May 19, 1979: “Tory rule should improve bookings for up-market mobiles”

Disco News

Isley Brothers ‘Shout’ is getting so popular as a silly singalong at Chris Hill-type Funk Mafia gigs that RCA plan a 12in reissue of Parts 1 and 2 spliced together, their classic 1959 original version having been produced by none other than England’s own Mike Collier, of current Carlin Music/Flamingo Records fame! . . . Ian Dury backing tracks may well be remixed for an instrumental jazz-funk LP . . . Michael Jackson ‘You Can’t Win’, due on picture-disc 12in, has had to be withdrawn by Epic for legal reasons . . . Ashford and Simpson ‘Flashback’ is on Warner Bros. picture-disc 7in, though . . . Hudson People ‘Trip To Your Mind’ has definitely been remixed and restructured for future Ensign 12in . . . Tory rule should improve bookings for up-market mobiles – certainly, I’ve had lots since the election! . . . Edwin Starr was superb live last week at Watford Baileys, while Light Of The World lived up to high expectations despite playing nearly everything at 132bpm . . . Bournemouth’s recent all-dayer saw a stoical crowd suffering appalling sound, poor bar service and steam heat (though the “let’s get wet” water pistol brigade helped a bit!), the much-vaunted Village refit into the Stateside Centre apparently amounting to little more than new carpets and a sign over the burger serving hatch saying Walt’s Diner! Promoter Peter Matthews is now scouting for new non-Mafia jocks for future Purley fests . . . Dorset doesn’t have local radio so my brief holiday there meant listening to awful Radio One “new wave” (?) caterwauling and a repetitive rota of Ironhorse, Amii Stewart, Linda Clifford, Melba Moore, Pointer Sisters – who seemed to be on every show: if that’s what a lot of you have to put up with, no wonder the chart’s the way it is! . . . Chris Browne’s recent DJ contest at Elephant and Castle Charlie Chaplin’s was won by Jude Wolfe, now of Marble Arch Queen of Hearts, runners-up being Ian King and Larry Foster, the event attracting liggers Chris Brown (no “e”), Robin Nash, Sean French, John DeSade and various disco pluggers – but next to no punters! . . . Nikki Peck (Chatham Scamps) now writes the ‘Discopekin’’ [sic] page every Friday in the Kent Evening Post, and does the opening night next Thursday (24) at Oxford’s new Bogarts, St Clements . . . John Lewis, ever controversial, now says that jeans ARE allowed during the summer season at Brighton Metro! . . . Paul Anthony (Birmingham Rum Runner/Sloopys/Zoo) says he’s heavily into mixing at the moment despite obsolete equipment . . . Graham Bond and Martin Gibbon of the Ormesby (Middlesbrough) based Teesvalley Roadshow report an upsurge of interest in the North, yet again, for old Motown and 60’s soul.

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UK Newies

Hot weather, sleepless nights, mobile gigs, radio programmes and a summer cold have prevented me from catching up with the large backlog of UK releases this week, sorry, but ones to look out for include:

REAL THING: ‘Can You Feel The Force (remix)’ (Pye 12P 105)

SISTER SLEDGE: ‘We Are Family’ (Atlantic K 11293) (BNDA debut 2/10/79)

EDDY GRANT: ‘Living On The Frontline’ / ‘The Frontline Symphony’ (Ensign ENY 26)

DANCE PEOPLE: ‘Dance People’ (Satril SAT 144T) 

HILARY: ‘Do It’ (CBS 12-7315)

BECK FAMILY: ‘Can’t Shake The Feeling’ (London LHLE 10569)

LONNIE LISTON SMITH: ‘Exotic Mysteries’ LP (incl ‘Space Princess’) (CBS 83331)

MONGO SANTAMARIA: ‘Red Hot’ LP (incl ‘Watermelon Man’) (CBS 83340)

