Disco News
Pye Records are now selling unlimited 12in pressings at £1.25 and are not just using the 12in format as a lever into the charts. New on 12in is Patrick Juvet, while next week sees Real Thing and El Coco with David Williams to follow soon . . . Gap Mangione’s LP is due now, but the 45 coupling goes back to Sept. 22 . . . Roy Ayers’s LP is out mid-month, Wayne Henderson’s ‘Hot Stuff’ will be on 45 only eventually . . . Nigel Martinez is now not on longer promo 12in, but even so is one of London’s hottest funky hits – try it if you haven’t, as it’s a great rhythmic pick-up segued out of anything! . . . WEA’s Fred Dove has some Detroit Spinners on US promo 12in, which should go well in the North West . . . Friday/Saturday/Sunday (1/2/3) Jim Kershaw and various Radio Hallam jocks demonstrate disco gear at the Sheffield Trades Fair in Hillsborough Park, open to the public and free on Sunday . . . London’s LODJ Assn meets 4pm on Sunday (3) in the Three Wheatsheaves pub, 52 Upper Street, Angel, N1, while over in Essex the Havering DJ Assn has been formed by some local mobiles and needs more (free) members. Contacts are: LODJ, Bill Forrester (01-348-3269), HDJA, Brian Mead (Romford 61129, day / Ingrebourne 49663, evening) . . . Pete Maxwell of Southsea’s new PM Entertainments disco agency is after good South Coast/Hampshire-based jocks for its books, so call 0705-751238 . . . finally, yes Michael Morgan (Chelmsford’s Confunktion Roadshow), Eumir Deodato is on UK 12in – but the hot US promo remix is a lot longer and better. It’s also worth a fortune as there are none left!
New Spins
BROTHERS JOHNSON: ‘Ain’t We Funkin’ Now’ / ‘Strawberry Letter 23’ / ‘Get The Funk Out Ma Face’ (A&M Funk America AMSP 7379)
Flagship of the new 3-track 12in series has their current funky monster, last year’s lovely lurching slowie and the full 6:10 disco version (not on any LP) of their first boogie, which is edited for the 7in – the only cut in this debut trio that is. In fact, the scaled-down 7in versions are packaged exactly like the limited 12in editions . . . beautifully.
L.T.D.: ‘Holding On’ / ‘Back In Love Again’ / ‘Love Ballad’ (A&M Funk America AMSP 7378) (‘Back In Love Again’ BNDA debut 10/22/77)
Current funky hit (which segues perfectly in the sequence Bros Johnson/Sweet Thunder/L.T.D. – try it!), plus last year’s even better enduring jumper and a tender slowie.
ATLANTIC STARR: ‘Stand Up’ (from LP ‘Atlantic Starr’, A&M AMLH 64711) (BNDA debut 10/7/78)
Dynamite 4:29 funky stamper, already a smash on import – but amazingly not among their Funk America tracks (AMSH 7380), of which brightly romping ‘Don’t Abuse My Love’ is best but heavy US funk tempo ‘Gimme Your Luvin’’ is lead.
THIRD WORLD: ‘Now That We Found Love’ (Island IPR 2017)
Impatiently awaited terrific reggae 12in of the Gamble & Huff song, given a fabulous hit-bound happy bubbling beat.
CLEVELAND EATON: ‘Bama Boogie Woogie’ / ‘The Funky Cello’ (Gull GULS 63-12)
Exciting fast 5:29 funky chanter with Sine-like synthetics, consistently huge on import for a good eighteen months (but still up-to-date sounding), finally out on blue vinyl 12in with its originally even hotter 4:19 flip.
PHIL HURTT: ‘Giving It Back’ LP (Fantasy FT 546)
Hitting now (after several weeks of this review not getting into print!), the Latin-tinged 4:54 Philly title track flier mixes well with Lenny Williams and is actually hotter as a remixed US 12in.
SINE: ‘Happy Is The Only Way’ / ‘Chimi’ (CBS 6583)
More wheezling synthetics, severely edited from the LP versions and of which the faster instrumental flip was always bigger.
JR WALKER WITH THELMA HOUSTON: ‘I Need You Right Now’ / ‘Walk In The Night’ (Motown TMG 1118)
Beautiful soul smoocher, plus his jazzy instrumental chugger from ’71.
