To BPM Or Not To BPM
Starting this issue as we intend to go through 1979, all significant record reviews will in future feature the Beats Per Minute (bpm) as an aid to the ever-increasing number of jocks who mix between records with similar rhythms. This week also, although not a regular feature, the entire Disco Top 90 and its various “breakers” sections indicate each title’s bpm rating . . . so I suggest that you keep this issue handy if you can’t transpose the bpm info onto your record sleeves immediately.
Next week there will be a listing of all currently in-use product grouped together in order of bpm speed, so that all the titles at 130 bpm will be noted, followed by those at 131 bpm, etc. Really useful, huh? I hope so!
To work out your own bpm timing for any type of record, all you need is a stopwatch (of the type with a sweep second hand is best) and – making sure your deck is at the spot-on correct speed – tap your foot in time with the record’s main bass beat. When you’ve got the feel of the rhythm, hit the stopwatch start button on a beat/tap and start counting “nought, one, two, three – etc” for either 10, 15, 20 or 30 seconds, depending on which length of time it takes for a beat to fall as closely as possible onto one of those time divisions. Say you got 20 beats in 10 seconds, multiply 20 by 6 (to bring the 10 secs up to a minute) and you find you’ve got 120 Beats Per Minute. Likewise, multiply your 15 secs total by 4, the 20 secs total by 3 or the 30 secs one by 2. It sometimes helps to have several tries at different timing lengths to get a really accurate result (and don’t forget that not all drummers use a metronome or tape loop yet!), while it’s a good idea to check the bpm discrepancy between different sections of the same record, as some get faster or slower.
However, having worked out the bpm ratings for all your records, don’t think that just because two have the same surface tempo similarity they will make a perfect mix from one to the other – you must use your ears as well! Beats are one thing, but rhythm and attack are dictated by the rest of the instrumentation, by the key and vocal sound. Also, don’t be afraid to jump up or down the tempo scale, as a smoothly blending sequence of all the same speed gets dull without some dynamics being injected into it – we’re not all New York hustlers here!
To do a synchronized mix, running in one beat on top of another, or to do a chop mix, cutting from one to another on the beat, you also need to have a feel for the musical progression: it’s useful to tap your foot in time with the rhythm and count off to yourself the beats in each bar of music – “one, two, three, four, one, two, three, four” – so that the new record will slot neatly into the one being played. Best of all, though, is to have a set of variable speed decks, with which you can then alter the record’s speed to suit the mix – taking, say, something from 124 bpm up to 131 bpm (not that with variable speed decks you’re particularly aware of the bpm rating, as you’re mixing purely by ear). If, with variable speeds, you do want to check the bpm at which something is playing, then you can quickly get a rough idea by checking it against your wristwatch’s second hand in the same way as when doing a proper bpm.
Finally, the reason why so many of today’s disco records – especially on 12in – have a thumping instrumental intro and rattling rhythm break about two thirds of the way through should be obvious . . . they’re making it easy to mix! (Gah, penny’s dropped!)
Also, in this issue, we start again a review section for disco imports. The chart has become increasingly import-orientated in recent months, proving that many jocks can’t be bothered with what the UK companies may or may not decide to release. To quote Capital Radio’s Mike Allen, who runs 1979’s answer to the old Rosko road show, “you have to buy imports because the days of using UK issues are over – by the time something is out here, it’s ancient history!”