MILLIE JACKSON: ‘A Moment’s Pleasure’ LP (incl ‘Kiss You All Over’) (Spring 2391395)

HOT CHOCOLATE: ‘Mindless Boogie’ (Rak 292)

ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA: ‘Shine A Little Love’ (Jet 144)

VILLAGE PEOPLE: ‘Go West’ LP (Mercury 9109621) (BNDA debut 4/7/79)

PATRICK JUVET: ‘Viva California’ / ‘Gay Paris’ (Casablanca CANL 150)

PATRICK HERNANDEZ: ‘Born To Be Alive’ (Gem 12-4) (BNDA debut 5/19/79)

MOTOWN SOUNDS: ‘Bad Mouthin’’ / ‘Space Dance’ (Motown 12 TMG 1143)

CARTE BLANCHE: ‘Get Up Get On Your Feet’ (Pye 7NL 46193)

MANDRE: ‘Swang’ (Motown 12 TMG 1144)

DAVID NAUGHTON: ‘Makin’ It’ (RSO 32) (BNDA debut 3/10/79)

CANDI STATON: ‘When You Wake Up Tomorrow’ (Warner Bros. K 17370) (BNDA debut 5/26/79)

DENNIS PARKER: ‘Like An Eagle’ (Mercury 6007217) (BNDA debut 4/7/79)

THEO VANESS: ‘As Long As It’s Love’ (Epic 12-7265) (BNDA debut 4/14/79)

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Imports

DISCO MIX: ‘Fusion’ (US Disco Mix 12-1001)
Latest and by far the best of the special New York DJ bootlegs, this incredible 15:30 12in contains all your favourite rhythm breaks edited together and vari-speeded so that there is an amazingly consistent bass beat running through them all without any dancer-throwing hiccups! Starting at 122bpm, it remains in the 122-123-124bpm bracket apart from some mind-blowing 126bpm bits towards the end, where various Cerrone/Moroder synthesizer breaks erupt into ‘Dance Dance Dance’, the individual “dance” words interspersed with accurately inserted snippets from other “dance” records. You can dip in and synchronize the rhythm with whatever you were playing, leave the mixed breaks on for a while to amaze your punters, then go back into something else. However, this is not being generally imported so may be hard to find – though it’s almost worth the trip to New York.

DIRECT CURRENT: ‘Everybody Here Must Party’ (US TEC 59) (BNDA debut 4/7/79)
Great out of McFadden & Whitehead, this simply catchy 115bpm clapping chugger drives along on 8:58 12in with scatting and wailing chix counting down “one to get ready, two to show, three to get set, four to go”, the main message being “ain’t nothing but a party y’all” until a “don’t stop, don’t stop, were almost there” towards the end. The instrumental flip makes the percussion even more prominent.

JACKIE MCLEAN: ‘Doctor Jackyll And Mister Funk’ (US RCA PD 11570)
Remixed for 6:00 12in, the jazz content of this great 116bpm funker remains unchanged but the chanting now continues through the central break and on through the previous instrumental second half (which I always preferred as it was) – however, this does mean that you can mix in at the break as the jazzier last part is now more impact-filled.

SWITCH: ‘Best Beat In Town’ / ‘Fallin’’ (from LP ‘Switch II’, US Gordy G7-988R1) (BNDA debut 7/7/79)
Likely two hottest cuts on a consistent set are a sparse 4:48 clapping 126bpm “rock” backbeater and hard-driving 5:47 fast flowing 132bpm racer with rattling break, but every cut has appeal. The burbling jittery 121 bpm ‘Go On Doin’ What You Feel’ clapper builds through dated Jacksons-ish falsetto to a tougher bass-bumped break, the lightweight 132bpm ‘Next To You’ chugger has Dells-ish harmonies, while the smoochers are a Chi-Lites-like 40pm ‘You’re The One For Me’, tender 32 bpm ‘Calling On All Girls’ and squeakily juvenile 40bpm ‘I Call Your Name’.