EARL KLUGH: ‘Magic In Your Eyes’ (UA UP 36441)
Lovely delicate jazz guitar instrumental swayer, now on 45.
MILLIE JACKSON: ‘Sweet Music Man’ (Spring 2066973)
Kenny Rogers’s oldie given a sultry slow souling minus the LP version’s rap.
CHARLES JACKSON: ‘Ooh Child’ (from LP ‘Passionate Breezes’, Tower EST 11775)
Slinky slow soul chugger now on US 12in, plus a nice souling of Rod’s ‘Tonight’s The Night’ and an oddly dull ‘Get On Down’ – all a bit laid-back for general tastes.
CLIFF JOHNSON: ‘Go ‘Way Hound Dog’ (CBS 6495)
Hugely popular fast rockabilly bopper, plus three more on an EP.
JOE BENNETT & THE SPARKLETONES: ‘Black Slacks’ (ABC 4223)
Great 1957 bopper with “brrr” vocal noises, and the PONITAILS ‘Born Too Late’ classic slushy flip.
BILLY JO SPEARS: ‘’57 Chevrolet’ (UA UP 36434)
Jaunty yi-ha romper, could be big MoR.
NEW VAUDEVILLE BAND: ‘Thank You For The Music’ (Dansan SDS 005)
Good cover of ABBA’s pretty slowie.
IVOR BIGGUN: ‘The Winker’s Song (Misprint)’ (Beggars Banquet BOP 1)
Disgusting George Formby-ish singalong fun for ribald crowds, hitting already in some areas!
HYLDA BAKER & ARTHUR MULLARD: ‘You’re The One That I Want’ / ‘Save Your Kisses For Me’ (Pye 7N 46121)
Intentionally appalling send-ups.
HOWDENS HOTSHOTS: ‘Ice Cream’ (Ultra PF 201)
Trad jazz jollity, complete with “oola boola” lyrics.
GROOVERS STEEL ORCHESTRA: ‘Commonwealth Tempo’ (UA UP 36439)
Straight steel drums, useful MoR.
CREW CUTS: ‘Sh-Boom’ (Mercury 6168032)
Darts-type 1954 white cover of the black Chords original, which started that whole rock ‘n roll ballgame. Good for camp MoR fun.
CONNIE FRANCIS: ‘Where The Boys Are’ (UA UP 36430)
Clumsy disco update of her oldie, with possible pub appeal.
Mix Master
Sensational segues are Cerrone ‘Supernature’ (Atlantic 12in) mixing minus intro into Jeff Wayne ‘The Eve Of The War’ (CBS), then at climax starting Johnnie Taylor ‘Hey Mr. Melody Maker’ (CBS) so his cymbal schlurps power through the freaky Wayne outro. Variable speed decks get it spot on, and also adjust slightly the almost identical tempos of Nigel Martinez ‘Better Things To Come’ (State) and Calvin Davis ‘Train Ride To Nowhere’ (Bulldog) which lock together perfectly during the Martinez rhythm break! However, the exact same speed (and possible rhythm track!) make Saturday Night Band ‘Touch Me On My Hot Spot’ (CBS LP) and Musique ‘In The Bush’ – or is it ‘Keep On Jumpin’’ (you’d better check, sorry!)? – (US Prelude LP) superimpose so well that you’ll amaze yourself. I could go on.
