Disco News
Real Thing ‘Can You Feel The Force’, already big for funk jocks as an LP track, will be out late January on lengthened 7:40 12in remix with dynamite space effects intro and added applause atmosphere . . . WEA are using their LV prefix for an unlimited (within reason) pressing run of long version 12in issues selling at £1.49, but goofed with the 3000-only Funkadelic 12in which turned out to he just pts 1 & 2 of the 7in blown up . . . Chaka Khan and Luisa Fernandez are rumoured to be on remixed 12in though, while out next month will be Willie Hutch ‘Easy Does It’ / ‘Come On And Dance With Me’ and – on Lightning 12in – Dennis Brown ‘Money In My Pocket’! . . . Afro Cuban Band ‘Black Widow Woman’ is due on Arista 12in in February . . . Herbie Mann is rushing out a disco version of the ‘Superman’ soundtrack music for Atlantic . . . Strathclyde DJ Assn acting secretary is now Neil Mullin, 29 Birgidale Road, Glasgow G45 (041-634 2082), while all enquiries about the DJ Federation should now go to the DJF (GB), 255 Hyde End Road, Spencers Wood, Berkshire (0734-882794) . . . Hastings Emma’s welcomes artist PA’s/promotion nights, so interested pluggers contact Johnny Mason on Hastings (0424) 420339, or Paul Casson at 01-637 9401 . . . Kevin Gover of Bath’s Roadhog mobile infos that the local Bath Boots is surprisingly good for picking up cheap 12in hits . . . Steve Boley (Weston-Super-Mare Blades) is delighted that his outstanding jingles LP ordered from East Anglian Productions last October has finally arrived, only fourteen months late! . . . Dennis Brynner (Southampton Centre Discotheque in Western Esplanade) is a satisfied chart contributor – he writes: “thanks for two mentions in three weeks: it’s packed at the Centre on a Friday now, and I’m on two more mailing lists this week making thirteen altogether. Power to the press!” . . . you know it makes sense, so let me know what’s happening for you!
New Spins
DAN HARTMAN: ‘Countdown / This Is It’ (from LP ‘Instant Replay’, Blue Sky SKY 83265)
Apart from the title track only being 5:18 and still not the full 12in version, this dynamite 14:12 medley is indeed an instant replay: restructured section for section, the exciting stormer is just like the hit but has even more in it, including a great rhythm break before the ‘This Is It’ bit lifts it even higher.
EARTH, WIND & FIRE: ‘September’ (CBS 6922)
Terrific slow-starting freak-tempo strutter (try mixing minus the intro out of Funkadelic), already a smash.
PEACHES & HERB: ‘Shake Your Groove Thing’ (Polydor 2066992) (BNDA debut 10/28/78)
Deceptively winsome slow intro to a dynamite stamping fast strutter, which has a remixed rhythm intro on US promo 12in.
IAN DURY: ‘Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick’ (Stiff BUY 38) (BNDA debut 10/20/79)
Powerfully textured sultry chugger aims consciously at disco dancers, rather like Rod Stewart. Check the abrupt outro before playing!
WILTON FELDER: ‘Let’s Dance Together’ (from LP ‘We All Have A Star’, ABC ABCL 5265)
Great subtle 5:57 jazz-funk groover, already shaping up as the next Herbie Hancock, may not sound so special at first but becomes truly hypnotic on the disco floor.
ROY AYERS & WAYNE HENDERSON: ‘Heat Of The Beat’ (from LP ‘Step In To Our Life’, Polydor POLS 1004)
Bound to be big around London, the dynamic duo’s fast 7:06 funk-jazz jumper has a lick that don’t quit, with whoop-whoops, squeaky chanting and an amazing shrill strings sound.
WILBERT LONGMIRE: ‘Black Is The Colour’ (from LP ‘Sunny Side Up’, Tappan Zee/CBS 82845)
An import monster for months, the great 8:14 jazz-funk instrumental backbeater is finally out here. There’s a lovely guitar reading of Bill Withers’s ‘Lovely Day’, too.
