All Dayer Mania
Last Monday’s funky all-dayers did their best to show that not everyone in Britain suffers from media-induced Saturday Night Fever, although Radio London’s Dave Simmons let the side down by playing the Bee Gees at Camberley’s Frenchies. He won’t be asked back again!
Purley Tiffanys was packed even fuller than before, with an incredible atmosphere which reached a crescendo of whistles and whoop-whoops before Hi-Tension finally appeared, delayed by a hitch in the revolving stage. They had to do ‘Hi-Tension’ three times to keep the shoulder-to-shoulder crowd happy. Mooning human pyramids kept collapsing until a twisted ankle – the first casualty – caused them to be stopped. And an example of boobing by a black beauty caused Chris Hill to be reprimanded by the management!
Tom Holland and Sean French consolidated their growing reputations as prime funk spinners, alongside Chris Brown, Robbie Vincent and Froggy – while Froggy’s massive array of roadshow gear sounded superb and won more praise than practically anything.
The Dimloes crowd from Wellpond Green, complete with banners and a chartered bus, rivaled the Candles crowd and definitely won with their display of the new dance sensation, the Dimloe Shuffle. Best done to Gary Criss’s ‘Rio de Janeiro’, the line dance consists of a waddle forward like a pixelated penguin, four hops back and a waddling turn. Teach that, Arthur Murray! For the oldies finale and traditional O’Jays ‘I Love Music’ climax, the audience was divided by Chris Hill and Robbie Vincent into sections one, two and three, each then instructed to out-whoop the others . . . so that the eventual catch-phrase to emerge from the whole festival had to be “Section 3” (spot that on badges soon!).
At Frenchies, the Olympic Runners appeared in full force for the first time to mime zanily and create havoc, while the music was piped at softer volume into the luxurious bars away from the crush – making it a very nice place to be. The crowd was a bit commercially-orientated though, according to some mutterers. At Crackers in London’s Soho the crowd was much blacker than at the other gigs, with 1,200 funksters turning up during the day to hear Paul Gratue, George Power and Bob Jones.
Next bank holiday Monday now looms close, May 29th, with repeat events and similar line-ups at all three venues. In addition, the day will start with a fancy dress all-nighter between midnight and 5am at Harlow Tiffanys, starring Tom Holland, Les Knott and Chris St. John. Heatwave headline at Purley – but beware as ticket numbers 1-500 for Purley, printed on blue, have been stolen and are invalid (new ones will now not be on blue). At Frenchies the car park next to the Cambridge Hotel will be covered in a marquee to make more space, and ticket sales have started (£2) from 11 Roslyn Court, Woking, Surrey (04862-66555). Finally, there’s also the possibility of two separate funky all-dayers at North London’s Alexandra Palace in early June.
New Spins
MASTERMIND: ‘Hustle Bus Stop’ (CBS 6329)
Long-awaited 4:08 import smash has whoop-whoops, Hi-Tension beat, Fatback feel and everything else it takes!
SUN: ‘Sun Is Here’ / ‘Dance’ (Capitol CL 15979)
Usefully edited hit funky LP track with confusingly real-sounding whoop-whoops, slicker flip.
HEATWAVE: ‘Mind Blowing Decisions’ (GTO GT 226)
Breathtaking tender slow swayer.
UBIQUITY: ‘Midnight After Dark’ (from LP ‘Starbooty’, Elektra K 52068)
Much-delayed Roy Ayers-produced 5:13 funky clapper has Norman Whitfield appeal and smash potential.
EUMIR DEODATO: ‘Whistle Bump’ (from LP ‘Love Island’, Warner Bros. K 56416) (BNDA debut 5/27/78)
Maddeningly catchy 4:40 jazz-funk instrumental with beautiful brass riffs, actually hotter now in its 7:42 US promo 12in remix version.
STANLEY CLARKE: ‘More Hot Fun’ (Epic EPC 6353)
Rush-released ultra-hot jazz-funk bumper, 4:31 of powerful if specialist funky thuds and clunks – great!
