Disco News
Eddie Henderson ‘Prance On’ has exploded as anticipated, but many jocks are also playing the LP’s ‘Cyclops’ at 45 rpm – making it a hot jazz-funk leaper! . . . Sam J Johnson could finally be out here soon, while for imminent release are Gap Mangione on Funk A&Merica 12in, Wayne Henderson (7in) . . . planned for early October are Teddy Pendergrass ‘Only You’ 7:18 remix 12in (with ‘Close The Door’ as plug side for radio), Carol Douglas ‘Burnin’’ on chocolate vinyl Polydor 12in, Independent Movement (possible 12in), Pockets . . . Jonathan King and Music Machine are now on 12in . . . Capitol’s much ballyhooed “luminous” vinyl Kraftwerk 12in and LP, due soon, have been beaten by Virgin’s luminous Yellow Dog ‘Little Gods’ (VS 224)! . . . Frenchies’ new Palm Beach restaurant in Worcester Park has an official music business opening on Monday (18), but served punters from last Saturday. There’s a special prize for spotting the most spelling mistakes in the menu, and a money-back offer if you throw up when Travolta’s ‘Summer Nights’ suddenly slips in between Stanley Turrentine and Sam J Johnson on the otherwise excellent music tape (come back Dave Simmons!) . . . Rus “12in” Phillips opens a new disco department this Saturday (16) at East London’s ‘Ere For Music store in Manor Park, Broadway, stocking imports, oldies and UK releases with discounts to bona fide DJ’s (take proof). Times are Friday evening till 6pm and all day Saturday . . . North-East Essex DJ Assn holds a fund-raising DJ Party Dance on Wednesday (20) at Colchester Embassy Suite.
New Spins
ROY AYERS: ‘Can’t You See Me?’ (from LP ‘You Send Me’, Polydor 2391365)
Superb 6:07 jazzy bouncer with almost a conga rhythm and great scat ‘n vibes, huge in London, mixes perfectly out of Herbie Hancock’s slow bit (and then into Third World), while the more obvious repetitive fast 4:23 ‘Get On Up, Get On Down’ leaper will be on 12in soon.
ROSE ROYCE: ‘Strikes Again’ LP (Whitfield K 56527)
Generally laid-back “listening” LP with lotsa lovely slowies (worth using), so that only the 45’s ‘Do It Do It’ and a typically burbling ‘First Come First Serve’ 3:19 clapper are solidly uptempo.
IAN MATTHEWS: ‘Man In The Station’ (Rockburgh ROCS 206)
Excellent bouncily thudding 3:55 cool white disco jumper, worth checking cos it could be big.
LA BIONDA: ‘One For You One For Me’ (Mercury 6198227)
Original of the Continental smash cannily covered by Jonathan King, it’s got a catchy piano intro, happy leaping rhythm, and zingy strings, and is also due on 12in any day. Let the battle begin!
GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS: ‘It’s A Better Than Good Time’ (Buddah BDS 478)
British-made bumpy hustler with catchy staccato hook-line, on 3:40 7in or 6:30 12in (BDSL 478).
PATRICK GAMMON: ‘(Fly Me High) Dancing Shoes’ (Response SR 521)
Sparse jiggling electronic thudder builds into soulful vocal interplay, like Stevie Wonder backed by Giorgio.
LORD KITCHENER: ‘Sugar Bum Bum’ (Ice GUY 7-12)
Infectious 4:08 calypso 12in with instrumental flip, currently huge for certain London jocks with a black crowd element – but could be good MoR too.
BUNNY MALONEY: ‘Baby I’ve Been Missing You’ (Moodisc HM 8055)
Hard-to-get Jamaican import “pre”, big in Midlands, revives the Independents’ soul slowie as grooving relaxed reggae.
AURORA YORK: ‘Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue’ (from LP ‘Reggae Dance Party’, RCA PL 25162)
Very useful reggaefication stands out from the other 15 Various Artist tracks (for £2.85).
