Disco News
Patti Boulaye ‘Disco Dancer’ appears now to be on 12in (certainly on promo 12in), Amii Stewart ‘Light My Fire’ is not only on 12in but “kleeer” vinyl too, while Gonzalez ‘Move It To The Music’ has evidently been withdrawn (despite being our lead review two weeks ago!) . . . Gap Band ‘Baby Baba Boogie’ / ‘Shake’ are back to back in 7:32 and 5:58 versions on import 12in (US Mercury MDS-4006) . . . Olympic Runners ‘Energy Beam’ (Polydor B-side) is of course 115bpm and not 155bpm, as printed, but – discovered totally by chance when playing a white label at the wrong speed – David Benoit ‘Life Is Like A Samba’ (AVI 12in, due soon) is dynamite when the 128bpm 45rpm 12in is spun at 33 1/3rpm, coming out at a much easier 96bpm without too much distortion even to the vocal bits! . . . Quantum Jump ‘Lone Ranger’ chop-mixes without missing a beat into Redbone ‘Witch Queen Of New Orleans’, should that be your punters’ bag, while Chic’s ‘Good Times’ instrumental section vari-speeds up to synch nicely with Richard Tee ‘First Love’ . . . Edinburgh and environs finally have their own Lothian & Fife DJ Association, with 40 members so far, full details from the Assn Secretary, Alistair Kay, c/o Setters Disco Centre, Bruntsfield Place, Edinburgh (031-229 6662) . . . “Disco” magazine has sadly been unable to find further finance so will not be reappearing, but you can expect Record Mirror to fill the gap with extended disco coverage soon . . . PVK Records are inviting DJ’s to send full work details for mailing list consideration to Phil Cooper, PVK Records, Hillbottom Road, High Wycombe, Bucks . . . Roger St Pierre’s various PR and associated companies are now based at 17 Nelson Road, Greenwich, London SE10 9JB (01-858 8892), but as already stated Sally Ormsby is no longer involved and is looking for central premises for her Sally “O” firm . . . David ‘Boogie Vibes’ Emery (Newcastle-Upon-Tyne) info’s that Newcastle’s famous Callers Record Store are currently flogging recent import LP’s for only £3-£3.50 in their summer sale . . . Southgate Royalty hit it lucky (they hope) next Friday 13th, when Chris Hill & Sean French celebrate a ‘Halfway to Caister’ party, it being 13 weeks since the last and 13 weeks until the next Caister Funk Weekender . . . Tony James (Southern Counties National Roadshow, Dorchester) moans about the price of records now, and says that at this rate we will soon have the £100 a night mobile – and why the hell not, say I? It appalls me how much disco operators undervalue their services, the majority seemingly going out for much the same money as one could get ten years ago. If you’re any good, charge what you’re worth! Remember, for twice the price you only need work half as much – and if you’re worried about “cowboys” getting your gigs if you jack your prices up, don’t forget to take your spurs off before going to bed.
UK Newies
HARVEY MASON: ‘Groovin’ You’ (Arista ARIST 12270) (BNDA debut 6/16/79)
Finally out here on 6:15 12in, this dynamite 121-122bpm Olympic Runners-type variety-filled “bom bom” bomber still sounds like a UK smash to me!
KANDIDATE: ‘Girls, Girls, Girls’ (Rak RAK 295)
Gorgeous harmony chanter, sadly only on 7in, lopes along at a bright and breezily clapping 116bpm with more than a trace of the Moments’ old ‘Girls’.
ME AND YOU: ‘You Never Know What You’ve Got’ (Deb MUSIC DEB 031)
Due soon also on Scope, this tremendously catchy 92bpm reggae reading of the Bell & James song will have you singing along before the 12in ends.
REAL THING: ‘Boogie Down (Get Funky Now)’ (Pye 12P 109)
Jittery jiggling 116bpm plodder on 7:40 12in with “whup whoa” chants, whistles, shakers and all sorts of surface activity livening up a fairly unimaginative song – however the effect is as intended, so while not another ‘Force’ it should do well. Instrumental flip.