VOYAGE: ‘From East To West’ / ‘Scots Machine’ (GTO GT 224) (BNDA debut 2/11/78)
Bright zingy Europop romper and topically-bagpiped pounding instrumental flip, both snipped from the double-sided continuous LP smash.
TRAMMPS: ‘Disco Inferno’ / ‘That’s Where The Happy People Go’ (Atlantic K 11135) (BNDA debut 1/15/77)
Double A-side disco classics, the first being from the ‘Fever’ film, 12-inched for lucky jocks.
KONGAS: ‘Gimme Some Lovin’’ (Polydor 2001772) (BNDA debut 1/14/78)
Cerrone-produced storming treatment of Spencer Davis’s old throbber, edited from the hot side-long import LP version.
MANU DIBANGO: ‘Bayam Sell’am’ (from LP ‘Afrovision’, Decca SKLR 5206)
Another happy Afro-jazz-funk leaper, similar to and every bit as good as the included full-length ‘Big Blow’.
BOILING POINT: ‘Let’s Get Funktified’ (Bang 1312)
Smash import funky burbler, a bit monotonous, out here on 6:15 12in.
RARE GEMS ODYSSEY: ‘What Is Funk’ (Casablanca CAN 124)
Much-imported James Brown-type funky inquisition. Take it to the bridge.
JOHNNIE TAYLOR: ‘Keep On Dancing’ (CBS 6304)
Dynamite whomper stomper in his old soul style, just slightly updated. Nice slow flip.
NITE LIGHTERS: ‘K-Jee’ (RCA PB 9243)
Classic 1972 instrumental with great ‘Tighten Up’ rhythm, always a personal fave.
MFSB: ‘K-Jee’ / ‘My Mood’ (Philadelphia Int’l PIR 6287)
‘Fever’-featured but over-cluttered cover, lovely lush slow flip though.
MICHAEL ZAGER BAND: ‘Let’s All Chant’ LP (Private Stock PVLP 1042) (BNDA debut 1/14/78)
Amazingly, the title track’s only the short 7in version, but it’s the full ‘Love Express’, and a 6:37 ‘Music Fever’ clapper is hot already, too.
MAYTALS: ‘Disco Reggae’ / ‘Dub A Little Reggae’ (State STAT 76)
Even jocks actually playing the 12in are confused by the title into thinking that this is a reggae record – it isn’t, so stop trying to segue in and out of Bob Marley! The totally different flip is a reggae vocal, but the A-side’s pure disco (with just a little ska influence).
HARVEY MASON: ‘What’s Going On’ (from LP ‘Funk In A Mason Jar’, Arista SPART 1049)
Superb star-studded jazz-funk supersession with George Benson delicately picking the gradually building 8:23 Marvin Gaye slowie.
CANDI STATON: ‘Honest I Do Love You’ (Warner Bros. K 17164)
Melodic soul chugger, currently Capital Radio’s public-voiced People’s Choice in London.
JUDY MOWATT: ‘Black Woman’ (Grove Music GM 8)
Powerfully produced reggae swayer, worth checking.
JOYELLA BLADE: ‘Cairo’ (Front Line FLS 108)
Catchy slow reggae with some Top Ranking touches.
BUNNY WAILER: ‘Love Fire’ (Island IPR 2015)
Gently grooving slow reggae on 6:00 limited 12in!
ISAAC HAYES: ‘Moonlight Lovin’’ (Polydor 2066904) (BNDA debut 12/10/77)
Ponderous jiggling swayer with a good solid bass line.
CARL BEAN: ‘I Was Born This Way, Pts. 1 & 2’ (Motown TMG 1108) (BNDA debut 1/28/78)
Valentino’s gay anthem given a soulfully loping new treatment.
PANAMA: ‘Nights In White Satin’ (French EMI 2C006-14512)
Punchy male Eurochugger, due for UK release soon, gives the Moodies a semi-Santa Esmeralda.
