Disco News
Thames Valley DJ Assn members meet at noon on Sunday (21) in Windsor’s Thames Hotel to discuss affiliation with the DJ Federation, meet DJF and Polydor’s Theo Loyla, and hear Ian Webb demonstrating tape use. Also, on Tuesday (23) the TVDJA broadcast on Radio 210 Thames Valley in an 8:30 pm access programme, discussing discos and the Fever phenomenon . . . Project Electronics have expanded into a new factory near their Ealing showrooms to handle demand for their Simms discos and LS808 light mixers – which accounts for any delay in delivery . . . Rick Stevens of Leicester’s Oasis Discos gigged recently at the East Midlands Custom Car & Bike Show where the local cruisers put on “Bar Stool Racing”, scooting around the stage at 30mph on electronically-driven bar stools . . . with no brakes! Rick had a ball with the commentary, and a fall from his stool . . . Record exporters Midnight Records of 32 Charlwood Close, Elms Road, Harrow Weald, Middlesex HA3 6DW, specialize in servicing overseas jocks. For example, all current UK singles are 80p (including postage), while oldies at 90p (less in bulk) can be chosen from the vast Lightning catalogue costing £2. This same catalogue costs only 25p from The Record Emporium, PO Box 4, Neston, South Wirral L64 9YE, whose domestic mail order service offers UK 45’s at 70p and imports at 95p, plus postage (ie: 30p for 10 singles). Contact both for details before ordering . . . Dublin’s Phoenix, the largest gay disco in Ireland, is now called Le Spank. Seems appropriate!
New Spins
ROD STEWART: ‘Ole Ola’ / ‘Que Sera’ / ‘My Mammy’ (Riva 15)
Sensational authentic Brazilian knees-up and dynamite singalong rock flip, all with superimposed TV commentary and effects. Watch it smash!
REAL THING: ‘Let’s Go Disco’ (Pye 7N 46078)
From ‘The Stud’ and out now on 45 partly at my instigation, this untypical happy clapping disco bubbler could be just the tonic they need between stereotyped “official” releases. Make it a biggie and spare my blushes, please!
J.A.L.N. BAND: ‘Get Up (& Let Yourself Go)’ (Magnet 12 MAG 118)
Chartbound churning fast happy flier hits a great groove that don’t quit for 5:57 on limited 12in – what a monster!
TOWER OF POWER: ‘Lovin’ You Is Gonna See Me Thru’ (CBS 6318)
Isleys-type smash import funk flier, edited slightly for 45.
LAURIN RINDER & W. MICHAEL LEWIS: ‘Lust’ / ‘Envy (Animal Fire)’ / ‘Pride’ (from LP ‘Seven Deadly Sins’, Pye NSPL 28252) (BNDA debut 4/8/78)
Strangely placid cool thumping instrumental pounders currently big in jazz-funk spots.
JAN AKKERMAN: ‘Crackers’ / ‘Angel Watch’ (Atlantic K 11131)
Specialist subtle bouncy jazz-funk instrumental, even funkier flip.
SLY DUNBAR: ‘Dance And Shake Your Tambourine’ (from LP ‘Simple Sly Man’, Front Line FL 1008)
Terrific reggae treatment, plus ‘A Who Say’ and ‘Mr Bassie’ with Althea & Donna’s vocals, and the full 5:00 ‘Cocaine Cocaine’, all worth checking.
VARIOUS: ‘FM’ LP (MCA MCSP 284)
Superb all-star soft-rock soundtrack compilation, with a beautiful haunting title track by Steely Dan. Check the amazing line-up for yourselves!
RALPH MACDONALD: ‘Calypso Breakdown’ (TK TKR 6035) (BNDA debut 9/11/76)
Exotic year-old 5:45 jazz-funk rhythm rattler, the best thing on the ‘Fever’ LP but oddly not heard in the film.
LOVE & KISSES: ‘Thank God It’s Friday’ (Casablanca TGIFL 1) (BNDA debut 4/29/78)
Title track zingy thumper from the other movie, out on 3:17 12in.
LINDA LEWIS: ‘It’s Good’ (Arista ARIST 12184)
Perky little conga-type kicker from ‘The Stud’, rather needlessly on 2:57 12in.
BILL FREDERICKS: ‘Almost’ (Polydor 2059035)
Re-recorded sexy smoocher also from ‘The Stud’, well worth trying.
