Billboard’s Sixth Disco Forum proved once again to be no more than a good excuse for visiting the Big Apple to have a great time and meet interesting people on the periphery of the main event.
Old hands have by now learnt that the actual forum sessions are not worth attending and indeed people stayed away from them in droves, while even the only potentially interesting session about disco mixing (held in the Hilton Hotel’s “Sybil’s” Night Club) was a failure as the majority of jocks featured were so ill at ease with the Juliana’s-installed equipment that their mixing demonstrations suffered.
However, one comes to expect the forum to have its difficulties. The exhibition part of the event though was as well planned as usual. The noisy speaker, amplifier and total environment exhibitors had two floors of hotel suite to themselves while the main hall featured smaller stands for individual bits of equipment, disco fashion accessories and other items of supposed disco interest.
But with this forum falling less than five months after the last one, the number of visitors was noticeably down and the feeling among exhibitors was that this short gap was to blame. The next forum in February will be in Los Angeles, which should make good sense as the mid-summer New York show will then come as a completely separate event. And with LA only an extra £24 at current standby air fare rates, I for one will be heading there.
Next week there will be full news and scandal about the British delegation (smaller than expected), who did what to whom (hello Kerri), the fun we had, clubs we visited, sounds we heard, food we ate and all the dirt that’s fit to print.
Disco News
The Commodores’ new ‘Midnight Magic’ album (Motown STMA 8032) is due for rush release this week . . . Real Thing ‘Boogie Down (Get Funky Now)’ turns out to be on that nasty translucent piss-coloured vinyl again . . . Frantique ‘Strut Your Funky Stuff’, Jackie Moore ‘This Time Baby’ (both 12in) and Teddy Pendergrass ‘Turn Off The Lights’ (7in) are due next week, while Candido ‘Dancin’ & Prancin’’ / ‘Jingo’ and Lou Rawls ‘Let Me Be Good To You’ are on 12in early August . . . TCOJ debut on Utopia with ‘(I Found) Love On The Disco Floor’ next week, with a massive club tour lined up to promote it . . . Mark Hambley (Torquay Grange Court holiday camp, Goodrington) complains that though he’s playing to about 900 people six nights a week, all his mailing list applications have been met with “sorry – full up at the moment” replies from record companies: well, with umpteen thousands of jocks all trying to get on, its hardly surprising that the major companies (whose research tells them the best areas and clubs to service) do indeed have their lists full, and have to turf out one probably quite satisfactory jock to add another . . . Graeme Bilton (Croydon/Thames riverboats) suggests jocks into audience participation should find a local carnival supplies shop, as cheap “trumpet” squeakers and football whistles thrown out into the crowd can have a great effect!
UK Newies
AL WILSON: ‘Earthquake’ (RCA FC 9399)
Almost Brass Construction-like unhurried walking bass-pushed 117bpm tripper with soulful vocal, backup chix and powerful rattling-then-strings break, likely to be huge now that it’s out here on green vinyl 12in.
CANDIDO: ‘Dancin’ & Prancin’’ LP (Salsoul SSLP 1517) (BNDA debut 6/30/79)
Big with jazz-funk jocks, the LP’s four tracks all feature up-front rhythm, Latin flavour and varying intensities of instrumentation and/or girlie group vocal, the just about equally popular titles being the 8:02 ‘Dancin’ & Prancin’’ (110bpm), 10:52 ‘Jingo’ (121bpm), 8:55 ‘Thousand Finger Man’ (122bpm) and 8:51 ‘Rock & Shuffle (Ah-Ha)’ (125bpm).
DIANA ROSS: ‘No One Gets The Prize’ (from LP ‘The Boss’, Motown STML 12118) (BNDA debut 6/23/79)
Noticeably Nick & Valerie-penned 116bpm jogger winds up into even more of a ‘Love Hangover’ successor than the title track hit, while other action cuts include the lovely slow 99bpm ‘It’s My House’ tripper and more urgent 98bpm ‘I Ain’t Been Licked’ jolter.
SWITCH: ‘Best Beat In Town’ (Motown 12TMG 12118) (BNDA debut 7/7/79)
Solidly clapping happy 126bpm “rock” romper with enthusiastic vocal interplay on 4:48 eye-cued 12in.