GIBSON BROTHERS: ‘Better Do It Salsa’ (from LP ‘Cuba’, Island ILPS 9579) (BNDA debut 9/8/79)
Although also included and on 33 1/3rpm 12in as a follow-up single, the 120-121bpm ‘Ooh! What A Life’ (12XWIP 6503) whips up less excitement than this 122-123bpm Latin romper. Both are familiar to ‘Cuba’, both work well, but after you’ve heard ‘em both you’ll probably agree.
DIRECT CURRENT: ‘Everybody Here Must Party’ (Sidewalk 12SID 110) (BNDA debut 4/7/79)
Powerfully rhythmic 116bpm party chanter on 6:58 12in with chix counting off in an updated ‘Blue Suede Shoes’ style and everything geared to keep you dancing.
BILLIE JO SPEARS: ‘I Will Survive’ (UA UP 601)
Amazing MoR-Country-Disco treatment, at 120bpm with a useful tempo-slowing finish, should completely revive the ladies’ fave request!
ATLANTIC STARR: ‘(Let’s) Rock ‘N Roll’ (Funk A&Merica AMSP 7452)
Exuberant 7:30 “rock” stamper on 7:26 12in with bumping bass and braying brass behind the fast strutting 121-125bpm beat, which mixes after the intro out of the Jacksons’ ‘Shake Your Body’.
TUMBLACK: ‘Caraiba’ (Island 12XWIP 6500)
Complex exciting and exotic instrumental rattler from France on 33 1/3rpm 12in starts with searing phasing, useful for mixing, and races around 130 1/2-131-130bpm.
GEORGE BENSON: ‘Unchained Melody’ (Warner Bros. K 17409 (T))
Always the big smoocher on his LP, the gorgeous 33bpm treatment of Al Hibbler’s 1955 oldie is flipped on 12in by the gently jogging 112bpm ‘Before You Go’.
Imports
DAVID BENDETH: ‘Feel The Real’ (Canadian IGM 12E4-8326)
London’s hottest jazz-funk newie last weekend, this lavishly-packaged 6:09 12in jogger from Canada is a gradually building 125bpm jiggling thumper with scatting blue-eyed singing at times over the white guitarist’s chunky rhythm drive.
SUN: ‘Radiation Level’ (US Capitol Disco 8510)
Foundation-shaking explosion effect starts a moodily building 120bpm atmospheric funk jiggler with distinctive buzzing synthesizer bass tones and light harmony chanting, all reaching an hypnotic intensity on 6:55 12in – which recently seemed permanently to be sold-out, causing a late review!
HERBIE HANCOCK: ‘Tell Everybody’ (US Columbia 43-11019) (BNDA debut 7/14/79)
And another that was sold-out, though I heard it briefly, this is a complete remix of the sound we know, now on 7:48 122bpm 12in with added syndrums and mucho excitement! Pity it’s too late for here, even if not for the behind-the-times States.
TEDDY PENDERGRASS: ‘Turn Off The Lights’ (from LP ‘Teddy’, US Philadelphia Int’l FZ 36003)
Typically yearning soulful 30bpm slowie with dramatically emphatic crescendos, ‘Come Go With Me’ being another nice 43bpm smoocher with sexy chick joining in for a love rap, while dancers include ‘Do Me’, a skipping 131bpm bass-brightened 4:41 happy romper, ‘Life Is A Circle’, a scat-spiked 120bpm rattling 5:50 canterer, and the McFadden & Whitehead-penned ‘If You Know Like I Know’ 109bpm back-beat jogger.