BELLE EPOQUE: ‘Bamalama’ / ‘Taste Of Destruction’ (Carrere EMI 2759)
Rhythme lourd et vite voix comme Suzi Quatro passee parfois au “phasing”, c’est directement concu pour marcher dans les clubs “pop”. Son comme Dee D. Jackson sur verso (Merci Discobox!).
BACCARA: ‘Parlez-vous Francais?’ (RCA PB 5588)
Mais oui – but they phonetically lisp the Luxembourg Eurovision loser in English, and their usual style.
SACHA & VENUS: ‘Venus’ (Carrere EMI 2786)
Monsieur Distel hustles the Shocking Blue oldie even faster than Lipstique.
TONI VAN DUYNE: ‘Venus & Mars’ (Lightning LIG 518)
Wings oldie becomes a somewhat twee Eurodisco 12in by a yummy young Dutch honey.
Hot Vinyl
Big Tom Holland funks Ilford’s Lacy Lady on Tuesdays/Fridays/Saturdays (the Lady now shuts at midnight but will reapply for a late licence), and has started a branch of Illmin’s at Cheshunt Football Club on Wednesdays. He import tips:
TASTE OF HONEY: ‘Boogie Oogie Oogie’ (US Capitol 7”) (BNDA 5/27/78)
SHORTNIN’: ‘Spread It On’ (US Shadybrook 7”)
JACK ASHFORD: ‘Hotel Sheet’ (US Magic Disc LP)
NORMAN CONNORS: ‘Stella’ / ‘Captain Connors’ (US Arista LP)
BILLY COBHAM: ‘Nickels And Dimes’ (US Atlantic LP)
SPYRO GYRA: ‘Shaker Song’ (US Amherst LP)
WAYNE HENDERSON: ‘Hot Stuff’ (US Polydor LP)
WRITERS: ‘Hey Babe’ (US Columbia LP)
UK Disco Top 90 – May 13, 1978
01 01 Bee Gees – Night Fever – RSO 7″/LP/US 12″
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 04 Chic – Everybody Dance – Atlantic 7″/LP/US 12″
05 06 Sheila & B. Devotion – Singin’ In The Rain – Carrere 7″/12″
06 05 Ripple – The Beat Goes On And On – Salsoul 7/12″
07 08 Ashford & Simpson – Don’t Cost You Nothin’ – Warner Bros. 7″/12″
08 23 Boney M. – Rivers Of Babylon – Atlantic 7″
09 11 Francine McGee – Delirium / Feelin’ Good – RCA 12″
10 13 Dee D. Jackson – Automatic Lover – Mercury 7″
11 15 Voyage – Voyage (all cuts) – GTO LP
12 20 Evelyn “Champagne” King – Shame – RCA 12″
13 07 Eruption – I Can’t Stand The Rain – Atlantic 7″/LP
14 14 Cameo – It’s Serious – Casablanca 7″/12″/LP
15 36 Olympic Runners – Whatever It Takes / Solar Heat – RCA 12″/LP
16 12 Raydio – Jack And Jill / Get Down – Arista 7″/LP
17 09 Charo – Dance A Little Bit Closer – Salsoul 7″/LP/US 12″
18 28 Metropolis – I Love New York – Salsoul 7/US 12″
19 16 Stargard – Which Way Is Up / Love Is So Easy – MCA 12″
20 27 Rose Royce – It Makes You Feel Like Dancin’ – Whitfield 7″/12″
21 52 Tavares – More Than A Woman – Capitol 7″/RSO LP
22 17 Peter Brown – Dance With Me – TK 7″
23 24 Bee Gees – More Than A Woman / You Should Be Dancing – RSO LP
24 10 Bee Gees – Stayin’ Alive – RSO 7″/LP/US 12″
25 18 Bob Marley & The Wailers – Is This Love – Island 7″