TRADITION: ‘Breezin’’ (RCA PB 5106)
Rascals’ ‘Groovin’’ rip-off makes a nice lazy reggae grinder.
O’JAYS: ‘Brandy’ (Phil Int’l PIR 6658)
Dead slow Commodores-type smoocher.
CHANTER SISTERS: ‘Can’t Stop Dancing’ (Safari SAFE 10)
Well-made but cold and totally unoriginal machine-like “formula” disco.
JEAN MATTHEWS: ‘Keep On Rolling’ (Calendar DAY 122)
Galloping thumper with booming bass and rattling rhythm, also on 12in (LDAY 122).
EMOTIONS: ‘Whole Lot Of Shakin’’ (from LP ‘Sunbeam’, CBS 82864)
Breathless staccato shrill 3:18 chugger in their ‘Best Of My Love’ style join the similar 3:15 ‘Smile’ single.
AMANDA LEAR: ‘Run Baby Run’ (Ariola ARO 132)
Repetitive husky-voiced Euro galloper on 3:40 red vinyl 12in or 2:58 7in.
SHERRY: ‘Let’s Go Wild’ (Magnet 12MAG 123)
Zingy pop Eurodisco pounder on 4:18 12in or 3:12 7in.
DEREK & RAY: ‘Interplay’ (RCA PB 9136)
1967 harpsichord instrumental (really!!) with what’s now a northern beat . . . and indeed it’s huge up north.
GERRI GRANGER: ‘I Go To Pieces’ / REPARATA & THE DELRONS: ‘Panic’ / JAMES & BOBBY PURIFY: ‘Shake A Tail Feather’ (Casino Classics CC 3)
Three northern specialties on a maxi.
HAPPY CATS: ‘These Boots Are Made For Walkin’’ / ‘Destroy That Boy’ (Grapevine GRR 110)
Good churning 1966 backing track, girlie group flip, for northern fans.
LEE ROYE: ‘Tears’ (MCA 378)
Northern specialty from ‘68.
JUDGE DREAD: ‘Dread Rock’ (Cactus CT 112)
Typically filthy fun about a 14in stick of rock!
STEPHEN STILLS: ‘Can’t Get No Booty’ (CBS 6662)
Stones-style chugger.
ERIC CARMEN: ‘Baby I Need Your Lovin’’ (Arista ARIST 207)
Four Tops oldie becomes a good pop swayer.
CON FUNK SHUN: ‘Shake And Dance With Me’ (from LP ‘Loveshine’, Mercury 9100055)
Out here for ages but nobody told me, the hottest of a pleasant listening set is a relaxed bump-tempo clapper, now US 45.
C.J. & CO.: ‘Deadeye Dick’ LP (Atlantic K 50491) (BNDA debut 6/3/78)
Village People-type fast 7:00 title track stormer seems made for Tricky Dicky’s gay crowd, but while all tracks are well done with lots of breaks they lack another ‘Devil’s Gun’.
THE JACKSONS: ‘Blame It On The Boogie’ / ‘Do What You Wanna’ (Epic EPC 6683) (BNDA debut 1/6/79)
Less infectious cover of Mick Jackson’s Atlantic original (true), but the flip’s their own happily clapping swinger.