JR WALKER: ‘Sax Attack’ (from LP ‘Back Street Boogie’, US Whitfield WHK 3331)
Norman Whitfield-produced racing fast exciting 126bpm strutter with Stargard vocals and a slow tricky bass plonks and toy hooter intro, only 3:40, while the 7:16 title track (also on 12in, DWHI 8862), is a jaggedly jumping frantic 135bpm flier with exciting backing for Autry’s typical vocal and sax. Of wider appeal, ‘Wishing On A Star’ gets a lovely slow-starting 38bpm 5:58 smooch revival, building into an intense soulfully pent-up climax.
BARRY WHITE: ‘It Ain’t Love, Babe (Until You Give It)’ (US Unlimited Gold 4Z8-1403)
Now on 5:52 12in from his current album, the impact-filled 120bpm instrumental intro leads into some more mundane vocal bits but much of the initial Latin-flavoured excitement is retained, making it Bazza’s best in a while.
MICHAEL WHITE: ‘I Like It’ (from LP ‘White Night’, US Elektra 6E-183)
Gently jogging 113bpm jazz-funk ditty, insubstantial at only 3:14, with catchily chanting disco chix and more of producer Wayne Henderson’s trombone than Michael’s violin – though he gets more to do on the similar lightweight but 6:00 skipping 116-118bpm version of Ronnie Laws’s ‘Never Be The Same’.
EUGENE RECORD: ‘Magnetism’ (US Warner Bros. WBSD 8845)
Again like Herbie Hancock a bit late for here, this 9:21 12in remix makes the spurting 127bpm leaper a lot blander than before, with the exciting synthesizer splurges intro leading straight into some instrumental before the vocal, and the completely rearranged instrumental last part (always the best bit) becoming now less jazzily driving and adding some vocal inserts. Interesting, but still not quite the killer it could have been.
JEAN WELLS: ‘I Just Can’t Stop Dancing’ (US TEC 60) (BNDA debut 9/8/79)
Jaunty 124bpm clopper on 7:24 12in with thumping break bounds like it could be another ‘Ring My Bell’ but doesn’t get there.
BONNIE BOYER: ‘Got To Give In To Love’ (US Columbia 43-11026) (BNDA debut 8/4/79)
Perkily strutting 124bpm smacker with catchy staccato title line and rattling break on 7:04 12in.
PUFF: ‘(You Got Me) In The Mood’ (US Willpower WC 1002)
Another on Will Crittendon’s new label, the frothily zinging 134bpm New York leaper is loosely structured on 7:52 12in to give lots of mix points for the type of DJ at which it is aimed.
ROBERTA GILLIAM: ‘Magic In The Music’ (US Buddah DSC 135)
Insubstantial fast 137bpm skitterer with clapping accents on 7:52 12in, far more interesting for its 46bpm ‘Let’s Not Rush It’ slow flip – which runs inside out, tracking from the label to the rim (where it nearly throws off and ruins your stylus!).
Hot Vinyl
Eric Hearn (Liverpool Time Piece) play-lists a good selection of funk imports and recent UK releases, a cross section of the more interesting imports being:
CHUCK BROWN: ‘Game Seven’ (US Source 12”)
DEXTER WANSEL: ‘It’s Been Cool’ (US Philadelphia Int’l 12”)
ISLEY BROTHERS: ‘Winner Takes All’ LP (US T-Neck LP) (‘It’s A Disco Night’ BNDA debut 8/25/79)
CROWD PLEASERS: ‘Freaky People’ / ‘Prancin’’ (US Salsoul LP)
AIRTO MOREIRA: ‘Amajour’ (US Warner Bros. LP)
SUN: ‘Radiation Level’ (US Capitol 12”)
LEE RITENOUR: ‘Feel The Night’ (US Elektra LP)
LENNY WILLIAMS: ‘Doing The Loop De Loop’ (US MCA 7”)
LARRY GRAHAM: ‘Foxy Lady’ (US Warner Bros. 7”)
All of which seem like an accurate representation of hip taste in that area.