DONALD BYRD: ‘Thank You For Funking Up My Life’ LP (Electra K 52097)
Laid-back 3:50 funk-jazz thumper with a lovely lightly bouncing trumpet build-up, currently on US 12in too, while the 4:20 ‘Have You Heard The News’ flows smoothly after a P-funk intro and is equally big – it also mixes beautifully between Funkadelic ‘One Nation’ and Aquarian Dream ‘You’re A Star’.
IDRIS MUHAMMAD: ‘Disco Man’ (from LP ‘You Ain’t No Friend Of Mine!’, Fantasy FT 552)
Catchy chorus-sung 5:54 funk-jazz hustler, in the Roy Ayers/Stanley Turrentine bag, with a rattling percussion break and positive drive. The jazzier 7:26 ‘The Doc’ is good too.
WAR: ‘Youngblood’ (MCA 12MCA 399) (BNDA debut 10/7/78)
Worth the wait, their typical subdued conga bumper is on remixed 9:01 12in that’s longer than the LP!
HI-TENSION: ‘Searchin’’ (from LP ‘Hi-Tension’, Island ILPS 9584)
4:15 of their usual rhythm patterns while the full 6:35 ‘British Hustle’ and 5:10 ‘Hi-Tension’ are also on it.
OLYMPIC RUNNERS: ‘Puttin’ It On Ya’ LP (Polydor POLD 5015)
In the year’s most succulent sleeve, ‘Sir Dancelot’ is a harmony-filled slick 6:08 jogger due on 12in soon, ‘Wooden Head’ is War-like, while the 5:06 ‘When You’re Dancing’ chanter is the grittiest funker with a good rhythm break and jumpy beat – however, the gorgeous dead slow ‘God Bless You’ smoocher is the set’s real killer!
AL HUDSON & THE SOUL PARTNERS: ‘Spread Love’ (ABC ABCT 4238)
Great long buoyantly bouncy instrumental intro to the completely remixed 6:37 12in soul romper, which has a Van McCoy-type catchy booming drum pattern.
JUDGE DREAD: ‘Jingle Bells’ / ‘The Hokey Cokey’ (EMI 2881)
As raucously crude as you’d expect, both get a reggae-based beery knees-up treatment good for dead common parties!
CHRIS HILL: ‘Disco Santa’ (Ensign ENY 19)
Renta Santa’s back, running a Revolta dancing contest with various recent hit snippets saying the answers to his interviewing questions. Not a dancer in itself, but fun for some, and the sound effect flip could be useful.
AMII STEWART: ‘Knock On Wood’ (Atlantic K 11214) (BNDA debut 2/3/79)
Quite stupendously awful fast electronic revival of Eddie Floyd’s classic throws in everything including the kitchen sink, and is on 5:30 12in or mercifully shorter 7in. Three Degrees fans may dig it though . . . it’s hitting already!
GOODY GOODY: ‘No. 1 Dee Jay’ (Atlantic LV 3) (BNDA debut 9/9/78)
Creamily churning clopper sung by Vince Montana’s daughter (and a great mix minus intro out of his ‘I Love Music’), finally hitting on 7:26 UK 12in.
JOE FARRELL: ‘Night Dancing’ (Warner Bros. LV 2)
Throbbing synthesizer intro to a searing sax-led jazz-funk instrumental flier, now out in its prized US promo 6:52 remix form on UK 12in.
CURTIS MAYFIELD: ‘No Goodbyes’ (Curtom LV 1) (BNDA debut 9/9/78)
Great fast galloper picks up the rhythm well out of Sylvester ‘Mighty Real’, for instance, and is finally on 7:43 UK 12in.
LENNY WILLIAMS: ‘Midnight Girl’ / ‘Cause I Love You’ (ABC 4239)
Slow starting loper builds up the intensity and rhythm as Lenny hits his wailing stride – which is at its superb best on the dead slow deep soul smoocher flip.
NEIL LARSEN: ‘Sudden Samba’ (from LP ‘Jungle Fever’, A&M/Horizon AMLJ 733)
Brazilian-style exotic whistle blowing intro to a loverly lazily jiggling 4:37 jazz-funk organ instrumental, plus a deceptively smooth version of ‘Last Tango In Paris’.
RONNIE JONES: ‘Me & Myself’ / ‘Groovin’’ (Lollipop LOLLY 412)
Finally on commercial 12in, it’s the much-sought long intro 5:45 remix version of his groaning fast synthesizer pounder, actually flip of the blandly hustling 5:05 cymbal schlurper that owes so much to the Rascals.