26 30 Linda Clifford – Runaway Love / Gypsy Lady / If My Friends Could See Me Now – US Curtom LP
27 78 Isley Brothers – Take To Me The Next Phase / Livin’ The Life – Epic 7″/12″
28 48 Maytals – Disco Reggae / Dub A Little Reggae – State 7″/12″/LP
29 41 Parliament – Flash Light – Casablanca 7″/LP/US 12″
30 22 O’Jays – I Love Music / Love Train – Philadelphia Int’l 12″
31 29 Sun – Sun Is Here / Dance – Capitol/Tower LP
32 39 Samuel Jonathan – You / Just Us – US Columbia LP
33 46 Boiling Point – Let’s Get Funktified – Bang 7″/12″
34 54 Saturday Night Band – Come On Dance Dance – US Prelude LP
35 31 Joe Sample – There Are Many Stops Along The Way – ABC LP
36 26 KC & The Sunshine Band – Boogie Shoes – TK 7″/RSO LP
37 21 Donna Summer – Back In Love Again / Try Me I Know We Can Make It – GTO 12″
38 32 Raffaella Carra – Do It, Do It Again – Epic 7″
39 53 Cleveland Eaton – Bama Boogie Woogie – US Ovation 12″
40 45 Village People – Macho Man – DJM 7″
41 33 War – Galaxy – MCA 12″
42 55 Tower Of Power – Lovin’ You Is Gonna See Me Thru / We Came To Play – US Columbia 7″/LP
43 42 Steel Pulse – Ku Klux Klan – Island 7″/12″
44 37 John Paul Young – Love Is In The Air – Ariola 7″
45 40 Regal Dewy – Love Music – RCA 7″
46 NE Idris Muhammad – Boogie To The Top – US Kudu LP
47 RE Deodato – Whistle Bump – Warner Bros. LP/US 12″
48 35 Reggie & The Orchies – Take Five / Hand Glider – Electric 7″
49 25 Manu Dibango – Big Blow – Decca 7″/French Fiesta 12″
50 44 Andrew Gold – Never Let Her Slip Away – Asylum 7″
51 66 Yvonne Elliman – If I Can’t Have You – RSO 7″/LP
52 88 Heatwave – Put The Word Out / Mind Blowing Decisions / Party Poops – GTO LP
53 51 Earth, Wind & Fire – Jupiter – CBS 7″/LP
54 19 Blondie – Denis (Denee) – Chrysalis 7″
55 RE Showaddywaddy – I Wonder Why – Arista 7″
56 65 Gary Criss – Rio De Janeiro – US Salsoul 12″
57 57 Alec R. Costandinos – Romeo & Juliet – Lightning 7″/LP
58 43 Gene Farrow – Move Your Body – Magnet 12″
59 56 Bob Marley & The Wailers – Satisfy My Soul – Island LP
60 71 James Brown – Nature / Eyesight / Spank / Jam – US Polydor LP
61 86 Darts – The Boy From New York City – Magnet 7″
62 70 Sine – Just Let Me Do My Thing – CBS 7″/US Prelude LP
63 58 Players Association – Disco Inferno / I Like It – Vanguard 7″/12″
64 60 Lipstique – Venus – Ensign 7″
65 49 Cerrone – Supernature / Give Me Love – Atlantic 7″/LP
66 75 Eddie Kendricks – Ain’t No Smoke Without Fire – Arista 7″/12″
67 34 Johnny Mathis & Deniece Williams – Too Much, Too Little, Too Late / Emotions – CBS 7″
68 83 Michele – Disco Dance – US West End 12″
69 NE Flack & Hathaway – The Closer I Get To You – Atlantic 7″
70 76 Graham Parker – Hey Lord Don’t Ask Me Questions – Vertigo 7″
