June 3, 1978: Donna Summer, Bionic Boogie, James Brown, Platters, Robert Gordon

Disco News

London’s LODJ Assn invites all local DJ’s to an inaugural meeting next Wednesday (7) at 7pm in the Baronial Hall at River Plate House, 1-6 Finsbury Circus, near Moorgate Tube, where there’s lots of room and a bar – so do go! . . . Manchester’s DJ Assn, acting mainly as a record pool for club jocks, meets weekly every Monday at 6:15pm in Kilties Disco, below the Swinging Sporran pub in Sackville Street, where all jocks in kilts are welcome! . . . Yvonne Marvill, ex-Phonogram, has surfaced at Shaboodle Promotions doing some independent pushing as a one off on Love Machine’s ‘Desperately’.

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New Spins

DONNA SUMMER: ‘Last Dance’ / ‘With Your Love’ (Casablanca TGIFS 2) (BNDA debut 4/29/78)
Zingy cymbal schlurpers, topside slow starting, from ‘Thank God It’s Friday’.

BIONIC BOOGIE: ‘Risky Changes’ (Polydor 2066895) (BNDA debut 12/17/77)
Fast funky jumper huge on import for ages.

JAMES BROWN: ‘Eyesight’ (Polydor 2066915)
Buoyant sparse funky bounder, big on import. 

PLATTERS: ‘Only You’ / ‘Smoke Gets In Your Eyes’ (Mercury 6052253)
Their two most enduring ‘50s slowies, back-to-back.

ROBERT GORDON: ‘The Way I Walk’ (Private Stock PVT 155)
Great strutting version of Jack Scott’s old rocker.

ART ADAMS: ‘Rock Crazy Baby’ (RM RMA 1028)
Tearaway fast rockabilly flier.

ANNETTE PEACOCK: ‘Don’t Be Cruel’ (Aura AUS 102)
Lovely unrecognisable bubbly unusual funk-jazz reading of the Elvis oldie.

BETTY EVERETT: ‘True Love (You Took My Heart)’ (UA UP 36400)
Delicately subtle soul swayer builds in rhythmic bursts, lovely slow flip too.

LOU RAWLS: ‘If I Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda’ (Philadelphia Int’l PIRT 6354)
Slow soul smoocher, stronger for discos than the lush ‘Trade Winds’ A-side.

ANDREW STEVENS: ‘Helpless In Love’ (Warner Bros. K 17165)
Pleasant pop-soul slow thudding jiggler.

CELI BEE & THE BUZZY BUNCH: ‘Hold Your Horses, Babe’ (TK  TKR 12-6032)
Euro-type zingy fast trite pounder, on 4:35 12in or 3:33 7in.

S.S.O.: ‘Disco Soul Roots’ (Polydor 2059027)
Memphisdiscomania Euro-medley of ‘Midnight Hour’, ‘Knock On Wood’ etc., OK for non-purists.

PANAMA: ‘Nights In White Satin’ (EMI 2800)
Euro treatment like a flamencoless Santa Esmeralda, now out here.

MANDRAKE: ‘Funk Tapper’ (Response SR 516)
Derivative jolly pop-soul stamper.

JOE BOURNE: ‘Bourne To Satisfy’ (Pye 7N 25776)
Odd slow haunting funky bumper from Holland.

ODYSSEY: ‘Easy Come, Easy Go’ (RCA PB 9252)
Latin-tinged plodding jiggler, enlivened on DJ promos by a personalised voice-over intro (sorry, Sal!).

STEELY DAN: ‘Deacon Blues’ (ABC 4217)
Steadily ticking but placid swayer on 7:26 12in.

RIO: ‘Really Dancin’’ (Sonet Son 2141)
Bland mid-tempo Real Thing-type chugger.

IMPERIALS: ‘Do What I Gotta Do’ (Power Exchange PX 274)
Attractive swayer, reminiscent of Looking Glass’s ‘Brandy (You’re A Fine Girl)’.

JACKIE DARNELL: ‘Leading You On’ (Philips 6006597)
New York-style slick steady chugger, competent but colourless.

SUZANNE SCOTT: ‘Do You Love Me’ (UA UP 36392)
Zingy Europop-type romper.

ALTHIA & DONNA: ‘Love One Another’ (Lightning LIG 532)
Pleasant reggae chugger, but no ‘Top Ranking’.

CULTURE: ‘Two Sevens Clash’ (Lightning LIG 539)
Jaunty reggae jiggler.

MEXICANO: ‘Lovers Conversation’ (Ice GUYANA 8)
Toasting over a sort of reggae ‘Name Game’, a bit muddled.

GEORGE BENSON: ‘Lady Blue’ (Warner Bros. K 17172)
Dead slow smoocher, good only for standing still to.

NATALIE COLE: ‘Our Love’ (Capitol CL 15987)
US smash soul smoocher.