PEABO BRYSON: ‘Reaching For The Sky’ (Capitol CL 15980)
Lovely subtle slow soul smoocher.
DRAMATICS: ‘Spaced Out Over You’ / ‘Shake It Well’ (ABC 4210)
Long overdue smoochy floater full of lovely ethereal effects, 12 inched with slow Isleys-type funkadelic flip.
PRINCE HAMMER: ‘Bible’ (Front Line FL 106)
“Our Father who art in Zion” – the dread’s prayer! Terrific toasting dub.
SHEILA HYLTON: ‘Don’t Ask My Neighbours’ (Island WIP 6441)
Emotions oldie becomes a pretty winsome light reggae throbber with great dub flip.
VARIOUS: ‘Disco Direction’ LP (RCA PL 42477)
20 hit-crammed tricks mix up Baccara, Olympic Runners, Dr Buzzard, Odyssey, Shalamar, Meco, Evelyn King, Vicki Sue Robinson, etc (short 7in versions only), not quite continuously segued so that the £2.85 hotch-potch is good for early evenings.
DETROIT EMERALDS: ‘Let’s Get Together’ LP (Atlantic K 50452) (BNDA debut 3/25/78)
Title track and ‘Turn On Lady’ are frantic soul stormers doing well in US.
MADLEEN KANE: ‘Rough Diamond’ / ‘Fever’ (Decca FR 13775) (BNDA debut 3/18/78)
Yet another deadpan singing fashion model, predictably big in US discos with these cooing Euro-pounders.
AMANDA LEAR: ‘Follow Me’ (Ariola ARO 125)
‘Automatic Lover’ mechanical smooth fast groove with deadpan ‘Lili Marlene’ vocal.
PATRIC JUVET: ‘Ou Sont Les Femmes?’ (from LP ‘The French Collection’, Barclay CLAY 7003)
Last year’s big French funk-jazz leaper finally out 4:13 form, along with other Eurodisco artists like Burundi Black, Le Pamplemousse and Love & Kisses, on a compilation.
RAUL DE SOUZA: ‘Daisy Mae’ / ‘Overture’ / ‘Jump Street’ (from LP ‘Don’t Ask My Neighbours’, Tower EST 11774)
Spiky specialist jazz-funk trombone instrumentals.
ELVIS PRESLEY: ‘The ‘56 Sessions, Volume 1’ (RCA PL 42101)
‘Hound Dog’, ‘Blue Suede Shoes’, ‘Don’t Be Cruel’, ‘Tutti Frutti’, ‘Shake, Rattle & Roll’, ‘Lawdy Miss Clawdy’, ‘Heartbreak Hotel’ . . .
ROCK-A-TEENS: ‘Woo Hoo’ (Pye 7N 25780)
Dynamite trio of ‘50s rockers, the classic drum thrasher’s flipped by Roc LaRue’s bopping ‘Baby Take Me Back’ and the Skee Brothers’ ‘Romeo Joe’.
JOHN TRAVOLTA & OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN: ‘You’re The One That I Want’ (RSO 006)
Immensely catchy pop romper, not disco but it’ll be big!
MANHATTAN TRANSFER: ‘On A Little Street In Singapore’ (Atlantic K 11136)
Classy big band quickstepper will do until ‘A Gal In Calico’ comes out.
MEL BROOKS: ‘Springtime For Hitler’ (Asylum K 13115)
Straight-sounding but totally bananas pastiche of old operetta production numbers, great for hip MoR jocks.
ALEXANDER BROTHERS: ‘Scotland Scotland’ / ‘The Flower Of Scotland’ (Pye 7N 46060)
Good corny singalong waltz set to ‘Daisy Daisy (Give Me Your Answer Do)’ – and look what’s the flip, Jimmy!
SLAINTE MHATH: ‘Sons Of Scotland’ (Lightning LIG 533)
Argentina anthem set to ‘Sailing’, banned by Rod Stewart!
TOMMY COOPER. ‘We’ll Meet Again’ (Pye 7N 46041)
Vera Lynn’s sentimental sobber with added jokes for MoR crowds.
THE WURZELS: ‘The Tractor Song’ (EMI 2792)
Now ‘The Pushbike Song’ gets their usual treatment.
THE GOODIES: ‘Funky Farm’ (EMI 2784)
Stereo silliness, farmyard noises set to a rhythm-box beat!
CLASS 58: ‘Fonzie Shuffle’ (Birds Nest BN 104)
Pop fun for ‘Happy Days’ fans.