Disco News
Dave McAleer, known to many for Pye’s old Northern soul series, is now Black Product and Disco Manager at RCA . . . Caroline Crawford ‘Coming On Strong’ / ‘A Nice Feeling’ is due on Mercury 12in this month while Decca are coupling Hamilton Bohannon’s old ‘Foot Stomping Music’ / ‘Have A Good Day’ on full-length 12in soon . . . General Johnson, Mandrill, Afro-Cuban Band and Raydio are the next Arista 12in batch in about four weeks . . . Gonzalez ‘Haven’t Stopped Dancin’ Yet’ is belatedly hitting in US on Capitol 12in remix . . . Phil Salter (Manchester) and Roger Harold (Tunbridge Wells) both info that the Funkadelic 12in that they bought on UK issue has an 11:13 Part 1 and 5:35 instrumental Pt 2 – so, sorry if my earlier info was misleading, but I did get it at WEA’s own Xmas party! . . . Fatman Graham Canter and Froggy’s Roadshow funk Southgate Royalty this Saturday (6), when Bournemouth Village sees the return of previous residents Andy (Radio One) Peebles and Clive B Dearsley . . . Richard “Tricky Dicky” Scanes had 2000 records ripped off in South London a week before Xmas, but as some WEA 12in promos were numbered it may be possible to trace where the villain unloaded them: have you recently obtained any of these on 12in with the following rubber-stamped numbers – Rod Stewart (0009), Ashford and Simpson (00013), Funkadellc (00056), Goody Goody (00013), Chaka Khan (00092), Curtis Mayfield (00088), Chic (00099)? If so, please tip off Dicky at 01-551 1987 . . . London’s LODJ Assn meets this Sunday (7) at 4pm in the Blue Coat Boy pub near Angel tube to learn about technical matters from Brian Davies . . . Tony Holden of the DJF(GB) (0734-882794) is running a master diary to prevent any clashes in the dates for planned DJ events, so contact him early on if you’re organising anything like an exhibition or DJ meeting . . . Colin Hudd now funks Dartford Flicks in Kent Road every Fri/Saturday, while Danny Wilde is newly resident at Bristol Vadims in Clifton’s Queens Road, and Greg Davies info’s that Stevenage Bo Jangles has a new sound and laser lighting system . . . Dave Middleton (0908-76079) needs a hall in Milton Keynes for his projected Monday night soul disco but can’t block-book council property: can anyone help?
New Spins
DAN HARTMAN: ‘This Is It’ / ‘Countdown’ (Blue Sky CBS 12-6999)
Far better in its continuous 14:12 LP and promo 12in form, the ‘Countdown / This Is It’ track has been cut in two with the blinder 6:45 latter part made plug side and more exciting 7:05 first part put on the flip of both 12in and edited 7in (SKY 6999). Similar to ‘Instant Replay’, the 133 bpm stormer’s a great mixer (try it out of Edwin Starr) and deserves to be heard in full: why don’t CBS do right by Dan (and us) this time at least? Think how many they’d sell if this and the full ‘Replay’ were on 12in back-to-back!
BLONDIE: ‘Heart Of Glass’ (Chrysalis CHS 12-2275) (BNDA debut 4/14/79)
Dynamite 5:50 117bpm disco remix 12in powers along like a heavier slowed-up Donna ‘I Feel Love’ crossed with Rod’s ‘Do Ya Think I’m Sexy’, and is sure to smash pop.
LAKESIDE: ‘It’s All The Way Live’ (RCA FO 1382)
Stolidly thumping 7:17 funky 12in chanter shifts up from 118 to 120bpm and chop mixes nicely in front of Shalamar (skipping very start).
ROY AYERS & WAYNE HENDERSON: ‘Heat Of The Beat’ (Polydor POSPX 16)
Already hot on LP, this infectious fast 132bpm funk-jazz jumper is now on full 7:06 12in – whoop whoop!
OLYMPIC RUNNERS: ‘Sir Dancealot’ (Polydor POSPX 17)
Deceptively laid back 117bpm bumpy loper on full 6:08 12in has reggae-fusion funk rhythms and cool vocal harmonies – a whole lot better than their last one!
DOLLY PARTON: ‘Baby I’m Burnin’’ (RCA PD 11425) (BNDA debut 12/16/78)
Due this week on specially imported pink vinyl 12in with diecut sleeve, Dolly’s dynamite disco remix adds a clapping 134bpm rhythm track to her original country style.
DIANA ROSS & MICHAEL JACKSON: ‘Ease On Down The Road’ (MCA 12MCA 396)
Giving added validity to a pretty mundane pop bounder, this great 126bpm 12in remix stretches out into 6:02 with a far superior extended rhythm last half.
