Disco News
Calendar Records (currently hot with the Ashantis) need more top jocks for their mailing list, so apply to Liz Cruickshanks at Calendar, 59 Chiswick High Road, London W4 . . . The appalling Revolta-dancing Ian Moore now has an agent and is accepting bookings via Colin Hudson on Gray Thurrock 30973 – but hurry, he’ll soon be getting better if he does a lot of gigs! . . . There’s a “Mr. & Mrs. Revolta” competition each night at 10pm at Eccles’ re-opened Rainbow in Liverpool Road, along with two proper dance troupes, go-go girls and Disco Dave Singleton . . . Dave Jay’s new record and disco equipment shop, Apollo Records at 47 Clive Street, Grangetown, Cardiff, specialises in Jamaican imports and disco hits, with hefty discounts for bona fide DJ’s . . . Tim Smithers (16) of Bournemouth complains that he and many Northern-dancing kids in his area are too young for the Northern all-nighters/dayers, and wonders if anyone knows of events catering for younger crowds: I never knew that under-18’s were barred, but can anyone help?
New Spins
QUINCY JONES: ‘Stuff Like That’ (from LP ‘Sounds . . . And Stuff Like That!’, A&M AMLH 64635)
Beautiful LP for jazz-funk fans, with the hot and huge track being a compulsive happy 6:15 jumper sung by Ashford & Simpson with Chaka Khan. Could be the next ‘Boogie Oogie Oogie’.
HERBIE HANCOCK: ‘I Thought It Was You’ (from LP ‘Sunlight’, CBS 82240)
Avant-garde jazz keyboardist goes funky for an infectiously pounding 8:54 slab of incredible inventiveness with beautiful electronically-treated vocal sounds, currently wowing jazz-funk jocks and due on 12in soon.
DAVID BOYDELL: ‘Wish It Were Me (Dub Dancing)’ / ‘En Afrique’ (Electric LWOT 24)
Terrific bubbling happy 12in pop romper in a madly jaunty Paul Nicholas/Bee Gees bag, with such wide appeal it deserves to smash both radio and disco. Check the ultra-fast jazz-funk flip too!
CROWN HEIGHTS AFFAIR: ‘Dream World’ LP (De-Lite DSR 9506)
Dynamite US LP specially imported for simultaneous UK sale at £4.50, all the funky cuts are good but the proposed future single ‘Galaxy Of Love’ has airline announcements, great brass and a mind-blowing fast tempo switch.
KENNIE DELT & PRANA: ‘Conquer All’ (Mercury 6167654)
Beefy bass-driven fast funky bounder, the instrumental B-side version being bigger for many.
EARTH, WIND & FIRE: ‘Magic Mind’ (CBS 6490)
At last the cream funky cut from ‘All ‘N All’, a fast zapping leaper.
NORMAN CONNORS: ‘This is Your Life’ LP (Buddah BDLP 4053)
Already out on 45, the fast funky ‘Captain Connors’ joins its big jazz-funk partner, the more delicate mid-tempo ‘Stella’ with Lee Ritenour on guitar. Specialist stuff maybe, but huge around London.
RICK JAMES STONE CITY BAND: ‘Come Get It!’ LP (Motown STML 12035) (BNDA debut 5/13/78)
The full-length funky ‘You And I’ smash joins the whoop-whoop filled happily skipping ‘Be My Lady’ and solidly chugging ‘Sexy Lady’, all equally good.
CHERYL BARNES: ‘Save And Spend’ (RCA XC 1044)
Zingy 12in builds into a good rhythm rattling flier, big on import some months back.
CALIFORNIA: ‘I Can Hear Music’ (RSO 014)
Ronettes/Beach Boys oldie updated by Bruce ‘Pipeline’ Johnston in strong frothy pop-disco style.
DIANA ROSS: ‘Lovin’, Livin’ And Givin’’ (Motown TMG 1112) (BNDA debut 12/23/78)
‘I Feel Love’-type electronic chaser completely remixed from the ‘Friday’ LP.
RONNIE JONES: ‘Me And Myself’ (Lollipop LOLLY 2)
Fast flying synthesizer backbeat churner with gruff vocal and long buildup on special DJ-only 12in.
KC & THE SUNSHINE BAND: ‘It’s The Same Old Song’ (TK TKR 6027)
Frantically flying fast Four Tops oldie, on 4:25 12in or 3:18 7in.
LEE KOSMIN: ‘Ain’t No Way’ (Polydor 2059034)
Churning fast sixties-type stomper, rather good.
