May 10, 1980: Jermaine Jackson, Sho Nuff, Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway, Stacy Lattisaw, Cameo

Odds ‘N Bods

Sunday (11) Midland dealers Disco Electronics, N H Field’s Discoscene & Roadshows Disco Centre present the major Disco Light & Sound ‘80 exhibition from noon-7pm at Solihull’s St John’s Hotel in Warwick Road, with over twenty leading manufacturers on show, a Lasertronics demonstration and more, admission 75p (full info on 021-707 1925) . . . Greg Davies’ Disco Forum ‘80 at Stevenage Bo Jangles during the afternoon of Sunday June 1st looks like making proper sense this time, with virtually all record companies there and a panel that still looks promotion-biased. £2 tickets from Greg at 11 Hampton Close, Wilstead, Beds MK45 3DA (0234-741462) . . . Whispers ‘Lady’ is now due on 12in (Solar SO 12-4) . . . Chris Hill & Froggy have raved-over promos of Sonny Rollins keyboardist Mark Soskin’s upcoming ‘Rhythm Vision’ LP (US Prestige) . . . PRAT have signed WMOT and issue Philly Cream’s newie soon, plus on Calibre next week they put out Freeez with a remixed B-side . . . Delegation’s album strangely seems to be selling now it’s on Mercury import more than when out here last year! . . . Donald Byrd’s “dead” ‘Dominoes’ 12in is due at last next week, while the hotter ‘Live At The Roxy’ version from the old Hollywood-recorded ‘Blue Note All Stars’ LP was in fact the only track recorded in New York’s Central Park instead! . . . Groove’s Chris Palmer turns multi-tracked one man band with a great instrumental jazz-funk leaper to be released on his shop’s own label as ‘The Scratch’ by Surface Noise . . . Groove is also doing roaring business with hard-to-get classic jazz cut-out albums, much to Chris Hill’s annoyance as now everyone can play his old rarities! . . . Hill has retaliated against everyone nicking his “freeze” dance with a new step, the “anti-freeze” – stay while ‘The Groove’ is playing and go potty ¡n the pauses! . . . Johnny Wright, of Holborn’s City Sounds record shop, hosted a black-tie spaghetti dinner for all the funk mafia last week – police were seen taking numberplate details of Chris Hill, Robbie Vincent, Chris Brown, Sean French, Froggy, Tom Holland, Jeff Young, Bob Jones, Pete Tong, Mick Clark, Paul Clark, Graham Canter, James Hamilton, Adrian Webb and Fred Dove! – after which it was down to Gullivers for Froggy to do his Moulinex mix . . . The Grape Escape in Red Lion Street was the meeting place, where barman Tony makes the best pina colada ever, matters discussed ranging from Steve Walsh’s size in gumboots to the adoption of the term SLOP to signify gay Shirt Lifter Orientated Product . . . Disco Dave Singleton (061-775 1299) wonders if there’s a busier DJ in the land: he’s currently doing twenty-one gigs a week (afternoons at Manchester Winchester Wild West Club, evenings at Manchester Rainbow and Knutsford Daddy Monkeys), and would like to hear from a fire-eating DJ! . . . Ashley Woods (Sleaford) bought a royal African python named Clyde, who really digs Grover Washington ‘Snake Eyes’ and Brothers Johnson ‘You Make Me Wanna Wiggle’! . . . Paul Anthony now funks Birmingham Libertys with its blue neon-lit infinity mirror tunnel entrance on Thurs/Saturdays, and early week is at Solihull Scandals . . . Noel Wright funks Ware Beckets Wed/Fridays now, with Les Knott on Thursdays . . . Nick Langham (Dalston Maksims) doesn’t feature our disco chart any more as his punters think it’s dated, whereas Radio Luxembourg’s Tony Prince doesn’t think it’s dated enough because he hasn’t heard some of the Top 30 hits yet . . . Steve Dennis “The Menace” features his club’s Funky 15 every Wednesday at Birmingham Faces . . . Mark Clark’s Hot Gossip Roadshow accompanies, tummy in, Gary Glitter at Hastings Pier Ballroom on Saturday (10), the kids in Hastings being really funky sez Mark – at that gig? . . . Liz Bailey (Leicester) wonders what CBS’s Loraine Trent has against gay discos . . . Radio Caroline being off the air, will the under belly of East Anglia now gradually lose its interest in heavy rock? . . . will pigs fly? . . . KEEP IT FUNKY!