BEAUTIFUL BEND: ‘Boogie Motion’ / ‘Make That Feeling Come Again’ (TK TKR 7512) (BNDA debut 8/19/78)
Simple pounding hustler with catchily cooing chix, edited to 3:36, while the faster flipside thunderer’s instrumental part (especially on the US 12in/LP) mixes well with Mankind ‘Dr Who’.
VOYAGE: ‘Fly Away’ LP (GTO GTLP 035) (BNDA debut 12/2/78)
Continuing their trip around the world, both sides segue through various musical locations without a letup in the beat, though the ‘Tahiti Tahiti’ side one climax is almost hilarious, with corny Hawaiian guitars!
BARRY WHITE: ‘Just The Way You Are’ / ‘Your Sweetness Is My Weakness’ (20th Century BTCL 2380) (BNDA debut 10/14/78)
Typical smoochy reading of Billy Joel’s slowie, but the 7:56 white vinyl 12in flip is the latest variation on his old snicketty cymbal disco sound.
THIRD WORLD: ‘Cool Meditation’ (Island 12WIP 6469)
Much less infectious pop-wise, the jittery cool wailing reggae swayer is at least on 20,000-edition 5:00 12in, with a complex rhythm last part.
BRIDES OF FUNKENSTEIN: ‘Disco To Go’ (from LP ‘Funk Or Walk’, Atlantic K 50545)
US-style slow heavy funk bumper from the Parliafunkadelicment fold, currently causing a stir wherever slow funk works but as a 5:06 US 12in.
RAES: ‘A Little Lovin’ (Keeps The Doctor Away)’ (A&M AMS 7399) (BNDA debut 11/4/78)
Pop-slanted zingy disco hustler, big in gay US venues (as a US 12in).
SAM WILLIAMS: ‘Love Slipped Through My Fingers’ / TOWANDA BARNES: ‘You Don’t Mean It’ (Grapevine GRP 116)
Typically muzzy mid-60s northern churner and a terrific fly-away fast flip, both loaded with real soul.
PARLIAMENT: ‘Aqua Boogie’ (Casablanca CAN 136)
P-funk intro to a jiggly slow freak stamper, a bit like a lethargic ‘One Nation’ (pity it’s too slow to mix).
MASTERPLAN: ‘Love Crazy’ (Satril SAT 136)
Bee Gees-ish (though not vocally) bland shuffler from the ‘Carry On Emmanuelle’ flick.
Mix Master
David Emery, resident at Newcastle-upon-Tyne Scamps, has a nice tricky mix: Macho ‘I’m A Man’ (EMI 12in), mixing the percussion break 2/3 way through into Voyage ‘Souvenirs’ (GTO 7in) until the latter breaks into full instrumentation, then segue ‘Souvenirs’ into vocal start of THP Orchestra ‘Music Is All You Need’ (US Butterfly LP), mixing into Three Degrees ‘Giving Up, Giving In’ (Ariola LP), letting the Three Degrees LP’s transition into ‘Falling In Love Again’ fade gently under Lorraine Johnson ‘Feel The Flame’ (US Prelude LP). Hmm, how long before Rudi Gilpin tries that at Gullivers!
