Disco News
Bank Holiday All-Dayers are back with us on January 1st, but as well as the usual Purley and Blackpool bashes there’s one also at Rayleigh Croc’s with Owen Washington, Graham Canter & Gold, Tony Valence & Monson, Rudi Gilpin, and – bit of a scoot – Froggy’s Roadshow, which will not be at Purley that day! . . . Disco Dancin’ winner Tadaaki Dan from Japan was interestingly the only DJ among the finalists, which must prove something: will Chris Hill enter next year?! . . . Damon Harris, David Simmons and Fat Larry’s Band are due in the New Year from Fantasy, while Chrysalis will soon be issuing Butterfly product . . . Roger Squire’s Disco Centres in London, Bristol, Manchester & Glasgow are having three open days with free Xmas drinks on December 28/29/30 . . . Marc Damon has opened a disco record shop called the Funk Factory at the Great Gear Market, 85 Kings Road, Chelsea in London . . . Paul Anthony now spins funk-jazz every Mon/Tuesday at Birmingham’s Sloopys in Corporation Street . . . Terry Jones & Rus Phillips are now resident late nights at the plush new Jovi’s club (£30 membership men) at 1-5 Long Lane, The Barbican, in London’s City area. Chris Browne (with an “e”) shares Wednesdays at Muswell Hill Pebbles with Stuart Genslan . . . South Essex now has a DJ Assn, details from Tony Petersen, PO Box 43, Southend-On-Sea, Essex . . . Thames Valley DJ Assn’s administrative address is now The Secretariat, TVDJA, Titlarks Farm, Sunningdale, Berks . . . Ian Jason from Leicester, resident though in Hamburg at the Big Apple, Club Elvis and El Greco, is currently charting (amongst other better known hits) Supermax ‘Love Machine’ (Atlantic), City ‘Am Fenster’ (Telefunken), Alan Parsons Project ‘Hyper Gamma Spaces’ (Arista) and Ritchie Family ‘American Generation’ (Metronome).
New Spins
GREGG DIAMOND BIONIC BOOGIE: ‘Hot Butterfly’ LP (Polydor 2391373) (BNDA debut 11/11/78)
Professionally crafted disco fodder, none are particularly exciting but they work well enough. ‘When The Shit Hits The Fan’ has a sorta Sylvester lick while the rest – best cuts are ‘Chains’, ‘Cream’ – are mid-tempo.
CERRONE: ‘Je Suis Music’ (from LP ‘IV’, CBS 83282) (BNDA debut 11/4/78)
The bionic Dave Clark with yet more mechanical thudding, this 7:48 variation on a well-worn pattern being the hottest so far.
VILLAGE PEOPLE: ‘Cruisin’ LP (Mercury 9109614) (BNDA debut 10/21/78)
Lots more beefy hollering and thumping, all a bit lacklusture compared to that dynamite ‘YMCA’ remix . . . which of course is not included in that form.
MONACO: ‘God Only Knows’ (Pinnacle PIN 64)
Beach Boys given the Marvin Gaye ‘Let’s Get It On’ smooch treatment, with some lovely bluesy piano, well worth checking.
WEATHER REPORT: ‘River People’ (CBS 6743)
Complex classy jazz-funk instrumental loper, slow and atmospheric for the first half, out a while but now big around Manchester.
GARY BOYLE: ‘Snap Crackle’ (from LP ‘Electric Glide’, Gull GULP 1028)
British jazz-funk guitarist on blue vinyl LP, this jerky instrumental and smoother Benson-ish title track are getting Midlands action.
THE ROYAL RASSES: ‘Unconventional People’ (UA Ballistic UP 38482)
Good reggae throbber, but even better on the more powerful full import Warrior 12in.
WHITE HEAT: ‘Dancing Like A Superstar’ (MAM 12MAM 182)
Amadeo’s fast Europop thudder revived on 3:00 same-length 12in/7in, quite jolly for the un-discerning.