PAUL NICHOLAS: ‘On The Strip’ (RSO 011)
Happy pop stomper just like his others.
CILLA BLACK: ‘Silly Boy’ (EMI 2791)
Bee Gees-type chugger, surprisingly good disco sound.
JAY BLACK: ‘One Night Affair’ (Pye 7NL 25774)
Jay of Jay & The Americans on a phone call-introed 6:45 12in slow swayer with today’s pop-disco sound.
PAUL JONES: ‘Sheena Is A Punk Rocker’ (RSO 003)
Ramones done as an MOR swayer!
SPENCER DAVIS GROUP: ‘Gimme Some Lovin’’ / ‘Keep On Runnin’’ / ‘‘Somebody Help Me’ / ‘I’m A Man’ (Island IEP 10)
All their main classics on EP, but cut with low volume.
Mix Master
Martin Starr of the Reaction Soul Roadshow (Bristol 694156) mixes John Gibbs ‘Trinidad’ (US Jumbo Caribbean 12in), Michele ‘Disco Dance’ (US West End 12in), Francine McGee ‘Delirium’ (RCA 12in), Cameo ‘It’s Serious’ (Casablanca 12in), Sun ‘Sun Is Here’ (Capitol), Boiling Point ‘Let’s Get Funktified’ (Bang 12in) . . . it’s a sizzler, sez he! My own current big overlapping mixes are Francine McGee into the instrumental part of Olympic Runners ‘Whatever It Takes’ (RCA 12in) – spot the join! – plus Evelyn King ‘Shame’ (RCA 12in), out during the instrumental near end into Isley Bros ‘Livin’ The Life’ (Epic 12in). Variable speed decks should help get them spot on.
Hot Vinyl
Graham Gold, building Sundays at Greenford Champers into a hot funk spot, import tips:
BOMBERS: ‘Dance Dance Dance’ (US West End LP)
MARC COLBY: ‘On And On’ (US Columbia LP)
PETER KING: ‘Sincerely’ (US Orbitone LP)
JOHN GIBBS STEEL ORCHESTRA: ‘Trinidad’ (US Jumbo Caribbean 12”)
SUNFIGHTER: ‘Café A-Go-Go‘ (Canadian EMI 12”)
VAMPS: ‘Dancin’ Dancin’’ (Brazilian Building LP)
BADAZZ: ‘Honk Honk Beep Beep’ (US A&M 7”)
Plus all the hot chart hits.
UK Disco Top 90 – May 20, 1978
01 01 Bee Gees – Night Fever – RSO 7″/LP/US 12″
02 03 Hi-Tension – Hi-Tension – Island 7″/12″
03 02 Michael Zager Band – Let’s All Chant / Love Express – Private Stock 7″/12″
04 08 Boney M. – Rivers Of Babylon – Atlantic 7″
05 04 Chic – Everybody Dance – Atlantic 7″/LP/US 12″
06 12 Evelyn “Champagne” King – Shame – RCA 7″/12″
07 11 Voyage – Voyage (all cuts) – GTO LP
08 06 Ripple – The Beat Goes On And On – Salsoul 7″/12″
09 09 Francine McGee – Delirium / Feelin’ Good – RCA 7″/12″
10 18 Metropolis – I Love New York – Salsoul 7″/US 12″
11 15 Olympic Runners – Whatever It Takes – RCA 12″/LP
12 05 Sheila & B. Devotion – Singin’ In The Rain – Carrere 7″/12″
13 07 Ashford & Simpson – Don’t Cost You Nothin’ – Warner Bros. 7″/12″
14 20 Rose Royce – It Makes You Feel Like Dancin’ – Whitfield 7″/12″
15 28 Maytals – Disco Reggae / Dub A Little Reggae – State 7″/12″/LP
16 10 Dee D. Jackson – Automatic Lover – Mercury 7″
17 17 Charo – Dance A Little Bit Closer – Salsoul 7″/LP/US 12″
18 23 Bee Gees – More Than A Woman – RSO LP
19 14 Cameo – It’s Serious – Casablanca 7″/12″/LP
20 21 Tavares – More Than A Woman – Capitol 7″/RSO LP
21 33 Boiling Point – Let’s Get Funktified – Bang 7″/12″
