February 9, 1980: Tony Rallo & The Midnite Band, Narada Michael Walden, Jocko, Leon Haywood, Bobby Thurston

Odds ‘N Bods

Michael Jackson ‘Rock With You’ is amazingly on 3:20 7in-length 12in (Epic EPC 13-8206) with the long 128 bpm ‘You Can’t Win’ added to ‘Get On The Floor’ to make a 12:00 flip . . . Zkiffz ‘(I Wanna) Boogie With You’ is now on 12in (UA 12BP 332) with a sexy “hit me with your sticky dick” continuation, while the GQ ‘Standing Ovation’ 12in version does average 126 bpm but actually runs at 127-125-126-125-126 bpm . . . Stop ‘I Can Feel It’ will be Calibre CABL 101 from any day now . . . RCA have won UK rights to Salsoul, so it’s back to base for them again . . . Sunday sees a mass exodus of Funk Mafia to Los Angeles for a week long treat, travelers including (along with various womenfolk) Chris Hill, Robbie Vincent, Froggy, Sean French, myself (looks like I’m sharing with Sean this time – hope he doesn’t snore like Fatman!), Stan Barrett of Canvey Goldmine, the Southgate Royalty mob, and even Capital Radio’s Roger Scott, the excuse for the trip being Billboard’s Disco (sorry – dance music – the chickens!) Forum but the actual objective being Disneyland, Knotts Berry Farm, Universal City, the Beach Boys and a darned good time! . . . Greg Davies’s Disco Forum ’80 will cost a lot less, £2 only in fact, tickets from him at 11 Hampton Close, Wilstead, Beds MK45 3DA, the 8pm event being on Tuesday, February 19th at Stevenage Bo Jangles Club . . . Soho’s Groove Records, who will be selling imports at Stevenage, have made a commercial for Capital Radio play using (with permission) Bobby Thurston’s ‘Check Out The Groove’ . . . Mark Clark (Wokingham King Of Clubs) suggests Merry Clayton’s lovely slow ‘When The World Turns Blue’ is merely her over Joe Sample’s ‘Melodies Of Love’, while Froggy points out that Sharon Paige ‘Tonight’s The Night’ is the same song as One Way ‘Tonight’, on the flip of ‘Music’ . . . US of A ‘Bodysnatching’ was evidently put out with the wrong mix, though the new one’s no better . . . Candido’s new album has caused widespread disappointment among DJs . . . Roger St Pierre’s promotion company has now lost Ian Titchener, who with brother Nick has joined Barry McCloud to form Rush Release (01-669 0327/659 2701) for promotion, PR, press – they all only want your mailing list, huh, Roger?! . . . London’s LODJ Assn meet at 3pm this Sunday (10) in the Model Railway Club, Keen House, Calshot Street, Kings Cross, discussing microphones and hospital radio . . . North West Mobile DJ Assn (Bolton 53677) could be the answer for many jocks from Lancaster to Merseyside, Manchester and mid-Cheshire – they’re two years old and affiliated to the DJF . . . Polydor/DJF’s Theo Loyla and journalist Jerry Gilbert are starting an invitation-only monthly drinking session – sorry, meeting – for disco decision-makers because, as Jerry says, “most of the people who matter I see only about four times a year – and three of those are in Gullivers at 2am” – yes folks, the notorious Mayfair club may sometimes be maligned but it is the most influential in the country, considering who meets there! . . . Ronnie Laws ‘OTBA Law’ synched out of the “come on” chick in Al Hudson ‘You Can Do It’ and Michael Jackson ‘Rock With You’ vari-synched out of Prince ‘I Wanna Be Your Lover’ last half are the killer mixes this week! . . . Whispers are number 5 in London’s best sellers this week – remember now, it’s 1980 and DISCO IS DEAD!

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UK Newies

TONY RALLO AND THE MIDNITE BAND: ‘Holdin’ On’ (Calibre CABL 501) (‘Burnin’ Alive’ BNDA debut 1/5/80)
Huge and hopefully hit-bound ultra-catchy “ba de ba da”-scatted jittery 118 bpm 12in jazz-funk jumper due imminently on Pye’s new Disco label. Although irritatingly speeded up from the LP’s 116 bpm, it does at least now equal La Pregunta! For added value, the more “commercial” catchily counting through rhythmically similar 125 bpm ‘Burnin’ Alive’ is flip.