THE SHEIKETTES: ‘You Can Strike Oil – In Hollywood’ (Jet JET 12-120)
Limply frothy gay thumper on 4:01 clear yellow vinyl 12in or 3:22 7in.
SESAME STREET: ‘Sesame Street Fever’ (Polydor 2001837)
Slick low impact intro to a mundane hustler, with funny voices eventually.
TAVARES: ‘Never Had A Love Like This Before’ (Capitol CL 16032)
Grey & Hanks-penned smoocher, rather wishy-washy.
LIBERTY BELLE: ‘Yankee Doodle Disco’ (Pye 7NL 46144)
Awful amateurish “disco” medley of US folk tunes is a criminal waste of 12in red vinyl.
Mix Master
Not very funky but good for mixing ¡s the sequence (using variable speed decks for fine tuning) Phreek ‘I’m A Big Freak’ (US Atlantic LP), synchronising rhythm break into Voyage ‘Tahiti Tahiti’ (GTO LP), mixing when it feels right into the rhythm break one third of the way through GB Experience ‘Disco Extravaganza’ (US Atlantic 12in), mixing into Tasha Thomas ‘Shoot Me’ (US Atlantic 12in), into Bionic Boogie ‘Chains’ (Polydor LP) . . . at least I think it’s ‘Chains’. It‘s one of ‘em!
UK Disco Top 90 – December 23, 1978
01 01 Chic – Le Freak – Atlantic 7″/12″
02 03 Village People – YMCA – Mercury 7″/12″/US Casablanca 12″ remix
03 02 Dan Hartman – Instant Replay – Blue Sky 7″/US 12″/LP
04 04 Musique – In The Bush – CBS 7″/12″/LP
05 05 Sylvester – Dance (Disco Heat) – Fantasy 7″/LP/US 12″
06 08 Chaka Khan – I’m Every Woman – Warner Bros. 7″/12″
07 06 Rahni Harris – Six Million Steps – Mercury 12″
08 09 Shalamar – Take That To The Bank – RCA 7″/12″
09 07 Rod Stewart – Da Ya Think I’m Sexy – Riva 7″/12″ promo
10 10 Funkadelic – One Nation Under A Groove – Warner Bros. 7″/12″/LP
11 12 Alicia Bridges – I Love The Nightlife – Polydor 7″/12″
12 20 Earth, Wind & Fire – September – CBS 7″
13 11 Patrick Juvet – I Love America – Casablanca 7″/12″/LP
14 13 Phil Hurtt – Giving It Back – Fantasy 12″
15 14 Sylvester – You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) – Fantasy 7″/12″/LP
16 18 Sarah Brightman & Hot Gossip – Starship Trooper – Ariola Hansa 7″/12″
17 27 Boney M. – Mary’s Boy Child / Dancing In The Streets – Atlantic 7″
18 16 Gene Chandler – Get Down – US Chi-Sound 12″/LP
19 29 Goody Goody – #1 Dee Jay – Atlantic 12″
20 17 The Jacksons – Blame It On The Boogie – Epic 7″/12″
21 21 Heatwave – Mind Blowing Decisions / Always And Forever – GTO 12″
22 24 Two Man Sound – Que Tal America – Miracle 12″
23 25 Chanter Sisters – Can’t Stop Dancing – Safari 7″/German 12″
24 23 Edwin Starr – Contact – US 20th Century 12″/LP
25 26 Eddie Henderson – Prance On / Cyclops / Butterfly / Say You Will – Capitol/Tower 12″/LP
26 15 Donna Summer – MacArthur Park – Casablanca 7″/LP/12″ promo