UK Disco Top 90 – September 2, 1978
01 01 A Taste Of Honey – Boogie Oogie Oogie – Capitol 7″/12″/LP
02 03 Crown Heights Affair – Galaxy Of Love – Mercury 12″
03 04 Commodores – Three Times A Lady – Motown 7″/LP
04 02 Quincy Jones – Stuff Like That – A&M 7″/12″/LP
05 05 Karen Young – Hot Shot – Atlantic 7″/12″/US West End 12″
06 08 Sylvester – You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) / Dance (Disco Heat) – Fantasy 7″/12″
07 07 Herbie Hancock – I Thought It Was You – CBS 12″/LP
08 06 Rick James – You And I – Motown 7″/12″/LP
09 10 Hamilton Bohannon – Let’s Start The Dance – Mercury 12″/US LP
10 11 Charles Earland – Let The Music Play / Over And Over – Mercury 12″/US LP
11 12 Hi-Tension – British Hustle – Island 7″/12″
12 22 Cerrone – Supernature – Atlantic 7″/12″/LP
13 14 Brothers Johnson – Ain’t We Funkin’ Now / Mista Cool / Ride-O-Rocket / Streetwave – A&M 12″/LP
14 16 Sweet Thunder – Everybody’s Singin’ Love Songs – US Fantasy/WMOT 12″
15 09 Saturday Night Band – Come On Dance Dance – CBS 7″/12″/LP
16 13 John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John – You’re The One That I Want – RSO 7″
17 19 Barry Manilow – Copacabana (At The Copa) – Arista 7″/12″
18 26 Boney M. – Rivers Of Babylon / Brown Girl In The Ring – Atlantic 7″/12″
19 24 Wilbert Longmire – Black Is The Color / Lovely Day / Good Morning – US Tappan Zee LP
20 17 Voyage – Voyage (all cuts) – GTO LP
21 18 Evelyn “Champagne” King – Shame – RCA 7″/12″
22 15 Raydio – Is This A Love Thing – Arista 7″/12″/LP
23 25 Cissy Houston – Think It Over – Private Stock 7″/12″
24 23 Deodato – Whistle Bump – Warner Bros. 7″/12″
25 20 Samona Cooke – One Night Affair – Mercury 7″/12″ promo
26 27 Ronnie Jones – Me And Myself – Lollipop 7″/12″ promo
27 28 Norma Jean – Saturday – Bearsville 7″/US 12″
28 21 Carol Douglas – Night Fever – Gull 7″/12″
29 43 Al Hudson – How Do You Do / Spread Love – ABC 7″/12″/US LP
30 31 Roy Ayers – Can’t You See Me / Get On Up, Get On Down – US Polydor LP
31 39 Atlantic Starr – Stand Up / Where There’s Smoke There’s Fire – US A&M LP
32 70 Stargard – What You Waitin’ For – MCA 7″/12″
33 29 War – Youngblood – US UA 7″/LP
34 30 Teddy Pendergrass – Only You / Close The Door / Life Is A Song Worth Singing – Philadelphia Int’l LP
35 33 Lenny Williams – You Got Me Running / Midnight Girl / I Still Reach Out – ABC LP
36 40 Real Thing – Rainin’ Through My Sunshine – Pye 7″/12″ promo
37 45 Curtis Mayfield – No Goodbyes / Do It All Night / You Are You Are – US Curtom LP
38 47 Dennis Coffey – Gimme That Funk – US Westbound LP
39 35 Bee Gees – Night Fever – RSO 7″/LP/12″ promo
40 41 Earth, Wind & Fire – Magic Mind – CBS 7″
41 44 Nigel Martinez – Better Things To Come – State 7″/12″/LP
42 38 Gap Mangione – Mellow Out / Time Of The Season / Sister Jo – A&M 7″/LP
43 79 Slave – Stellar Fungk – Cotillion LP/US 12″ promo
44 62 David Williams – Come On Down Boogie People – US AVI 12″/LP
45 49 Musique – Keep On Jumpin’ / In The Bush – US Prelude LP