PETER BROWN: ‘Crank It Up (Funk Town)’ (TK TKR 13-7545) (BNDA debut 6/9/79)
Unusual jerkily chugging 131bpm ‘Bolero’-type builder jitters along on 10:31 eye-cued 12in without really resolving itself but mixes out of ‘Space Bass’.
DOUBLE EXPOSURE: ‘Ten Per Cent’ (Salsoul 12SSOL 120) (BNDA debut 9/4/76)
Finally the fabulous 126bpm soul romper from ‘76 reaches 9:15 UK 12in, flipped by the group’s current dull 113bpm soul plodder, the 8:37 ‘I Got The Hots For Ya’.
SKYY: ‘First Time Around’ (Salsoul 12SSOL 119)
Randy Muller-produced so not surprisingly Brass Construction-like weaving and twining, rolling 110bpm chugger, recently big on import and now finally here in its 6:46 remix 12in form with a freaky twittering syndrum break.
JAMES BROWN: ‘It’s Too Funky In Here’ (Polydor POSPX 48) (BNDA debut 6/16/79)
Brad Shapiro-produced 107bpm funky chugger on 6:33 12in isn’t too different from Mr Brown’s usual style and goes well with Bobby Rush.
HOT CHOCOLATE: ‘Going Through The Motions’ (Rak RAK 296)
Their usual chugging pop approach gets a beefy 113bpm disco bass and extra oomph, but only on 7in.
MASS PRODUCTION: ‘Welcome To Our World’ (Atlantic LV 31) (BNDA debut 11/6/76)
Infectiously churning 122bpm oldie from ‘76, on 12in LV maxi with the attractive synthesizer and sax-led 126-128bpm ‘Cosmic Lust’ and lovely vibes-spiced 113-114bpm ‘Strollin’’ jazz instrumentals as great value flip.
MICHEL COLUMBIER: ‘Do It’ (Chrysalis CHS 12-2306)
Jittery 110-112bpm jazz-funk flavoured instrumental strutter on 5:18 translucent piss-coloured 12in with some imperative chix and grow-on-you appeal.
PAUL BRETT: ‘Nineteen Ninety Nine’ (RCA PC 5167)
Ian Dury meets Sea Level as the British guitarist surprises everyone with a jazz-funk 106bpm 12in instrumental that features Cockney muttering of the title line and a ‘Fifty Four’ flavour.
BELL & JAMES: ‘You Never Know What You’ve Got’ (A&M AMS 7457)
Hidden as a 7in flip, the less distinctive but jaunty enough 103/52bpm original of You And Me’s reggae smash mixes well before it as an intro.
PHILLY CREAM: ‘Motown Review’ (Fantasy 12FTC 180) (BNDA debut 6/30/79)
Happily romping 134bpm soul flier recaps sixties highlights and now gets a 7:30 12in remix with longer instrumental intro and racing 136bpm outro.
US OF A: ‘2-1 (I Bet Ya)’ (Island 12XWIP 6504)
Rattling percussion with subdued syndrums start and then continue to over-dominate this 127bpm soul romper by a UK-based black threesome, the 33 1/3rpm 12in eventually breaking into Spanish guitar and brass. Instrumental flip.
WEBBY JAY: ‘In The Rain’ (Arawak ARK DD 008)
The Dramatics’ classic soul smoocher gets a great cleanly produced 70/35bpm reggae treatment on 12in, which continues into a dub version.
ISLEY BROTHERS: ‘Winner Takes All’ LP (Epic EPC 88460) (‘It’s A Disco Night’ BNDA debut 8/25/79)
Double LP with most titles printed rather pointlessly (unless a joke?) as ‘Parts 1 & 2’, the hot ones here being the typical smoothly-sung fluid guitar-backed 130-136bpm 7:55 ‘Life In The City’, similar clapping 132bpm 5:13 ‘It’s A Disco Night’ and chunkier 117bpm 4:18 title track, though all are worth checking – especially as the gorgeous 37bpm ‘Let’s Fall In Love’ smoocher is but one of several similarly good slowies.
YELLOW MAGIC ORCHESTRA: ‘Yellow Magic (Tong Poo)’ (A&M AMSP 7447)
Moody start to a jaunty Giorgio-type instrumental 136bpm synthesizer thudder on yellow peril – sorry, vinyl – 6:20 12in from Japan.