UK Disco Top 90 – December 16, 1978
01 02 Chic – Le Freak – Atlantic 7″/12″
02 01 Dan Hartman – Instant Replay – Blue Sky 7″/US 12″/LP
03 03 Village People – YMCA – Mercury 7″/12″/US Casablanca 12″ remix
04 05 Musique – In The Bush – CBS 7″/12″/LP
05 04 Sylvester – Dance (Disco Heat) – Fantasy 7″/LP/US 12″
06 07 Rahni Harris – Six Million Steps – Mercury 12″
07 08 Rod Stewart – Da Ya Think I’m Sexy – Riva 7″/12″ promo
08 10 Chaka Khan – I’m Every Woman – Warner Bros. 7″/12″
09 16 Shalamar – Take That To The Bank – RCA 7″/12″
10 14 Funkadelic – One Nation Under A Groove – Warner Bros. 7″/12″/LP
11 06 Patrick Juvet – I Love America – Casablanca 7″/12″/LP
12 09 Alicia Bridges – I Love The Nightlife – Polydor 7″/12″
13 13 Phil Hurtt – Giving It Back – Fantasy 12″
14 11 Sylvester – You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) – Fantasy 7″/12″/LP
15 12 Donna Summer – MacArthur Park – Casablanca 7″/LP/12″ promo
16 22 Gene Chandler – Get Down – US Chi-Sound 12″/LP
17 15 The Jacksons – Blame It On The Boogie – Epic 7″/12″
18 24 Sarah Brightman & Hot Gossip – Starship Trooper – Ariola Hansa 7″/12″
19 23 Ashford & Simpson – It Seems To Hang On – Warner Bros. 7″/12″
20 50 Earth, Wind & Fire – September – CBS 7″
21 25 Heatwave – Mind Blowing Decisions / Always And Forever – GTO 12″
22 18 Manu Dibango – Sun Explosion / Big Blow – Decca 12″
23 31 Edwin Starr – Contact – US 20th Century 12″/LP
24 34 Two Man Sound – Que Tal America – Miracle 12″
25 28 Chanter Sisters – Can’t Stop Dancing – Safari 7″/German 12″
26 19 Eddie Henderson – Prance On / Cyclops / Butterfly / Say You Will – Capitol/Tower 12″/LP
27 49 Boney M. – Mary’s Boy Child / Dancing In The Streets – Atlantic 7″
28 20 Crown Heights Affair – Say A Prayer For Two / I’m Gonna Love You Forever – Mercury 7″/12″/LP
29 35 Goody Goody – #1 Dee Jay – Atlantic 12″
30 29 Aquarian Dream – You’re A Star / It Ain’t Whatcha Say / Fantasy – Elektra LP
31 33 Mankind – Dr. Who – Pinnacle 12″
32 21 Three Degrees – Giving Up, Giving In – Ariola 7″/12″
33 38 Wilton Felder – Let’s Dance Together – ABC LP/US 12″ promo
34 30 Luisa Fernandez – Lay Love On You – Warner Bros. 7″
35 32 Commodores – Just To Be Close To You – Motown 7″/LP
36 17 Boney M. – Rasputin – Atlantic 7″/12″/LP
37 47 Bee Gees – Too Much Heaven – RSO 7″
38 36 Tasha Thomas – Shoot Me With Your Love – US Atlantic 12″
39 41 Lakeside – It’s All The Way Live – US Solar 12″
40 43 Voyage – Souvenirs – GTO 7″/12″
41 57 Macho – I’m A Man – EMI 12″
42 39 Richard Ace – Stayin’ Alive / If I Can’t Have You – Blue Inc. 7″/12″
43 37 Brothers Johnson – Ride-O-Rocket – A&M 7″/12″
44 40 Stanley Turrentine – Disco Dancin’ / Feel The Fire – Fantasy 12″/US LP
45 60 Gaz – Sing Sing / Boogie Woman – US Salsoul LP
46 53 Donald Byrd – Thank You For Funking Up My Life / Have You Heard The News – Elektra LP/US 7″
47 48 Brecker Brothers – East River – Arista 7″
48 27 Third World – Now That We Found Love – Island 7″/12″
