January 5, 1980: Kool & The Gang, Dan Hartman, Dennis Brown, The Destiny Orchestra, Love De-Luxe

Odds ‘N Bods

Greg Davies’s Disco Forum ’80 at Stevenage Bo Jangles on Tuesday February 19th seems angled at DJ’s disgruntled with record company mailing list policies, the panel including John Waller (Phonogram), Theo Loyla (Polydor), Fred Dove (WEA), Roger St Pierre (Funk Funktion) – £2 tickets (cheques to “Bo Jangles Club”) and full details of the 8pm-2am event from Greg at Bo Jangles, 58 Oueensway, Stevenage, Herts (04626-76432 or 0234-741462) . . . Soho’s Groove Records shop held a private party at Mayfair Gullivers before Christmas for some of their regular customers – there can’t be many other shops to have done likewise, but as they said, “you all paid for it”! . . . Chris Brown, who actually offered his own cigarettes around at the Groove party, is currently compiling a lavish photo book about the UK jazz-funk scene, to be called ‘I Was There – The “Family” Album’ . . . Big Tom Holland the bun eater is going freelance as his Ilford Lacy Lady residency is closing the disco room . . . Gary Oldis has been promoted out of Aycliffe’s Gretna Green to tour the North-East’s FLD-owned disco chain with a sexy five gal one guy dancing troupe called Bad Girls Plus, while the chain’s latest link is the Harts Horn Disco in Knaresborough’s Market Place . . . Redcar’s Coatham Hotel, the Cleveland area’s biggest ballroom, is due to reopen as a disco . . . Paul Clark (Brighton Papillon) wonders if anyone’s got that old multi-coloured Eastside Connection 12in for sale as his has been nicked . . . Sally Ormsby, Steve Wiggins (Barry Rugby Club) awaits your reply to his fifteen letters! . . . New Mods asking for Madness ‘One Step Beyond’ at funk discos seem to be the current equivalent of the old Status Quo brigade – any other jocks reaching the same conclusion?! . . . Edwin Starr ‘Contact’ synchs perfectly out of Slick ‘Space Bass’, as I discovered during my mixing “duel” with Froggy in Erith!

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UK Newies

KOOL & THE GANG: ‘Too Hot’ (Mercury KOOL 812) (BNDA debut 9/8/79)
Lovely slinky sleazy 106bpm 12in swayer with George Benson-ish guitar and other lush jazzy elements, very briefly the original B-side to ‘Ladies’ Night’ and now flipped by the ‘Whistle Bump’-like introed 122bpm repetitive ‘Tonight’s The Night’ “rock” chanter.

DAN HARTMAN: ‘Relight My Fire’ (Blue Sky SKY 13-8104) (BNDA debut 11/10/79)
Michael Jackson-ish 122-121-120bpm 12in romper still sounds recognisably like his oldies with wailing chick joining in before an atmospheric “wind” break, the flip featuring the full sound effects, synthesizer and vibes 122bpm ‘Vertigo’-introed version.

DENNIS BROWN: ‘Slave Driver’ (Laser LAS 20T)
Bob Marley-penned powerful smoothly driving 65/130bpm 12in reggae throbber has Curtis Mayfield-type touches and strong “catch a fire” chorus, going into a toasting dub last part. 

THE DESTINY ORCHESTRA: ‘Spring Rain’ (Destiny OS 1)
Beautifully recorded sound effects-enhanced lush 56/113-119-120bpm 12in cover of Silvetti’s much imported 1977 piano-plonked Spanish-recorded salsoul instrumental jogger, flipped with the version of ‘Green Onions’ subsequently leased to Casino Classics for release as by Mods 79, AND a reggae version too of ‘Green Onions’ that’s even better!