ESTHER PHILLIPS: ‘Oo Oop Oo Oop’ / ‘Our Day Will Come’ (from LP ‘Here’s Esther . . . Are You Ready’, US Mercury SRM 1-3769)
Esther’s rough razor-blade voice still appeals most to sophisticated crowds, but this hard-pounding 136bpm talk-sung 5:30 story-song has the beat plus eponymous “oops oops” and some ‘Land Of A 1000 Dances’-type scatting near the end, while her lush sophisticated 5:28 revival of the now rattling 132bpm Ruby & The Romantics classic could grab some samba fans. She also revives Natalie Cole’s plodding 115bpm ‘Mr Melody’ hustler and even makes Barbara Acklin’s 138bpm ‘Love Makes A Woman’ swinger sound like Natalie’s ‘This Will Be’.

DYNASTY: ‘Your Piece Of The Rock (Part 1)’ (US Solar YD-11540)
Uninspired but serviceable 116bpm “rock” stamper on 7:54 12in with jaggedly jiggling undertow, chanting chaps ‘n’ chix, clapping backbeat and syndrum bursts, could add up into another Lakeside. Part 2 carries on for 5:04 with less vocal.

CUBA GOODING: ‘Disco Royale’ (from LP ‘Love Dancer’, US Motown M7-919R1)
Pleasant 6:14 Latin-tinged gently rattling and thumping 115bpm hustler with an understated Chic-type flavour that has probably more potential for New York though could catch on here.

SANDY MERCER: ‘Now That You’re In (What Cha Gonna Do About It)’ (US RCA PD-11561)
Having somewhat dismissed the A-side recently, I must confess my warped copy discouraged any further effort with this 6:00 flipside, which – thanx to Fatman’s flat copy! – turns out to be a much better and more useable gently rocking 121bpm creamy hustler, with exceptionally interesting lyrics (look at the title!) about which remarks concerning Margaret Thatcher could apply but would fall short of their sexy double meaning.

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Mix Master

My own megamix, so look out!  The Jacksons ‘Shake Your Body’ (Epic 12in), chopping at any climaxing scream into Taka Boom ‘Night Dancin’’ (US Arista 12in), mixing at instrumental into two bars before vocal Melba Moore ‘Pick Me Up I’ll Dance’ (Epic 12in), chopping (or synching if vari-speed) into vocal start Bombers ‘(Everybody) Get Dancin’’ (Flamingo 12in), mixing at percussion break into Real Thing ‘Force’ instrumental remix (Pye promo/US Epic 12in), chopping at any appropriate pause into first fast beat Joe Thomas ‘Make Your Move’ (US LRC LP), synching at freaky clapping break into Hemlock ‘Disco Break’ (US Warner Bros. 12in), chopping at any brief break into first main noisy beat Light Of The World ‘Midnight Groovin’’ (Ensign LP), chopping at “keep on” into Splendor ‘All Night Long’ (US Columbia 12in) – these last three plus LOTW ‘Swingin’’ being inter-choppable ad infinitum if you so wish! – chopping into EWF/Emotions ‘Boogie Wonderland’ (CBS 12in).

This entire mix does not need vari-speed decks, although if you’ve got them you can fine-tune some dynamite running synchs in the Taka Boom – Real Thing section. Other minimixes include Slick ‘Space Bass’ (Fantasy 12in promo), synchronising after freaky buzzsaw sound into Linda Clifford ‘BOTW’ (RSO 12in), chopping about two-thirds through into first main noisy beat LOTW ‘Swingin’’ (Ensign 12in), mixing at longest pause into halfway percussion break on B-side Mantus ‘(Dance It) Freestyle Rhythm’ (Atlantic 12in), chopping very soon into halfway percussion break Brainstorm ‘Hot For You’ (US Tabu 12in). Another is Gonzalez ‘Haven’t Stopped Dancing Yet’, mixing at percussion break into first main slower beat after fast intro Edwin Starr ‘HAPPY Radio’ (20th C. 12in), muting at start of first long rhythm passage – and keeping the rhythm up – into very start of LOTW ‘Midnight Groovin’’ (Ensign LP), which eventually reaches its main beat before Edwin does anything!

