New Spins
PHILLY CREAM: ‘Jammin’ At The Disco’ (Fantasy 12XFTC 173) (BNDA debut 4/14/79)
Slightly slow, this dynamite 109bpm jogger vari-speeds up to make the running mix of the month when synchronised with Instant Funk (long version)! Ten thousand of the 6:45 import 12in have been over-stickered for UK sale, and at any speed it’s a killer on its own – building through chanting, chording and rattling (including steel drums) to some great tension-filled instrumental breaks.
BEACH BOYS: ‘Here Comes The Night’ (Caribou CRB 12-7204) (BNDA debut 4/7/79)
Pounding 133bpm pure disco on 10:42 12in with lots of different breaks, this pop killer took £33,000 and six months to make and is in fact their new LP’s version minus most of the vocals – taken out to please mix-minded US jocks (who some may think mad)!
WARDELL PIPER: ‘Captain Boogie’ (Midsong POSPX 42) (BNDA debut 4/14/79)
Powerfully stamping 130bpm 8:15 12in hits a sorta ‘Boogie Oogie Oogie’ groove before squawking chix emphasise it vocally even more so, but it’s all a lot rougher and rawer.
BUNNY SIGLER: ‘By The Way You Dance (I Knew It Was You)’ / ‘I’m Funking You Tonite’ (Salsoul 12XSSOL 117) (BNDA debut 3/10/79)
“Dance dance dance”-chanting chix-supported fast 127bpm hustling chugger gets a good Gary’s Gang groove going on 7:17 12in, with a heavy 100bpm funk flip.
M: ‘Pop Muzik’ (MCA 12MCA 413) (BNDA debut 9/8/79)
Gimmicky “double groove” twin-spiral coupling of this and another track on the 12in A-side should sell, while the straight 5:02 B-side version could be another ‘Rhythm Stick’ with infectious jerky 109bpm beat, staccato John Lennon-ish vocal and silly “shoobedoobedoowah” girls.
THREE DEGREES: ‘The Runner’ (Ariola AROD 14) (BNDA debut 5/26/79)
Frantic 132bpm stormer on white vinyl 12in at 8:16 or on 7in 6:30, both coupled with it at 3:50. Huh? It’s selling, anyway.
SARAH BRIGHTMAN: ‘The Adventures Of The Love Crusader’ (Ariola Hansa AHAD 538)
Wonder Woman-type comic book story told in thumping 135bpm ‘Star Trooper’-style with assorted voices, electronic effects and some witty quotes from other past hits, all on action-packed and variety-filled 7:14 red vinyl 12in. Good pop fun.
SYLVESTER: ‘I (Who Have Nothing)’ (Fantasy 12XFTC 171) (BNDA debut 3/24/79)
Ben E. King/Shirley Bassey oldie gets a rather empty but by now typical treatment, remixed for 7:29 UK 12in with a shifting 128-125-130-132bpm beat, and maxi-coupled by the full 133bpm ‘You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)’, which many will still prefer.
GLASS FAMILY: ‘Crazy’ (Miracle M3-12) (BNDA debut 2/10/79)
Village People-type hollering clapper on 7:47 eye-cued 33rpm 12in, slowed down to a more manageable 132bpm but still a bit gay and very pop.
CHER: ‘Take Me Home’ (Casablanca CAN 147) (BNDA debut 3/3/79)
Donna Summer-ish tuneful 124bpm hustler, somewhat insubstantial on edited 7in.
ALTON MCCLAIN & DESTINY: ‘It Must Be Love’ (Polydor 2095026) (BNDA debut 3/24/79)
Emotions-type 118bpm strutter (Alton and the group being girls), currently warm on import, works nicely out of something slightly slower.
BOBBY CALDWELL: ‘What You Won’t Do For Love’ (TK TKR 7529)
Gorgeous 43/86bpm smoocher by the (surprisingly) white soulster, well worth checking.
JACKIE ROBINSON & THE MEXICANO: ‘Jamaican Child’ (Ice GUY 23-12)
Powerful ambiguous rhythm 68bpm reggae jiggler on 12in, big already with JA groovers and likely to stay that way at Gullivers for quite a while!
EARLS: ‘Remember Then’ (Lightning Old Gold LIG 9019)
Classic 1963 doo-wop rocker, original of Showaddywaddy’s latest (and surely worst?).