46 46 Don Ray – Got To Have Loving – Polydor 7″/LP
47 37 Foxy – Get Off – TK 7″
48 48 Boney M. – Rasputin / Night Flight To Venus / Painter Man / King Of The Road – Atlantic LP
49 63 Patrick Juvet – Got A Feeling – Casablanca 7″/LP
50 84 Andy Gibb – An Everlasting Love – RSO 7″
51 58 Len Boone – Love Won’t Be Denied – Chrysalis 12″/US 12″
52 65 10cc – Dreadlock Holiday – Mercury 7″
53 52 Michael Zager Band – Music Fever / Soul To Soul – Private Stock 7″/12″
54 66 Gladys Knight & The Pips – Come Back And Finish What You Started – Buddah 7″
55 32 O’Jays – Use Ta Be My Girl – Philadelphia Int’l 7″
56 36 Trammps – Disco Inferno – Atlantic 7″/12″/RSO LP
57 59 Ohio Players – Jass-Ay-Lay-Dee / Funk-O-Nots – US Mercury LP
58 NE Phil Hurtt – Giving It Back – Fantasy LP/US 12″
59 50 L.T.D. – Holding On / It’s Time To Be Real – A&M 12″/LP
60 57 Tyrone David – Mind Blowing Decisions – D-Roy 7″/12″
61 51 Solar Flare – Boogie Fund – US RCA 12″
62 61 Gato Barbieri – Poinciana – A&M LP
63 69 Darts – It’s Raining – Magnet 7″
64 89 Teri DeSario – Ain’t Nothing Gonna Keep Me From You – Casablanca 7″
65 42 KC & The Sunshine Band – It’s The Same Old Song – TK 7″/12″
66 76 Platinum Hook – Standing On The Verge – Motown 7″/12″/LP
67 55 Cleveland Eaton – Bama Boogie Woogie – Gull 12″
68 74 Grace Jones – Do Or Die – Island 12″
69 56 Winners – Get On Up And Do It / Get Ready For The Future – US UA/Roadshow LP
70 NE Switch – We Like To Party . . . Come On – US Gordy LP
71 NE Bobby Caldwell – Down For The Third Time – US Clouds LP
72 53 Linda Clifford – Runaway Love / Gypsy Lady / If My Friends Could See Me Now – Curtom 7″/12″/LP
73 34 Hi-Tension – Hi-Tension – Island 7″/12″
74 54 Diana Ross – Lovin’, Livin’ And Givin’ – Motown 7″/Casablanca LP
75 64 Gilla – Bend Me Shape Me – Ariola Hansa 7″/12″
76 86 Kandidate – Don’t Wanna Say Goodnight – Rak 7″/12″
77 81 Crusaders – Cosmic Reign / Snowflake / Fairy Tales – ABC LP
78 80 MFSB – Use Ta Be My Guy – US Philadelphia Int’l 7″
79 NE Passport – Loco-Motive – Atlantic LP/US 12″ promo
80 NE Motors – Forget About You – Virgin 12″
81 75 Idris Muhammad – Boogie To The Top – Kudu 7″/LP/12″ promo
82 87 Phil Upchurch – Strawberry Letter 23 / Free – TK LP
83 68 Norman Connors – Captain Connors – Buddah 7″/LP
84 NE Sugar Cane – Montego Bay – Ariola Hansa 7″/12″
85 NE Loleatta Holloway & Bunny Sigler – Only You – Salsoul 7″
86 67 Fatback – I’m Fired Up / I Like Girls – Spring 7″/LP
87 NE Gary Bartz – Shake Your Body / Giant Steps – Capitol/Tower LP
88 82 Earth, Wind & Fire – Got To Get You Into My Life – A&M LP/US Columbia 7″
89 NE Frankie Valli – Grease – RSO 7″
90 NE Ashford & Simpson – It Seems To Hang On – US Warner Bros. 7″
NE = new entry; RE = re-entry
Appeared in Billboard:
#1 (BNDA debut 5/27/78) / #5 (BNDA debut 6/17/78) / #6 (BNDA debut 7/8/78)
#8 (BNDA debut 5/13/78) / #9 (BNDA debut 7/22/78) / #12 (BNDA debut 11/26/77)
#15 (BNDA debut 4/15/78) / #17 (BNDA debut 4/15/78) / #20 (BNDA debut 2/11/78)
#21 (BNDA debut 10/1/77) / #23 (BNDA debut 7/22/78) / #24 (BNDA debut 5/27/78)