Finally, Graham Canter (Mayfair Gullivers) mixes the mainly acappella part near end of McFadden & Whitehead ‘Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now’ (Philadelphia Int’l 12in) into intro Anita Ward ‘Ring My Bell’ (US TK 12in), while Chris Hill (Canvey Goldmine) segues the cold end of GQ ‘Make My Dream A Reality’ (Arista LP) into intro Bombers ‘Get Dancin’’ (Flamingo 12in). Phew!

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Hot Vinyl

Robbie Collins (Charing Cross Global Village, London) import tips:
FIVE SPECIAL: ‘Why Leave Us Alone’ (US Elektra 12”) (BNDA debut 7/7/79)
AL WILSON: ‘Earthquake’ (US Roadshow LP)
STEWART THOMAS GROUP: ‘To Freak Or Not To Freak’ (US Arista 12”) (BNDA debut 5/26/79)
RAMSEY LEWIS: ‘Dancin’’ (US Columbia LP)
DALE JACOBS & COBRA: ‘Cobra’ / ‘Freedom’ (US Epic LP)
KAY-GEES: ‘Burn Me Up’ / ‘Latican Funk’ (US De-Lite LP)
TRAMMPS: ‘Love Insurance Policy’ / ‘Teaser’ / ‘The Whole World’s Dancing’ (US Atlantic LP) (BNDA debut 6/9/79)

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UK Disco Top 90 – May 19, 1979