UK Disco Top 90 – July 7, 1979
01 01 Anita Ward – Ring My Bell – TK 12″
02 02 McFadden & Whitehead – Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now – Philadelphia Int’l 12″
03 03 Earth, Wind & Fire & The Emotions – Boogie Wonderland – CBS 12″
04 04 Sister Sledge – We Are Family – Atlantic 12″
05 05 Slick – Space Bass – Fantasy 12″
06 06 Edwin Starr – H.A.P.P.Y. Radio – 20th Century 12″
07 07 Eddy Grant – Living On The Frontline – Ensign 7″/12″
08 09 Chantal Curtis – Get Another Love – Pye 12″
09 12 Teena Marie – I’m A Sucker For Your Love – Motown 12″
10 08 Donna Summer – Hot Stuff – Casablanca 12″
11 10 Tata Vega – Get It Up For Love / I Just Keep Thinking About You Baby – Motown 12″
12 13 Gary’s Gang – Showtime / Let’s Lovedance Tonight – CBS 12″
13 16 Joe Thomas – Make Your Move – TK 12″
14 11 Melba Moore – Pick Me Up, I’ll Dance – Epic 12″
15 15 Gino Soccio – Dancer / Dance To Dance – Warner Bros. 12″
16 18 Candi Staton – When You Wake Up Tomorrow – Warner Bros. 12″
17 20 Roxy Music – Dance Away – Polydor 7″
18 17 Bombers – (Everybody) Get Dancin’ – Flamingo 12″
19 27 Patrick Hernandez – Born To Be Alive – Gem 12″
20 28 Earth, Wind & Fire – Star / Let Your Feelings Show / After The Love Is Gone / In The Stone / Rock That / I Can’t Let Go – CBS LP
21 22 War – Good Good Feelin’ – MCA 12″
22 14 T-Connection – Saturday Night – TK 12″
23 19 M – Pop Muzik – MCA 12″
24 23 Blondie – Sunday Girl – Chrysalis 12″
25 71 Chic – Good Times – Atlantic 12″
26 21 Jacksons – Shake Your Body Down To The Ground – Epic 12″
27 37 Carrie Lucas – Dance With You – Solar 12″
28 41 Deniece Williams – I’ve Got The Next Dance – CBS 12″
29 24 Crusaders – Street Life / Carnival Of The Night / The Hustler – MCA LP
30 38 Heatwave – Razzle Dazzle / Eyeballin’ / Raise A Blaze / Therm Warfare / One Night Tan – GTO 7″/LP
31 30 Hudson People – Trip To Your Mind – Ensign 12″
32 43 V/A – Turn On The Tap (all cuts) – Tappan Zee 12″ EP
33 51 Janet Kay – Silly Games – Scope 12″
34 25 Village People – Go West – Mercury 12″
35 40 GQ – This Happy Feeling / Make My Dream A Reality – Arista 12″
36 34 Amii Stewart – Light My Fire – Atlantic 12″
37 42 Jones Girls – You Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else – Philadelphia Int’l 12″
38 29 Jackie McLean – Dr. Jackyll And Mr. Funk – RCA 12″
39 48 Light Of The World – Midnight Groovin’ – Ensign 12″/LP
40 32 Five Special – Why Leave Us Alone – Elektra 12″
41 47 L.A.X. – Dancin’ At The Disco – Pye 12″
42 64 Donna Summer – Bad Girls / Our Love – Casablanca 12″/LP
43 26 Herbie Hancock – Tell Everybody – CBS 12″/US 12″ remix
44 60 Diana Ross – The Boss / No One Gets The Prize / It’s My House / I Ain’t Been Licked – Motown 12″/LP