27 22 Manu Dibango – Sun Explosion / Big Blow – Decca 12″
28 19 Ashford & Simpson – It Seems To Hang On – Warner Bros. 7″/12″
29 37 Bee Gees – Too Much Heaven – RSO 7″
30 40 Voyage – Souvenirs / Lady America / Tahiti Tahiti – GTO 7″/12″/LP
31 31 Mankind – Dr. Who – Pinnacle 12″
32 33 Wilton Felder – Let’s Dance Together – ABC LP/US 12″ promo
33 39 Lakeside – It’s All The Way Live – US Solar 12″
34 30 Aquarian Dream – You’re A Star / It Ain’t Whatcha Say / Fantasy – Elektra LP
35 45 Gaz – Sing Sing / Boogie Woman – US Salsoul LP
36 34 Luisa Fernandez – Lay Love On You – Warner Bros. 7″/12″
37 38 Tasha Thomas – Shoot Me With Your Love – US Atlantic 12″
38 32 Three Degrees – Giving Up, Giving In – Ariola 7″/12″
39 46 Donald Byrd – Thank You For Funking Up My Life / Have You Heard The News – Elektra LP/US 7″/12″
40 50 Keith Barrow – Physical Attraction / Turn Me Up / Joyful Music – US Columbia LP
41 53 Instant Funk – I Got My Mind Made Up – US Salsoul 7″/12″ promo
42 44 Stanley Turrentine – Disco Dancin’ / Feel The Fire – Fantasy 12″/US LP
43 28 Crown Heights Affair – Say A Prayer For Two / I’m Gonna Love You Forever – Mercury 7″/12″/LP
44 41 Macho – I’m A Man – EMI 12″
45 74 Foxy – Get Off – TK 12″
46 51 Teddy Pendergrass – Only You / Close The Door – Philadelphia Int’l 12″
47 77 Chanson – Don’t Hold Back – Ariola 12″
48 36 Boney M. – Rasputin – Atlantic 7″/12″/LP
49 48 Third World – Now That We Found Love – Island 7″/12″
50 35 Commodores – Just To Be Close To You – Motown 7″/LP
51 49 Leon Haywood – Party – MCA 7″/12″
52 62 Joe Farrell – Night Dancing – Warner Bros. 12″
53 54 Shampoo – Harlem Hustle – Ensign 7″/12″
54 79 Peaches & Herb – Shake Your Groove Thing – Polydor 7″/12″ promo
55 69 Amii Stewart – Knock On Wood – Atlantic 7″/12″
56 73 Carolyn Crawford – Coming On Strong – US Mercury 12″/LP
57 56 Willie Bobo – Always There – US Columbia LP
58 59 Timmy Thomas – Freak In Freak Out – TK 7″/US 12″
59 55 Curtis Mayfield – No Goodbyes – Curtom 12″
60 87 Melba Moore – You Stepped Into My Life – Epic 7″/US 12″
61 52 Roy Ayers – Get On Up, Get On Down – Polydor 7″/12″/LP
62 NE Phreek – I’m A Big Freak / Everybody Loves A Good Thing / Weekend – US Atlantic LP
63 61 Roy Ayers & Wayne Henderson – Heat Of The Beat – Polydor LP/US 7″
64 NE Liquid Gold – Anyway You Do It – Creole 7″/12″
65 71 Montana – I Love Music / You Know How Good It Is – US Atlantic LP
66 63 Rodney Franklin – I Like The Music Make It Hot – US Columbia LP
67 42 Richard Ace – Stayin’ Alive / If I Can’t Have You – Blue Inc. 7″/12″
68 68 Sea Level – Fifty Four – US Capricorn LP
69 57 Gregg Diamond – Star Cruiser / Fancy Dancer / This Side Of Midnight – TK 7″/LP