01 05 McFadden & Whitehead – Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now – US Philadelphia Int’l 12″
02 03 Gino Soccio – Dancer / Dance To Dance – Warner Bros. 12″
03 01 The Jacksons – Shake Your Body Down To The Ground – Epic 12″
04 02 Sister Sledge – He’s The Greatest Dancer – Atlantic 12″/LP/US Cotillion 12″
05 17 Melba Moore – Pick Me Up, I’ll Dance – Epic 12″
06 04 Gonzalez – Haven’t Stopped Dancin’ Yet – Sidewalk 12″
07 22 T-Connection – Saturday Night – TK 12″
08 10 Light Of The World – Swingin’ – Ensign 7″/12″
09 13 M – Pop Muzik – MCA 12″
10 28 Bombers – (Everybody) Get Dancin’ – Flamingo 12″
11 09 George Benson – Love Ballad – Warner Bros. 7″/12″
12 06 Players Association – Turn The Music Up – Vanguard 12″
13 79 Anita Ward – Ring My Bell – US TK 12″/Juana LP
14 14 Amii Stewart – Knock On Wood – Atlantic 12″
15 NE Earth, Wind & Fire & The Emotions – Boogie Wonderland – CBS 12″
16 23 Herbie Hancock – Tell Everybody / Ready Or Not / Trust Me – CBS 7″/LP/US 12″
17 07 Gibson Brothers – Cuba – Island 12″
18 12 Real Thing – Can You Feel The Force – Pye 12″/US Epic 12″
19 42 Players Association – Ride The Groove / Everybody Dance – Vanguard 12″
20 25 Philly Cream – Jammin’ At The Disco – Fantasy 12″
21 33 Linda Clifford – Bridge Over Troubled Water – RSO 12″
22 38 Eddy Grant – Living On The Frontline / Frontline Symphony – Ensign 12″/Ice LP
23 08 Three Degrees – The Runner – Ariola 12″
24 29 Force – Rock Your Baby – US Philadelphia Int’l 12″
25 30 Joe Thomas – Make Your Move / Sugar Smack – TK 12″/US LRC LP
26 21 Bunny Sigler – By The Way You Dance / I’m Funking You Tonite – Salsoul 12″
27 24 Crown Heights Affair – Dance Lady Dance – Mercury 12″
28 54 War – Good Good Feelin’ – MCA 12″
29 41 Skyy – First Time Around / Let’s Get Up / This Groove Is Bad – US Salsoul LP
30 35 Raydio – Rock On / Hot Stuff / You Can’t Change That – Arista LP
31 11 GQ – Disco Nights (Rock Freak) / Boogie Oogie Oogie – Arista 12″
32 NE Peaches & Herb – Reunited – Polydor 7″
33 32 Eugene Record – Magnetism – Warner Bros. 12″
34 19 Kleeer – Keep Your Body Workin’ – Atlantic 12″
35 62 Eruption – One Way Ticket – Atlantic 7″/12″
36 31 Nytro – Nytro Express – US Whitfield 12″
37 45 Richard T. Bear – Sunshine Hotel – RCA 12″
38 16 Village People – In The Navy – Mercury 7″/12″
39 NE Sister Sledge – We Are Family – Atlantic 7″/US Cotillion 12″
40 18 Chic – I Want Your Love / Chic Cheer – Atlantic 12″
41 44 GQ – This Happy Feeling / Make My Dream A Reality / I Do Love You – Arista LP
42 60 Mass Production – Can’t You See I’m Fired Up / Strollin’ / Firecracker – Atlantic 12″/US Cotillion LP
43 49 Richard Evans – Burning Spear / Do-Re-Me-For-Soul – US Horizon 12″/LP
44 39 Tata Vega – Get It Up For Love – Motown 12″
45 36 Beach Boys – Here Comes The Night – Caribou 12″
46 50 Lamont Dozier – Boogie Business / Love Me To The Max / Bittersweet – Warner Bros. 12″/US LP
47 NE Edwin Starr – H.A.P.P.Y. Radio – 20th Century 12″
48 43 Gap Band – Baby Baba Boogie / Shake – US Mercury LP
49 NE Donna Summer – Hot Stuff – Casablanca 12″
50 77 Wings – Goodnight Tonight – Parlophone 12″
51 78 Stephanie Mills – Whatcha Gonna Do With My Lovin’ / Put Your Body In It – US 20th Century LP
52 81 Billy Preston & Syreeta – Go For It – Motown 12″
53 48 B. Baker Chocolate Co. – Snow Blower / Higher ‘N Higher / Spirit Level – US LRC LP
54 84 Billy Paul – Bring The Family Back – US Philadelphia Int’l 12″/LP
55 20 Gloria Gaynor – I Will Survive – Polydor 7″/12″
56 26 Narada Michael Walden – I Don’t Want Nobody Else – Atlantic 12″
57 58 Jackie McLean – Dr. Jackyll And Mr. Funk – US RCA 12″/LP
58 27 Bell & James – Livin’ It Up (Friday Night) – A&M 12″
59 61 Spyro Gyra – Morning Dance / Starburst / Heliopolis / It Doesn’t Matter / Jubilee – US Amherst/Infinity LP
60 NE Slick – Space Bass – Fantasy 12″ promo
61 37 Wardell Piper – Captain Boogie – Midsong 12″
62 52 George Benson – Soulful Strut / Unchained Melody / Before You Go – Warner Bros. LP
63 66 Dance People – Dance People – Satril 12″
64 71 Boney M. – Hooray! Hooray! It’s A Holi-Holiday – Atlantic 7″/12″
65 NE Ashford & Simpson – Flashback – Warner Bros. 12″
66 59 Poussez – Come On And Do It / Boogie With Me – Vanguard LP
67 NE Heatwave – Razzle Dazzle / Raise A Blaze / Eyeballin’ – US Epic LP
68 NE Dennis Brown – Ain’t That Loving You – Laser 12″
69 89 Jones Girls – You Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else – US Philadelphia Int’l 12″
70 NE Teena Marie – Don’t Look Back / I’m A Sucker For Your Love – US Gordy LP
71 NE Light Of The World – Midnight Groovin’ – Ensign LP
72 55 Richard Tee – First Love / Strokin’ – US Tappan Zee LP
73 RE Air Power – Be Yourself – AVI 12″
74 72 Arthur Adams – I Like It Funky – US A&M LP
75 RE Peter Jacques Band – Walking On Music – Ariola 12″
76 40 Side Effect – Disco Junction – Fantasy 12″
77 87 Hudson People – Trip To Your Mind – Hithouse 12″
78 76 Brainstorm – Hot For You / Don’t Let Me Catch You With Your Groove Down – US Tabu 12″
79 88 Kay-Gees – Latican Funk / Burn Me Up / The Rhythm Is Hot – US De-Lite LP
80 NE Prince Phillip Mitchell – Let’s Get Wet – US Atlantic 12″
81 53 Montana – I Love Music / You Know How Good It Is – US Atlantic 12″/LP
82 64 Two Man Sound – Que Tal America (remix) – Miracle 12″
83 57 Hilary – Do It – US Columbia 12″/LP
84 86 Mandre – Freakin’s Fine / Swang / Spirit Groove / Final Funk – US Motown LP
85 NE Taka Boom – Night Dancin’ – US Ariola 12″
86 NE Splendor – All Night Long – US Columbia 12″
87 85 Uncle Louie – Full Tilt Boogie – US Marlin LP
88 82 Harvey Mason – Groovin’ You / Say It Again – US Arista LP
89 NE Linda Clifford – Don’t Give It Up / Hold Me Close – US RSO LP
90 74 Hemlock – Disco Break – US Warner Bros. 12″
NE = new entry; RE = re-entry