49 52 Leon Haywood – Party – MCA 7″/12″
50 59 Keith Barrow – Physical Attraction / Turn Me Up / Joyful Music – US Columbia LP
51 42 Teddy Pendergrass – Only You / Close The Door – Philadelphia Int’l 12″
52 26 Roy Ayers – Get On Up, Get On Down – Polydor 7″/12″/LP
53 NE Instant Funk – I Got My Mind Made Up – US Salsoul 12″ promo
54 63 Shampoo – Harlem Hustle – Ensign 7″/12″
55 65 Curtis Mayfield – No Goodbyes – Curtom 12″
56 90 Willie Bobo – Always There – US Columbia LP
57 75 Gregg Diamond – Star Cruiser / Fancy Dancer / This Side Of Midnight – TK 7″/US Marlin LP
58 62 Diana Ross & Michael Jackson – Ease On Down The Road – MCA 7″/12″ promo remix
59 64 Timmy Thomas – Freak In Freak Out – TK 7″/US 12″
60 51 Atlantic Starr – Stand Up – A&M 12″
61 NE Roy Ayers & Wayne Henderson – Heat Of The Beat – Polydor LP
62 54 Joe Farrell – Night Dancing – Warner Bros. 12″
63 67 Rodney Franklin – I Like The Music Make It Hot – US Columbia LP
64 44 Carol Douglas – Burnin’ – Midsong 12″
65 71 Dan Hartman – Countdown / This Is It – Blue Sky LP/US 12″
66 56 Joe Thomas – Plato’s Retreat – TK 7″/US 12″
67 NE Real Thing – Can You Feel The Force – Pye LP
68 69 Sea Level – Fifty Four – US Capricorn LP
69 77 Amii Stewart – Knock On Wood – Atlantic 7″/12″
70 86 Dennis Brown – Money In My Pocket – Gibbs 12″ promo
71 NE Montana – I Love Music / You Know How Good It Is – US Atlantic LP
72 58 Damon Harris – It’s Music – US Fantasy/WMOT 12″
73 84 Carolyn Crawford – Coming On Strong – US Mercury LP
74 RE Foxy – Get Off – TK 12″
75 70 Howard Kenney – Save Some For The Children – US Warner Bros. LP
76 89 Wilbert Longmire – Black Is The Color – CBS LP
77 88 Chanson – Don’t Hold Back – Ariola 12″
78 76 Evelyn “Champagne” King – Shame – RCA 7″/12″
79 NE Peaches & Herb – Shake Your Groove Thing – Polydor 7″/12″ promo
80 NE Quazar – Funk ‘N Roll – Arista LP
81 55 Fatback – I’m Fired Up – Spring 7″
82 NE Hi-Tension – Autumn Love / Unspoken – Island 7″
83 68 Love Symphony Orchestra – Let Me Be Your Fantasy – US Penthouse LP
84 80 Neil Larsen – Sudden Samba / Last Tango In Paris – US Horizon LP
85 83 Erotic Drum Band – Love Disco Style / Plug Me To Death – US Prism LP/12″ remix
86 74 Ronnie Foster – Happy Song – US Columbia LP
87 61 Melba Moore – You Stepped Into My Life – Epic 7″/US 12″
88 NE Bionic Boogie – Hot Butterfly (all cuts) – US Polydor LP
89 73 Finished Touch – I Love To See You Dance / Need To Know You Better – Motown 7″/LP/US 12″ promo remix
90 NE David Fathead Newman – Keep The Dream Alive – US Prestige LP
NE = new entry; RE = re-entry
Appeared in Billboard:
#1 (BNDA debut 10/21/78) / #2 (BNDA debut 8/19/78) / #3 (BNDA debut 10/21/78)
#4 (BNDA debut 7/29/78) / #5 (BNDA debut 7/8/78) / #7 (BNDA debut 1/20/79)
#8 (BNDA debut 12/2/78) / #10 (BNDA debut 11/11/78) / #11 (BNDA debut 6/3/78)
#12 (BNDA debut 9/16/78) / #14 (BNDA debut 7/8/78) / #15 (BNDA debut 9/23/78)
#16 (BNDA debut 11/18/78) / #17 (BNDA debut 1/6/79) / #23 (BNDA debut 11/18/78)