NARADA MICHAEL WALDEN: ‘Tonight I’m Alright’ (from LP ‘The Dance Of Life’, Atlantic K 50678) (BNDA debut 12/22/79)
From the smash import Michael Jackson-ish set, this dynamite exciting “rock” smacker whaps through a deceptive 124(intro)-121-126(clapping)-123(instrumental)-122 bpm and is due on 12in, whilst out on US 7in for ages has been the bass-bumped hypnotic jiggly rolling 118-114-115-114 bpm ‘I Shoulda Loved Ya’ “rock” clapper. The other hot cuts are the chugging chanted 126-124-127-124-125 bpm ‘You’re Soo Good’ thudder with yowling guitar and disjointed 121-120 bpm ‘Lovin’ You Madly’ basher with long clapping breaks.

JOCKO: ‘Rhythm Talk’ (Philadelphia Int’l PIR 13-8222)
Veteran rock ‘n roll radio DJ does a real rapper’s delight over a remade 114 bpm backing track to ‘Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now’ – and thankfully the useful instrumental version is still on the flip. Up slightly in speed from the US pressing, it should now synch with the early part of McFadden & Whitehead’s original and will be big on its own in any case. 

WAR: ‘The World Is A Ghetto’ (MCA MCAT 557)
MCA have blown it! Delayed dangerously long and despite the label copy, edited from 13:47 to just 8:50 this 12in is a total waste of time as the great gradually building jazz instrumental version of their oldie conks out at 121 bpm – BUT, finally, the full album version is also now available (LP ‘The Music Band 2’ MCA MCF 3050), running a complete 114-117-118-119-120-121-122(piano)-121-122-123-122 bpm. It always mixed well between Roy Ayers ‘Don’t Stop’ and Brass Construction ‘Movin’’. For radio the 7in A-side/12in flip is a lovely lush hesitant soul smoocher ‘I’ll Take Care Of You’.

EARGASM: ‘This Is Lovers Rock’ (Venture EAR 26)
Already several other record companies are in hot pursuit of this terrific “deadly medley” 64-65-66 bpm 12in, which sweetly and soulfully strings together freshly recorded snatches of past reggae hits into an easily flowing gentle swayer sung in somewhat Curtis Mayfield style by D-Roy, Snoopy and others.

SPYRO GYRA: ‘Catching The Sun’ (MCA MCAT 568)
Rushed out ahead of any import on limited edition 3-track 12in, this attractively tootling 48/96 bpm sax and piano jogger joins the jittery almost Oriental 115 bpm ‘Percolator’ (on its own as 7in flip) and complex jolting 50/100 bpm ‘Cockatoo’. Perverse maybe, but they’ll lose jocks by not being on import.

LIGHT OF THE WORLD: ‘The Boys In Blue’ (Ensign ENY 3612)
Police siren-introed busily rhythmic 128-129 bpm brassy harmony throbber aims for a ‘Can You Feel The Force’ feel with dubbed on applause and, while on its own as one side of the 12in, segues on the long 11:50 side into a jazzier more interesting 124 bpm ‘This Is This’ instrumental.

FUNKADELIC: ‘(Not Just) Knee Deep’ (Warner Bros. K 17494T) (BNDA debut 10/13/79)
Finally on speeded-up 117 bpm 12in, the strong though struggling P-funk “rock” burbler is actually flipped by no less than a 124 bpm version of ‘One Nation Under A Groove’.

LAM: ‘Genghis Khan’ (Sonet SON 2201)
Frantic 146 bpm 7in pop hit from the Far East, sounds like Jonathan King though evidently is authentic but can be safely ignored as the flip is an accurate 128 bpm remake of ‘YMCA’…. sung in Cantonese and a hilarious MUST for all pop jocks!

TRADITION: ‘Runaway Love’ (RCA PB 5220)
Superb sinuously slinky sensuous 66 bpm 7in reggae, well worth trying.

TAPPA ZUKIE AND HORACE ANDY: ‘Natty Dread A Weh She Want’ (Starr PTP 1020)
Haunting jiggly 70 bpm 7in reggae slowie, widely voted to be the year’s best reggae record.