BARRY WHITE: ‘Sha La La Means I Love You’ (20th Century BTC 1041)
Happy sophisticated 138bpm Latin lilter is almost a cha cha cha, and seems to be selling.
GREGG DIAMOND STARCRUISER: ‘(Doing That) Fancy Dancer’ (TK TKR 7534) (BNDA debut 9/2/78)
Nagging chix-chanted intensifying 111bpm pounder, edited and retitled from their LP, with a jaggedly sizzling 112bpm ‘Holding Back’ flip.
SPACE: ‘My Love Is Music’ (Pye 7NL 25802) (BNDA debut 4/14/79)
Madeline Bell-sung fast 130bpm canterer reaches a rattling break on 6:49 blue vinyl 12in – but ignore the printed bpm info (timed off cassette, which is no way to do it)!
BILL WITHERS: ‘You Got The Stuff’ (from LP ‘’Bout Love’, CBS 83176)
Infectious lighthearted but heavily chugging 102bpm funk jitterer, could be worth checking.
BAR-KAYS: ‘Holy Ghost’ (Stax 505)
Heavy 104bpm funk from a few years back, remixed and updated with added Bill Summers percussion, etc.
TUESDAYS CHILDREN: ‘Boogie Woman’ (Pinnacle PIN 75)
Bee Gees-inspired squeaky 102bpm pop-reggae on 3:10 7in or 5:25 12in, which Pinnacle hope the nation’s jocks will be plugging this Saturday at 11pm. I know a lot who won’t!
RACEY: ‘Some Girls’ (Rak 291)
Now they keep the ‘60s alive by doing ‘Judy In Disguise’ at 183bpm!
KEANE BROTHERS: ‘Dancin’ In The Moonlight’ (ABC ABCT 4252)
Boffalongo’s classic gets an adequately soul-styled Lamont Dozier-produced 123bpm teenybop disco treatment on 6:44 12in.
FOXY: ‘Hot Numbers’ (TK TKR 12-7532) (BNDA debut 4/7/79)
Boring jerky fast 137bpm remake of ‘Get Off’ on 6:29 12in, but sadly lacking the US B-side’s best hit, a 134bpm rhythm break called ‘Give Me A Break’ designed especially for mixers (TK Disco 131).
CARLOS ROMANOS: ‘1-2-1’ (PVK PV 12-21)
Chix-chanted 126bpm chugging bass thumper with Latin touches, on 5:30 12in, the title referring to a “one to one” situation.
JUDGE DREAD: ‘The Touch’ (EMI 2913)
Dated smooth synthesizer-backed 127bpm hustler, quite pleasant, also on 12in.
JOHNNY MATHIS: ‘Begin The Beguine’ (from LP ‘The Best Days Of My Life’, CBS 86080)
Mathis as disco star? Well, this lushly hustling 122bpm version was being plugged by New York’s disco radio stations, and the jauntily loping 122bpm ‘Gone Gone Gone’ is nice too.
DICK MORRISSEY & JIM MULLEN: ‘Lovely Day’ (Harvest HAR 5182)
Pleasant 55/110bpm MoR-jazz instrumental of Bill Withers’s oldie, could be useful.
ADRIAN GURVITZ: ‘The Way I Feel’ (Jet 12-140)
Jazzily skipping 131bpm racer has superstar support from EWF and Toto but falls down on the Bee Gee-ish vocal squeaking – however, it’s on totally clear vinyl 12in.
THIRD WORLD: ‘One Cold Vibe’ (Island WIP 6485)
Slightly muddled over-busy 73/147bpm reggae throbber, with an easier (and older) 71bpm flip, ‘Feel A Little Better’.
CERRONE: ‘Look For Love’ (CBS 7174) (BNDA debut 11/4/78)
Blandly pleasant but unspectacular chix-sung 120bpm thumper.
CHANSON: ‘I Can Tell’ (from LP ‘Chanson’, Ariola ARL 5018) (BNDA debut 4/21/79)
Totally different from its funky ‘Don’t Hold Back’ companion, this other initially hot cut is pure swirling 127bpm New York disco, sung by Linda Evans.