LOVE DE-LUXE WITH HAWKSHAW’S DISCOPHONIA: ‘Here Comes That Sound Again’ (Atlantic K 11359) (BNDA debut 6/30/79)
. . . And again and again and again! The ultra simple UK-recorded chix chanted 116bpm disco thudder is revived now on 7in a year after initial release and six months since its remixed US success because finally Radio One has caught up with it.

SYLVESTER: ‘You Are My Friend’ (from LP ‘Living Proof’, Fantasy FT 573)
Gospel-drenched superb “live” 33bpm Patti LaBelle slowie keeps reminding me of ‘At The Dark End Of The Street’ and is his best even if somewhat specialist soul track . . . though not as good as I heard him do it in New York last February!

STEVIE WONDER: ‘Black Orchid’ (Motown TMG 1173)
Commodores-type 32bpm 7in smoocher with distinctive bass synthesizer and tinkling spinet-type tones. Who said he should be on Stiff?!

REALISTICS: ‘Pure Magic’ (Bronze BRO 81)
Lovely UK-recorded gradually building 35bpm 7in sweet soul smoocher, out a while and spreading.

JAN AKKERMAN: ‘She’s So Divine’ (Atlantic K 11374)
Attractive jittery jazz guitar backed but smoothly sung 112-113bpm 7in swayer with possible “rock” dance appeal.

SYMARIP: ‘Skinhead Moonstomp’ (Trojan TROT 9061)
British-recorded 63/127bpm reggae rallying call (with Madness-type intro) by the renamed Pyramids always did seem contrived at the time in ‘69 but is out again on 12in for New Mods.

DON ARMANDO’S 2ND AVENUE RHUMBA BAND: ‘Deputy of Love’ (ZE ZE 7003) (BNDA debut 9/22/79)
Chick-sung clapping, Injun wardrum throbbing and piano plonking US disco smash on 127bpm 7in has a naggingly unusual atmosphere and may even cross over from gay to Northern Soul.

RENEE PRYOR: ‘Broadway’ (Spring RP 1)
Bass and clapping-pushed old fashioned frantic 149bpm Northern Soul flier on 12in.

AMII STEWART: ‘The Letter’ (Atlantic K 11424)
Pop-aimed 129bpm 7in massacre of the Box Tops oldie.

BOB JAMES: ‘Main Theme From Star Trek’ (Tappan Zee SCBS 8128)
Slow-starting full blown and very un-jazzy 129-131bpm 7in orchestral semi-disco version of the unmemorable ‘Motion Picture’ (not telly) theme.

NOVA: ‘The Theme From The Black Hole’ (Epic EPC 8145)
Sub-‘Star Wars’ space movie theme on 123bpm 7in is more varied but less hard hitting than the synthesizer-dominated 125bpm version by Nostromo (Bronze BRO 86), evidently due also on 12in.

NEIL DIAMOND: ‘I’m A Believer’ (CBS 8130)
Gentle samba-style MoR revival of the hit he wrote for the Monkees.

LONE RANGER: ‘Barnabas Collins’ (Island IPR 2032)
Remixed 69bpm ethnic reggae oldie flipped on limited edition 12in by the 83bpm Maytones & I-Roy ‘Money Troubles’.

Import reviews return next week after the Christmas break, when hopefully the trickle will become a stream again, making it worth my while once more to take stopwatch and BPM counter back to Groove and earn inquisitive stares from the customers as I tap out the beat while timing all the newies on headphones!

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UK Disco Top 90 – January 5, 1980