45 33 Gonzalez – Haven’t Stopped Dancin’ Yet – Sidewalk 12″
46 35 Amii Stewart – Knock On Wood – Atlantic 12″
47 36 Eruption – One Way Ticket – Atlantic 12″
48 58 Billy Paul – Bring The Family Back – Philadelphia Int’l 12″
49 31 Peaches & Herb – Reunited – Polydor 7″
50 49 Poussez – Come On And Do It / Boogie With Me / Never Gonna Say Goodbye – Vanguard 12″/LP
51 50 Roy Ayers – Fever / Love Will Bring Us Back Together – Polydor 12″/LP
52 74 Taka Boom – Night Dancin’ – Ariola 12″
53 45 Hot Chocolate – Mindless Boogie – Rak 12″
54 62 Frantique – Strut Your Funky Stuff – US Philadelphia Int’l 12″
55 53 George Benson – Love Ballad – Warner Bros. 12″
56 52 Ashford & Simpson – Flashback – Warner Bros. 12″
57 46 Linda Clifford – Bridge Over Troubled Water – RSO 12″
58 80 Harvey Mason – Groovin’ You / Say It Again – Arista LP/US 12″
59 57 Nino Tempo & 5th Ave. Sax – (Hooked On) Young Stuff – US A&M 12″
60 55 Spyro Gyra – Morning Dance / Starburst – Infinity 7″/LP
61 44 Force – Rock Your Baby – US Philadelphia Int’l 12″
62 78 Quantum Jump – The Lone Ranger – Electric 7″/12″
63 NE Gibson Brothers – Oooh! What A Life / Better Do It Salsa – Island 12″/LP
64 54 Gibson Brothers – Cuba – Island 12″
65 39 Real Thing – Can You Feel The Force (Remix) – Pye 12″
66 69 Electric Light Orchestra – Shine A Little Love – Jet 12″
67 56 Direct Current – Everybody Here Must Party – Sidewalk 12″
68 63 Detroit Spinners – Are You Ready For Love – Atlantic 12″
69 66 Patrick Juvet – Swiss Kiss / Viva California – Casablanca 12″/LP
70 77 Candido – Dancin’ & Prancin’ / Jingo / 1000 Finger Man / Rock & Shuffle – US Salsoul LP
71 68 Dexter Wansel – I’ll Never Forget (My Favourite Disco) / It’s Been Cool – US Philadelphia Int’l 12″
72 67 David Naughton – Makin’ It – RSO 12″
73 61 Brainstorm – Hot For You / Don’t Let Me Catch You With Your Groove Down – Tabu 12″
74 NE Ralph MacDonald – I Need Someone / East Dry River / Discolypso / You Are In Love – US Marlin LP
75 81 Isley Brothers – It’s A Disco Night / Life In The City / Winner Takes All / You’re Beside Me – Epic LP
76 59 Dance People – Dance People – Satril 12″
77 85 Lalo Schifrin – Chile Caliente – US Warner Bros. LP
78 70 Terry Callier – Sign Of The Times / Do It Again / Still Water – Elektra LP
79 NE Cynthia Woodward – California Dreamin’ – H&L 12″
80 75 Phil Hurtt – Boogie City – Fantasy 12″
81 86 Alton McClain & Destiny – It Must Be Love – Polydor 7″/12″ promo
82 87 Sun – Radiation Level – US Capitol 12″
83 82 Uncle Louie – Full Tilt Boogie – US TK 12″
84 NE Peter Brown – Crank It Up – TK 12″
85 65 Kleeer – Its Magic / I Love To Dance / Happy Me / Tonight’s The Night – US Atlantic LP
86 76 Theo Vaness – As Long As It’s Love – Epic 12″