MIQUEL BROWN: ‘Symphony Of Love’ (Polydor POSPX 19) (BNDA debut 1/6/79)
Zingily leaping 6:01 130bpm 12in remix of the recent Europop-type romper could be a duck’s delight now!
BARRY WHITE: ‘Look At Her’ (from LP ‘The Man’, 20th Century BT 571)
Suprisingly good freak tempo 124bpm 6:09 instrumental joins his two current hit sides and the gaily swinging 141bpm ‘Sha La La Means I Love You’ Latin kicker (could be good with Willie Bobo), plus some excellent slowies.
GREGG DIAMOND BIONIC BOOGIE: ‘Cream (Always Rises To The Top)’ (Polydor POSPX 18) (BNDA debut 11/11/78)
Steadily chugging 125bpm thudder on 6:35 12in with various vocal segments smoothly woven into the overall sound.
GREGG DIAMOND’S STARCRUISER: ‘Starcruisin” (from LP ‘Starcruiser’, TK TKR 82549) (BNDA debut 9/2/78)
I wish they’d decide what this cut’s called, but – whatever – it’s the full 6:14 catchy chix-chanted 120bpm hustler that’s always been the set’s biggest hit (even as an official B-side). Also warm have been the 108bpm ‘Fancy Dancer’ swayer and – OK! – the full 5:24 A-side 128bpm ‘This Side Of Midnight’.
RAMSEY LEWIS: ‘All The Way Live’ (from LP ‘Legacy’, CBS 82064)
Lakeside’s precursor (not the same tune) was a subtle 4:26 123bpm jazz-funk bumper with squeaky harp synthetics over a pretty melody, while the complex 135bpm ‘Moogin’ On’ and pleasantly jogging 118bpm ‘Don’t Look Back’ were warm on import too.
GROVER WASHINGTON JR.: ‘Do Dat’ (from LP ‘Reed Seed’, Motown STML 12099)
Mellow 4:17 jazz-funk sax plodder, warm a while back on import, weaves along at a steady slow 99bpm.
VARIOUS: ‘Steppin’ Out’ LP (Polydor POLS 1005)
Theo Loyla-mixed continuously seguing full version six-tracker runs Roy Ayers ‘Running Away’ (117bpm) into Bionic Boogie ‘Risky Changes’ (122) into Carol Douglas ‘Let’s Get Down Doin’ It Tonight’ (120); then – the only upliftingly creative mix – Idris Muhammad ‘One With A Star’ (122) into Fatback Band ‘Mile High’ (124), into – crash! – Isaac Hayes ‘Moonlight Lovin’ (Menage A Trois)’ (100). Good only for the still popular Ayers and the Idris/Fatback mix (which could now help the latter).
OUTSIDERS: ‘Autumn In The City’ (Anchor ANC 1062)
Ultra-funky 128bpm instrumental lurcher, out for months but only just discovered by me, was ITV’s autumn trailer music and is still worth checking.
BILL BARCLAY: ‘Burns Night Fever’ (Safari SAFE L 12)
Perfectly serious 112bpm Scottish rewrite of the Bee Gees celebrates January 21st, on blue vinyl 12in.
CERRONE: ‘Je Suis Music’ (CBS 12-6918) (BNDA debut 11/4/78)
‘Supernature’-style but less interesting 129bpm thudder, on full LP length 7:48 12in.
FIL CALLENDER & JAH STITCH: ‘Baby My Love’ (Cactus CT 12116)
Beautiful soulfully sung reggae swayer switches into Jah Stitch toasting halfway on 68/136bpm 12in (reggae beats are ambiguously double-time usually).
HONEYBOY: ‘Sound Of Silence’ (Galactic GAL 007)
Very pleasant 75bpm reggae reading of Simon & Garfunkel’s slowie, big for us at Gullivers.