01 01 Sugarhill Gang – Rapper’s Delight – Sugarhill 12″
02 02 Kool & The Gang – Ladies’ Night – Mercury 12″
03 03 Michael Jackson – Off The Wall – Epic 7″
04 05 Gibson Brothers – Que Sera Mi Vida – Island 12″
05 04 Isley Brothers – It’s A Disco Night – Epic 12″
06 07 Positive Force – We Got The Funk – Sugarhill 12″
07 06 Lowrell – Mellow, Mellow Right On – AVI 12″
08 08 Barbra Streisand & Donna Summer – No More Tears (Enough Is Enough) – CBS 12″
09 22 Kurtis Blow – Christmas Rappin’ – Mercury 12″
10 11 One Way feat. Al Hudson – Music – MCA 12″
11 09 Michael Jackson – Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough – Epic 12″
12 12 Shalamar – The Second Time Around – Solar 12″
13 10 Dynasty – I Don’t Want To Be A Freak – Solar 12″
14 13 Atmosfear – Dancing In Outer Space – MCA 12″
15 18 Rose Royce – Is It Love You’re After – Whitfield 12″
16 14 Stix Hooper – Cordon Bleu / Brazos River Breakdown – MCA 12″
17 16 Jupiter Beyond – The River Drive – Pye 12″
18 21 Prince – I Wanna Be Your Lover – Warner Bros. 12″
19 15 Azymuth – Jazz Carnival – Milestone 12″
20 17 Herb Alpert – Rise / Aranjuez (Mon Amour) – A&M 12″
21 20 Commodores – Still – Motown 7″/LP
22 36 Chic – My Feet Keep Dancing – Atlantic 12″
23 31 War – The World Is A Ghetto – US UA LP
24 23 Dan-I – Monkey Chop – Island 12″
25 19 Al Hudson & The Partners – You Can Do It – MCA 12″
26 24 Freddie James – Get Up And Boogie – Warner Bros. 12″
27 28 Sly & The Family Stone – Dance To The Music – Epic 12″
28 26 Stargard – Wear It Out – Warner Bros. 7″/US 12″
29 29 Rufus & Chaka – Do You Love What You Feel – MCA 12″
30 37 Trussel – Love Injection – US Elektra 12″
31 25 Viola Wills – Gonna Get Along Without You Now – Ariola Hansa 12″
32 41 Three Degrees – My Simple Heart – Ariola 7″
33 27 Diana Ross – It’s My House – Motown 12″
34 33 Sheila & B. Devotion – Spacer – Carrere 12″
35 35 Earth, Wind & Fire – Can’t Let Go – CBS 7″
36 32 Brass Construction – Brass Construction 5 (all cuts) – US UA LP
37 40 Slave – Just A Touch Of Love / Are You Ready For Love / Funky Lady / Shine – US Cotillion LP
38 51 Madness – One Step Beyond – Stiff 7″
39 55 Narada Michael Walden – Tonight I’m Alright / I Shoulda Loved Ya / You’re Soo Good / Carry On – US Atlantic LP
40 45 Deborah Washington – Rock It – Ariola 12″
41 42 Herb Alpert – Rotation – US A&M 12″
42 50 Michael Jackson – Rock With You / Get On The Floor / Working Day And Night / Burn This Disco Out – Epic LP
43 47 Roy Ayers – Don’t Stop The Feeling – Polydor LP/US 12″ promo
44 43 George Duke – I Want You For Myself – Epic LP
45 73 Sylvester – Can’t Stop Dancing / In My Fantasy – Fantasy 12″
46 38 Robin Beck – Sweet Talk – Mercury 12″
47 39 Phyllis Hyman – You Know How To Love Me – US Arista LP
48 30 Hudson People – Boogie On Downtown – Virgin 12″
49 67 France Joli – Come To Me – Ariola 12″
50 44 Cognac – How High – Electric 12″
51 49 Delegation – Put A Little Love On Me / Welcome To My World – Ariola 12″
52 70 Chain Reaction – Dance Freak – US Sound Of New York 12″
53 63 Kool & The Gang – Too Hot / Tonight’s The Night – Mercury 12″
54 53 Funkadelic – (Not Just) Knee Deep – Warner Bros. LP
55 34 Earth, Wind & Fire – Star – CBS 7″
56 60 Chuck Cissel – Cisselin’ Hot – US Arista 12″
57 77 Joe Bataan – Rap-O Clap-O – US Salsoul 12″
58 62 Prince – Sexy Dancer / Still Waiting – US Warner Bros. LP
59 72 Tony Rallo & The Midnite Band – Holdin’ On – US Casablanca LP
60 61 Patrice Rushen – Haven’t You Heard – US Elektra LP
61 64 ABBA – Gimme Gimme Gimme (A Man After Midnight) – Epic 7″
62 57 Shalamar – Right In The Socket / The Right Time For Us – Solar LP
63 59 Kat Mandu – The Break – US TK 12″
64 54 Dr. Hook – When You’re In Love With A Beautiful Woman – Capitol 7″/US 12″
65 82 Storm – It’s My House – Scope 12″
66 NE Pink Floyd – Another Brick In The Wall – Harvest 7″
67 65 Selecter – On My Radio / Too Much Pressure – 2-Tone 7″
68 58 Stevie Wonder – Send One Your Love – Motown 7″
69 76 Jean Carn – When I Find You Love (all cuts) – US Philadelphia Int’l LP
70 79 Janis Ian – Fly Too High – CBS 12″
71 71 Nature’s Divine – I Just Can’t Control Myself / Nature Divine – Infinity 12″
72 NE KC & The Sunshine Band – Please Don’t Go – TK 7″
73 89 Booker T & The MGs – Green Onions – Atlantic 7″
74 75 Crème D’Cocoa – Doin’ The Dog / Doggin’ It – US Venture 12″/LP
75 87 Billy Cobham – What Is Your Fantasy – US Columbia 12″
76 80 Ramsey Lewis – Spring High / All The Way Live – CBS 12″
77 84 Brass Construction – Movin’ / Changin’ – UA LP
78 NE Bar-Kays – Move Your Boogie Body / Up In Here / More And More – US Mercury LP
79 NE Edgar Winter – Above And Beyond – US Blue Sky 12″
80 81 Specials – A Message To You Rudy / Nite Klub – 2-Tone 7″
81 83 Sergio Mendes Brasil 88 – I’ll Tell You – US Elektra 12″/LP
82 RE Chosen Few – Boogie Army (Boogie Down) – Ariola Hansa 12″
83 NE Police – Walking On The Moon – A&M 12″
84 68 Wayne Henderson – Dancin’ Love Affair – Polydor 12″
85 NE Xanadu & Sweet Lady – Rocker’s Choice / Rapper’s Delight – US Joe Gibbs 12″
86 NE Billy Ocean – Are You Ready – GTO 12″
87 NE Gloria Gaynor – Tonight – Polydor 12″
88 56 Marvin Gaye – Ego Tripping Out – Motown 12″
89 NE Busta Jones – (You) Keep On Making Me Hot – US Spring 12″
90 RE Anita Ward – Don’t Drop My Love – TK 12″