FLIRTATIONS: ‘Little Darling’ / LENNY GAMBLE: ‘I’ll Do Anything’ (Casino Classics CC 1)
Marvin Gaye’s oldie tailored to northern tastes but with wide pop appeal too, and a specialist churning double A-side.
MIQUEL BROWN: ‘Symphony Of Love’ (Polydor 2059036) (BNDA debut 1/6/79)
Sparse disco pounder with squeaky singing through the beat, looks now like being big for pop jocks.
MARGARET SINGANA: ‘I Surrender’ / ‘Love Will Find A Way’ (Galaxy GY 153)
Startlingly over-wrought slow intro to a pent-up jiggler by the South African soulstress, funkily bounding flip too.
JOHN HUTCHINSON: ‘Dream’ (Power Exchange PX 272)
Lovely old standard becomes a lush disco swayer with jittery rhythm, driving along up front.
ROBERT PALMER: ‘Best Of Both Worlds’ (Island WIP 6445)
Tom Moulton-produced blue-eyed soul swayer with subdued steady rhythm.
DAVID GATES: ‘Took The Last Train’ (Elektra K 12307)
Amazingly good authentic slow jazz-funk tripper by the Bread guy!
BOOTSY’S RUBBER BAND: ‘Bootzilla’ / ‘Hollywood Squares’ (Warner Bros. K 17196)
Thundering P-funk lurcher and slower flip, on 12in or yellow vinyl 7in.
ENCHANTMENT: ‘If You’re Ready (Here It Comes)’ (UA UP 36420)
Busy funky jiggler with lots of flashy tricks.
GARY CRISS: ‘Rio De Janeiro’ (Carrere EMI 2820) (BNDA debut 3/25/78)
Huge for months on import 12in, the Salsoul-style rhythm rattling thudder is finally out on 7in only.
BARRY MANILOW: ‘Copacabana (At The Copa)’ (Arista ARIST 196) (BNDA debut 4/15/78)
Clod-hopping rhythm holds back this gay hit, which has a nice Latin lilt but lacks swing.
J. VINCENT EDWARDS: ‘Rio De Janeiro’ (Pye 7N 46108)
‘Ola Ola’-type happy jumper, nothing to do with the Gary Criss hit.
JIMMY JAMES & THE VAGABONDS: ‘I Can’t Stop My Feet From Dancin’’ (Pye 7NL 46109)
Madly zingy attractive fast Biddu thumper on 6:35 12in.
VAN MCCOY: ‘My Favourite Fantasy’ (MCA 12MCA 370)
Typically pleasant vocal hustler with trademarked thudding drum beats, on 12in.
CHARO & THE SALSOUL ORCHESTRA: ‘You’re Just The Right Size’ (Salsoul SSOL 110)
A singer she ain’t, but her heavy breathing’s fine on this monotonous bouncy chugger.
CLAUDJA BARRY: ‘Dancin’ Fever’ (Lollipop LOLLY 1) (BNDA debut 1/7/78)
Swaying mid-tempo cool thudder with Dr. Buzzard brass and Donna-type appeal, DJ serviced on special 12in.
DAVID WINTER: ‘Reed Island’ (Blue Inc INC 1)
Summery-sounding catchy pop-reggae jogger, pressed in blue vinyl.
ISLEY BROTHERS: ‘Groove With You’ / ‘Footsteps In The Dark’ (Epic EPC 6481)
Slow smoochers with Commodores touches, though the A-side’s not an incredibly strong song.
WALTER MURPHY: ‘A Fifth Of Beethoven’ (Private Stock PVDD 3)
‘Fever’-featured ’76 hit now on 12in, though sadly not with ‘California Strut’ as flip.
PRIME FORCE: ‘The Korva Selection’ (Ariola ARO 113/12)
Quite catchy fast rattling move theme on 12in.
ARTHUR LOUIS: ‘Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door’ (Island WIP 6443)
Very first original reggae version from ’75 (then on Plum) has some controversial Clapton guitar backing.
JOHNNY RIVERS: ‘Swayin’ To The Music (Slow Dancin’)’ (Polydor 2001790)
Late in the race but eventual US winner, the lovely slow swayer has chirping cricket effects.
MARIA MULDAUR: ‘Make Love To The Music’ (Warner Bros. K 17192)
Gorgeous yearning sensuous slowie.
MANHATTANS: ‘Tomorrow’ (CBS 6386)
Dreamy smoocher from the ‘Annie’ stage show.