SAINT TROPEZ: ‘One More Minute’ (Chrysalis/Butterfly CHS 12-2331) (BNDA debut 3/3/79)
Zingy 137bpm girlie group “disco” racer pushes along on 7:04 piss-coloured 12in with possible pop appeal, while their old and much-imported in its time slow-starting 124bpm revival of ‘Je T’Aime’ as 6:36 flip could be in even greater demand.
DAVID BENOIT: ‘Life Is Like A Samba’ (AVI AVISL 103)
Flashily flying 128bpm bossa nova is far too fast at 45rpm, but the 12in slowed to 33 1/3 rpm comes out at really pleasant 94bpm – which needs vari-speeding up to stop the occasional vocals distorting (the only element that does).
THE RING: ‘Savage Lover’ (Vanguard VSL 5013)
Persistently pounding 136bpm thumper on 6:40 12in could please Sylvester fans.
Hot Vinyl
Tony Jenkins (Mayfair Playboy Club, Denham Country Club Anthony’s on Tuesdays) import tips:
FRANCIE SIMONE: ‘Let Your Body Run’ (US BC 12”) (BNDA debut 8/4/79)
JUNIOR WALKER: ‘Back Street Boogie’ (US Whitfield 12”)
NORMAN CONNORS: ‘Discoland’ / ‘Be There In The Morning’ / ‘Kingston’ (US Arista LP)
FREDDIE JAMES: ‘Get Up And Boogie’ (US Warner Bros. 12”) (BNDA debut 7/7/79)
TERESA WIATER: ‘Once And For All’ (US UA 12”)
JOHN TROPEA: ‘Livin’ In The Jungle’ (US TK 12”)
AQUARIAN DREAM: ‘Disco Juice’ / ‘Gettum Up And Dance’ / ‘Chance To Dance’ (US Elektra LP)
EDNAH HOLT & STARLUV: ‘People Come Dance’ (US West End 12”) (BNDA debut 8/11/79)
ALMA FAYE: ‘Don’t Fall In Love’ (US Casablanca 12”)
MIRA WATERS: ‘You Have Inspired Me’ (US Motown 12”)
BONNIE BOYER: ‘Got To Give In To Love’ (US Columbia 12”) (BNDA debut 8/4/79)
RONNIE FOSTER: ‘Argentina’ / ‘Feet’ / ‘We As Love’ (US Columbia LP)
FREDDIE HUBBARD: ‘The Love Connection’ (US Columbia LP)
UK Disco Top 90 – July 21, 1979
01 01 Anita Ward – Ring My Bell – TK 12″
02 03 Earth, Wind & Fire & The Emotions – Boogie Wonderland – CBS 12″
03 02 McFadden & Whitehead – Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now – Philadelphia Int’l 12″
04 05 Slick – Space Bass – Fantasy 12″
05 04 Sister Sledge – We Are Family – Atlantic 12″
06 07 Chantal Curtis – Get Another Love – Pye 12″
07 10 Chic – Good Times – Atlantic 12″
08 09 Teena Marie – I’m A Sucker For Your Love – Motown 12″
09 08 Eddy Grant – Living On The Frontline – Ensign 12″
10 06 Edwin Starr – H.A.P.P.Y. Radio – 20th Century 12″
11 14 Donna Summer – Bad Girls / One Love / Lucky / Sunset People / Dim All The Lights – Casablanca 12″/LP
12 15 Patrick Hernandez – Born To Be Alive – Gem 12″
13 17 Carrie Lucas – Dance With You – Solar 12″
14 13 Joe Thomas – Make Your Move / Sugar Shack – TK 12″
15 11 Donna Summer – Hot Stuff – Casablanca 12″
16 22 Deniece Williams – I’ve Got The Next Dance – CBS 12″
17 20 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
18 23 Amii Stewart – Light My Fire – Atlantic 12″
19 12 Tata Vega – Get It Up For Love / I Just Keep Thinking About You Baby – Motown 12″
20 27 V/A – Turn On The Tap (all cuts) – Tappan Zee 12″ EP
21 30 Janet Kay – Silly Games – Scope 12″
22 37 Billy Paul – Bring The Family Back – Philadelphia Int’l 12″