22 34 Saturday Night Band – Come On Dance Dance – US Prelude LP
23 46 Idris Muhammad – Boogie To The Top – US Kudu LP
24 27 Isley Brothers – Take To Me The Next Phase / Livin’ The Life – Epic 7″/12″
25 36 KC & The Sunshine Band – Boogie Shoes – TK 7″/RSO LP
26 16 Raydio – Jack And Jill / Get Down – Arista 7″/LP
27 42 Tower Of Power – Lovin’ You Is Gonna See Me Thru / We Came To Play – US Columbia 7″/LP
28 26 Linda Clifford – Runaway Love / Gypsy Lady / If My Friends Could See Me Now – US Curtom LP
29 32 Samuel Jonathan – You / Just Us – US Columbia LP
30 24 Bee Gees – Stayin’ Alive – RSO 7″/LP/US 12″
31 35 Joe Sample – There Are Many Stops Along The Way – ABC LP
32 31 Sun – Sun Is Here / Dance – Capitol/Tower LP
33 13 Eruption – I Can’t Stand The Rain – Atlantic 7″/LP
34 47 Deodato – Whistle Bump – Warner Bros. LP/US 12″
35 51 Yvonne Elliman – If I Can’t Have You – RSO 7″/LP
36 19 Stargard – Which Way Is Up – MCA 12″
37 22 Peter Brown – Dance With Me – TK 7″
38 29 Parliament – Flash Light – Casablanca 7″/US 12″
39 56 Gary Criss – Rio De Janeiro – US Salsoul 12″
40 40 Village People – Macho Man – DJM 7″
41 41 War – Galaxy – MCA 12″
42 39 Cleveland Eaton – Bama Boogie Woogie – US Ovation 12″
43 30 O’Jays – I Love Music / Love Train – Philadelphia Int’l 12″
44 61 Darts – The Boy From New York City – Magnet 7″
45 52 Heatwave – Put The Word Out / Party Poops – GTO LP
46 57 Alec R. Costandinos – Romeo & Juliet – Lightning 7″/LP
47 38 Raffaella Carra – Do It, Do It Again – Epic 7″
48 66 Eddie Kendricks – Ain’t No Smoke Without Fire / How’s Your Love Life Baby – Arista 7″/12″
49 37 Donna Summer – Back In Love Again / Try Me I Know We Can Make It – GTO 12″
50 62 Sine – Just Let Me Do My Thing – CBS 7″/US Prelude LP
51 60 James Brown – Eyesight – US Polydor 7″/LP
52 77 Rick James – You And I / Sexy Lady – US Gordy LP
53 59 Bob Marley & The Wailers – Satisfy My Soul / Kaya – Island LP
54 44 John Paul Young – Love Is In The Air – Ariola 7″
55 58 Gene Farrow – Move Your Body – Magnet 7″/12″
56 53 Earth, Wind & Fire – Jupiter – CBS 7″/LP
57 25 Bob Marley & The Wailers – Is This Love – Island 7″
58 63 Players Association – Disco Inferno / I Like It – Vanguard 7″/12″
59 83 Rare Gems Odyssey – What Is Funk – Casablanca 7″/US LP
60 68 Michele – Disco Dance – US West End 12″
61 45 Regal Dewy – Love Music – RCA 7″
62 87 Platinum Hook – Standing On The Verge – US Motown LP
63 76 Dexter Wansel – All Night Long – Philadelphia Int’l 12″
64 NE Stanley Clarke – More Hot Fun – Epic 7″
65 NE Johnnie Taylor – Keep On Dancing – CBS 7″
66 84 Trammps – Disco Inferno – RSO LP/US Atlantic 12″
67 NE Blondie – (I’m Always Touched By Your) Presence, Dear – Chrysalis 7″
68 78 Prince – Just As Long As We’re Together – US Warner Bros. LP
69 79 Foxy – Get Off – US Dash LP
70 43 Steel Pulse – Ku Klux Klan – Island 7″/12″
71 69 Flack & Hathaway – The Closer I Get To You – Atlantic 7″
72 67 Johnny Mathis & Deniece Williams – Too Much, Too Little, Too Late – CBS 7″