UK Disco Top 90 – July 8, 1978
01 03 A Taste Of Honey – Boogie Oogie Oogie – Capitol 7″/12″
02 01 Hi-Tension – Hi-Tension – Island 7″/12″
03 02 Bee Gees – Night Fever – RSO 7″/LP/12″ promo
04 04 Boney M. – Rivers Of Babylon / Brown Girl In The Ring – Atlantic 7″/12″
05 05 John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John – You’re The One That I Want – RSO 7″
06 06 Evelyn “Champagne” King – Shame – RCA 7″/12″
07 07 Rick James – You And I / Sexy Lady – Motown 7″/US Gordy 12″
08 09 Sine – Just Let Me Do My Thing – CBS 7″/12″/LP
09 11 Voyage – Voyage (all cuts) – GTO LP
10 17 O’Jays – Use Ta Be My Girl – Philadelphia Int’l 7″
11 16 Trammps – Disco Inferno – Atlantic 7″/12″/RSO LP
12 13 Linda Clifford – Runaway Love / Gypsy Lady / If My Friends Could See Me Now – Curtom 7″/12″/LP
13 08 Real Thing – Let’s Go Disco – Pye 7″
14 19 Idris Muhammad – Boogie To The Top / One With A Star / S-E-X – Kudu 7″/LP/12″ promo
15 22 Saturday Night Band – Come On Dance Dance – CBS 7″/12″/LP
16 10 Boiling Point – Let’s Get Funktified – Bang 7″/12″
17 23 Rolling Stones – Miss You – EMI 7″/12″
18 20 Heatwave – Mind Blowing Decisions – GTO 7″/LP
19 18 Bee Gees – More Than A Woman – RSO LP/12″ promo
20 27 Commodores – Flying High – Motown 7″/12″/LP
21 14 Michael Zager Band – Let’s All Chant / Love Express – Private Stock 7″/12″
22 12 Yvonne Elliman – If I Can’t Have You – RSO 7″/LP/12″ promo
23 15 Tavares – More Than A Woman – Capitol 7″/RSO LP
24 39 Deodato – Whistle Bump – Warner Bros. 7″/US 12″
25 21 Rose Royce – It Makes You Feel Like Dancin’ – Whitfield 7″/12″
26 32 Marshall Hain – Dancing In The City – Harvest 7″
27 28 Metropolis – I Love New York – Salsoul 7″/US 12″
28 30 Peter Brown – Dance With Me – TK 7″/12″
29 37 Donna Summer – Last Dance / With Your Love – Casablanca 7″/LP
30 24 Bob Marley & The Wailers – Satisfy My Soul – Island 7″
31 25 Eddie Kendricks – Ain’t No Smoke Without Fire – Arista 7″/12″
32 36 James Brown – Eyesight – Polydor 7″/LP
33 26 Olympic Runners – Whatever It Takes / Solar Heat – RCA 7″/12″
34 29 Sun – Sun Is Here – Capitol/Tower LP
35 42 Charles Earland – Let The Music Play / Over And Over – US Mercury LP
36 41 Norman Connors – Stella / Captain Connors – Buddah 7″/LP
37 44 Hamilton Bohannon – Let’s Start The Dance – US Mercury LP
38 49 T-Connection – Let Yourself Go – TK 7″/12″
39 33 J.A.L.N. Band – Get Up (& Let Yourself Go) – Magnet 7″/12″
40 38 Rokotto – Funk Theory – State 7″/12″
41 43 Bionic Boogie – Risky Changes – Polydor 7″/LP/US 12″
42 46 Tower Of Power – Lovin’ You Is Gonna See Me Thru – CBS 7″/LP
43 40 Double Exposure – Ten Percent – US Salsoul 12″
44 31 John Paul Young – Love Is In The Air – Ariola 7″
45 52 Commodores – Three Times A Lady – Motown LP
46 58 Samuel Jonathan – You / Just Us – US Columbia LP
47 57 Ubiquity – Midnight After Dark / Starbooty – Elektra 7″/12″
48 45 Demis Roussos – L.O.V.E. Got A Hold Of Me – Mercury 12″ promo
49 47 Stanley Clarke – More Hot Fun – Epic 7″
50 RE Raydio – Is This A Love Thing – Arista 7″/LP/12″ promo
