June 17, 1978: Saturday Night Band, USA-European Connection, Love Committee, Black Ivory, Trade Mark

Disco News

EMI Records’ Licensed Repertoire Division, representing Salsoul/Stax/Fantasy/EMI Int’l, have launched a big “Disco Dancin’” promotion campaign via radio, press, dealers and discos to push a clutch of their recent soul-type LP releases, and a few current hot hits. Sadly most of the material already looks rather dated tor disco freaks, but of course the actual music remains good . . . John Gibbs ‘Trinidad’ is due on EMI Int’l 12in, while Kellee Patterson’s full-length ‘If It Don’t Fit’ is the flip to her 7:45 ‘Turn On The Lights’ on another EMI Int’l 12in . . . USA-European Connection is now not on 12in, but Rokotto and Al Matthews are, while Motown have issued a promo 12in of Rare Earth ‘Warm Ride’ featuring their “Disco Eye-Cued” banding system which shows virtually where to cut in at rhythm breaks, etc . . . Niels Birk (Langaa) infos that the ‘Thank God It’s Friday’ LP set costs £11.50 in Denmark, where the chart-topping ‘Saturday Night Fever’ is £9.50 . . . that’s a lot of bacon!

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New Spins

SATURDAY NIGHT BAND: ‘Come On Dance Dance’ (CBS 0341) (BNDA debut 4/15/78)
Crazy, but the smash side-long LP version won’t be out until July, when everyone will already have this edited 5:48 12in (or the 3:59 7in) as the fast changes-filled rhythm rattling flier is just too hot to stop! Similarly zingy flip.

USA-EUROPEAN CONNECTION: ‘Come Into My Heart’ LP (TK TKR 82532) (BNDA debut 2/11/78)
Instead of a shorter 12in, this side-long 14:28 zingy thumper stays on LP and comes out in time to sell! For some reason bigger gay and pop than funk, unlike Saturday Night Band, it however goes through similar changes.

LOVE COMMITTEE: ‘Law And Order’ (Salsoul SSOL 109) (BNDA debut 6/24/78)
Creamily churning old Temptations-type smooth stamper, hitting funk now and bound to be big pop . . . and with Tories? Pity it’s only 2:59 though. 

BLACK IVORY: ‘You Turned My Whole World Around’ (Power Exchange PX 277)
Veteran sweet soulsters with a beautiful smoocher that’s got gut, heart and groin appeal. Forget the Controllers, look out Regal Dewy, dim the lights . . . !

TRADE MARK: ‘Days Of Pearly Spencer’ (RSO 010)
Swirling zingy Euro-type update of David McWilliams’ oldie adds a fast Sheila B. beat and Giorgio electronics to the original’s sound.

GIORGIO & CHRIS: ‘Love’s In You (Love’s In Me)’ (Oasis 4)
Mr Moroder & Miss Bennett coo sweet nuthins over a bouncily rolling electronic beat with pretty synthetic tinkles and things.

JUDY MOWATT: ‘Black Woman’ (Grove Music GM 8)
Really classy reggae swayer with soulful singing and blues guitar even!

ELVIS PRESLEY: ‘Hound Dog’ / ‘Don’t Be Cruel’ (RCA PB 9265)
The original coupling that changed my whole life in 1956!

ROLLING STONES: ‘Some Girls’ LP (EMI CUN 39108) (‘Miss You’ BNDA debut 6/17/78)
Don’t believe all that you read! ‘Respectable’ is a bitch raunchy rocker, ‘Far Away Eyes’ a lovely country slowie, while the Temptations’ old ‘Just My Imagination’ comes out OK too, and there are others useable as well.

PETER ALLEN: ‘I Go To Rio’ (A&M AMS 7363)
Sensational happily leaping live recording of his great fast MoR samba-type jumper: this is even faster but should be a wow with ‘Ole Ola’.

DUSTY SPRINGFIELD: ‘That’s The Kind Of Love I’ve Got For You’ (Mercury DUSTY 002) (BNDA debut 3/11/78)
Freaky phasing gives way to a soulful centre and rattling rhythm break on this 4:50 disco pounder, first tested months ago as a 5:06 promo 12in.

RARE EARTH: ‘Warm Ride’ (Prodigal PROD 9)
US hit version of yet another Bee Gees jogger – but done with a beefy gruffness – serviced to lucky jocks as a special 12in.

IDRIS MUHAMMAD: ‘Boogie To The Top, Pts. 1 & 2’ (Kudu 943) (BNDA debut 5/6/78)
Bouncily pounding hot fast funk-jazz flier drastically edited from the hit LP.