23 28 Crusaders – Street Life / Carnival Of The Night / The Hustler / Rodeo Drive – MCA LP
24 25 Candi Staton – When You Wake Up Tomorrow – Warner Bros. 12″
25 36 Light Of The World – Midnight Groovin’ – Ensign 12″
26 39 Five Special – Why Leave Us Alone – Elektra 12″
27 32 War – Good Good Feelin’ – MCA 12″
28 38 Diana Ross – The Boss / No One Gets The Prize / It’s My House – Motown 12″/LP
29 35 GQ – This Happy Feeling / Make My Dream A Reality – Arista 12″
30 40 Jones Girls – You Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else – Philadelphia Int’l 12″
31 16 Melba Moore – Pick Me Up, I’ll Dance – Epic 12″
32 29 Village People – Go West – Mercury 12″
33 21 Gino Soccio – Dancer / Dance To Dance – Warner Bros. 12″
34 18 Roxy Music – Dance Away – Polydor 7″
35 19 Gary’s Gang – Showtime / Let’s Lovedance Tonight – CBS 12″
36 45 L.A.X. – Dancin’ At The Disco – Pye 12″
37 42 Hudson People – Trip To Your Mind – Ensign 12″
38 41 Jackie McLean – Dr. Jackyll And Mr. Funk – RCA 12″
39 53 Frantique – Strut Your Funky Stuff – US Philadelphia Int’l 12″
40 31 T-Connection – Saturday Night – TK 12″
41 50 Gibson Brothers – Oooh! What A Life / Better Do It Salsa – Island 12″
42 52 Harvey Mason – Groovin’ You – Arista 12″
43 60 Peter Brown – Crank It Up – TK 12″
44 33 Jacksons – Shake Your Body Down To The Ground – Epic 12″
45 26 Blondie – Sunday Girl – Chrysalis 12″
46 44 Herbie Hancock – Tell Everybody – CBS 12″/US 12″ remix
47 49 Candido – Dancin’ & Prancin’ / Jingo / 1000 Finger Man / Rock & Shuffle – US Salsoul LP
48 54 Spyro Gyra – Morning Dance / Starburst – Infinity LP
49 43 Heatwave – Razzle Dazzle / Eyeballin’ / Raise A Blaze / Therm Warfare / One Night Tan – GTO 7″/LP
50 55 Taka Boom – Night Dancin’ – Ariola 12″
51 24 Bombers – (Everybody) Get Dancin’ – Flamingo 12″
52 34 M – Pop Muzik – MCA 12″
53 51 Switch – Best Beat In Town – Motown 12″
54 86 Direct Current – Everybody Here Must Party – Sidewalk 12″
55 74 Jackie Moore – This Time Baby – US Columbia 12″
56 85 George Benson – Unchained Melody / Before You Go – Warner Bros. 12″
57 66 Lalo Schifrin – Chile Caliente – US Warner Bros. LP
58 80 Smokey Robinson – Get Ready – US Motown LP
59 69 Patrick Juvet – Swiss Kiss / Viva California / Lady Night / The Gay Paris – Casablanca 12″/LP
60 61 Dexter Wansel – I’ll Never Forget (My Favourite Disco) / It’s Been Cool – US Philadelphia Int’l 12″
61 65 Ralph MacDonald – I Need Someone / East Dry River / Discolypso / You Are In Love / Always Something Missing – US Marlin LP
62 67 Nino Tempo & 5th Ave. Sax – (Hooked On) Young Stuff – US A&M 12″
63 73 Cynthia Woodward – California Dreamin’ – H&L 12″
64 72 Uncle Louie – Full Tilt Boogie – US TK 12″
65 68 David Naughton – Makin’ It – RSO 12″
66 82 David Bendeth – Feel The Real – Canadian IGM 12″
67 57 Electric Light Orchestra – Shine A Little Love – Jet 12″
68 48 Peaches & Herb – Reunited – Polydor 7″
69 64 James Brown – It’s Too Funky In Here – US Polydor 12″
70 78 Terry Callier – Sign Of The Times / Do It Again / Still Water – Elektra LP