51 62 Constellation Orchestra – Perfect Love Affair / Funk Encounters – US Prelude LP
52 50 Various Artists – Thank God It’s Friday (all cuts except TGIF & Last Dance) – Casablanca LP
53 53 Fatback – I’m Fired Up / Get Out On The Dance Floor / Snake / I Like Girls – US Spring LP
54 59 Loleatta Holloway – Hit And Run – Salsoul 7″/12″
55 65 John Gibbs & US Steel Orchestra – Trinidad – US Jumbo Caribbean 12″
56 34 Isley Brothers – Take To Me The Next Phase / Livin’ The Life – Epic 7″/12″
57 35 Darts – The Boy From New York City – Magnet 7″
58 60 Kennie Delt & Prana – Conquer All – US Mercury 12″
59 51 Dexter Wansel – All Night Long / Disco Lights / Solutions – Philadelphia Int’l 7″/12″/LP
60 48 Maytals – Disco Reggae / Dub A Little Reggae – State 7″/12″/LP
61 63 Eddie Russ – Tea Leaves / Take A Look At Yourself – US Monument LP
62 79 Prince – Just As Long As We’re Together – US Warner Bros. LP
63 NE Mass Production – Just Want To Make A Dream Come True / Watch Me Do It / Sky High / Scarey Love – US Cotillion LP
64 71 Lee Ritenour – Sugarloaf Express – US Electra LP
65 64 Blackwell – Put The Funk Back / Boogie Down – US Butterfly LP
66 NE Quincy Jones – Stuff Like That – A&M LP
67 NE Herbie Hancock – I Thought It Was You – CBS LP
68 56 Players Association – Disco Inferno / I Like It – Vanguard 7″/12″/LP
69 69 Cameo – It’s Serious – Casablanca 7″/12″/LP
70 67 Love & Kisses – Thank God It’s Friday – Casablanca 7″/12″/LP
71 75 Gary Criss – Rio De Janeiro – US Salsoul 12″/French Carrere 12″
72 NE Samona Cooke – One Night Affair – US Mercury 7″
73 72 Cleveland Eaton – Bama Boogie Woogie – US Ovation 12″
74 90 Raul De Souza – Daisy Mae / Jump Street – Capitol 7″
75 70 Spyro Gyra – Shaker Song – US Amherst 7″/LP
76 RE Kay-Gees – Kilowatt / Kilowatt Invasion – US De-Lite 7″/LP
77 87 Harvey Mason – What’s Going On / Till You Take My Love – Arista 7″/12″
78 NE Trade Mark – Days Of Pearly Spencer – RSO 7″/12″
79 61 Brass Construction – Celebrate – UA 7″
80 NE Love Committee – Law And Order – Salsoul 7″/LP
81 68 Alec R. Costandinos – Romeo & Juliet – Lightning 7″/LP
82 73 Clout – Substitute – Carrere 7″
83 NE Gap Mangione – Mellow Out – US A&M LP
84 78 Karen Young – Hot Shot – US West End 12″
85 NE Diana Ross – Lovin’, Livin’ And Givin’ – Motown 7″/Casablanca LP
86 NE Carol Douglas – Night Fever – US Midsong 12″
87 82 Luisa Fernandez – Lay Love On You – Warner Bros. 7″
88 NE Rare Earth – Warm Ride – Prodigal 7″/12″ promo
89 NE Gilla – Bend Me Shape Me – Ariola Hansa 7″
90 81 Roberta Kelly – Oh Happy Day / To My Father’s House / My Sweet Lord – Oasis LP
NE = new entry; RE = re-entry
Appeared in Billboard:
#1 (BNDA debut 5/27/78) / #3 (BNDA debut 1/7/78) / #6 (BNDA debut 10/1/77)
#7 (BNDA debut 5/13/78) / #9 (BNDA debut 2/11/78) / #11 (BNDA debut 1/15/77)
#12 (BNDA debut 3/25/78) / #14 (BNDA debut 5/6/78) / #15 (BNDA debut 4/15/78)
#17 (BNDA debut 6/17/78) / #19 (BNDA debut 1/7/78) / #21 (BNDA debut 1/14/78)
#24 (BNDA debut 5/27/78) / #25 (BNDA debut 9/24/77) / #27 (BNDA debut 4/1/78)