LONDON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: ‘Whole Lotta Love’ (Anchor ANC 1049)
Massed strings playing Led Zep, though not a dancer, should intrigue heavy fans.

PLAYMATE: ‘Love Dance’ (Safari SAFE 4)
Santa Esmeralda-copying Euro instrumental with cooing chix, also on longer 12in (DOZ 2).

STRING MACHINE: ‘Promises Promises Huh’ (Ariola Hansa AHA 516)
Euro-type semi-classical instrumental chugger.

MAZE: ‘Workin’ Together’ / ‘Travelin’ Man’ (Capitol CL 15978)
Complex slow funk.

MAJOR LANCE: ‘I Never Thought I’d Be Losing You’ (Motown TMG 1109)
Lurching slow soul tripper, sparse northern flip.

RUFUS LUMLEY: ‘I’m Standing’ (EMI INT 556)
Nostalgic northern soul churner from ’66.

LOVE MACHINE: ‘Desperately’ (Charmdale CSS 10000)
Northern-type girlie group thumper.

PIPS: ‘At Last My Search Is Over’ (Casablanca CAN 118)
Slightly clumsy chugging thudder.

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Mix Master

Pete Tong (Gravesend’s Nelson Hotel) segues Saturday Night Band ‘Come On Dance Dance’ (US Prelude LP), Idris Muhammad ‘Boogie To The Top’ (Kudu LP), Stanley Clarke ‘More Hot Fun’ (Epic), Kennie Delt ‘Conquer All’ (US Mercury), Deodato ‘Whistle Bump’ (Warner Bros. LP), while Graham Gold (Greenford Champers) mixes out of Saturday Night Band halfway through chorus at sixth “come on dance dance” into Cameo ‘It’s Serious’ (Casablanca 12in), skipping first 13 secs, then minus intro into Rick James ‘You And I’ (US Motown 12in), minus intro into A Taste Of Honey ‘Boogie Oogie Oogie’ (Capitol), until final break, into John Gibbs ‘Trinidad’ (US Jumbo Caribbean 12in) until end of drums overlapping into Voyage ‘Point Zero / Orient Express’ (GTO LP), at end into fast drums just before vocals of Idris Muhammad ‘Boogie To The Top’. Phew . . . hot, huh?!

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Hot Vinyl

Johnnie Walker, Farnsborough Gallaghers and this Sunday (4) at Hillingdon’s Masterbrewers Motel, fresh from the Frenchies all-dayer import tips:

DAVID WILLIAMS: ‘Come On Down Boogie People’ (US AVI 12”)
EDDIE RUSS: ‘Tea Leaves’ / ‘I Want To Be Somebody’ (US Monument LP)
SOUTHROAD CONNECTION: ‘Sweet Ride’ / ‘Dusk To Dawn’ (US Mahogany LP)
NORMAN CONNORS: ‘Captain Connors’ (US Arista LP)
RENZO FRAIESE: ’12 Engle Street’ (US AVI LP)
FATBACK: ‘Get Out On The Dance Floor’ (US Spring 7”)
SHORTNIN’: ‘Spread It On’ (US Shadybrook 7”)
JACK MCDUFF: ‘Ju-Ju’ (US Chess LP) – the latter is a current-sounding deletion from ’76.

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UK Disco Top 90 – June 3, 1978