87 RE Third World – Talk To Me – Island 12″
88 89 Skyy – First Time Around – US Salsoul 12″
89 RE Richard Evans – Burning Spear / Do-Re-Me-For-Soul – A&M 12″
90 73 James Brown – It’s Too Funky In Here – US Polydor 12″
NE = new entry; RE = re-entry
Appeared in Billboard:
#1 (BNDA debut 4/14/79) / #2 (BNDA debut 4/7/79) / #3 (BNDA debut 6/2/79)
#4 (BNDA debut 2/10/79) / #6 (BNDA debut 6/9/79) / #8 (BNDA debut 6/23/79)
#10 (BNDA debut 4/21/79) / #11 (BNDA debut 4/14/79) / #14 (BNDA debut 4/7/79)
#15 (BNDA debut 2/24/79) / #16 (BNDA debut 5/26/79) / #18 (BNDA debut 2/10/79)
#19 (BNDA debut 5/19/79) / #21 (BNDA debut 4/14/79) / #23 (BNDA debut 9/8/79)
#25 (BNDA debut 6/23/79) / #26 (BNDA debut 1/6/79) / #27 (BNDA debut 3/10/79)
#28 (BNDA debut 6/16/79) / #29 (BNDA debut 9/29/79) / #34 (BNDA debut 4/7/79)
#37 (BNDA debut 5/12/79) / #40 (BNDA debut 7/7/79) / #41 (BNDA debut 6/2/79)
#42 (BNDA debut 4/21/79) / #43 (BNDA debut 7/14/79) / #44 (BNDA debut 6/23/79)
#45 (BNDA debut 12/23/78) / #46 (BNDA debut 2/3/79) / #47 (BNDA debut 9/29/79)
#50 (BNDA debut 4/14/79) / #57 (BNDA debut 3/31/79) / #58 (BNDA debut 6/16/79)
#63 (BNDA debut 9/8/79) / #64 (BNDA debut 4/7/79) / #67 (BNDA debut 4/7/79)
#69 (BNDA debut 6/9/79) / #70 (BNDA debut 6/30/79) / #72 (BNDA debut 3/10/79)
#73 (BNDA debut 4/7/79) / #75 (BNDA debut 8/25/79) / #80 (BNDA debut 8/18/79)
#81 (BNDA debut 3/24/79) / #84 (BNDA debut 6/9/79) / #86 (BNDA debut 4/14/79)
#90 (BNDA debut 6/16/79)
Bubbling Under the Disco Top 90 are:
EVELYN “CHAMPAGNE” KING: ‘Music Box’ (RCA 12”) (BNDA debut 4/14/79)
EROTIC DRUM BAND: ‘Love Disco Style’ (Scope 12”) (BNDA debut 10/14/78)
HI-TENSION: ‘Funktified’ (Island 12”)
BREAKWATER: ‘Work It Out’ (Arista 12”)
SWITCH: ‘Best Beat In Town’ (Motown 12”) (BNDA debut 7/7/79)
PATTI LABELLE: ‘Music Is My Way Of Life’ (Epic 12”) (BNDA debut 4/7/79)
STEEL PULSE: ‘Sound System’ (Island 12”)
BIONIC BOOGIE: ‘Chains’ (Polydor 12”) (BNDA debut 11/11/78)
SMOKEY ROBINSON: ‘Get Ready’ (US Motown 12”)
MATCH: ‘Boogie Man’ (Flamingo 12”)
MICK JACKSON: ‘Married Men’ (Atlantic 7”)
NUGGETS: ‘New York’ / ‘Proud Mary’ (Mercury 12” promo) (BNDA debut 6/30/79)
LIQUID GOLD: ‘Mr Groovy’ (Creole 12”)
AIRTO MOREIRA: ‘Tempos Atras’ / ‘Toque De Cuica’ / ‘Amajour’ (US Warner Bros. LP)
ATLANTIC STARR: ‘(Let’s) Rock ‘N’ Roll’ (US A&M LP)
BOBBY RUSH: ‘I Wanna Do The Do’ (US Philadelphia Int’l 12”)
TOM BROWNE: ‘Throw Down’ / ‘What’s Going On’ / ‘The Closer I Get To You’ (US GRP/Arista LP)
SYLVESTER: ‘Stars’ / ‘Body Strong’ (Fantasy 12”) (BNDA debut 3/24/79)
ANTONIA RODRIGUEZ: ‘La Bamba’ (Magnet 12”) (BNDA debut 4/7/79)
JACKIE MOORE: ‘This Time Baby’ (US Columbia 12”) (BNDA debut 6/23/79)
James Hamilton's Disco Page 