UK Disco Top 90 – September 16, 1978
01 01 Crown Heights Affair – Galaxy Of Love – Mercury 12″
02 03 Sylvester – You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) / Dance (Disco Heat) – Fantasy 7″/12″
03 02 A Taste Of Honey – Boogie Oogie Oogie – Capitol 7″/12″/LP
04 04 Commodores – Three Times A Lady – Motown 7″/LP
05 05 Karen Young – Hot Shot – Atlantic 7″/12″/US West End 12″
06 08 Hi-Tension – British Hustle / Peace On Earth – Island 7″/12″
07 06 Herbie Hancock – I Thought It Was You – CBS 12″/LP
08 07 Hamilton Bohannon – Let’s Start The Dance – Mercury 12″/US LP
09 11 Cerrone – Supernature – Atlantic 7″/12″/LP
10 10 Charles Earland – Let The Music Play / Over And Over – Mercury 12″/US LP
11 09 Quincy Jones – Stuff Like That – A&M 7″/12″/LP
12 13 Brothers Johnson – Ain’t We Funkin’ Now / Mista Cool / Ride-O-Rocket / Streetwave – A&M 12″/LP
13 15 Stargard – What You Waitin’ For – MCA 7″/12″
14 14 Sweet Thunder – Everybody’s Singin’ Love Songs – US Fantasy/WMOT 12″
15 12 Rick James – You And I – Motown 7″/12″/LP
16 17 Boney M. – Rivers Of Babylon / Brown Girl In The Ring – Atlantic 7″/12″
17 18 Al Hudson – How Do You Do – ABC 7″/12″/US LP
18 20 Roy Ayers – Can’t You See Me / Get On Up, Get On Down – Polydor LP
19 19 Wilbert Longmire – Black Is The Color – US Tappan Zee LP
20 21 Musique – Keep On Jumpin’ / In The Bush – US Prelude LP
21 25 10cc – Dreadlock Holiday – Mercury 7″
22 16 Cissy Houston – Think It Over – Private Stock 7″/12″
23 50 Frankie Valli – Grease – RSO 7″
24 22 Curtis Mayfield – No Goodbyes – US Curtom LP
25 55 Third World – Now That We Found Love – Island 12″
26 27 John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John – You’re The One That I Want – RSO 7″
27 23 Atlantic Starr – Stand Up – A&M LP
28 28 Deodato – Whistle Bump – Warner Bros. 7″/12″/US 12″ promo
29 26 Barry Manilow – Copacabana (At The Copa) – Arista 7″/12″
30 88 Eddie Henderson – Prance On – Tower LP
31 41 Nigel Martinez – Better Things To Come – State 7″/12″
32 30 Lenny Williams – You Got Me Running / I Still Reach Out – ABC 12″/LP
33 37 Patrick Juvet – Got A Feeling – Casablanca 7″/12″
34 33 Gap Mangione – Mellow Out / Time Of The Season – A&M 7″/LP
35 24 Voyage – From East To West – GTO 7″/LP
36 46 Andy Gibb – An Everlasting Love – RSO 7″
37 32 Real Thing – Rainin’ Through My Sunshine – Pye 7″/12″
38 36 Foxy – Get Off – TK 7″
39 56 Phil Hurtt – Giving It Back – Fantasy LP/US 12″
40 35 Dennis Coffey – Gimme That Funk – US Westbound LP
41 38 Evelyn “Champagne” King – Shame – RCA 7″/12″
42 64 L.T.D. – Holding On / It’s Time To Be Real – A&M 12″/LP
43 29 Saturday Night Band – Come On Dance Dance – CBS 7″/12″/LP
44 39 Raydio – Is This A Love Thing – Arista 7″/12″/LP
45 74 Sugar Cane – Montego Bay – Ariola Hansa 7″/12″
46 59 Ashford & Simpson – It Seems To Hang On / Get Up And Do Something – US Warner Bros. 7″/12″
47 57 Boney M. – Rasputin / Painter Man – Atlantic LP
48 60 Tyrone David – Mind Blowing Decisions – D-Roy 7″/12″
49 31 Ronnie Jones – Me And Myself – Lollipop 7″/12″ promo
50 34 Norma Jean – Saturday – Bearsville 7″/US 12″