70 43 Brothers Johnson – Ride-O-Rocket – A&M 7″/12″
71 66 Joe Thomas – Plato’s Retreat – TK 7″/US 12″
72 72 Damon Harris – It’s Music – US Fantasy/WMOT 12″
73 47 Brecker Brothers – East River – Arista 7″
74 82 Hi-Tension – Autumn Love / Unspoken – Island 7″
75 67 Real Thing – Can You Feel The Force – Pye LP
76 NE Barry White – Just The Way You Are / Your Sweetness Is My Weakness – 20th Century 12″
77 80 Quazar – Funk ‘N Roll – Arista 7″/LP
78 58 Diana Ross & Michael Jackson – Ease On Down The Road – MCA 7″/12″ promo remix
79 NE Racey – Lay Your Love On Me – Rak 7″
80 85 Erotic Drum Band – Love Disco Style / Plug Me To Death – US Prism LP/12″ remix
81 70 Dennis Brown – Money In My Pocket – Gibbs 12″ promo
82 84 Neil Larsen – Sudden Samba / Last Tango In Paris – US Horizon LP
83 NE Al Hudson & The Soul Partners – Spread Love – ABC 12″
84 83 Love Symphony Orchestra – Let Me Be Your Fantasy – US Penthouse LP
85 RE Village People – Macho Man / San Francisco – DJM 7″/LP
86 75 Howard Kenney – Save Some For The Children – US Warner Bros. LP
87 88 Bionic Boogie – Hot Butterfly (all cuts) – US Polydor LP
88 NE Lorraine Johnson – Feed The Flame / Learning To Dance All Over Again – US Prelude LP
89 65 Dan Hartman – Countdown / This Is It – Blue Sky LP/US 12″
90 RE War – Youngblood – MCA 12″
NE = new entry; RE = re-entry
Appeared in Billboard:
#1 (BNDA debut 10/21/78) / #2 (BNDA debut 10/21/78) / #3 (BNDA debut 8/19/78)
#4 (BNDA debut 7/29/78) / #5 (BNDA debut 7/8/78) / #6 (BNDA debut 12/2/78)
#9 (BNDA debut 1/20/79) / #10 (BNDA debut 11/11/78) / #11 (BNDA debut 9/16/78)
#13 (BNDA debut 6/3/78) / #15 (BNDA debut 7/8/78) / #18 (BNDA debut 11/18/78)
#19 (BNDA debut 9/9/78) / #20 (BNDA debut 1/6/79) / #22 (BNDA debut 9/22/79)
#24 (BNDA debut 11/18/78) / #26 (BNDA debut 9/23/78) / #30 (BNDA debut 12/2/78)
#37 (BNDA debut 11/4/78) / #38 (BNDA debut 11/4/78) / #41 (BNDA debut 1/27/79)
#44 (BNDA debut 9/16/78) / #45 (BNDA debut 5/6/78) / #47 (BNDA debut 10/14/78)
#54 (BNDA debut 10/28/78) / #55 (BNDA debut 2/3/79) / #59 (BNDA debut 9/9/78)
#60 (BNDA debut 10/28/78) / #69 (BNDA debut 9/2/78) / #71 (BNDA debut 8/12/78)
#76 (BNDA debut 10/14/78) / #80 (BNDA debut 10/14/78) / #85 (BNDA debut 3/18/78)
#87 (BNDA debut 11/11/78) / #88 (BNDA debut 11/25/78) / #90 (BNDA debut 10/7/78)
Bubbling Under the Top 90 (Domestic):
GONZALEZ: ‘Just Let It Lay’ (EMI 12”)
JERRY BUTLER: ‘Cooling Out’ (Philadelphia Int’l 7”)
ISAAC HAYES: ‘Shaft II’ (Polydor LP)
BRIDES OF FUNKENSTEIN: ‘Disco To Go’ (Atlantic LP)
VILLAGE PEOPLE: ‘The Women’ / ‘I’m A Cruiser’ / ‘My Roommate’ (Mercury LP) (BNDA debut 3/18/78)
PARADISE EXPRESS: ‘Dance’ / ‘Poinciana’ (Fantasy 12”) (BNDA debut 12/9/78)