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Appeared in Billboard:
#1 (BNDA debut 10/13/79) / #2 (BNDA debut 9/8/79) / #4 (BNDA debut 7/12/80)
#5 (BNDA debut 8/25/79) / #6 (BNDA debut 1/12/80) / #8 (BNDA debut 10/27/79)
#10 (BNDA debut 11/3/79) / #11 (BNDA debut 8/18/79) / #12 (BNDA debut 3/22/80)
#13 (BNDA debut 9/22/79) / #18 (BNDA debut 11/10/79) / #20 (BNDA debut 7/28/79)
#22 (BNDA debut 6/23/79) / #25 (BNDA debut 6/16/79) / #26 (BNDA debut 7/7/79)
#27 (BNDA debut 10/27/79) / #28 (BNDA debut 10/6/79) / #29 (BNDA debut 11/17/79)
#30 (BNDA debut 12/8/79) / #31 (BNDA debut 3/15/80) / #34 (BNDA debut 5/10/80)
#36 (BNDA debut 5/31/80) / #37 (BNDA debut 1/12/80) / #38 (BNDA debut 2/23/80)
#39 (BNDA debut 12/22/79) / #41 (BNDA debut 12/22/79) / #42 (BNDA debut 8/18/79)
#43 (BNDA debut 12/22/79) / #44 (BNDA debut 12/15/79) / #45 (BNDA debut 11/17/79)
#46 (BNDA debut 9/29/79) / #47 (BNDA debut 11/10/79) / #49 (BNDA debut 8/4/79)
#50 (BNDA debut 9/29/79) / #53 (BNDA debut 9/8/79) / #54 (BNDA debut 10/13/79)
#56 (BNDA debut 1/12/80) / #57 (BNDA debut 12/1/79) / #58 (BNDA debut 11/10/79)
#60 (BNDA debut 12/15/79) / #62 (BNDA debut 3/22/80) / #63 (BNDA debut 8/11/79)
#66 (BNDA debut 5/31/80) / #69 (BNDA debut 12/22/79) / #70 (BNDA debut 12/15/79)
#78 (BNDA debut 12/15/79) / #79 (BNDA debut 2/16/80) / #81 (BNDA debut 9/29/79)
#86 (BNDA debut 12/13/80) / #89 (BNDA debut 11/10/79) / #90 (BNDA debut 10/20/79)