REAL THING: ‘Saint Or Sinner?’ (Pye 12P 161)
Pleasant enough creamily rolling 109-108 bpm 12in jogger with a slightly Hot Chocolate flavour.

FRANK HOOKER & POSITIVE PEOPLE: ‘Rock Me’ (DJM DJR 18009)
Rattling and stamping fast “rock” 12in from last summer starts at 126 bpm but slides and spurts in stages up to a 133-134 bpm climax which should now work with the Isleys’ ‘Disco Night’.

TAVARES: ‘Bad Times’ (Capitol CL 16117)
Jazzily jogging 47/94 bpm 7in slowie.

O’JAYS: ‘Forever Mine’ (Philadelphia Int’l PIR 8203)
Soulful 30/59 bpm 7in smoocher.

MAXINE NIGHTINGALE: ‘Lead Me On’ (UA BP 337)
Style-switching tender 34/68 bpm 7in slowie, a monstrous US smash many months ago.

THREE DEGREES: ‘Without You’ (Ariola ARO 208)
Lurching 46/92 bpm 7in slowie.

MARY WILSON: ‘Pick Up The Pieces’ (Motown TMG 1177)
Classy 39/78 bpm 7in jogger.

STYLISTICS: ‘I Feel Lucky Tonight’ (BW BW 10)
Melodic 55/110 bpm 7in pop jogger from ‘The Bitch’.

CODEK: ‘Me, Me, Me’ (MCA MCAT 550)
Mate of M’s Robin Scott with a similarly quirky (and paced) though rougher sounding 107 bpm ‘Pop Muzik’ clone.

YELLOW MAGIC ORCHESTRA: ‘Computer Game/Firecracker’ (A&M AMS 7502) (BNDA debut 2/16/80)
The most useful part of this electronic 60/120 bpm 7in is the ‘Space Invaders’ video game sound effects intro, which could confuse a few punters where the games are in use!

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Imports

LEON HAYWOOD: ‘Don’t Push It Don’t Force It’ (US 20th Century-Fox TCD-105) (BNDA debut 2/23/80)
Some records (like The Whispers, say) you know are going to be huge as soon as you hear them and this little monster in the making is one of ‘em! Introed and interrupted by a brassy paradiddle pinched from Blood, Sweat & Tears, it’s a steadily whapping 114 bpm 12in “rock” smacker that quite blatantly crosses Kool & The Gang with Kellee Patterson to come out Al Hudson flavoured. But, of course, you want one! Incidentally, last week’s Ronnie Laws lead import review was somehow followed by a few left over UK Newies, in case you were confused. [shootyourshot adds: I was, so I checked them out on Discogs and moved them to the UK Newies.]

BOBBY THURSTON: ‘Check Out The Groove’ (from LP ‘You Got What It Takes’, US Prelude PRL 12174) (BNDA debut 3/1/80)
Great happily jumping then “rocking” Brass Construction-type backbeat whacking chugger constructed very noticeably around a series of 16 bar progressions goes through 121-119-121-120-122-120(instrumental)-122-123 bpm until it reaches a 125-126 bpm rhythm break and outro . . . all of which took nearly an hour to work out, so you’d better appreciate it! The nice jittery long cool 118-119-120 bpm title track with jazzy picking lacks impact, ‘I Wanna Do It With You’ being a repetitive 131-132-133 bpm trotter, while his 40/81 bpm revival of Billy Stewart’s ‘Sittin’ In The Park’ is probably GQ inspired.

CHICAGO GANGSTERS: ‘I Feel You When You’re Gone’ (from LP ‘Life Is Not Easy Without You’, US Heat HTH-002)
Dynamite deep soul drenched 18/37 bpm smoocher with sexy raps and gospel wailing (also on 7in) is the most genuinely soul-searing thing I’ve heard in ages, ‘Life Is Not Easy’ being another nice lusher meandering 39 bpm soul slowie and ‘Wop That Wandy’, a strange conversational laid back 104 bpm P-funk jogger, while the 55/110-109-113-112 bpm ‘Sunshine Of My Life’ has a long moody intro, only becoming recognisable with Stevie’s sparsely rearranged lyrics.