DEXTER WANSEL: ‘Voyager’ LP (Phil Int’l PIR 82786)
Full 5:34 plinky-plunking ‘All Night Long’, but the quietly introed/outroed chirping crickets and radio news featuring ‘Solutions’ – a slightly tricky mid-tempo jazz-funker – is now the hot track. Check too the fast ‘Livin’ The Life’-type ‘I Just Want To Love You’ and slow ‘I’m In Love’.

EL COCO: ‘Under Construction’ / ‘Masquerade’ (Pye 7N 25782)
Insistently chanting smooth thudder builds well with synthetic noises and a solid bass, good prettier flip too.

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UK Disco Top 90 – June 17, 1978

01 01 Hi-Tension – Hi-Tension – Island 7″/12″
02 02 Bee Gees – Night Fever – RSO 7″/LP/12″ promo
03 03 Boney M. – Rivers Of Babylon – Atlantic 7″/12″
04 04 Michael Zager Band – Let’s All Chant / Love Express – Private Stock 7″/12″
05 06 Boiling Point – Let’s Get Funktified – Bang 7″/12″
06 05 Evelyn “Champagne” King – Shame – RCA 7″/12″
07 08 Yvonne Elliman – If I Can’t Have You – RSO 7″/LP/12″ promo
08 14 A Taste Of Honey – Boogie Oogie Oogie – Capitol 7″/LP
09 09 Tavares – More Than A Woman – Capitol 7″/RSO LP
10 07 Olympic Runners – Whatever It Takes / Solar Heat – RCA 7″/12″
11 11 Voyage – Voyage (all cuts) – GTO LP
12 12 Rick James – You And I / Sexy Lady – Motown 7″/US Gordy 12″
13 10 Rose Royce – It Makes You Feel Like Dancin’ – Whitfield 7″/12″
14 19 Trammps – Disco Inferno – Atlantic 7″/12″/RSO LP
15 20 Real Thing – Let’s Go Disco – Pye 7″
16 17 Isley Brothers – Take To Me The Next Phase / Livin’ The Life – Epic 7″/12″
17 13 Linda Clifford – Runaway Love / Gypsy Lady / If My Friends Could See Me Now – Curtom 7″/LP
18 18 Bee Gees – More Than A Woman – RSO LP/12″ promo
19 23 Saturday Night Band – Come On Dance Dance – US Prelude LP
20 29 Darts – The Boy From New York City – Magnet 7″
21 21 Chic – Everybody Dance – Atlantic 7″/LP/US 12″
22 15 Metropolis – I Love New York – Salsoul 7″/US 12″
23 27 John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John – You’re The One That I Want – RSO 7″
24 24 Sun – Sun Is Here / Dance – Capitol/Tower LP
25 16 Maytals – Disco Reggae / Dub A Little Reggae – State 7″/12″/LP
26 25 John Paul Young – Love Is In The Air – Ariola 7″
27 31 Ripple – The Beat Goes On And On – Salsoul 7″/12″
28 54 O’Jays – Use Ta Be My Girl – Philadelphia Int’l 7″
29 26 Sine – Just Let Me Do My Thing – CBS 7″/12″/LP
30 28 Idris Muhammad – Boogie To The Top – US Kudu LP
31 32 Francine McGee – Delirium / Feelin’ Good – RCA 7″/12″
32 22 KC & The Sunshine Band – Boogie Shoes – TK 7″/RSO LP
33 51 James Brown – Eyesight – Polydor 7″/LP
34 33 Cameo – It’s Serious – Casablanca 7″/12″/LP
35 35 Dexter Wansel – All Night Long / Disco Lights – Philadelphia Int’l 7″/12″
36 34 Heatwave – Mind Blowing Decisions – GTO 7″/LP
37 52 Stanley Clarke – More Hot Fun – Epic 7″
38 41 Deodato – Whistle Bump – Warner Bros. LP/US 12″
39 42 Tower Of Power – Lovin’ You Is Gonna See Me Thru – CBS 7″
40 61 Love & Kisses – Thank God It’s Friday – Casablanca 7″/12″/LP