01 02 Hi-Tension – Hi-Tension – Island 7″/12″
02 01 Bee Gees – Night Fever – RSO 7″/LP/12″ promo
03 03 Boney M. – Rivers Of Babylon / Brown Girl In The Ring – Atlantic 7″/12″
04 04 Michael Zager Band – Let’s All Chant / Love Express – Private Stock 7″/12″
05 05 Evelyn “Champagne” King – Shame – RCA 7″/12″
06 06 Olympic Runners – Whatever It Takes – RCA 12″/LP
07 08 Voyage – Voyage (all cuts) – GTO LP
08 15 Boiling Point – Let’s Get Funktified – Bang 7″/12″
09 16 Yvonne Elliman – If I Can’t Have You – RSO 7″/LP/12″ promo
10 12 Rose Royce – It Makes You Feel Like Dancin’ – Whitfield 7″/12″
11 11 Tavares – More Than A Woman – Capitol 7″/RSO LP
12 07 Chic – Everybody Dance – Atlantic 7″/LP/US 12″
13 10 Metropolis – I Love New York – Salsoul 7″/US 12″
14 09 Ripple – The Beat Goes On And On – Salsoul 7″/12″
15 18 Maytals – Disco Reggae / Dub A Little Reggae – State 7″/12″/LP
16 21 Bee Gees – More Than A Woman – RSO LP/12″ promo
17 20 Isley Brothers – Take To Me The Next Phase / Livin’ The Life – Epic 7″/12″
18 27 Sun – Sun Is Here / Dance – Capitol/Tower LP
19 35 Rick James – You And I / Sexy Lady – Motown 7″/US Gordy 12″
20 13 Dee D. Jackson – Automatic Lover – Mercury 7″
21 47 Eddie Kendricks – Ain’t No Smoke Without Fire / How’s Your Love Life Baby – Arista 7″/12″
22 26 KC & The Sunshine Band – Boogie Shoes – TK 7″/RSO LP
23 14 Cameo – It’s Serious – Casablanca 7″/12″/LP
24 17 Francine McGee – Delirium / Feelin’ Good – RCA 7″/12″
25 25 Saturday Night Band – Come On Dance Dance – US Prelude LP
26 33 Darts – The Boy From New York City – Magnet 7″
27 28 Sheila & B. Devotion – Singin’ In The Rain – Carrere 7″/12″/LP
28 34 Bee Gees – Stayin’ Alive – RSO 7″/LP/12″ promo
29 40 John Paul Young – Love Is In The Air – Ariola 7″
30 22 Linda Clifford – Runaway Love / Gypsy Lady / If My Friends Could See Me Now – Curtom 7″/US LP
31 30 Idris Muhammad – Boogie To The Top – US Kudu LP
32 50 Trammps – Disco Inferno – Atlantic 7″/12″/RSO LP
33 NE A Taste Of Honey – Boogie Oogie Oogie – Capitol 7″
34 38 Raydio – Jack And Jill / Get Down – Arista 7″/LP
35 42 Peter Brown – Dance With Me – TK 7″
36 24 Samuel Jonathan – You / Just Us – US Columbia LP
37 37 Deodato – Whistle Bump – Warner Bros. LP/US 12″
38 31 Parliament – Flash Light – Casablanca 7″/US 12″
39 43 Rare Gems Odyssey – What Is Funk – Casablanca 7″/US LP
40 NE Real Thing – Let’s Go Disco – Pye 7″
41 51 Earth, Wind & Fire – Jupiter – CBS 7″/LP
42 48 Dexter Wansel – All Night Long / Disco Lights – Philadelphia Int’l 7″/12″
43 19 Charo – Dance A Little Bit Closer – Salsoul 7″/LP/12″ promo
44 23 Ashford & Simpson – Don’t Cost You Nothin’ – Warner Bros. 7″/12″
45 32 Tower Of Power – Lovin’ You Is Gonna See Me Thru / We Came To Play – US Columbia 7″/LP
46 46 Cleveland Eaton – Bama Boogie Woogie – US Ovation 12″
47 52 Various Artists – Thank God It’s Friday (all cuts) – Casablanca LP
48 53 Players Association – Disco Inferno / I Like It – Vanguard 7″/12″/LP
49 88 Love & Kisses – Thank God It’s Friday – Casablanca 7″/12″/LP
50 55 Bob Marley & The Wailers – Satisfy My Soul – Island 7″/LP
51 56 Stanley Clarke – More Hot Fun – Epic 7″
52 70 Sine – Just Let Me Do My Thing – CBS 7″
53 67 J.R.T. – Play It Again Sam – Electric 7″/12″
54 41 Village People – Macho Man – DJM 7″/LP
55 69 Heatwave – Mind Blowing Decisions – GTO 7″/LP
56 45 Alec R. Costandinos – Romeo & Juliet – Lightning 7″/LP
57 39 Raffaella Carra – Do It, Do It Again – Epic 7″
58 29 Joe Sample – There Are Many Stops Along The Way – ABC LP
59 36 Heatwave – Put The Word Out / Party Poops – GTO LP
60 81 Prince – Just As Long As We’re Together – US Warner Bros. LP
61 NE John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John – You’re The One That I Want – RSO 7″
62 62 Plastic Bertrand – Ca Plane Pour Moi – Sire 7″
63 58 Donna Summer – Back In Love Again / Try Me I Know We Can Make It – GTO 7″/12″
64 57 Johnny Mathis & Deniece Williams – Too Much, Too Little, Too Late – CBS 7″
65 80 Mastermind – Hustle Bus Stop – CBS 7″
66 49 Raydio – Is This A Love Thing / Honey I’m Rich – Arista LP
67 44 James Brown – Eyesight / The Spank / Jam / Nature – US Polydor LP
68 86 Brass Construction – Celebrate – UA 7″
69 72 T-Connection – Let Yourself Go – TK 7″/12″
70 77 Roberta Kelly – Oh Happy Day / To My Father’s House / My Sweet Lord – Oasis LP
71 RE Andy Gibb – Shadow Dancing – RSO 7″
72 73 Johnnie Taylor – Keep On Dancing – CBS 7″
73 61 Gene Farrow – Move Your Body – Magnet 7″/12″
74 59 Gary Criss – Rio De Janeiro – US Salsoul 12″
75 54 Platinum Hook – Standing On The Verge – US Motown LP
76 65 O’Jays – Use Ta Be My Girl – Philadelphia Int’l 7″
77 74 Double Exposure – Ten Percent – US Salsoul 12″
78 64 Kay-Gees – Kilowatt / Kilowatt Invasion / Tango Hustle – US De-Lite LP
79 68 Blondie – (I’m Always Touched By Your) Presence, Dear – Chrysalis 7″
80 RE Pussyfoot – Dancer Dance – EMI 7″/12″ promo
81 NE John Gibbs & US Steel Orchestra – Trinidad – US Jumbo Caribbean 12″
82 83 Kenny Delt & Prana – Conquer All – US Mercury 12″
83 NE Kongas – Gimme Some Lovin’ – Polydor 7″/US Malligator LP
84 66 Rinder & Lewis – Lust / Envy – Pye 7″
85 63 Jimmy Bo Horne – Dance Across The Floor – TK 7″
86 85 Lipstique – Venus – Ensign 7″
87 NE In Crowd – Back A Yard – Cactus 7″
88 90 Elvis Costello – Pump It Up – Radar 7″
89 NE Candi Staton – Honest I Do Love You – Warner Bros. 7″
90 84 Reggie & The Orchies – Take Five / Hand Glider – Electric 7″
NE = new entry; RE = re-entry