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Bubbling under the UK Disco Top 90 are:

PEACHES & HERB: ‘I Pledge My Love’ / ‘Roller Skatin’ Mate’ (Polydor 12”)
HIROSHIMA: ‘Lion Dance’ (US Arista LP)
HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE NOTES: ‘Prayin’’ (US Source 12”)
PLAYERS ASSOCIATION: ‘We Got The Groove’ (US Vanguard promo LP) (BNDA debut 3/22/80)
INSTANT FUNK: ‘Bodyshine’ / ‘Slap Slap Lickedy Lap’ / ‘It’s Your Love On My Mind’ / ‘Witch Doctor’ (US Salsoul LP) (BNDA debut 11/24/79)
GAP BAND: ‘Party Lights’ / ‘I Don’t Believe You Want To Get Up And Dance’ / ‘Who Do You Call’ (US Mercury LP) (BNDA debut 3/8/80)
VILLAGE PEOPLE: ‘Ready For The 80’s’ (Mercury 12”) (BNDA debut 10/13/79)
DONALD BYRD: ‘Giving It Up’ / ‘Morning’ (US Elektra LP)
HERBIE HANCOCK: ‘Doin’ It’ / ‘I Thought It Was You’ (US Columbia LP) (BNDA debut 10/30/76)
CAMILLE: ‘White Christmas’ (EMI 12”) [Any info on this one? Discogs and Youtube are coming up empty]
LOVE DE-LUXE: ‘Here Comes That Sound Again’ (Atlantic 12”) (BNDA debut 6/30/79)
BEN E. KING: ‘Music Trance’ (Atlantic 7”) (BNDA debut 3/1/80)
RONNIE LAWS & PRESSURE: ‘Shove It In The Oven’ / ‘Can You Feel It’ / ‘Stay Together’ (US MCA LP)
SYLVERS: ‘Theme From Mahogany’ (Casablanca 12”)
SONNY ROLLINS: ‘Harlem Boys’ (Milestone 12”)
STEPHANIE MILLS: ‘You Can Get Over’ (20th Century 12”) (BNDA debut 6/2/79)
RISCO CONNECTION: ‘Good Times’ (Sound City 12”)
FUNKY FOUR PLUS ONE MORE: ‘Rappin’ And Rocking The House’ (US Enjoy 12”)
WHISPERS: ‘My Girl’ (US Solar LP)

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Pop Fifteen:
1 Tourists, 2 M, 3 The Beat, 4 Jam, 5 ELO, 6 Queen, 7 Fiddler’s Dram, 8 Moody Blues, 9 Blondie, 10 Barry Biggs, 11 David Bowie, 12 Nolans, 13 Billy Preston & Syreeta, 14 Greedies, 15 Dooleys