#24 (BNDA debut 9/22/79) / #29 (BNDA debut 9/9/78) / #32 (BNDA debut 11/4/78)
#38 (BNDA debut 11/4/78) / #40 (BNDA debut 12/2/78) / #41 (BNDA debut 9/16/78)
#53 (BNDA debut 1/27/79) / #55 (BNDA debut 9/9/78) / #57 (BNDA debut 9/2/78)
#60 (BNDA debut 10/7/78) / #64 (BNDA debut 9/9/78) / #66 (BNDA debut 8/12/78)
#69 (BNDA debut 2/3/79) / #74 (BNDA debut 5/6/78) / #77 (BNDA debut 10/14/78)
#78 (BNDA debut 10/1/77) / #79 (BNDA debut 10/28/78) / #85 (BNDA debut 10/14/78)
#87 (BNDA debut 10/28/78) / #88 (BNDA debut 11/11/78)
Bubbling Under the Top 90 (Domestic):
ZULEMA: ‘Change’ (London 7”) (BNDA debut 1/6/79)
JERRY BUTLER: ‘Cooling Out’ (Philadelphia Int’l 7”)
VILLAGE PEOPLE: ‘Macho Man’ / ‘San Francisco’ (DJM 12”) (BNDA debut 3/18/78)
AL HUDSON: ‘Spread Love’ (ABC 12”)
PARADISE EXPRESS: ‘Dance’ / ‘Poinciana’ (Fantasy 12”) (BNDA debut 12/9/78)
LIQUID GOLD: ‘Anyway You Do It’ (Creole 12”)
MUNICH MACHINE: ‘A Whiter Shade Of Pale’ (Oasis 12”) (BNDA debut 6/17/78)
GONZALEZ: ‘Just Let It Lay’ (EMI 12”)
ISAAC HAYES: ‘Shaft II’ / ‘Zeke The Freak’ (Polydor LP)
BUNNY MALONEY: ‘Baby I’ve Been Missing You’ (Gull 12”)
QUARTZ: ‘Beyond The Clouds’ (Pye 12”) (BNDA debut 7/22/78)
GENE FARROW: ‘Dance With Me’ (Magnet 12”)
Bubbling Under The Top 90 (Imports):
PHREEK: ‘I’m A Big Freak’ (US Prelude LP)
LORRAINE JOHNSON: ‘Feed The Flame’ (US Prelude LP) (BNDA debut 11/25/78)
MANDRILL: ‘Don’t Stop’ / ‘Stay Tonight’ / ‘When You Smile’ (US Arista LP)
BRIDES OF FUNKENSTEIN: ‘Disco To Go’ (US Atlantic 12”)
CREATIVE SOURCE: ‘Who Is He And What Is He To You’ (US Paul Winley 12”)
JO BISSO: ‘Play Me’ (French Jobis LP)
THP ORCHESTRA: ‘Tender Is The Night’ (US Butterfly LP) (BNDA debut 11/25/78)
JOHN DAVIS & THE MONSTER ORCHESTRA: ‘Ain’t That Enough For You’ (US SAM 12”) (BNDA debut 9/2/78)
ORIGINALS: ‘Blue Moon’ (US Fantasy 12”)
GOLD BULLION BAND: ‘Baise Moi’ (US Channel 12”) (BNDA debut 11/18/78)
FANTASTIC FOUR: ‘BYOF’ (US Westbound LP)
PHILLY CREAM: ‘Sly-Hi’ (US Salsoul 12”)
T-CONNECTION: ‘Saturday Night’ (US Dash LP)
BLACKBYRDS: ‘Night Grooves’ (US Fantasy LP)
DOUBLE EXPOSURE: ‘Newsy Neighbors’ (US Salsoul 12”)
CHARO: ‘Ole Ole’ (US Salsoul 12”) (BNDA debut 12/2/78)
VOLTAGE BROTHERS: ‘The Prophet’ (Lifesong LP)
SIDNEY BARNES: ‘Foot Stompin’ Music’ (US Parachute LP)
RAINBOW: ‘I Like It’ (US Inner City LP)
MIKE MANDELL: ‘Peg’ (US Vanguard LP)
BOPPERS: ‘Everybody Wants To Be A Star’ (US Fantasy 7”)
MAJOR HARRIS: ‘I Wanna Dance With You’ (US RCA LP)
EVELYN CHAMPAGNE KING: ‘I Don’t Know If It’s Right’ (US RCA 12”) (BNDA debut 2/3/79)
BOB JAMES: ‘Angela’ / ‘Touchdown’ (US Tappan Zee LP)
BONNIE POINTER: ‘Heaven Must Have Sent You’ (US Motown LP) (BNDA debut 5/5/79)
EDDIE DANIELS: ‘I Go To Rio’ (US TK 12”)
FEVER: ‘Standing In The Shadows Of Love’ (US Fantasy 12”) (BNDA debut 10/28/78)
JAMES BROWN: ‘For Goodness Sakes Look At Those Cakes’ (US Polydor LP)
GB EXPERIENCE: ‘Disco Extravaganza’ (US Atlantic 12”)
James Hamilton's Disco Page 