71 80 Universal Robot Band – Freak With Me – US Red Greg 12″
72 64 Jimmy Bo Horne – Dance Across The Floor – TK 7″
73 84 Kay-Gees – Kilowatt / Kilowatt Invasion – US De-Lite LP
74 NE J.R.T. – Play It Again Sam – Electric 7″/12″
75 79 Eruption – Movin’ – Atlantic LP
76 68 Dexter Wansel – All Night Long – Philadelphia Int’l 12″
77 NE Rick James – You And I / Sexy Lady – US Gordy LP
78 NE Prince – Just As Long As We’re Together – US Warner Bros. 7″
79 NE Foxy – Get Off – US Dash LP
80 50 Andy Gibb – Shadow Dancing – RSO 7″
81 NE Bryan Ferry – What Goes On – Polydor 7″
82 67 T-Connection – Let Yourself Go – TK 7″
83 NE Rare Gems Odyssey – What Is Funk – Casablanca 7″
84 87 Trammps – Disco Inferno – RSO LP/US Atlantic 12″
85 85 Billy Preston – Wide Stride – A&M 7″/US 12″
86 NE Dooleys – Don’t Take It Lyin’ Down – GTO 7″
87 69 Platinum Hook – Standing On The Verge – US Motown LP
88 NE Tyrone Davis – Get On Up – US Columbia 7″
89 NE Roberta Kelly – Oh Happy Day / To My Father’s House / My Sweet Lord – Oasis LP
90 NE Guy Marks – Loving You Has Made Me Bananas – ABC 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 2/11/78) / #6 (BNDA debut 1/28/78) / #7 (BNDA debut 1/28/78)
#11 (BNDA debut 2/11/78) / #12 (BNDA debut 10/1/77) / #13 (BNDA debut 2/4/78)
#14 (BNDA debut 2/18/78) / #17 (BNDA debut 11/19/77) / #18 (BNDA debut 4/1/78)
#19 (BNDA debut 1/7/78) / #20 (BNDA debut 9/24/77) / #22 (BNDA debut 1/7/78)
#23 (BNDA debut 8/28/76) / #24 (BNDA debut 1/7/78) / #26 (BNDA debut 3/25/78)
#34 (BNDA debut 4/15/78) / #40 (BNDA debut 3/18/78) / #41 (BNDA debut 1/14/78)
#46 (BNDA debut 5/6/78) / #47 (BNDA debut 5/27/78) / #56 (BNDA debut 3/25/78)
#57 (BNDA debut 2/4/78) / #65 (BNDA debut 11/26/77) / #66 (BNDA debut 2/25/78)
#68 (BNDA debut 11/5/77) / #77 (BNDA debut 5/13/78) / #79 (BNDA debut 5/6/78)
#82 (BNDA debut 4/22/78) / #84 (BNDA debut 1/15/77) / #89 (BNDA debut 4/8/78)
Songs mentioned in DJ Hotline:
DOUBLE EXPOSURE: ‘Ten Percent’ (US Salsoul 12”) (BNDA debut 9/4/76)
LONNIE LISTON SMITH: ‘Sunburst’ / ‘Bright Moments’ (US Columbia LP)
DON RAY: ‘Got To Have Lovin’’ (US Malligator LP) (BNDA debut 4/22/78)
COMMODORES: ‘Flying High’ (US Motown LP)
DUNN PEARSON JR: ‘Groove On Down’ (US Shyrlden 12”)
WIND: ‘Putridity’ (US Bangalore Brownie LP)
CAROL DOUGLAS: ‘Night Fever’ (US Midsong 12”) (BNDA debut 3/11/78)
LAWRENCE HILTON JACOBS: ‘Time Machine’ (US ABC LP)
BOMBERS: ‘Bombers’ LP (US West End LP)
WHISPERS: ‘Let’s Go All The Way’ (US Solar LP)
UDELL: ‘Won’t You Try’ (US Tom ‘N Jerry 12”)
WATSONIAN INSTITUTE: ‘Masterfunk’ (DJM LP)
DILLINGER: ‘Cokane In My Brain’ (Black Swan 12”)
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