FUNKADELIC: ‘Cholly’ (Warner Bros. K 17321)
Specialist slow 102bpm P-funk, far removed from ‘One Nation’.
CHARLES JACKSON: ‘The Train’ (Capitol CL 16068)
Lovely 31bpm deep soul smoocher.
Imports
LAMONT DOZIER: ‘Boogie Business’ (from LP ‘Bittersweet’, ‘US Warner Bros. BSK 3282) (BNDA debut 5/5/79)
Already hitting, the veteran producer/writer/singer’s 128bpm stormer combines an old soul feel with some modern synthesizer (slightly like labelmate Eugene Record), while his jittery tension-filled 96/48bpm ‘Love Me To The Max’ romantic swayer strikes an even more responsible chord for many.
POUSSEZ: ‘Come On And Do It’ (from LP ‘Poussez’, US Vanguard VSD 79412) (BNDA debut 4/14/79)
Alphonse Mouzon-produced girlie group chanter is an ultra hot powerful 124bpm rolling thumper with a great catchphrase halfway, “the French they like to funk a lot – c’est bon”. It’ll be big!
SKYY: ‘Let’s Get Up (S-K-Y-Y)’ (from LP ‘Skyy’, US Salsoul SA 8517)
Randy Muller’s latest production not surprisingly reeks of Brass Construction (but better than their recent product) and has at least four hot cuts, the hottest so far being this great rolling and stamping 135bpm swinger. Check too the driving throaty 120bpm ‘This Groove Is Bad’, BC-like bouncy 119bpm ‘Let’s Turn It Out’ and French-sung 115bpm ‘Disco Dancin’’.
CARRIE LUCAS: ‘Dance With You’ (US Solar YD 11483) (BNDA debut 3/10/79)
Surprisigly old-fashioned organ and jazzy rhythm push along an otherwise modern disco dancer on 6:26 12in, which starts at 127bpm before dropping to 126bpm for the sparser instrumental second half. It’s hot here already.
CREME D’COCOA: ‘Toe Jam’ (US Venture VD 5002)
Jiggly jumping little 117bpm driver on 6:40 with wheezling synthesizer over brass and rhythm, but most notable for an “ooh, godamn, get out your seats and and jam” chant that’s better known in a more explicit version!
THE GAP BAND: ‘Baby Baba Boogie’ (from LP ‘Gap Band’, US Mercury SRM-1-37584) (BNDA debut 5/12/79)
Deceptively airy-sounding 128bpm ticker takes up most of its 6:36 with a thin strings (and sometimes subdued brass)-backed jazz-funk beat out on its own, while eventually some chix quote from Gene Chandler’s ‘Get Down’. Odd enough to click.
RICHARD TEE: ‘First Love’ (from LP ‘Strokin’’, US Tappan Zee JC 35695) (BNDA debut 3/22/80)
Gorgeously pretty ultra-catchy 122-125bpm piano skipper starts with an old Donovan-type lilt before some beefed-up jazz-funk rhythm passages but remains a ridiculously happy lighthearted instrumental romp – catch it if you can!
MELBA MOORE: ‘Pick Me Up, I’ll Dance’ (US Epic 28-50665) (BNDA debut 4/7/79)
Infectious 127bpm galloper on 7:00 12in, pop-aimed, but now breaking for several import-orientated jocks and out here soon.
JOHN TRAVOLTA: ‘A Girl Like You’ (US Midsong MD 504)
Finally logically, the media’s “King of the Disco’s” has actually done a disco song, reviving the Rascals’ oldie to a rattling 130bpm rhythm with plenty of breaks . . . and, of course, on 12in! It’s not bad, either, so why isn’t it out here?
RANDY CRAWFORD: ‘Raw Silk’ LP (US Warner Bros. BSK 3283)
Rapidly becoming THE album that discerning DJs prefer to relax with, this total gem sparkles with subtle soulfulness. Randy (a lady) is akin to the young Aretha Franklin, filling every slow track with aching beauty and gospel-style emotion (try ‘Blue Mood’ for this especially). Sophisticated soul smoochers will love it!