SONIA: ‘Love Don’t Live Here Anymore’ (D-Roy DR DD006)
Nice slow 44/87bpm 12in reggaefication of Rose Royce’s smoocher ends up as a dub, with a great 66/132bpm ‘Green Rigg Skank’ dub flip.
TAMLINS: ‘Ting-A-Ling’ (Hawkeye HD 011)
Catchily simple soulfully sung pulsating 70bpm reggae 12in with dub last half, getting big for some.
HEPTICS: ‘Natural Woman’ (D-Roy PFUL 1001)
Lovely gently weaving 65bpm reggae slowie on 12in.
FUSION: ‘Cold Outside’ (OCR 001)
Well produced atmospheric 68bpm reggae throbber.
THE ROYAL RASSES: ‘Unconventional People’ (Ballistic 12-UP 36482)
Attractive ethnic reggae throbber now on 6:10 UK 12in with 124bpm vocal A-side and largely instrumental (but not dub) remixed 126bpm flip.
TAPPER ZUKIE: ‘First Street Rock’ (Front Line FLS 115)
Jaunty dub-type 70bpm reggae toaster.
KIKROKOS: ‘Jungle DJ’ (from LP ‘Jungle DJ & Dirty Kate’, Polydor 2393208) (BNDA debut 9/30/78)
Blandly thumping 128bpm Eurodisco concept segues continuously through the 15:00 LP side with less variation than Voyage, say.
NEIL SEDAKA: ‘All You Need Is The Music’ LP (Polydor POLS 1003)
Surprisingly authentic 129bpm title-track disco romper with “gotta keep on dancin’” chix, syndrums and some background Brazilian noises, while ‘Born To Be Bad’ is a dreamy happily tripping MoR delight for older folk.
SWEET CREAM: ‘I Don’t Know What I’d Do’ (Ember EMBS 364) (BNDA debut 2/18/78)
131bpm girlie group pounder, already on 7:02 12in and now on 3:00 7in.
JAMES WELLS: ‘My Claim To Fame’ LP (Pye NSPL 28272) (BNDA debut 10/14/78)
Ian Levine-produced 120-127bpm zippy fast flier thankfully has hardly any vocals in this marathon 15:56 LP version, but it’s still not in tune with UK tastes despite huge US disco success.
GOODTIME BAND: ‘Baad Goodtime Band’ (Umbrella PFUL 1401)
FBI/Kokomo-type funksters with a gruffly hollered heavy 116bpm thudding chanter on 5:17 12in.
Imports
GARY’S GANG: ‘Keep On Dancin’’ (US Columbia 10885) (BNDA debut 1/6/79)
Terrific 126bpm 7:16 12in with buoyantly thumping intro to a catchy “dance dance dance” hookline chant, timbales percussion, soaring synthesizer and an amazing electronic splurge effect, worth playing right through (try mixing, speeded-up, out of Dan Hartman’s 12in outro!).
MANTUS: ‘(Dance It) Freestyle Rhythm’ (US SMI-501-1) (BNDA debut 2/17/79)
9:33 12in with long thundering 132bpm rhythm intro builds with a slightly P-funky chant and basic chording notes behind the beat before a great rhythm rattling instrumental last half.
MIKE MANDELL: ‘Just The Way You Are’ (from LP ‘Sky Music’ US Vanguard VSD 79409)
Steely Dan’s ‘Peg’ gets a saxy 120bpm jazz-funk instrumental treatment, but the killer is this Billy Joel/Barry White slowie – which speeded up to 45rpm becomes a beautiful 96bpm smoocher . . . and still slow!
BOB JAMES: ‘Touchdown’ LP (US Columbia/Tappan Zee JC 35594)
Herbie Hancock-ish haunting title track instrumental is a thumping jazz-funk swayer with some rhythm-losing slower lulls, worth hearing.
KING SPORTY AND THE ROOT ROCKERS: ‘Fire Keep On Burning’ / ‘Move And Groove’ (US TK Disco 108)
Hi-Tension-type 132bpm 12in rhythm chatterer, but the faster 141bpm flip is even better and makes a nice change-up mix to accelerate proceedings.