41 36 Eddie Kendricks – Ain’t No Smoke Without Fire – Arista 7″/12″
42 40 Samuel Jonathan – You / Just Us – US Columbia LP
43 56 Norman Connors – Stella / Captain Connors – US Arista LP
44 55 Commodores – Flying High / Three Times A Lady – Motown LP
45 49 Bob Marley & The Wailers – Satisfy My Soul – Island 7″/LP
46 46 Players Association – Disco Inferno / I Like It – Vanguard 7″/12″/LP
47 53 Mastermind – Hustle Bus Stop – CBS 7″
48 43 Raydio – Jack And Jill / Get Down – Arista 7″/LP
49 45 Cleveland Eaton – Bama Boogie Woogie – US Ovation 12″
50 47 Peter Brown – Dance With Me – TK 7″/12″
51 37 Various Artists – Thank God It’s Friday (all cuts except TGIF & Last Dance) – Casablanca LP
52 69 Brass Construction – Celebrate – UA 7″
53 73 Johnnie Taylor – Keep On Dancing – CBS 7″
54 57 Double Exposure – Ten Percent – US Salsoul 12″
55 44 Parliament – Flash Light – Casablanca 7″/US 12″
56 85 Eddie Russ – Tea Leaves / Take A Look At Yourself – US Monument LP
57 63 Demis Roussos – L.O.V.E. Got A Hold Of Me – Mercury 12″ promo
58 58 Joe Sample – There Are Many Stops Along The Way – ABC LP
59 81 Rod Stewart – Ole Ola – Riva 7″
60 72 T-Connection – Let Yourself Go – TK 7″/12″
61 76 Kenny Delt & Prana – Conquer All – US Mercury 12″
62 64 Prince – Just As Long As We’re Together – US Warner Bros. LP
63 80 John Gibbs & US Steel Orchestra – Trinidad – US Jumbo Caribbean 12″
64 50 Rare Gems Odyssey – What Is Funk – Casablanca 7″/US LP
65 60 Charo – Dance A Little Bit Closer – Salsoul 7″/LP
66 39 Sheila & B. Devotion – Singin’ In The Rain – Carrere 7″/12″/LP
67 59 Raydio – Is This A Love Thing / Honey I’m Rich – Arista LP
68 NE Donna Summer – Last Dance / With Your Love – Casablanca 7″/LP
69 38 Dee D. Jackson – Automatic Lover – Mercury 7″
70 68 Raffaella Carra – Do It, Do It Again – Epic 7″
71 84 J.A.L.N. Band – Get Up (& Let Yourself Go) – Magnet 7″/12″
72 70 Earth, Wind & Fire – Jupiter – CBS 7″/LP
73 NE Marshall Hain – Dancing In The City – Harvest 7″
74 90 Spyro Gyra – Shaker Song – US Amherst 7″/LP
75 79 Ubiquity – Midnight After Dark – Elektra LP/US 12″
76 62 Kay-Gees – Kilowatt / Kilowatt Invasion – US De-Lite LP
77 RE Andy Gibb – Shadow Dancing – RSO 7″
78 RE Candi Staton – Honest I Do Love You – Warner Bros. 7″
79 66 Plastic Bertrand – Ca Plane Pour Moi – Sire 7″
80 65 Rinder & Lewis – Lust / Envy / Pride – Pye 7″/LP
81 75 Gary Criss – Rio De Janeiro – US Salsoul 12″
82 77 Roberta Kelly – Oh Happy Day / To My Father’s House / My Sweet Lord – Oasis LP
83 86 Elvis Costello – Pump It Up – Radar 7″
84 82 Rokotto – Funk Theory – State 7″/12″
85 RE Manu Dibango – Big Blow – Decca 7″/French Fiesta 12″
86 NE Fatback – I’m Fired Up / Get Out On The Dance Floor – US Spring LP
87 RE Bionic Boogie – Risky Changes – Polydor 7″/LP
88 NE Lee Ritenour – Sugarloaf Express – US Electra LP
89 89 Raul De Souza – Daisy Mae / Jump Street – Tower LP
90 88 Jack Ashford – Hotel Sheet – US Magic Disc LP
NE = new entry; RE = re-entry