GQ: ‘Disco Nights’ LP (US Arista AB 4225)
The Rhythm Makers of ‘Zone’ fame in ‘75 now call themselves after Gentleman’s Quarterly magazine and fill this LP with the same great ingredients as their double-sided hit (included), but the 130bpm ‘This Happy Feeling’ and 122bpm ‘Make My Dream A Reality’ seem diluted in comparison. Veteran soul freaks could dig their smooching of Billy Stewart’s ‘I Do Love You’, though!
B. BAKER CHOCOLATE CO: ‘Snow Blower’ (from LP ‘B. Baker Chocolate Co’, US LRC 9325)
Supersession group of LRC labelmates like Lonnie Smith, Jimmy McGriff and Jimmy Ponder, currently warm for jazz-funkers with this strings-sweetened bass-bumped 104/52bpm romantic instrumental swayer. Other cuts are nice too.
EDWIN BIRDSONG: ‘Goldmine’ (US Philadelphia Int’l 2Z8 3671)
Bass and clapping-prodded monotonous low-key 110bpm burbler on 10:43 12in, warmest in Manchester, is an hypnotic oddity with all the funky ingredients well back in the mix. The original ‘Phiss-Phizz’ A-side has now fizzled out.
SALSOUL ORCHESTRA: ‘Burning Spear’ (from LP ‘Street Sense’, US Salsoul SA 8518)
This Soulful Strings oldie is also currently being revived by its composer Richard Evans, while this cantering 125bpm version has twittering synthesizer over a solidly jittering rhythm that goes into some strong bass breaks.
WITCH QUEEN: ‘Bang A Gong’ (from LP ‘Witch Queen’, US Roadshow BXL1-3312) (BNDA debut 3/10/79)
T. Rex’s ‘Get It On’ (by its US title) actually pares down rather well to a basic 135bpm beat with long freakily phasing rhythm intro and break and not that much vocal in this effective 9:56 disco version – however, Free fans, don’t expect as much of a horribly effete 118bpm ‘All Right Now’!
ULTIMATE: ‘Ultimate’ LP (US Casablanca NBLP 7128) (BNDA debut 1/20/79)
Huge in New York but completely characterless female cooing, like an unexciting Voyage, medleys through side one at 128bpm. The 126bpm ‘Ritmo De Brazil’ at least starts rhythmically before the bland prettiness takes over again.
Mix Master
Graham Canter (Mayfair Gullivers) has a dynamite mix from the rhythm bit of Players Association ‘Ride The Groove’ (Vanguard LP) into Crown Heights Affair ‘The Rock Is Hot’ (Mercury LP), while last Saturday I briefly turned Gullivers into a New York-style disco by mixing Gibson Bros. ‘Cuba’ (instrumental) (Island 12in), Hemlock ‘Disco Break’ (US Warner Bros. 12in), Sticky Fingers ‘Night Time’ (US Prelude 12in), Montana ‘I Love Music’ (US Atlantic LP), Cheryl Lynn ‘Star Love’ (CBS LP), Real Thing ‘Can You Feel The Force’ (Pye 12in, less intro), all with vari-speed adjustment. Meanwhile, downstairs in the pop room at Gullivers, Rudy Gilpin continues to amaze with his own running mixes.