JO BISSO: ‘Mademoiselle’ LP (French Jobiss JLP 78002)
The 16:50 ‘Play Me’ side one segues through four independently-titled parts with panting chix and a chugging 116bpm rhythm that shifts about a bit but remains basically steady.
TAVARES: ‘Never Had A Love Like This Before’ (US Capitol Disco 8505)
Longer 5:53 12in remix of their current slowie whips up far more soul than on the UK 7in.
UK Disco Top 90 – January 6, 1979
01 02 Village People – YMCA (128) – Mercury 7″/12″/US Casablanca 12″ remix
02 01 Chic – Le Freak (121) – Atlantic 7″/12″
03 03 Dan Hartman – Instant Replay (131) – Blue Sky 7″/US 12″/LP
04 04 Musique – In The Bush (131) / (remix) (135) – CBS 7″/12″/LP
05 06 Chaka Khan – I’m Every Woman (116) – Warner Bros. 7″/12″
06 08 Shalamar – Take That To The Bank (118) – RCA 7″/12″
07 07 Rahni Harris – Six Million Steps (128) – Mercury 12″
08 10 Funkadelic – One Nation Under A Groove (121) – Warner Bros. 7″/12″/LP
09 05 Sylvester – Dance (Disco Heat) (134) – Fantasy 7″/LP/US 12″
10 12 Earth, Wind & Fire – September (126) – CBS 7″
11 09 Rod Stewart – Da Ya Think I’m Sexy (114) – Riva 7″/12″ promo
12 16 Sarah Brightman & Hot Gossip – Starship Trooper (130) – Ariola Hansa 7″/12″
13 17 Boney M. – Mary’s Boy Child (114) / Dancing In The Streets – Atlantic 7″
14 22 Two Man Sound – Que Tal America (132) – Miracle 12″
15 18 Gene Chandler – Get Down (117) – US Chi-Sound 7″/12″/LP
16 13 Patrick Juvet – I Love America (121) – Casablanca 7″/12″/LP
17 11 Alicia Bridges – I Love The Nightlife (125) – Polydor 7″/12″
18 19 Goody Goody – #1 Dee Jay (128) – Atlantic 12″
19 14 Phil Hurtt – Giving It Back (120) – Fantasy 12″
20 24 Edwin Starr – Contact (130) – US 20th Century 7″/12″/LP
21 29 Bee Gees – Too Much Heaven (84) – RSO 7″
22 21 Heatwave – Mind Blowing Decisions (90) / Always And Forever (52) – GTO 7″/12″
23 41 Instant Funk – I Got My Mind Made Up (111) – US Salsoul 7″/12″ promo
24 15 Sylvester – You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) (133) – Fantasy 7″/12″/LP
25 31 Mankind – Dr. Who (126) – Pinnacle 12″
26 23 Chanter Sisters – Can’t Stop Dancing (126) – Safari 7″/German 12″
27 35 Gaz – Sing Sing (114) / Boogie Woman (131) – US Salsoul LP
28 28 Ashford & Simpson – It Seems To Hang On (116) – Warner Bros. 7″/12″
29 44 Macho – I’m A Man (131) – EMI 12″
30 32 Wilton Felder – Let’s Dance Together (105) – ABC LP/US 12″ promo
31 20 The Jacksons – Blame It On The Boogie (114) – Epic 7″/12″
32 54 Peaches & Herb – Shake Your Groove Thing (134) – Polydor 7″/12″ promo
33 33 Lakeside – It’s All The Way Live (120) – RCA 12″
34 79 Racey – Lay Your Love On Me (172/86) – Rak 7″
35 40 Keith Barrow – Physical Attraction (131) / Turn Me Up (117) / Joyful Music (126) – US Columbia LP
