keep That Same Old Feeling’, full of ethereal and crazy bird calls, plus three by Blackbyrds, two by Pleasure, Johnny Guitar Watson’s slow lurching ‘Lone Ranger’, Stanley Turrentine’s smoochy ‘Midnight And You’ and others to make a dozen funky goodies in all. Check it out!
DORIS JONES: ‘Suddenly I’m Alive’ (UA UP 36330)
Great tension-building fast New York-style thudder finally out now with an elongated 10:21 12in promo for lucky jocks!
SUNFIGHTER: ‘City Nights, Pts. 1 & 2’ (EMI 2781)
Their old ‘Café A Go-Go’ is a hot Canadian EMI 12in, and this slickly harmonised blue-eyed rhythm whapper has offbeat funk appeal too.
BRASS CONSTRUCTION: ‘Celebrate’ / ‘Top Of The World’ (UA UP 36389) (BNDA debut 12/3/77)
Typical but downtempo funky roller, brighter flip with acid guitar could be a better bet.
CARLY SIMON: ‘You Belong To Me’ (Elektra K 12289)
Gorgeous sophisticated subtle MoR soft-rock groover.
ELVIS COSTELLO: ‘Pump It Up’ (Radar ADA 10)
Great weirdly booming stomper, sure to smash!
GEORGE THOROGOOD & THE DESTROYERS: ‘Can’t Stop Lovin’’ (Sonet SON 2148)
Frantic Merseybeat-style rocker with blues guitar!
PETER COOK & DUDLEY MOORE: ‘Goodbyee’ (Cube BUG 79)
Classic 1965 silliness, good for a funny end-of-gig send off!
CONQUISTADOR: ‘U.O. Me’ / ‘Argentina’ (EMI 2782)
Jolly MoR instrumental conga-kickers, could be useful.
BERNI FLINT: ‘Smoke Gets In Your Eyes’ (EMI 2793)
Pleasant banjo-jangling MoR revival.
CHARLES MCMIRAN & RICHARD MATHEWS: ‘Penny Black’ (Miramar MIR 1)
Surprisingly good philatelic collector’s item turns out to be an oddly haunting hustler with phasing guitar and strangely distant vocals, available with special stamp sleeve for £1.40 or plain at 90p (post included).
MONTANA: ‘A Dance Fantasy Inspired By Close Encounters Of The Third Kind’ LP (Atlantic K 50462) (BNDA debut 2/18/78)
Recently hot as an import 12in promo, here’s the full beautiful 15:45 sound-picture-with-a-beat of the UFO film, great as an early evening scene-setter or for more dedicated dancers.
GENE PAGE: ‘Close Encounters’ LP (Arista SPART 1052)
Zingy set of space-related titles (including Star Trek) – probably too determinedly disco for most people here.
JIM DAVIDSON: ‘Here Comes The Fuzz (Nic Nic)’ (Pye 7N 46070)
Straight Euro-style fast disco bounder by the recently-nicked comedian.
GORDON GILTRAP: ‘Oh Well’ (Electric WOT 21)
Still recognisably the Fleetwood Mac rock oldie.
BRYAN FERRY: ‘What Goes On’ (Polydor/EG POSP 3)
Comparatively dull thudder, getting pop plays though.
DOWNLINERS SECT: ‘I Want My Baby Back’ (Charly CEP 119)
Clumsy UK cover of Jimmy Cross’s all-time worst record, a (non-dance) dead slowie from ’65.
SAMANTHA SANG: ‘You Keep Me Dancing’ (Private Stock PVT 151)
Bee Gees sound, but not song (it’s a slinky slow churner).
JOE TEX: ‘Get Back Leroy’ (Epic EPC 6303)
Old-fashioned soul whomper.
SMOKEY ROBINSON: ‘Madame X’ (Motown TMG 1106)
Rhythmically complex tender smoocher.
GEORGE MCCRAE: ‘Let’s Dance’ (TK TKR 6026)
Tricky little Latin-tinged 5:21 mid-tempo tripper.
CUBA GOODING: ‘Mind Pleaser’ (Motown TMG 1107)
Main Ingredient guy on a jauntily lurching but rather empty thudder.