GORDON’S WAR: ‘Got To Fan The Flame’ (US Stan-Jay SJ-001)
J R Bailey-masterminded gorgeous Gabor Szabo-type doodling guitar instrumental swayer on smoochy 38(intro)-41-42-43/82-84-86 bpm 12in, which Robbie Vincent inadvertently or otherwise managed to play as a speed-spin on Radio London last Saturday! Officially, it’s B-side to the boring 129-128-129 bpm ‘The Rock Is Gonna Get You’.

BROTHERS JOHNSON: ‘Stomp!’ (US A&M 2216-S) (BNDA debut 2/23/80)
Quincy Jones-produced laid-back but building 119 bpm “rock” – or should it be “stomp”? – clapper has a big sounding mass chorus effect and chugs into a bumping thunder thumbs bass break. Their album won’t be long now.

COOK COUNTY: ‘State Street Samba’ (from LP ‘Pinball Playboy’, US Motown M7-930R1)
Out a while, this rather good though fairly ethnic Latin instrumental builds through interesting breaks at a jolly jazz-samba tempo of 62-119-122-125-122(percussion)-124-122-0 bpm. Not surprisingly, the update of Cy Coleman’s ‘Playboy Theme’ into a lush 126 bpm churning ‘Pinball Playboy’ is big for the Playboy Club’s Tony Jenkins, while ‘Funky Get It’ is a moodily starting 119-121 bpm brassy sax throbber with subdued T-Connection-type percussion.

SHOTGUN: ‘Happy Feelin’’ (from LP ‘Shotgun IV’, US MCA MCA-3201)
Smoothly thudding 124 bpm “rock” jitterer, could mix out of One Way ‘Music’ and joins the brassily spurting staccato 130 bpm EWF-like ‘I Want You’ as the best bet, but there are those who prefer the happily bounding 129 bpm ‘Go Hed’ skipper with thumping “live” break and more instrumental than vocal. ‘You Deserve The Best’ is a 45 bpm Commodores-type slowie, ‘Standing In Need Of Love’ a pleasant 47 bpm swayer, ‘Come On And Dance’ a burbling 123 bpm funk chanter, ‘You Just Wanna Dance’ an unexceptional 135 bpm galloper and ‘Come On With It’ a ludicrously fast 141 bpm flier.

CHUCK MANGIONE: ‘Give It All You Got’ (US A&M 2211-S)
Gentle though rhythmically pushing 93 bpm 7in trumpet and sax instrumental jogger, the theme tune to American ABC-TV’s Winter Olympics coverage.

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UK Disco Top 90 – February 9, 1980