Appeared in Billboard:
#2 (BNDA debut 1/7/78) / #4 (BNDA debut 1/14/78) / #5 (BNDA debut 10/1/77)
#7 (BNDA debut 2/11/78) / #10 (BNDA debut 9/24/77) / #12 (BNDA debut 12/3/77)
#13 (BNDA debut 4/1/78) / #14 (BNDA debut 1/28/78) / #16 (BNDA debut 1/7/78)
#19 (BNDA debut 5/13/78) / #21 (BNDA debut 2/25/78) / #23 (BNDA debut 2/18/78)
#25 (BNDA debut 4/15/78) / #27 (BNDA debut 2/11/78) / #28 (BNDA debut 1/7/78)
#30 (BNDA debut 3/25/78) / #31 (BNDA debut 5/6/78) / #32 (BNDA debut 1/15/77)
#33 (BNDA debut 5/27/78) / #35 (BNDA debut 1/7/78) / #37 (BNDA debut 5/27/78)
#43 (BNDA debut 11/19/77) / #44 (BNDA debut 1/28/78) / #47 (BNDA debut 4/29/78)
#49 (BNDA debut 4/29/78) / #54 (BNDA debut 3/18/78) / #56 (BNDA debut 2/4/78)
#68 (BNDA debut 12/3/77) / #69 (BNDA debut 4/22/78) / #70 (BNDA debut 4/8/78)
#74 (BNDA debut 3/25/78) / #83 (BNDA debut 1/14/78) / #84 (BNDA debut 4/8/78)

Bubbling Under the Top 90:
DOOLEYS: ‘Don’t Take It Lyin’ Down’ (State 7”)
CARL BEAN: ‘I Was Born This Way’ (Motown 7”) (BNDA debut 1/28/78)
COMMODORES: ‘Flying High’ (Motown LP)
NORMAN CONNORS: ‘Stella’ / ‘Captain Connors’ (US Arista LP)
PIPS: ‘At Last My Search Is Over’ (Casablanca 7”)
GUY MARKS: ‘Loving You Has Made Me Bananas’ (ABC 7”)
MICHELE: ‘Disco Dance’ (US West End 12”) (BNDA debut 11/5/77)
AMANDA LEAR: ‘Follow Me’ (Ariola 7”)
WRITERS: ‘Hey Babe’ (US Columbia LP)
PATTI SMITH: ‘Because The Night’ (Arista 7”)
ROD STEWART: ‘Ole Ola’ (Riva 7”)
BOMBERS: ‘Dance Dance Dance’ / ‘Super Max’ (US West End 12”)
PAUL NICHOLAS: ‘On The Strip’ (RSO 7”)
ISAAC HAYES: ‘Moonlight Lovin’’ (Polydor 7”) (BNDA debut 12/10/77)
TYRONE DAVIS: ‘Get On Up’ (US Columbia 7”)
GLADIATORS: ‘Stick A Bush’ (Front Line 7”)
WAYNE HENDERSON: ‘Hot Stuff’ (US Polydor LP)
FOXY: ‘Get Off’ (US Dash LP) (BNDA debut 5/6/78)
PHAROAH SANDERS: ‘Got To Give It Up’ (Arista LP)
KONGAS: ‘Gimme Some Lovin’’ (Polydor 7”) (BNDA debut 1/14/78)
BOMBERS: ‘Bombers’ LP (US West End LP)