51 42 Teddy Pendergrass – Only You – Philadelphia Int’l LP
52 51 Cleveland Eaton – Bama Boogie Woogie – Gull 7″/12″
53 66 Bobby Caldwell – Down For The Third Time – US Clouds LP
54 62 Passport – Loco-Motive – Atlantic LP/US 12″ promo
55 40 War – Youngblood – US UA 7″/LP
56 63 Trammps – Disco Inferno – Atlantic 7″/12″/RSO LP
57 73 Samuel Jonathan Johnson – You – US Columbia 12″ remix
58 53 Ohio Players – Jass-Ay-Lay-Dee / Funk-O-Nots / Shoot Yer Shot – US Mercury LP
59 NE Rose Royce – Love Don’t Live Here Anymore – Whitfield 7″
60 54 Darts – It’s Raining – Magnet 7″
61 52 Platinum Hook – Standing On The Verge – Motown 7″/12″/LP
62 47 Linda Clifford – Runaway Love / If My Friends Could See Me Now – Curtom 12″/US 12″ remix
63 43 Don Ray – Got To Have Loving – Polydor 7″/LP
64 58 Grace Jones – Do Or Die – Island 12″
65 45 Slave – Stellar Fungk – Cotillion LP/US 12″ promo
66 61 Solar Flare – Boogie Fund – RCA 12″
67 68 Teri DeSario – Ain’t Nothing Gonna Keep Me From You – Casablanca 7″
68 85 Blair – Night Life – US Solar Sound LP
69 86 Switch – We Like To Party . . . Come On – US Gordy LP
70 90 Pockets – Take It On Up – US Columbia 7″/12″ promo
71 70 Gladys Knight & The Pips – Come Back And Finish What You Started – Buddah 7″
72 77 Gato Barbieri – Poinciana – A&M LP
73 NE Atlantic Starr – Gimme Your Lovin’ – A&M 12″
74 NE Joe Thomas – Plato’s Retreat – US TK 12″
75 72 Loleatta Holloway & Bunny Sigler – Only You – Salsoul 7″/US LP
76 67 O’Jays – Use Ta Be My Girl – Philadelphia Int’l 7″
77 RE Major Harris – Love Won’t Let Me Wait – Atlantic 7″
78 80 Larry Page Orchestra – Erotic Soul / You Do It Good – Rampage 12″
79 87 Players Association – Disco Inferno – Vanguard 7″/12″
80 NE Finished Touch – Need To Know You Better – US Motown LP
81 49 Samona Cooke – One Night Affair – Mercury 7″/12″ promo
82 76 Kandidate – Don’t Wanna Say Goodnight – Rak 7″/12″
83 RE Nina Simone – Baltimore – CTI LP
84 48 Carol Douglas – Night Fever – Gull 7″/12″
85 65 Earth, Wind & Fire – Magic Mind – CBS 7″
86 44 David Williams – Come On Down Boogie People – US AVI 12″/LP
87 NE Raydio – Honey I’m Rich – Arista 7″
88 79 David Essex – Oh What A Circus – Mercury 7″
89 NE Voyage – Point Zero – GTO 7″
90 81 Gilla – Bend Me Shape Me – Ariola Hansa 7″/12″
NE = new entry; RE = re-entry
Appeared in Billboard:
#2 (BNDA debut 7/8/78) / #3 (BNDA debut 5/27/78) / #5 (BNDA debut 6/17/78)
#8 (BNDA debut 7/22/78) / #9 (BNDA debut 11/26/77) / #15 (BNDA debut 5/13/78)
#20 (BNDA debut 7/29/78) / #22 (BNDA debut 7/22/78) / #24 (BNDA debut 9/9/78)
#27 (BNDA debut 10/7/78) / #28 (BNDA debut 5/27/78) / #29 (BNDA debut 4/15/78)
#32 (BNDA debut 7/29/78) / #33 (BNDA debut 6/3/78) / #35 (BNDA debut 2/11/78)
#38 (BNDA debut 5/6/78) / #41 (BNDA debut 10/1/77) / #43 (BNDA debut 4/15/78)
#50 (BNDA debut 6/17/78) / #55 (BNDA debut 10/7/78) / #56 (BNDA debut 1/15/77)
#62 (BNDA debut 3/25/78) / #63 (BNDA debut 4/22/78) / #64 (BNDA debut 6/17/78)
#66 (BNDA debut 9/9/78) / #74 (BNDA debut 8/12/78) / #78 (BNDA debut 7/16/77)
#84 (BNDA debut 3/11/78) / #89 (BNDA debut 2/11/78)
No Bubbling Under titles this week.
James Hamilton's Disco Page 