#27 (BNDA debut 6/17/78) / #28 (BNDA debut 3/11/78) / #31 (BNDA debut 10/7/78)
#33 (BNDA debut 10/7/78) / #35 (BNDA debut 7/29/78) / #37 (BNDA debut 9/9/78)
#39 (BNDA debut 1/7/78) / #45 (BNDA debut 7/29/78) / #46 (BNDA debut 4/22/78)
#47 (BNDA debut 5/6/78) / #49 (BNDA debut 6/3/78) / #51 (BNDA debut 8/12/78)
#56 (BNDA debut 1/15/77) / #61 (BNDA debut 9/9/78) / #68 (BNDA debut 6/17/78)
#72 (BNDA debut 3/25/78) / #74 (BNDA debut 12/23/78) / #81 (BNDA debut 5/6/78)
Bubbling Under the Top 90 (Domestic):
DAVID BYRON: ‘African Breeze’ (Arista 12” promo)
PLAYERS ASSOCIATION: ‘Disco Inferno’ (Vanguard 12”)
MANHATTAN TRANSFER: ‘Where Did Our Love Go’ (Atlantic 7”)
VILLAGE PEOPLE: ‘Just A Gigolo’ / ‘Key West’ (DJM 7”) (BNDA debut 3/18/78)
EMOTIONS: ‘Smile’ (CBS 7”)
DELEGATION: ‘Oh Honey’ (State 7”)
NINA SIMONE: ‘Baltimore’ (CTI LP)
EXILE: ‘Kiss You All Over’ (Rak 7”)
MARC JORDAN: ‘Survival’ (Warner Bros. 7”)
AMII STEWART: ‘You Really Touched My Heart’ (Atlantic 7”)
DEE D. JACKSON: ‘Meteor Man’ (Mercury 7”)
CONTROLLERS: ‘Somebody’s Gotta Win, Somebody’s Gotta Lose’ (TK 7”)
Bubbling Under the Top 90 (Imports):
POCKETS: ‘Take It On Up’ (US Columbia 7”)
BENNY GOLSON: ‘Georgia On My Mind’ / ‘I’m Always Dancin’ To The Music’ (US Columbia LP)
CONSTELLATION ORCHESTRA: ‘Perfect Love Affair’ / ‘Cosmic Melody’ / ‘Funk Encounters’ (US Prelude LP) (BNDA debut 7/1/78)
INDEPENDENT MOVEMENT: ‘Slippin’ Away’ (US Polydor LP)
CHARLES JACKSON: ‘Ooh Child’ / ‘Get On Down’ / ‘Tonight’s The Night’ (US Capitol/Tower LP)
BLAIR: ‘Night Life’ (US Solar Sound LP)
LA BIONDA: ‘Sandstorm’ / ‘One For You, One For Me’ (French Polydor LP)
SAMUEL JONATHAN JOHNSON: ‘You’ (US Columbia 12”)
PRINCE: ‘Soft And Wet’ (US Warner Bros. 7”)
KEBEKELEKTRIK: ‘War Dance’ (US Salsoul 12”) (BNDA debut 6/24/78)
SYMBOL 8: ‘I Thought You Wanted To Dance’ (US Shock 7”)
WAYNE HENDERSON: ‘Hot Stuff’ (US Polydor LP)
HEATWAVE: ‘The Groove Line’ (remix) (US Epic 12”)
PEOPLE’S CHOICE: ‘Turn Me Loose’ (US Philadelphia Int’l LP)
JOE THOMAS: ‘Plato’s Retreat’ (US TK 12”) (BNDA debut 8/12/78)
MARSHA HUNT: ‘The Other Side Of Midnight’ (Canadian Attic 12”) (BNDA debut 1/14/78)
JEAN CARN: ‘You Can’t Come Back Now’ (US Philadelphia Int’l LP)
FUNKADELIC: ‘One Nation Under A Groove’ (US Warner Bros. 7”) (BNDA debut 11/11/78)
EL COCO: ‘Dancing In Paradise’ (US AVI 12”) (BNDA debut 7/15/78)
EDDIE DANIELS: ‘Preparation F’ (US Marlin LP)
SYLVERS: ‘Don’t Stop Get Off’ (US Casablanca LP)
T-LIFE: ‘Games’ / ‘Tell Me’ (US RCA LP)
THE BROTHERHOOD: ‘Soul Power’ (US MCA LP)
CARRIE LUCAS: ‘Street Corner Symphony’ (US Solar 12”)
FINISHED TOUCH: ‘New Horizons’ (US Motown LP)
JOHN DAVIS & THE MOSTER ORCHESTRA: ‘Disco Fever’ (US SAM LP)
GLASS FAMILY: ‘Mr. DJ You Know How To Make Me Dance’ (US JDC LP) (BNDA debut 8/19/78)
LUV YOU MADLY ORCHESTRA: ‘Rocket Rock’ (US Salsoul LP)
ZAFRA: ‘Now That I’ve Found You’ (US H&L LP)
ROSE ROYCE: ‘First Come First Served’ (US Whitfield LP)
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