71 89 Sylvester – Stars / Body Strong – Fantasy 12″/US 12″ remix
72 47 Quantum Jump – The Lone Ranger – Electric 7″/12″
73 84 Sun – Radiation Level – US Capitol 12″
74 NE Antonia Rodriguez – La Bamba – Magnet 12″
75 NE Lenny Williams – If You’re In Need / Doin’ The Loop De Loop / When I’m Dancin’ – MCA LP
76 83 Richard Evans – Burning Spear / Do-Re-Me-For-Soul – A&M 12″
77 81 Phil Hurtt – Boogie City – Fantasy 12″
78 62 Hot Chocolate – Mindless Boogie – Rak 12″
79 RE Bonnie Pointer – Heaven Must Have Sent You – Motown 12″ remix
80 58 Roy Ayers – Fever / Love Will Bring Us Back Together – Polydor 12″/LP
81 76 Brainstorm – Hot For You – Tabu 12″
82 71 Poussez – Come On And Do It / Boogie With Me / Never Gonna Say Goodbye – Vanguard 12″/LP
83 88 Third World – Talk To Me – Island 12″
84 RE Skyy – First Time Around – US Salsoul 12″
85 70 Force – Rock Your Baby – US Philadelphia Int’l 12″
86 87 Isley Brothers – It’s A Disco Night / Life In The City / Winner Takes All / You’re Beside Me – US T-Neck LP
87 90 Mick Jackson – Married Men – Atlantic 7″
88 NE Evelyn “Champagne” King – Music Box – RCA 12″
89 RE Breakwater – Work It Out – Arista 12″
90 NE Tom Browne – What’s Going On / Throw Down / The Closer I Get To You / Herbal Scent – US Arista/GRP LP
NE = new entry; RE = re-entry
Appeared in Billboard:
#1 (BNDA debut 4/14/79) / #2 (BNDA debut 6/2/79) / #3 (BNDA debut 4/7/79)
#5 (BNDA debut 2/10/79) / #6 (BNDA debut 6/23/79) / #7 (BNDA debut 6/23/79)
#10 (BNDA debut 6/9/79) / #11 (BNDA debut 4/21/79) / #12 (BNDA debut 5/19/79)
#13 (BNDA debut 3/10/79) / #15 (BNDA debut 4/21/79) / #16 (BNDA debut 6/16/79)
#19 (BNDA debut 4/14/79) / #23 (BNDA debut 9/29/79) / #24 (BNDA debut 5/26/79)
#26 (BNDA debut 7/7/79) / #27 (BNDA debut 4/14/79) / #28 (BNDA debut 6/23/79)
#30 (BNDA debut 5/12/79) / #31 (BNDA debut 4/7/79) / #32 (BNDA debut 4/7/79)
#33 (BNDA debut 2/24/79) / #36 (BNDA debut 6/2/79) / #41 (BNDA debut 9/8/79)
#42 (BNDA debut 6/16/79) / #43 (BNDA debut 6/9/79) / #44 (BNDA debut 1/6/79)
#46 (BNDA debut 7/14/79) / #47 (BNDA debut 6/30/79) / #51 (BNDA debut 2/10/79)
#52 (BNDA debut 9/8/79) / #53 (BNDA debut 7/7/79) / #54 (BNDA debut 4/7/79)
#55 (BNDA debut 6/23/79) / #59 (BNDA debut 6/9/79) / #65 (BNDA debut 3/10/79)
#69 (BNDA debut 6/16/79) / #71 (BNDA debut 3/24/79) / #74 (BNDA debut 4/7/79)
#77 (BNDA debut 8/18/79) / #79 (BNDA debut 5/5/79) / #81 (BNDA debut 4/7/79)
#82 (BNDA debut 4/14/79) / #86 (BNDA debut 8/25/79) / #88 (BNDA debut 4/14/79)
Bubbling Under the Disco Top 90 are:
CHAIN REACTION: ‘Sweet Lady’ (US Jam Sessions 12”)
ME AND YOU: ‘You Never Know What You’ve Got’ (Deb Music 12”)
STEPHANIE MILLS: ‘Put Your Body In It’ / ‘Don’t Stop Dancin’’ (US 20th Century 12”) (BNDA debut 6/2/79)
AL WILSON: ‘Earthquake’ (US Roadshow LP)
BOBBY RUSH: ‘I Wanna Do The Do’ (US Philadelphia Int’l 12”)
OLYMPIC RUNNERS: ‘The Bitch’ (Polydor 12”) (BNDA debut 9/29/79)
HERB ALPERT: ‘Rise’ (US A&M 12”) (BNDA debut 7/28/79)
ATLANTIC STARR: ‘(Let’s) Rock ‘N’ Roll’ (A&M 12”)
FINISHED TOUCH: ‘The Down Sound’ (US Motown 12”)