36 63 Roy Ayers & Wayne Henderson – Heat Of The Beat (132) – Polydor LP/US 7″
37 30 Voyage – Souvenirs / Lady America / Tahiti Tahiti (129) – GTO 7″/12″/LP
38 52 Joe Farrell – Night Dancing (132) – Warner Bros. 12″
39 34 Aquarian Dream – You’re A Star (126) / It Ain’t Whatcha Say (122) / Fantasy (132) – Elektra LP
40 89 Dan Hartman – Countdown / This Is It (133) – Blue Sky LP/12″
41 39 Donald Byrd – Thank You For Funking Up My Life (112) / Have You Heard The News (114) – Elektra LP/US 7″/12″
42 25 Eddie Henderson – Prance On (138) – Capitol/Tower 12″/LP
43 47 Chanson – Don’t Hold Back (110) – Ariola 12″
44 NE Ian Dury – Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick (108) – Stiff 7″
45 36 Luisa Fernandez – Lay Love On You (124) – Warner Bros. 7″/12″
46 37 Tasha Thomas – Shoot Me With Your Love (124) – US Atlantic 12″
47 76 Barry White – Just The Way You Are (75) / Your Sweetness Is My Weakness (120) – 20th Century 12″
48 45 Foxy – Get Off (132) – TK 12″
49 27 Manu Dibango – Sun Explosion (128) / Big Blow (124) – Decca 12″
50 65 Montana – I Love Music (130) / You Know How Good It Is (125) – US Atlantic LP
51 68 Sea Level – Fifty Four (120) – US Capricorn 12″/LP
52 66 Rodney Franklin – I Like The Music Make It Hot (114) – US Columbia LP
53 57 Willie Bobo – Always There (138) – US Columbia 7″/LP
54 56 Carolyn Crawford – Coming On Strong (133) / A Nice Feeling (117) – US Mercury 12″/LP
55 69 Gregg Diamond – Star Cruiser / Fancy Dancer / This Side Of Midnight – TK 7″/LP
56 26 Donna Summer – MacArthur Park (132) – Casablanca 7″/LP/12″ promo
57 46 Teddy Pendergrass – Only You (122) / Close The Door (87) – Philadelphia Int’l 12″
58 62 Phreek – I’m A Big Freak (130) / Everybody Loves A Good Thing (128) / Weekend (122) – US Atlantic LP
59 59 Curtis Mayfield – No Goodbyes (131) – Curtom 12″
60 42 Stanley Turrentine – Disco Dancin’ (115) / Feel The Fire – Fantasy 12″/US LP
61 81 Dennis Brown – Money In My Pocket (78) – Gibbs 12″ promo
62 75 Real Thing – Can You Feel The Force (132) – Pye LP
63 64 Liquid Gold – Anyway You Do It (121) – Creole 7″/12″
64 50 Commodores – Just To Be Close To You (63) – Motown 7″/LP
65 55 Amii Stewart – Knock On Wood (144) – Atlantic 7″/12″
66 90 War – Youngblood (117) – MCA 12″
67 80 Erotic Drum Band – Love Disco Style (135) / Plug Me To Death (133) – US Prism LP/12″ remix
68 RE David Fathead Newman – Keep The Dream Alive (116) – US Prestige LP
69 NE Paradise Express – Dance (131) / Poinciana (130) – US Fantasy 12″
70 NE Fantastic Four – BYOF (123) – US Westbound LP
71 38 Three Degrees – Giving Up, Giving In (132) – Ariola 7″/12″
72 85 Village People – Macho Man (133) / San Francisco (125) – DJM 12″