UK Disco Top 90 – March 31, 1979
01 02 GQ – Disco Nights (Rock Freak) / Boogie Oogie Oogie – Arista 12″
02 05 Players Association – Turn The Music Up – Vanguard 12″
03 01 Gary’s Gang – Keep On Dancin’ / Do It At The Disco – CBS 12″
04 03 Real Thing – Can You Feel The Force – Pye 12″
05 06 Gloria Gaynor – I Will Survive – Polydor 7″/12″
06 04 Edwin Starr – Contact – 20th Century 12″
07 08 Chic – I Want Your Love / Chic Cheer – Atlantic 12″
08 11 Gibson Brothers – Cuba – Island 12″
09 12 FLB – Boogie Town – Fantasy 12″
10 15 Sister Sledge – He’s The Greatest Dancer / We Are Family – Atlantic 12″/US Cotillion 12″
11 18 Village People – In The Navy – Mercury 7″/12″
12 07 Gene Chandler – Get Down – 20th Century 12″
13 09 Herbie Hancock – You Bet Your Love – CBS 12″
14 28 Kleeer – Keep Your Body Workin’ – Atlantic 12″
15 14 Bill Summers – Straight To The Bank – Prestige 12″
16 10 Inner Circle – Everything Is Great – Island 12″
17 13 Instant Funk – I Got My Mind Made Up – Salsoul 12″/US 12″ remix
18 30 Bell & James – Livin’ It Up (Friday Night) – A&M 12″
19 21 Narada Michael Walden – I Don’t Want Nobody Else – Atlantic 12″
20 24 Gonzalez – Haven’t Stopped Dancin’ Yet – Sidewalk 12″
21 16 Gaz – Sing Sing – Salsoul 12″
22 25 Dennis Brown – Money In My Pocket – Lightning 12″
23 43 George Benson – Love Ballad – Warner Bros. 12″
24 17 Fantastic Four – BYOF / Sexy Lady – Atlantic 12″
25 19 Grey & Hanks – Dancin’ – RCA 12″
26 37 Crown Heights Affair – Dance Lady Dance – Mercury 12″/LP
27 23 T-Connection – At Midnight – TK 12″
28 26 Mick Jackson – Weekend – Atlantic 7″/US 12″ promo
29 20 Bee Gees – Tragedy – RSO 7″/US 12″ promo
30 27 Herbie Hancock – Tell Everybody / Ready Or Not – CBS LP
31 32 Bombers – (Everybody) Get Dancin’ – US West End 12″
32 67 Light Of The World – Swingin’ – Ensign 12″
33 22 Peaches & Herb – Shake Your Groove Thing – Polydor 12″
34 29 Cheryl Lynn – Got To Be Real – CBS 12″
35 35 Rick James – High On Your Love – Motown 12″
36 40 Machine – There But For The Grace Of God Go I – RCA 12″
37 NE The Jacksons – Shake Your Body Down To The Ground – Epic 12″
38 34 Players Association – Ride The Groove / Everybody Dance / The Closer I Get To You – Vanguard LP
39 54 Wardell Piper – Captain Boogie – Midsong 12″
40 53 George Duke – Party Down – Epic 12″
41 64 Arpeggio – Love And Desire – Polydor 12″
42 75 Gino Soccio – Dancer – US RFC LP/12″ remix
43 NE Sylvester – I (Who Have Nothing) – Fantasy 12″
44 85 Lorraine Johnson – Feed The Flame – US Prelude 12″/LP
45 70 Bunny Sigler – By The Way You Dance / I’m Funking You Tonite – Salsoul 12″
46 NE Giorgio Moroder – Chase – Casablanca 12″
47 61 Lemon – A-Freak-A / Chance To Dance – US Prelude 12″/LP
48 56 Mantus – (Dance It) Freestyle Rhythm – Atlantic 12″
49 NE George Benson – Soulful Strut / Unchained Melody / Before You Go / Nassau Day / Hey Girl – Warner Bros. LP
50 36 Paradise Express – Dance / Poinciana – Fantasy 12″
51 50 Hilary – Do It – US Columbia 12″/LP
52 NE Sarah Dash – Sinner Man – Kirshner 12″
53 52 Hamilton Bohannon – Cut Loose – Mercury 12″
54 31 Blondie – Heart Of Glass – Chrysalis 12″
55 47 Mike Mandel – Peg / Jupiter Finger – Vanguard 12″
56 60 Doobie Brothers – What A Fool Believes – Warner Bros. 7″
57 NE Crown Heights Affair – The Rock Is Hot / Come Fly With Me – Mercury LP
58 76 Tata Vega – Get It Up For Love – US Motown LP