Hot Vinyl
Chris Hill (you name it, he’ll claim it!) import tips:
PRINCE: ‘Just As Long As We’re Together’ (US Warner Bros. LP)
IDRIS MUHAMMAD: ‘Boogie To The Top’ / ‘One With A Star’ (US Kudu LP) (BNDA debut 5/6/78)
RENZO FRAIESE: ’12 Engle Street’ (US AVI LP)
STANLEY CLARKE: ‘More Hot Fun’ (US Nemperor 12”)
RAY SIMPSON: ‘My Love Is Understanding’ (US Warner Bros. 12”)
RINDER & LEWIS: ‘Pride’ / ‘Lust’ (US AVI LP) (BNDA debut 4/8/78)
RAUL DE SOUZA: ‘Overture’ (US Capitol LP)
KENNY DELT & PRANA: ‘Conquer All, Pt. 2’ (US Mercury 7”) (BNDA debut 5/27/78)
. . . some of which you probably heard at Purley on Monday, huh?!
UK Disco Top 90 – May 6, 1978
01 01 Bee Gees – Night Fever – RSO 7″/LP/US 12″ promo
02 02 Michael Zager Band – Let’s All Chant / Love Express – Private Stock 7″/12″
03 03 Hi-Tension – Hi-Tension – Island 7″/12″
04 05 Chic – Everybody Dance – Atlantic 7″/LP/US 12″
05 07 Ripple – The Beat Goes On And On – Salsoul 7/12″
06 06 Sheila & B. Devotion – Singin’ In The Rain – Carrere 7″/12″
07 04 Eruption – I Can’t Stand The Rain – Atlantic 7″/LP
08 09 Ashford & Simpson – Don’t Cost You Nothin’ – Warner Bros. 7″/12″
09 08 Charo – Dance A Little Bit Closer – Salsoul 7″/LP/US 12″
10 11 Bee Gees – Stayin’ Alive – RSO 7″/LP/US 12″ promo
11 10 Francine McGee – Delirium / Feelin’ Good – RCA 12″
12 14 Raydio – Jack And Jill / Get Down – Arista 7″/LP
13 17 Dee D. Jackson – Automatic Lover – Mercury 7″
14 19 Cameo – It’s Serious – Casablanca 7″/12″/LP
15 18 Voyage – Voyage (all cuts) – GTO LP
16 15 Stargard – Which Way Is Up / Love Is So Easy – MCA 12″
17 20 Peter Brown – Dance With Me – TK 7″
18 13 Bob Marley & The Wailers – Is This Love – Island 7″
19 12 Blondie – Denis (Denee) – Chrysalis 7″
20 24 Evelyn “Champagne” King – Shame – RCA 12″
21 21 Donna Summer – Back In Love Again / Try Me I Know We Can Make It – GTO 12″
22 23 O’Jays – I Love Music / Love Train – Philadelphia Int’l 12″
23 61 Boney M. – Rivers Of Babylon – Atlantic 7″
24 27 Bee Gees – More Than A Woman / You Should Be Dancing – RSO LP
25 16 Manu Dibango – Big Blow – Decca 7″/French Fiesta 12″
26 47 KC & The Sunshine Band – Boogie Shoes – TK 7″
27 80 Rose Royce – It Makes You Feel Like Dancin’ – Whitfield 7″/12″
28 28 Metropolis – I Love New York – Salsoul 7/US 12″
29 40 Sun – Sun Is Here / Dance – Capitol/Tower LP
30 41 Linda Clifford – Runaway Love / Gypsy Lady / If My Friends Could See Me Now – US Curtom LP
31 42 Joe Sample – There Are Many Stops Along The Way – ABC LP
32 39 Raffaella Carra – Do It, Do It Again – Epic 7″
33 29 War – Galaxy / Hey Senorita – MCA 12″
34 43 Johnny Mathis & Deniece Williams – Too Much, Too Little, Too Late / Emotions – CBS 7″