01 03 Positive Force – We Got The Funk – Sugarhill 12″
02 01 Michael Jackson – Off The Wall – Epic 7″
03 10 Whispers – And The Beat Goes On – Solar 12″
04 04 Prince – I Wanna Be Your Lover – Warner Bros. 12″
05 02 Sugarhill Gang – Rapper’s Delight – Sugarhill 12″
06 06 Azymuth – Jazz Carnival – Milestone 12″
07 08 Kool & The Gang – Too Hot / Tonight’s The Night – Mercury 12″
08 05 Rose Royce – Is It Love You’re After – Whitfield 12″
09 26 Phyllis Hyman – You Know How To Love Me – Arista 12″
10 14 Narada Michael Walden – Tonight I’m Alright / I Shoulda Loved Ya / You’re Soo Good / Lovin’ You Madly – Atlantic LP
11 17 Michael Jackson – Rock With You – Epic 12″
12 09 Gibson Brothers – Que Sera Mi Vida – Island 12″
13 18 Brass Construction – Shakit / Music Makes You Feel Like Dancing – UA 12″
14 28 Roy Ayers – Don’t Stop The Feeling – Polydor 12″
15 21 George Duke – I Want You For Myself – Epic 7″/LP/US 12″ promo
16 37 Players Association – We Got The Groove – Vanguard 12″
17 07 Kool & The Gang – Ladies’ Night – Mercury 12″
18 11 One Way feat. Al Hudson – Music – MCA 12″
19 20 Tony Rallo & The Midnite Band – Holdin’ On / Burnin’ Alive / Travellin’ Flights Of My Mind – US Casablanca LP
20 29 Sheila & B. Devotion – Spacer – Carrere 12″
21 15 Chic – My Feet Keep Dancing – Atlantic 12″
22 12 Isley Brothers – It’s A Disco Night – Epic 12″
23 31 Trussel – Love Injection – US Elektra 12″
24 58 Jocko – Rhythm Talk – Philadelphia Int’l 12″
25 43 Billy Preston & Syreeta – With You I’m Born Again / Sock-It Rocket – Motown 7″
26 22 Slave – Just A Touch Of Love / Are You Ready For Love – US Cotillion LP
27 13 Barbra Streisand & Donna Summer – No More Tears (Enough Is Enough) – CBS 12″
28 30 Chain Reaction – Dance Freak – US Sound Of New York 12″
29 48 Sister Sledge – Got To Love Somebody – Atlantic 12″
30 46 Billy Ocean – Are You Ready – GTO 12″
31 16 Shalamar – The Second Time Around – Solar 12″
32 32 Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes – Prayin’ – Source 12″
33 23 Diana Ross – It’s My House – Motown 12″
34 24 War – The World Is A Ghetto – US UA LP
35 25 Stargard – Wear It Out – Warner Bros. 7″/US 12″
36 47 KC & The Sunshine Band – Please Don’t Go – TK 7″
37 69 Patrice Rushen – Haven’t You Heard – Elektra 12″
38 19 Lowrell – Mellow, Mellow Right On – AVI 12″
39 38 Chuck Cissel – Cisselin’ Hot – US Arista 12″
40 55 Herb Alpert – Rotation – A&M 12″
41 50 Dan Hartman – Vertigo / Relight My Fire – Blue Sky 12″
42 39 Earth, Wind & Fire – Can’t Let Go – CBS 12″
43 27 Kurtis Blow – Christmas Rappin’ – Mercury 12″
44 34 Rufus & Chaka – Do You Love What You Feel – MCA 12″
45 49 Prince – Sexy Dancer / Still Waiting – Warner Bros. LP
46 33 Michael Jackson – Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough – Epic 12″
47 67 Players Association – The Get Down Mellow Mellow Sound / We’re Almost There – Vanguard LP
48 51 Eddie Cheba – Lookin’ Good – US Tree Line 12″
49 70 Rick James – Love Gun – Motown 7″/LP
50 63 Stop – I Can Feel It – Elite 12″
51 62 Three Degrees – My Simple Heart – Ariola 12″
52 56 Funkadelic – (Not Just) Knee Deep – Warner Bros. 7″/LP
53 68 Shalamar – Right In The Socket – Solar 12″
54 40 Stix Hooper – Cordon Bleu / Brazos River Breakdown – MCA 12″
55 36 Freddie James – Get Up And Boogie – Warner Bros. 12″
56 57 Commodores – Wonderland – Motown 7″
57 53 Joe Bataan – Rap-O Clap-O – US Salsoul 12″
58 35 Atmosfear – Dancing In Outer Space – MCA 12″
59 66 The Beat – Tears Of A Clown / Ranking Full Stop – 2-Tone 7″
60 60 Booker T & The MGs – Green Onions – Atlantic 7″
61 NE Ronnie Laws – O.T.B.A. Law (Outta Be A Law) / Young Child / Every Generation / Tomorrow – US UA LP
62 79 Nolans – I’m In The Mood For Dancing – Epic 7″
63 NE Bonnie Pointer – I Can’t Help Myself – Motown 7″/LP
64 64 Pink Floyd – Another Brick In The Wall – Harvest 7″
65 75 v/a – Four Hot Imports – Casablanca 12″
66 78 M – Moonlight And Muzak – MCA 12″
67 76 Mr. Q – Love And Time / Rapping Time – Canadian DK Sounds 12″
68 41 Sly & The Family Stone – Dance To The Music – Epic 12″
69 52 Deborah Washington – Rock It – Ariola 12″
70 89 Madness – My Girl – Stiff 7″
71 59 Sylvester – Can’t Stop Dancing / In My Fantasy – Fantasy 12″
72 NE Grey & Hanks – Now I’m Fine / Single Girls / Prime Time / Tired Of Taking Chances / We Need More – US RCA LP
73 NE Invisible Man’s Band – All Night Thing – US Mango 12″
74 73 France Joli – Come To Me – Ariola 12″
75 NE GQ – Standing Ovation – Arista 12″
76 74 Kat Mandu – The Break – US TK 12″
77 NE Fat Larry’s Band – Here Comes The Sun – Fantasy 12″
78 86 Gap Band – I Don’t Believe You Want To Get Up And Dance / Party Lights / Who Do You Call / Steppin’ Out – US Mercury LP
79 61 Whispers – Lady / My Girl / Can You Do The Boogie / Out The Box / A Song For Donny – US Solar LP
80 NE Pretenders – Brass In Pocket – Real 7″
81 80 Donna Summer – On The Radio – Casablanca 7″/LP
82 NE Maximum Penetration – Maximum Penetration – Sidewalk 12″
83 72 Edgar Winter – Above And Beyond – US Blue Sky 12″
84 RE Fat Larry’s Band – Center City / Last Chance To Dance – Fantasy 12″ promo/LP
85 84 Modern Sound Corporation – Safari – US Sunshine Sound 12″
86 77 Hiroshima – Lion Dance – US Arista LP
87 NE Stevie Wonder – Black Orchid – Motown 7″
88 NE La Pregunta – Chameleon – US GNP Crescendo 12″
89 NE Wilson Pickett – Groove City – EMI America 12″
90 NE Alton & Johnny – Hang On In There Baby – US Polydor 7″