59 NE Eugene Record – Magnetism – US Warner Bros. 12″
60 51 Keith Barrow – Turn Me Up – CBS 12″
61 48 Breakwater – Work It Out / Feel Your Way / No Limit / Do It Till The Fluid Gets Hot – US Arista LP
62 90 B. Baker Chocolate Co. – Snow Blower / Spirit Level – US LRC LP
63 65 Carrie Lucas – Dance With You – US Solar 12″
64 59 Lamont Dozier – Boogie Business / Love Me To The Max – US Warner Bros. LP
65 63 Mongo Santamaria – Watermelon Man – US Tappan Zee 12″
66 46 Thelma Houston – Saturday Night, Sunday Morning – Motown 7″/12″ promo
67 55 Sweet Talks – Do The Beat – US Mercury LP
68 78 Ritchie Family – American Generation – Mercury 12″
69 NE Gap Band – Baby Baba Boogie – US Mercury LP
70 NE George Duke – I Am For Real / Straight From The Heart / Funkin’ For The Thrill / Festival – Epic LP
71 82 Alton McClain & Destiny – It Must Be Love / Crazy Love – US Polydor 12″/LP
72 33 Sea Level – Fifty Four – Capricorn 12″
73 44 Donna Summer – Heaven Knows – Casablanca 7″
74 49 Two Man Sound – Que Tal America – Miracle 12″
75 NE Beach Boys – Here Comes The Night – Caribou 12″
76 88 Sticky Fingers – Sticky Fingers (all cuts) – US Prelude LP
77 NE Richard T. Bear – Sunshine Hotel – US RCA 12″
78 NE Peggy Scott – You’ve Got It All – Pinnacle 12″
79 69 Boney M. – Painter Man – Atlantic 7″
80 72 Crème D’Cocoa – Toe Jam – US Venture 12″
81 80 Peter Jacques Band – Fire Night Dance / Walking On Music – US Prelude LP
82 NE Philly Cream – Jammin’ At The Disco – US Fantasy/WMOT 12″
83 NE Air Power – Be Yourself – US AVI 12″
84 NE Melba Moore – Pick Me Up, I’ll Dance – US Epic 12″
85 NE Gary’s Gang – Showtime – CBS LP
86 83 General Johnson – Can’t Nobody Love Me Like You Do – Arista 12″
87 66 Joe Sample – Sunrise / Carmel / Cannery Row – ABC LP
88 NE Crackin’ – Double Love – Warner Bros. 12″
89 NE Enchantment – Magnetic Feel / I Wanna Boogie – US Roadshow LP
90 NE Jackie McClaine – Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Funk – US RCA LP
NE = new entry; RE = re-entry
Appeared in Billboard:
#1 (BNDA debut 2/24/79) / #2 (BNDA debut 4/7/79) / #3 (BNDA debut 1/6/79)
#5 (BNDA debut 11/11/78) / #6 (BNDA debut 11/18/78) / #7 (BNDA debut 12/16/78)
#8 (BNDA debut 4/7/79) / #10 (BNDA debut 2/10/79) / #11 (BNDA debut 4/7/79)
#12 (BNDA debut 11/18/78) / #14 (BNDA debut 4/7/79) / #15 (BNDA debut 2/10/79)
#17 (BNDA debut 1/27/79) / #19 (BNDA debut 4/14/79) / #20 (BNDA debut 12/23/78)
#25 (BNDA debut 1/20/79) / #27 (BNDA debut 1/6/79) / #29 (BNDA debut 3/17/79)
#30 (BNDA debut 7/14/79) / #31 (BNDA debut 2/10/79) / #33 (BNDA debut 10/28/78)
#34 (BNDA debut 11/25/78) / #36 (BNDA debut 1/27/79) / #37 (BNDA debut 1/6/79)
#39 (BNDA debut 4/14/79) / #41 (BNDA debut 12/16/78) / #42 (BNDA debut 2/24/79)
#43 (BNDA debut 3/24/79) / #44 (BNDA debut 11/25/78) / #45 (BNDA debut 3/10/79)
#46 (BNDA debut 1/20/79) / #47 (BNDA debut 1/6/79) / #48 (BNDA debut 2/17/79)
#50 (BNDA debut 12/9/78) / #52 (BNDA debut 11/11/78) / #54 (BNDA debut 4/14/79)
#56 (BNDA debut 4/7/79) / #58 (BNDA debut 4/14/79) / #63 (BNDA debut 3/10/79)
#64 (BNDA debut 5/5/79) / #66 (BNDA debut 2/24/79) / #68 (BNDA debut 7/22/78)
#69 (BNDA debut 5/12/79) / #71 (BNDA debut 3/24/79) / #74 (BNDA debut 9/22/79)
#75 (BNDA debut 4/7/79) / #76 (BNDA debut 3/3/79) / #77 (BNDA debut 4/7/79)
#81 (BNDA debut 2/10/79) / #82 (BNDA debut 4/14/79) / #84 (BNDA debut 4/7/79)
James Hamilton's Disco Page 