OLYMPIC RUNNERS: ‘Sir Dancealot’ / ‘God Bless You’ (Polydor LP)
CERRONE: ‘Je Suis Music’ (CBS LP) (BNDA debut 11/4/78)
BUNNY MALONEY: ‘Baby I’ve Been Missing You’ (Gull 12”)
ZULEMA: ‘Change’ (London 7”) (BNDA debut 1/6/79)
CHARLES JACKSON: ‘Tonight’s The Night’ (Tower 12”)
IDRIS MUHAMMAD: ‘Disco Man’ / ‘The Doc’ (Fantasy LP)
THIRD WORLD: ‘Cool Meditation’ (Island 12”)
RONNIE JONES: ‘Me & Myself’ (Lollipop 12”)
PARLIAMENT: ‘Aqua Boogie’ (Casablanca 7”)
QUARTZ: ‘Beyond The Clouds’ (Pye 12”) (BNDA debut 7/22/78)
Bubbling Under The Top 90 (Imports):
DAVID FATHEAD NEWMAN: ‘Keep The Dream Alive’ (US Prestige LP)
JOHN HANDY: ‘I Can Tell’ / ‘Play The Music’ (US Warner Bros. LP)
FANTASTIC FOUR: ‘BYOF’ (US Westbound LP)
BLACKBYRDS: ‘Gut Level’ / ‘Walking In Rhythm’ / ‘Happy Music’ / ‘Rock Creek Park’ (US Fantasy LP)
EDDIE HORAN: Turn My World Back Around’ (US HDM LP)
JOHN DAVIS & THE MONSTER ORCHESTRA: ‘Ain’t That Enough For You’ (US SAM 12”) (BNDA debut 9/2/78)
MANDRILL: ‘Don’t Stop’ / ‘Stay Tonight’ / ‘It’s So Easy Loving You’ / ‘Having A Love Attack’ (US Arista LP)
DAVID SIMMONS: ‘Will They Miss Me’ (US Fantasy/WMOT 12”)
BRASS CONSTRUCTION: ‘Get Up’ (US UA LP)
T-CONNECTION: ‘Saturday Night’ / ‘After Midnight’ (US Dash LP) (BNDA debut 1/6/79)
BOB JAMES: ‘Angela’ / ‘Touchdown’ / ‘Sunrunner’ (US Tappan Zee LP)
RAINBOW: ‘I Like It’ (US Inner City LP)
EDDIE DANIELS: ‘I Go To Rio’ (US TK 12”)
MIKE MANDELL: ‘Peg’ / ‘Jupiter Finger’ (US Vanguard LP)
ORIGINALS: ‘Blue Moon’ (US Fantasy 12”)
LE PAMPLEMOUSSE: ‘Sweet Magic’ (US AVI LP)
NITE SCHOOL: ‘Do You Speak French’ (remix) (US AVI 12”)
DOLLY PARTON: ‘Baby I’m Burning’ (remix) (US RCA 12”) (BNDA debut 12/16/78)
SARAH DASH: ‘Sinner Man’ (US Kirshner 12”) (BNDA debut 11/11/78)
FAT LARRY’S BAND: ‘Boogie Town’ (US Fantasy LP)
JO BISSO: ‘Play Me’ (French Jobis LP)
ADC BAND: ‘Long Stroke’ (US Cotillion LP)
CHERYL LYNN: ‘Got To Be Real’ (US Columbia 12”) (BNDA debut 11/25/78)
CREATIVE SOURCE: ‘Who Is He And What Is He To You’ (US Paul Winley 12”)
THP ORCHESTRA: ‘Tender Is The Night’ (US Butterfly LP) (BNDA debut 11/25/78)
DOUBLE EXPOSURE: ‘Newsy Neighbors’ (US Salsoul 12”)
PHILLY CREAM: ‘Sly-Hi’ (US Salsoul 12”)
BONNIE POINTER: ‘Heaven Must Have Sent You’ (US Motown LP) (BNDA debut 5/5/79)
GENERAL JOHNSON: ‘Can’t Nobody Love Me Like You Do’ (US Arista 12”)
FUTURES: ‘Party Time Man’ (US Philadelphia Int’l 12”)
SIDNEY BARNES: ‘Foot Stompin’ Music’ (US Parachute LP)
MIQUEL BROWN: ‘Symphony Of Love’ (remix) (US Polydor 12”) (BNDA debut 1/6/79)
GB EXPERIENCE: ‘Disco Extravaganza’ (US Atlantic 12”)
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