Appeared in Billboard:
#1 (BNDA debut 4/7/79) / #2 (BNDA debut 2/24/79) / #3 (BNDA debut 1/6/79)
#4 (BNDA debut 2/10/79) / #5 (BNDA debut 4/7/79) / #6 (BNDA debut 12/23/78)
#9 (BNDA debut 9/8/79) / #10 (BNDA debut 2/10/79) / #12 (BNDA debut 4/7/79)
#13 (BNDA debut 4/14/79) / #14 (BNDA debut 2/3/79) / #15 (BNDA debut 6/2/79)
#16 (BNDA debut 7/14/79) / #17 (BNDA debut 4/7/79) / #20 (BNDA debut 4/14/79)
#21 (BNDA debut 3/31/79) / #23 (BNDA debut 5/26/79) / #26 (BNDA debut 3/10/79)
#28 (BNDA debut 4/14/79) / #31 (BNDA debut 2/24/79) / #34 (BNDA debut 4/7/79)
#35 (BNDA debut 9/29/79) / #37 (BNDA debut 4/7/79) / #38 (BNDA debut 4/7/79)
#39 (BNDA debut 2/10/79) / #40 (BNDA debut 12/16/78) / #44 (BNDA debut 4/14/79)
#45 (BNDA debut 4/7/79) / #46 (BNDA debut 5/5/79) / #47 (BNDA debut 6/9/79)
#48 (BNDA debut 5/12/79) / #49 (BNDA debut 4/21/79) / #51 (BNDA debut 6/2/79)
#52 (BNDA debut 4/14/79) / #55 (BNDA debut 11/11/78) / #56 (BNDA debut 4/14/79)
#61 (BNDA debut 4/14/79) / #66 (BNDA debut 4/14/79) / #69 (BNDA debut 5/12/79)
#72 (BNDA debut 3/22/80) / #75 (BNDA debut 2/10/79) / #78 (BNDA debut 4/7/79)
#82 (BNDA debut 9/22/79) / #88 (BNDA debut 6/16/79) / #89 (BNDA debut 3/31/79)