73 NE Heatwave – Mind Blowing Decisions – GTO 7″
74 NE Raydio – Is This A Love Thing / Honey I’m Rich – Arista LP
75 48 Reggie & The Orchies – Take Five / Hand Glider – Electric 7″
76 70 Graham Parker – Hey Lord Don’t Ask Me Questions – Vertigo 7″
77 82 T-Connection – Let Yourself Go – TK 7″
78 NE Various Artists – Thank God It’s Friday (all cuts) – Casablanca LP
79 74 J.R.T. – Play It Again Sam – Electric 7″/12″
80 RE Double Exposure – Ten Percent – US Salsoul 12″
81 72 Jimmy Bo Horne – Dance Across The Floor – TK 7″
82 71 Universal Robot Band – Freak With Me – US Red Greg 12″
83 NE O’Jays – Use Ta Be My Girl – US Philadelphia Int’l 7″
84 64 Lipstique – Venus – Ensign 7″
85 90 Guy Marks – Loving You Has Made Me Bananas – ABC 7″
86 80 Andy Gibb – Shadow Dancing – RSO 7″
87 RE Bionic Boogie – Risky Changes – US Polydor 7″/12″/LP
88 NE Pussyfoot – Dancer Dance – EMI 7″/12″ promo
89 89 Roberta Kelly – Oh Happy Day / To My Father’s House / My Sweet Lord – Oasis LP
90 RE Tuxedo Junction – Chattanooga Choo Choo – US Butterfly 7″/LP
NE = new entry; RE = re-entry
Appeared in Billboard:
#1 (BNDA debut 1/7/78) / #3 (BNDA debut 1/14/78) / #5 (BNDA debut 12/3/77)
#6 (BNDA debut 10/1/77) / #7 (BNDA debut 2/11/78) / #8 (BNDA debut 1/28/78)
#10 (BNDA debut 4/1/78) / #12 (BNDA debut 2/11/78) / #13 (BNDA debut 1/28/78)
#14 (BNDA debut 9/24/77) / #17 (BNDA debut 11/19/77) / #18 (BNDA debut 1/7/78)
#19 (BNDA debut 2/18/78) / #22 (BNDA debut 4/15/78) / #23 (BNDA debut 5/6/78)
#28 (BNDA debut 3/25/78) / #30 (BNDA debut 1/7/78) / #33 (BNDA debut 2/4/78)
#34 (BNDA debut 5/27/78) / #36 (BNDA debut 1/7/78) / #37 (BNDA debut 1/7/78)
#39 (BNDA debut 3/25/78) / #40 (BNDA debut 3/18/78) / #41 (BNDA debut 1/14/78)
#46 (BNDA debut 2/4/78) / #48 (BNDA debut 2/25/78) / #52 (BNDA debut 5/13/78)
#60 (BNDA debut 11/5/77) / #66 (BNDA debut 1/15/77) / #69 (BNDA debut 5/6/78)
#77 (BNDA debut 4/22/78) / #78 (BNDA debut 4/29/78) / #87 (BNDA debut 12/17/77)
#89 (BNDA debut 4/8/78) / #90 (BNDA debut 1/21/78)
Songs mentioned in DJ Hotline:
DELEGATION: ‘Honey I’m Rich’ (State 7”)
BILLY PAUL: ‘Don’t Give Up On Us’ (Philadelphia Int’l 7”)
WARREN ZEVON: ‘Werewolves Of London’ (Asylum 7”)
TONI VAN DUYNE: ‘Venus & Mars’ (Lightning 7”)
BRASS CONSTRUCTION: ‘Celebrate’ (UA 7”) (BNDA debut 12/3/77)
A TASTE OF HONEY: ‘Boogie Oogie Oogie’ (US Capitol 7”) (BNDA 5/27/78)
RHYTHM HERITAGE: ‘Skippin’’ (US ABC LP)
SPYRO GYRA: ‘Shaker Song’ (US Amherst LP)
WAYNE HENDERSON: ‘Hot Stuff’ / ‘Giddy Up’ (US Polydor LP)
JOHN GIBBS STEEL ORCHESTRA: ‘Trinidad’ (US Jumbo Caribbean 12”)
DORIS JONES: ‘Suddenly I’m Alive’ (UA 12”)
ROBERT PALMER: ‘Every Kinda People’ (Island 7”)
IN CROWD: ‘Back A Yard’ (Cactus 7”)
THE POLICE: ‘Roxanne’ (A&M 7”)
STRANGLERS: ‘Nice And Sleazy’ (UA 7”)
LONNIE JORDAN: ‘Junkie To My Music’ (MCA 7”)
THE PIPS: ‘At Last My Search Is Over’ (Casablanca LP)
RARE ESSENCE: ‘Love Talking’ (Private Stock 7”)
James Hamilton's Disco Page 