35 33 Reggie & The Orchies – Take Five / Hand Glider – Electric 7″
36 38 Olympic Runners – Solar Heat – RCA 12″/LP
37 68 John Paul Young – Love Is In The Air – Ariola 7″
38 25 Gene Page – Close Encounters Of The Third Kind – Arista 7″/12″
39 30 Samuel Jonathan – You – US Columbia LP
40 26 Regal Dewy – Love Music – RCA 7″
41 36 Parliament – Flash Light – Casablanca 7″/LP/US 12″
42 22 Steel Pulse – Ku Klux Klan – Island 7″/12″
43 54 Gene Farrow – Move Your Body – Magnet 12″
44 34 Andrew Gold – Never Let Her Slip Away – Asylum 7″
45 46 Village People – Macho Man – DJM 7″
46 50 Boiling Point – Let’s Get Funktified – US Bullet 7″/12″
47 32 Hot Chocolate – Every 1’s A Winner – Rak 7″
48 NE Maytals – Disco Reggae / Dub A Little Reggae – State 12″
49 45 Cerrone – Supernature / Give Me Love – Atlantic 7″/LP
50 71 Andy Gibb – Shadow Dancing – RSO 7″
51 69 Earth, Wind & Fire – Jupiter – CBS 7″/LP
52 88 Tavares – More Than A Woman – Capitol 7″/RSO LP
53 35 Cleveland Eaton – Bama Boogie Woogie – US Ovation 12″
54 84 Saturday Night Band – Come On Dance Dance – US Prelude LP
55 81 Tower Of Power – Lovin’ You Is Gonna See Me Thru – US Columbia 7″/LP
56 75 Bob Marley & The Wailers – Satisfy My Soul – Island LP
57 89 Alec R. Costandinos – Romeo & Juliet – Lightning 7″/LP
58 59 Players Association – Disco Inferno / I Like It – Vanguard 7″/12″
59 64 Diana Ross – Your Love Is So Good For Me – Motown 7″/LP/US 12″
60 53 Lipstique – Venus – Ensign 7″
61 44 Tavares – The Ghost Of Love / Bein’ With You – Capitol 7″/promo 12″
62 37 Earth, Wind & Fire – Fantasy – CBS 7″
63 51 Suzi Quatro – If You Can’t Give Me Love – Rak 7″
64 70 Jimmy Bo Horne – Dance Across The Floor – TK 7″
65 55 Gary Criss – Rio De Janeiro – US Salsoul 12″
66 NE Yvonne Elliman – If I Can’t Have You – RSO 7″/LP
67 NE T-Connection – Let Yourself Go – TK 7″
68 72 Dexter Wansel – All Night Long – US Philadelphia Int’l 7″/LP
69 82 Platinum Hook – Standing On The Verge – US Motown LP
70 56 Sine – Just Let Me Do My Thing / Chimi – CBS 7″/US Prelude LP
71 78 James Brown – Nature / Eyesight / Spank / Jam – US Polydor LP
72 58 Bunny Sigler – Let Me Party With You – Salsoul 7″/12″
73 57 Amadeo – Moving Like A Superstar – Rampage 12″
74 49 Squeeze – Take Me I’m Yours – A&M 7″
75 NE Eddie Kendricks – Ain’t No Smoke Without Fire – Arista 7″/12″
76 NE Graham Parker – Hey Lord Don’t Ask Me Questions – Vertigo 7″
77 67 Jimmy Lindsay – Easy – Island/Black Swan 12″
78 RE Isley Brothers – Take To Me The Next Phase / Livin’ The Life – Epic 7″/12″
79 NE Eruption – Movin’ – Atlantic LP
80 RE Universal Robot Band – Freak With Me – US Red Greg 12″
81 86 Salsoul Orchestra – West Side Story – US Salsoul 12″
82 NE Tuxedo Junction – Chattanooga Choo Choo – US Butterfly 7″/LP