CANDI STATON: ‘Rock’ / ‘Ain’t Got Nowhere To Go’ / ‘Chance’ (Warner Bros. LP)
KLEEER: ‘It’s Magic’ / ‘I Love To Dance’ (US Atlantic LP)
ERIC GALE: ‘Let Me Slip-It-To-You’ / ‘Nezumi’ / ‘Part Of You’ / ‘Holding On To Love’ (CBS LP)
NORMAN CONNORS: ‘Discoland’ / ‘Be There In The Morning’ / ‘Kingston’ / ‘Your Love’ (Arista LP)
EL COCO: ‘Cocomotion ‘79’ / ‘Dance Man’ / ‘Love Exciter’ / ‘Love In Your Life’ (US AVI 12”) (BNDA debut 6/9/79)
STEEL PULSE: ‘Sound System’ (Island 12”)
STEWART THOMAS GROUP: ‘To Freak Or Not To Freak’ (Arista 12”) (BNDA debut 5/26/79)
NUGGETS: ‘New York’ / ‘Proud Mary’ (US Mercury LP) (BNDA debut 6/30/79)
KISS: ‘I Was Made For Lovin’ You’ (Casablanca 12”) (BNDA debut 7/14/79)
CINDY & ROY: ‘Can You Feel It’ / ‘Gotta Love Somebody Else’ (WEA 12” promo) (BNDA debut 8/4/79)
RICK JAMES: ‘Bustin’ Out’ (Motown 12”)
FRANCIE SIMONE: ‘Let Your Body Run’ (US BC 12”) (BNDA debut 8/4/79)
J.J. BARNES: ‘How Long’ (Casino Classics 12”)
CENTRAL LINE: ‘Wot We Got’ (Phonogram 12” promo)
TUMBLACK: ‘Caraiba’ (Island 12”)
OHIO PLAYERS: ‘Everybody Up’ (Arista 12”)
GONZALEZ: ‘Move It To The Music’ (Sidewalk 12”)
JUNIOR WALKER: ‘Sax Attack’ / ‘Wishing On A Star’ / ‘Back Street Boogie’ (US Whitfield LP)
LOU RAWLS: ‘Let Me Be Good To You’ (US Philadelphia Int’l 12”)
RICKIE LEE JONES: ‘Chuck E’s In Love’ (Warner Bros. 7”)
BONNIE TYLER: ‘Married Men’ (RCA 12”)
FREDDIE JAMES: ‘Get Up And Boogie’ (US Warner Bros. 12”) (BNDA debut 7/7/79)
KANDIDATE: ‘Girls, Girls, Girls’ (Rak 7”)
WHISPERS: ‘Can’t Do Without Love’ (Solar 12”)
EDWIN STARR: ‘It’s Called The Rock’ (20th Century LP)
SADAO WATANABE: ‘Duo Creatics’ (Miracle 12” EP)
MARTIN CIRCUS: ‘Disco Circus’ (Pye 12”) (BNDA debut 5/26/79)
PHILLY CREAM: ‘Motown Review’ (US Fantasy/WMOT 12”) (BNDA debut 6/30/79)
LA BIONDA: ‘Baby Make Love’ (Chrysalis 12”)
GAP BAND: ‘Baby Baba Boogie’ / ‘Shake’ (US Mercury 12” remix) (BNDA debut 5/12/79)
SLICK: ‘Sexy Cream’ (US Fantasy/WMOT 12”) (BNDA debut 7/7/79)
MAVIS STAPLES: ‘Tonight I Feel Like Dancing’ (US Warner Bros. 12”)
LULU: ‘I Love To Boogie’ (Rocket 7”)
REGINE: ‘Je Survivrai’ (Prism 12”)
GUARDIAN ANGEL: ‘China Gate’ (Laser 12”)
NITEFLYTE: ‘If You Want It’ (US Ariola 12”)
SASSY: ‘Keep On Jumpin’’ (Flamingo 7”)
Meanwhile around this date in Chicago… the “Disco Sucks” demolition derby was happening. Another event that at the time didn’t seem at all important but history tells a different story. The whole disco sucks killed disco is of course an exaggeration- one look at the UK & Billboard Hot 100 through the 2nd half of 79 and 1980 proves it!
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The “Disco Sucks” demolition doesn’t get a mention in any of James’s columns – although I do remember it getting write-ups in the news pages of the UK weekly music press at the time – but in his column of August 25th, James does write a lengthy and fascinating analysis of the disco backlash and its causes. (NB I’m the guy who is turning the transcripts into blog posts, so I get to peek ahead!)
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