73 NE Third World – Cool Meditation (69/138) – Island 12″
74 53 Shampoo – Harlem Hustle (126) – Ensign 12″
75 74 Hi-Tension – Autumn Love (84) / Unspoken (132) – Island 7″
76 51 Leon Haywood – Party (106) – MCA 7″/12″
77 71 Joe Thomas – Plato’s Retreat (124) – TK 7″/US 12″
78 83 Al Hudson & The Soul Partners – Spread Love (132) – ABC 12″
79 43 Crown Heights Affair – Say A Prayer For Two (116) / I’m Gonna Love You Forever (132) – Mercury 7″/12″/LP
80 NE John Davis & The Monster Orch. – Ain’t That Enough For You (138) – US SAM 12″
81 NE Cheryl Lynn – Got To Be Real (116) – US Columbia 7″/12″
82 77 Quazar – Funk ‘N Roll (118) – Arista 7″/LP
83 88 Lorraine Johnson – Feed The Flame (125) / Learning To Dance All Over Again (134) – US Prelude LP
84 72 Damon Harris – It’s Music (121-126) – US Fantasy/WMOT 12″
85 73 Brecker Brothers – East River (97) – Arista 7″
86 58 Timmy Thomas – Freak In Freak Out (112) – TK 7″/US 12″
87 NE Brides Of Funkenstein – Disco To Go (96) – Atlantic LP/US 12″
88 87 Bionic Boogie – Hot Butterfly (all cuts) – Polydor LP
89 NE Dollar – Shooting Star (70) – Carrere 7″
90 NE Zulema – Change (132) – London 7″/US Le Joint 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 12/2/78) / #8 (BNDA debut 11/11/78)
#9 (BNDA debut 7/8/78) / #11 (BNDA debut 1/20/79) / #14 (BNDA debut 9/22/79)
#15 (BNDA debut 11/18/78) / #16 (BNDA debut 6/3/78) / #17 (BNDA debut 9/16/78)
#18 (BNDA debut 9/9/78) / #20 (BNDA debut 11/18/78) / #23 (BNDA debut 1/27/79)
#24 (BNDA debut 7/8/78) / #29 (BNDA debut 9/16/78) / #31 (BNDA debut 1/6/79)
#32 (BNDA debut 10/28/78) / #37 (BNDA debut 12/2/78) / #43 (BNDA debut 10/14/78)
#44 (BNDA debut 10/20/79) / #46 (BNDA debut 11/4/78) / #47 (BNDA debut 10/14/78)
#48 (BNDA debut 5/6/78) / #55 (BNDA debut 9/2/78) / #56 (BNDA debut 9/23/78)
#59 (BNDA debut 9/9/78) / #65 (BNDA debut 2/3/79) / #66 (BNDA debut 10/7/78)
#67 (BNDA debut 10/14/78) / #69 (BNDA debut 12/9/78) / #71 (BNDA debut 11/4/78)
#72 (BNDA debut 3/18/78) / #77 (BNDA debut 8/12/78) / #80 (BNDA debut 9/2/78)
#81 (BNDA debut 11/25/78) / #83 (BNDA debut 11/25/78) / #88 (BNDA debut 11/11/78)
#90 (BNDA debut 1/6/79)
Bubbling Under the Top 90 (Domestic):
PARLIAMENT: ‘Aqua Boogie’ (105) (Casablanca 7”)
RACHEL SWEET: ‘B-A-B-Y’ (122) (Stiff 7”)
RONNIE JONES: ‘Groovin’’ (126) / ‘Me And Myself’ (126) (Lollipop 12”)
WILBERT LONGMIRE: ‘Black Is The Colour’ (126) (CBS LP)
MIQUEL BROWN: ‘Symphony Of Love’ (130) (Polydor 12”) (BNDA debut 1/6/79)
JERRY BUTLER: ‘Cooling Out’ (120) (Philadelphia Int’l 7”)
OLYMPIC RUNNERS: ‘Sir Dancealot’ (117) / ‘God Bless You’ (43) / ‘Energy Beam’ (112) (Polydor LP)
GONZALEZ: ‘Just Let It Lay’ (108) (EMI 12”)