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Appeared in Billboard:
#1 (BNDA debut 1/12/80) / #3 (BNDA debut 1/12/80) / #4 (BNDA debut 11/10/79)
#5 (BNDA debut 10/13/79) / #7 (BNDA debut 9/8/79) / #9 (BNDA debut 11/10/79)
#10 (BNDA debut 12/22/79) / #11 (BNDA debut 8/18/79) / #12 (BNDA debut 7/12/80)
#13 (BNDA debut 5/31/80) / #14 (BNDA debut 12/22/79) / #15 (BNDA debut 12/15/79)
#16 (BNDA debut 3/22/80) / #17 (BNDA debut 9/8/79) / #18 (BNDA debut 11/3/79)
#19 (BNDA debut 1/5/80) / #20 (BNDA debut 5/10/80) / #21 (BNDA debut 6/23/79)
#22 (BNDA debut 8/25/79) / #23 (BNDA debut 12/8/79) / #26 (BNDA debut 1/12/80)
#27 (BNDA debut 10/27/79) / #29 (BNDA debut 1/26/80) / #30 (BNDA debut 12/13/80)
#31 (BNDA debut 3/22/80) / #35 (BNDA debut 10/6/79) / #37 (BNDA debut 12/15/79)
#39 (BNDA debut 1/12/80) / #40 (BNDA debut 12/22/79) / #41 (BNDA debut 11/10/79)
#44 (BNDA debut 11/17/79) / #45 (BNDA debut 11/10/79) / #46 (BNDA debut 8/18/79)
#47 (BNDA debut 3/22/80) / #49 (BNDA debut 11/24/79) / #52 (BNDA debut 10/13/79)
#53 (BNDA debut 3/22/80) / #55 (BNDA debut 7/7/79) / #57 (BNDA debut 12/1/79)
#63 (BNDA debut 1/5/80) / #64 (BNDA debut 5/31/80) / #65 (BNDA debut 9/8/79)
#66 (BNDA debut 2/2/80) / #68 (BNDA debut 10/27/79) / #71 (BNDA debut 11/17/79)
#72 (BNDA debut 3/8/80) / #73 (BNDA debut 1/26/80) / #74 (BNDA debut 8/4/79)
#75 (BNDA debut 3/1/80) / #76 (BNDA debut 8/11/79) / #77 (BNDA debut 2/9/80)
#78 (BNDA debut 3/8/80) / #79 (BNDA debut 1/12/80) / #80 (BNDA debut 4/5/80)
#81 (BNDA debut 11/17/79) / #83 (BNDA debut 2/16/80)

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Bubbling under the UK Disco Top 90 are:

JAN AKKERMAN: ‘She’s So Divine’ (Atlantic 7”)
JUNIOR WALKER: ‘Wishing On A Star’ (Whitfield LP)
FREDDIE JAMES: ‘Hollywood’ / ‘Crazy Disco Music’ (Warner Bros. LP)
ISLEY BROTHERS: ‘Winner Takes All’ (Epic 7”)
SHARON PAIGE: ‘Tonight’s The Night’ (US Source 12”) (BNDA debut 2/16/80)
MERRY CLAYTON: ‘Emotion’ / ‘When The World Turns Blue’ / ‘Sly Suite’ / ‘Armed And Extremely Dangerous’ (US MCA LP)
ZKIFFZ: ‘(I Wanna) Boogie With You’ (UA 12”)
DON ARMANDO’S 2ND AVENUE RHUMBA BAND: ‘Deputy of Love’ / ‘I’m An Indian Too’ (ZE 7”) (BNDA debut 9/22/79)
LEON HAYWOOD: ‘Don’t Push It Don’t Force It’ (US 20th Century 12”) (BNDA debut 2/23/80)
SERGIO MENDES BRASIL 88: ‘I’ll Tell You’ / ‘Lonely Woman’ (US Elektra 12”) (BNDA debut 9/29/79)
KOCKY: ‘Remone’ (US Windsong 12”) (BNDA debut 2/16/80)
JOHN LEE & GERRY BROWN: ‘Chaser’ / ‘Will It Last’ (US Columbia LP)
JORGE SANTANA: ‘Ain’t No’ / ‘Feeling Good’ (US Tomato LP)
CANDIDO: ‘Candi’s Funk’ / ‘Samba Funk’ / ‘Do You Wanna Dance’ / ‘Super City’ (US Salsoul LP)
BIG FOOT: ‘I Apologize’ / ‘Watch Your Step’ (US Sue International 12”)
PRINCE BUSTER: ‘Al Capone’ / ‘One Step Beyond’ (Blue Beat 12”)
CHERYL LYNN: ‘Keep It Hot’ / ‘I’ve Got Faith In You’ / ‘Love Bomb’ (US Columbia LP) (BNDA debut 2/2/80)
SALLY TOWNSEND: ‘Love At First Night’ (OBM 7”)
MILLIE JACKSON & ISAAC HAYES: ‘Do You Wanna Make Love’ / ‘I Changed My Mind’ (Spring LP)
TRIBESMEN: ‘Finsbury Park’ (BOA 12”)
COOK COUNTY: ‘State Street Samba’ / ‘Pinball Playboy’ (US Motown LP)
THE SEQUENCE: ‘Funk You Up’ (US Sugarhill 12”)
GORDON’S WAR: ‘Got To Fan The Flame’ (US Stan-Jay 12”)
CHICAGO GANGSTERS: ‘I Feel You When You’re Gone’ / ‘Wop That Wandy’ (US Heat LP)
CHUCK BROWN: ‘Bustin’ Loose’ / OPUS 7: ‘Bussle’ (Source 12” EP)
EARGASM: ‘This Is Lovers Rock’ (Venture 12”)
SHOTGUN: ‘Go Head’ / ‘I Want You’ / ‘Come On With It’ / ‘Happy Feelin’’ (US MCA LP)
ROY AYERS: ‘Slyde’ / ‘Don’t Hide Your Love’ (Polydor LP)
FREQUENCY: ‘Loosen Up’ (US Hard Boiled 12”)
BROTHERS JOHNSON: ‘Stomp!’ (US A&M 7”) (BNDA debut 2/23/80)
LOVE UNLIMITED: ‘High Steppin’ Hip Dressin’ Fella’ (US Unlimited Gold 12”)
BOBBY THURSTON: ‘Check Out The Groove’ (US Prelude LP) (BNDA debut 3/1/80)
DAVID SIMMONS: ‘Holdin’ Back’ / ‘Locked Up In A Groove’ / ‘All I Want To Do’ (US Fantasy/WMOT LP)
AHMAD JAMAL: ‘Genetic Walk’ / ‘Chaser’ / ‘Don’t Ask My Neighbors’ / ‘Pablo Sierra’ (US 20th Century LP)
JONESES: ‘Love Contest’ (US Spring 12”)