#28 (BNDA debut 1/7/78) / #29 (BNDA debut 4/29/78) / #31 (BNDA debut 2/25/78)
#37 (BNDA debut 7/22/78) / #38 (BNDA debut 4/22/78) / #41 (BNDA debut 12/17/77)
#48 (BNDA debut 7/1/78) / #51 (BNDA debut 7/1/78) / #52 (BNDA debut 4/29/78)
#54 (BNDA debut 5/7/77) / #65 (BNDA debut 6/10/78) / #69 (BNDA debut 2/18/78)
#70 (BNDA debut 4/29/78) / #71 (BNDA debut 3/25/78) / #79 (BNDA debut 12/3/77)
#80 (BNDA debut 6/24/78) / #81 (BNDA debut 2/4/78) / #84 (BNDA debut 6/17/78)
#85 (BNDA debut 12/23/78) / #86 (BNDA debut 3/11/78) / #90 (BNDA debut 4/8/78)
Bubbling Under the Top 90 (Domestic):
CANDI STATON: ‘Honest I Do Love You’ (Warner Bros. 7”)
MICHAEL ZAGER BAND: ‘Do It With Feeling’ (Bang 7”)
USA-EUROPEAN CONNECTION: ‘Come Into My Heart’ (CBS LP) (BNDA debut 2/11/78)
JOHNNIE TAYLOR: ‘Keep On Dancing’ (CBS 7”)
PLATINUM HOOK: ‘Standing On The Verge’ (Motown LP)
CELI BEE & THE BUZZY BUNCH: ‘Hold Your Horses, Babe’ (TK 12”)
PUSSYFOOT: ‘Dancer Dance’ (EMI 7”)
PAUL NICHOLAS: ‘On The Strip’ (RSO 7”)
KELLEE PATERSON: ‘Turn On The Lights’ (EMI 7”)
WALTER MURPHY: ‘A Fifth Of Beethoven’ (Private Stock 12”)
DRIFTERS: ‘Honey You’re Heaven To Me’ (Arista 7”)
GRAHAM BONNET: ‘Warm Ride’ (Ring-O 12”)
DON RAY: ‘Got To Have Loving’ (Polydor LP) (BNDA debut 4/22/78)
AMANDA LEAR: ‘Follow Me’ (Ariola 7”)
TEDDY PENDERGRASS: ‘Get Up, Get Down, Get Funky, Get Loose’ / ‘Close The Door’ (Philadelphia Int’l 7”)
DUSTY SPRINGFIELD: ‘That’s The Kind Of Love I’ve Got For You’ (Mercury 7”) (BNDA debut 3/11/78)
AVERAGE WHITE BAND: ‘One Look Over My Shoulder’ (RCA 7”)
DETROIT EMERALDS: ‘Turn On Lady’ (Atlantic 7”) (BNDA debut 3/25/78)
ASHANTIS: ‘Disco Play’ (Calendar 7”)
SUGAR: ‘Manhattan Fever’ (Power Exchange 7”)
SIDE EFFECT: ‘Keep That Same Old Feeling’ (Fantasy 7”)
Bubbling Under the Top 90 (Imports):
CROWN HEIGHTS AFFAIR: ‘Galaxy Of Love’ (US De-Lite LP)
JACK ASHFORD: ‘Hotel Sheet’ (US Magic Disc LP)
SYLVESTER: ‘Dance (Disco Heat)’ (US Fantasy LP) (BNDA debut 7/8/78)
WAYNE HENDERSON: ‘Hot Stuff’ (US Polydor LP)
WINNERS: ‘Get On Up And Do It’ / ‘Hey You’ / ‘Get Ready For The Future’ (US UA/Roadshow LP)
BADAZZ: ‘Honk Honk Beep Beep’ (US A&M 12”)
CON FUNK SHUN: ‘When The Feeling’s Right’ / ‘Shake And Dance With Me’ (US Mercury LP)
PATRICK JUVET: ‘I Love America’ (US Casablanca LP) (BNDA debut 6/3/78)
FAZE-O: ‘Riding High’ (US She LP)
UNIVERSAL ROBOT BAND: ‘Freak With Me’ (US Red Greg 12”)
WHAM: ‘Superslick’ (US GRT 7”) (BNDA debut 5/13/78)
RENZO FRAIESE: ‘12 Engle Street’ (US AVI LP)
HUES CORPORATION: ‘Get Up Off Your Backside’ (US Warner Bros. LP)
SPECIAL DELIVERY: ‘Get Up And Express Yourself’ (US Shield LP)
FOXY: ‘Get Off’ / ‘You’ (US Dash LP) (BNDA debut 5/6/78)
LENNY WILLIAMS: ‘Spark Of Love’ (US ABC LP)
LONNIE LISTON SMITH: ‘Sunburst’ (US Columbia LP)
SOUTHROAD CONNECTION: ‘Sweet Ride’ (US Mahogany LP)
DAVID WILLIAMS INNER CIRCLE: ‘Come On Down Boogie People’ (US AVI LP)
EASTSIDE CONNECTION: ‘Frisco Disco’ (US Rampart 12”)
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