OLLIE BABA: ‘Stomp Your Feet’ (122) (Polydor 12” promo)
JUDGE DREAD: ‘Jingle Bells’ / ‘The Hokey Cokey’ (EMI 7”)
IDRIS MUHAMMAD: ‘Disco Man’ (129) (Fantasy LP)
WEATHER REPORT: ‘River People’ (CBS 7”)
WHITE HEAT: ‘Dancing Like A Superstar’ (MAM 12”)
Bubbling Under The Top 90 (Imports):
T-CONNECTION: ‘Saturday Night’ (133) / ‘After Midnight’ (116) / ‘Funky Lady’ (104) / ‘Funkannection’ (93) (US Dash LP) (BNDA debut 1/6/79)
JOHN HANDY: ‘I Can Tell’ (108) (US Warner Bros. LP)
BLACKBYRDS: ‘Gut Level’ / ‘Happy Music’ / ‘Rock Creek Park’ (US Fantasy LP)
BOB JAMES: ‘Touchdown’ (US Tappan Zee LP)
ADC BAND: ‘Long Stroke’ (US Cotillion LP)
RAINBOW: ‘I Like It’ (US Inner City LP)
MANDRILL: ‘Don’t Stop’ (113) / ‘Stay Tonight’ (122) / ‘Having A Love Attack’ (132) / ‘It’s So Easy Loving You’ (120) (US Arista LP)
CREATIVE SOURCE: ‘Who Is He And What Is He To You’ (121) (US Paul Winley 12”)
GARY’S GANG: ‘Keep On Dancin’’ (126) (US Columbia 12”) (BNDA debut 1/6/79)
BRASS CONSTRUCTION: ‘Get Up’ / ‘Help Yourself’ (US UA LP)
ORIGINALS: ‘Blue Moon’ (121) (US Fantasy 12”)
FAT LARRY’S BAND: ‘Boogie Town’ (US Fantasy LP)
KING SPORTY: ‘Fire Keep On Burning’ (132) / ‘Move And Groove’ (141) (US TK 12”)
SIDNEY BARNES: ‘Foot Stompin’ Music’ (114) (US Parachute LP)
MANTUS: ‘Freestyle Rhythm’ (132) (US SMI 12”) (BNDA debut 2/17/79)
MIKE MANDELL: ‘Peg’ (120) / ‘Just The Way You Are’ (96 at 45rpm) (US Vanguard LP)
DAVID SIMMONS: ‘Will They Miss Me’ (124-127) (US Fantasy/WMOT 12”)
FUTURES: ‘Party Time Man’ (US Philadelphia Int’l 12”)
JO BISSO: ‘Play Me’ (116) (French Jobis LP)
SARAH DASH: ‘Sinner Man’ (124) (US Kirshner 12”) (BNDA debut 11/11/78)
GENERAL JOHNSON: ‘Can’t Nobody Love Me Like You Do’ (117) (US Arista 12”)
EDDIE HORAN: Turn My World Back Around’ (US HDM LP)
DOLLY PARTON: ‘Baby I’m Burning’ (134) (US RCA 12”) (BNDA debut 12/16/78)
FIRST CHOICE: ‘Hold Your Horses’ (130) (US Gold Mind 12”) (BNDA debut 11/18/78)
PHILLY CREAM: ‘Sly-Hi’ (129) (US Salsoul 12”)
THP ORCHESTRA: ‘Tender Is The Night’ (120) (US Butterfly LP) (BNDA debut 11/25/78)
GB EXPERIENCE: ‘Disco Extravaganza’ (127) (US Atlantic 12”)
GOLD BULLION BAND: ‘Baise Moi’ (127) (US Channel 12”)
EDDIE DANIELS: ‘I Go To Rio’ (US TK 12”)
NITE SCHOOL: ‘Do You Speak French’ (125) (US AVI 12”)
DOUBLE EXPOSURE: ‘Newsy Neighbors’ (134) (US Salsoul 12”)
LEMON: ‘A-Freak-A’ (123) / ‘Chance To Dance’ (128) (US Prelude LP) (BNDA debut 1/6/79)
AMANT: ‘If There’s Love’ (131) / ‘Hazy Shades Of Love’ (133) (US TK 12”) (BNDA debut 11/25/78)
LAURA TAYLOR: ‘Dancing In My Feet’ (122) (US TK 12”) (BNDA debut 9/23/78)
TRAMMPS: ‘Soul Bones’ (US Atlantic 12”) (BNDA debut 1/13/79)
James Hamilton's Disco Page 
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