Appeared in Billboard:
#2 (BNDA debut 1/7/78) / #4 (BNDA debut 1/14/78) / #6 (BNDA debut 10/1/77)
#8 (BNDA debut 5/27/78) / #11 (BNDA debut 2/11/78) / #12 (BNDA debut 5/13/78)
#13 (BNDA debut 9/24/77) / #14 (BNDA debut 1/15/77) / #17 (BNDA debut 3/25/78)
#18 (BNDA debut 1/7/78) / #19 (BNDA debut 4/15/78) / #21 (BNDA debut 12/3/77)
#22 (BNDA debut 4/1/78) / #27 (BNDA debut 1/28/78) / #30 (BNDA debut 5/6/78)
#34 (BNDA debut 2/18/78) / #38 (BNDA debut 5/27/78) / #40 (BNDA debut 4/29/78)
#41 (BNDA debut 2/25/78) / #50 (BNDA debut 1/7/78) / #51 (BNDA debut 4/29/78)
#52 (BNDA debut 12/3/77) / #57 (BNDA debut 7/1/78) / #60 (BNDA debut 4/22/78)
#65 (BNDA debut 11/19/77) / #66 (BNDA debut 2/11/78) / #68 (BNDA debut 4/29/78)
#80 (BNDA debut 4/8/78) / #81 (BNDA debut 3/25/78) / #82 (BNDA debut 4/8/78)
#87 (BNDA debut 12/17/77)

Bubbling Under the Top 90 (Domestic):
IN CROWD: ‘Back A Yard’ (Cactus 7”)
LOLEATTA HOLLOWAY: ‘Hit And Run’ (Salsoul 12”) (BNDA debut 5/7/77)
ODYSSEY: ‘Easy Come, Easy Go’ (RCA 7”)
J.R.T.: ‘Play It Again Sam’ (Electric 12”)
HEATWAVE: ‘Party Poops’ (GTO LP)
PLATINUM HOOK: ‘Standing On The Verge’ (Motown LP)
PAUL NICHOLAS: ‘On The Strip’ (RSO 7”)
KONGAS: ‘Gimme Some Lovin’’ (Polydor LP) (BNDA debut 1/14/78)
JIMMY BO HORNE: ‘Dance Across The Floor’ (TK 7”)
LINDA LEWIS: ‘It’s Good’ (Arista 12”)
USA-EUROPEAN CONNECTION: ‘Come Into My Heart’ (TK 7”) (BNDA debut 2/11/78)
S.S.O.: ‘Disco Soul Roots’ (Polydor 7”)
PUSSYFOOT: ‘Dancer Dance’ (EMI 7”)
GLADIATORS: ‘Stick A Bush’ (Front Line 7”)
AMANDA LEAR: ‘Follow Me’ (Ariola 7”)
MICHAEL ZAGER BAND: ‘Music Fever’ (Private Stock LP)
ELKIE BROOKS: ‘Only Love Can Break Your Heart’ (A&M 7”)
BOBBI HUMPHREY: ‘Sunset Burgundy’ (Epic 7”)
LOVE COMMITTEE: ‘Law And Order’ (Salsoul 7”) (BNDA debut 6/24/78)
CHARLES MCMIRAN & RICHARD MATHEWS: ‘Penny Black’ (Miramar 7”)

Bubbling Under the Top 90 (Imports):
WAYNE HENDERSON: ‘Hot Stuff’ (US Polydor LP)
UNIVERSAL ROBOT BAND: ‘Freak With Me’ (US Red Greg 12”)
FAZE-O: ‘Riding High’ (US She LP)
TYRONE DAVIS: ‘Get On Up’ (US Columbia 7”)
SPECIAL DELIVERY: ‘Get Up And Express Yourself’ (US Shield LP)
BLACKWELL: ‘Put The Funk Back’ (US Butterfly LP) (BNDA debut 6/10/78)
BOMBERS: ‘Dance Dance Dance’ / ‘Super Max’ / ‘The Mexican’ (US West End LP)
WRITERS: ‘Hey Babe’ / ‘La La La’ (US Columbia LP)
CAROL DOUGLAS: ‘Night Fever’ (US Midsong 12”) (BNDA debut 3/11/78)
MARC COLBY: ‘On And On’ (US Columbia LP)
WHISPERS: ‘Headlights’ (US Solar LP)
BADAZZ: ‘Honk Honk Beep Beep’ (US A&M 12”)
CHARLES EARLAND: ‘Let Music Play’ (US Mercury LP)
CON FUNK SHUN: ‘When The Feeling’s Right’ / ‘So Easy’ (US Mercury LP)
HUES CORPORATION: ‘Get Up Off Your Backside’ (US Warner Bros. LP)
RENZO FRAIESE: ‘12 Engle Street’ (US AVI LP)
WHAM: ‘Superslick’ (US GRT 7”) (BNDA debut 5/13/78)
SOUTHROAD CONNECTION: ‘Sweet Ride’ (US Mahogany LP)
HAMILTON BOHANNON: ‘Let’s Start The Dance’ (US Mercury LP) (BNDA debut 7/22/78)
SECTION THREE: ‘Clap And Shout’ (US Pearly 12”)