83 RE Michele – Disco Dance – US West End 12″
84 RE Kay-Gees – Kilowatt Invasion – US De-Lite LP
85 60 Billy Preston – Wide Stride – A&M 7″/US 12″
86 NE Darts – The Boy From New York City – Magnet 7″
87 RE Trammps – Disco Inferno – RSO LP/US Atlantic 12″
88 77 Heatwave – Put The Word Out / Mind Blowing Decisions / Party Poops – GTO LP
89 NE Carl Bean – I Was Born This Way – US Motown 12″
90 NE Dionne Warwick – Do You Believe In Love At First Sight – Warner Bros. 7″
NE = new entry; RE = re-entry
Appeared in Billboard:
#1 (BNDA debut 1/7/78) / #2 (BNDA debut 1/14/78) / #4 (BNDA debut 12/3/77)
#5 (BNDA debut 1/28/78) / #6 (BNDA debut 2/11/78) / #7 (BNDA debut 2/4/78)
#8 (BNDA debut 1/28/78) / #9 (BNDA debut 11/19/77) / #10 (BNDA debut 1/7/78)
#14 (BNDA debut 2/18/78) / #15 (BNDA debut 2/11/78) / #16 (BNDA debut 1/7/78)
#17 (BNDA debut 1/7/78) / #20 (BNDA debut 10/1/77) / #24 (BNDA debut 8/28/76)
#27 (BNDA debut 9/24/77) / #28 (BNDA debut 4/1/78) / #30 (BNDA debut 3/25/78)
#33 (BNDA debut 1/14/78) / #45 (BNDA debut 3/18/78) / #49 (BNDA debut 11/26/77)
#54 (BNDA debut 4/15/78) / #57 (BNDA debut 2/4/78) / #59 (BNDA debut 10/15/77)
#65 (BNDA debut 3/25/78) / #67 (BNDA debut 4/22/78) / #72 (BNDA debut 1/14/78)
#75 (BNDA debut 2/25/78) / #81 (BNDA debut 3/18/78) / #82 (BNDA debut 1/21/78)
#83 (BNDA debut 11/5/77) / #87 (BNDA debut 1/15/77) / #89 (BNDA debut 1/28/78)
Songs mentioned in DJ Hotline:
BIDDU ORCHESTRA: ‘The Stud’ (Epic 7”)
J.R.T.: ‘Play It Again Sam’ (Electric 12”)
MEMPHIS HORNS: ‘Just For Your Love’ (RCA 7”)
DOOLEYS: ‘Don’t Take It Lying Down’ (State 7”)
BRYAN FERRY: ‘What Goes On’ (Polydor 7”)
FLACK & HATHAWAY: ‘The Closer I Get To You’ (Atlantic 7”)
TYRONE DAVIS: ‘Get On Up’ (US Columbia 7”)
USA-EUROPEAN CONNECTION: ‘Come Into My Heart’ (US Marlin 12”) (BNDA debut 2/11/78)
PRINCE: ‘Just As Long As We’re Together’ (US Warner Bros. LP)
PHAROAH SANDERS: ‘Got To Give It Up’ (Arista LP)
OLYMPIC RUNNERS: ‘Whatever It Takes’ (RCA 12”)
ORS: ‘Moon Boots’ (Salsoul 7”) (BNDA debut 11/19/77)
STEVE KHAN: ‘Darlin’ Darlin’ Baby’ (CBS LP)
DIAMONDS: ‘Sweet Lady’ (Virgin 7”)
WARREN ZEVON: ‘Werewolves Of London’ (Asylum 7”)
BLONDIE: ‘Kidnapper’ (Chrysalis LP)
DEVO: ‘Satisfaction’ (Stiff 7”)
HELEN DAVIS: ‘Satisfaction’ (Carrere 12”)
BACCARA: ‘Parlez-vous Francais’ (RCA 7”)
GUYS & DOLLS: ‘Only Lovin’ Does It’ (Magnet 7”)
BREAD: ‘Diary’ (Elektra 7”)
CELI BEE: ‘Macho’ (US TK 12”) (BNDA debut 4/8/78)
GUY MARKS: ‘Loving You Has Made Me Bananas’ (ABC 7”)
GLADIATORS: ‘Stick A Bush’ (Front Line 7”)
THE JACKSONS: ‘Music’s Takin’ Over’ (Epic 7”) (BNDA debut 12/3/77)
PUSSYFOOT: ‘Dancer Dance’ (EMI 7”)
James Hamilton's Disco Page 