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UK Newies

JERMAINE JACKSON: ‘Burnin’ Hot’ (from LP ‘Let’s Get Serious’, Motown STML 12127) (BNDA debut 4/5/80)
With the Stevie Wonder-ful jittery burbling title track now on smash-bound 111bpm 12in (12TMG 1183), this equally powerful Narada Michael Walden-ish 119bpm smacker is the consistently good album’s other outright winner and can be expected to chart in a big way on its own.

SHO NUFF: ‘It’s Alright’ (Ensign ENY 3712)
Maddeningly happy ultra catchy simple little jiggly 122bpm 12in chanted bubbly smacker, re-edited to Chris Hill’s requirements from a less infectious original.

ROBERTA FLACK WITH DONNY HATHAWAY: ‘Back Together Again’ (Atlantic K 114811) (BNDA debut 4/5/80)
The slinkier LP version’s over-long instrumental intro has been cut right down, the rhythm mixed more obtrusively and the central section altered to make a languidly swaying 109(intro)-111bpm 12in backbeat bumper that has the potential to be probably this year’s ‘Bring The Family Back’ rather than blockbuster ‘Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now’ (both of which it resembles). 

TEENA MARIE: ‘Behind The Groove’ (Motown 12TMG 1185) (BNDA debut 3/29/80)
Hypnotic all-happening but basically thudding beefy bass-thumped jiggly 116bpm 12in basher with sexy conversational intro mixes perfectly out of Raydio and then chops into the main bass beat of Lakeside for my current fave segue.

NDUGU AND THE CHOCOLATE JAM COMPANY: ‘Shadow Dancing’ (Epic EPC 13-8311)
Jazz superstars-backed and O’Jays-accompanied (not that either are obvious) smacking 120bpm 12in soul remake of Andy Gibb’s pop oldie chops sensationally (minus very start) out of ‘Stomp’!

FREEEZ: ‘Keep In Touch’ (Pink Rhythm 12 PINKY 1)
The “North London Sound” strikes again on an Atmosfear-type instrumental 12in which careers around through the lower 130’s bpm with busy bass up front and an 135bpm break, the synth and piano-carried melody line being quite catchily jazzy.

DETROIT SPINNERS: ‘Body Language’ (Atlantic K 11392T)
Reactivated old creamily thumping 122bpm 12in chugger with ‘Let’s All Chant’ quote is in fact their follow-up after all as so many radio stations were on it already!

AVENUE B BOOGIE BAND: ‘Bumper To Bumper’ (Salsoul SAL 12-2)
Bumping and thumping old fashioned brassy 112-110-111bpm 12in “funky soul” jitterer ties in with the current though dated James Brown, Ben E King and even Jermaine Jackson rhythm.

VARIOUS: ‘Jazz Fusion’ (Pye 12P 5016)
Although intended and priced as a 12in, this 33 1/3rpm jazz 6-tracker could find itself classed as a budget album! Hottest and most commercial recent cut is the rattling and bumping 118-119-118-119-118bpm LA PREGUNTA ‘Chameleon’, while new 123-125-lull-128-123-128(outro)bpm remix of 1978’s jittery samba-ish RENZO FRAIESE ‘12 Engle Street’ is causing a ripple on promo. RINDER & LEWIS ‘Blue Steel’ is a slickly shifting 128bpm instrumental that never really fulfilled its early Bristol promise, JON FADDIS ‘Good And Plenty’ and ‘Razor Blade’ are complex breezy 133-138-135-139-141-142bpm and jolting 118-119-118-122bpm trumpet tootlers which had brief specialist attention, DAVID BENOIT ‘Los Angeles’ being a moodily convoluted tempo-switcher that’s not really dance-orientated and a bit of a dark horse.

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Imports

STACY LATTISAW: ‘Jump To The Beat’ (from LP ‘Let Me Be Your Angel’, US Cotillion SD 5219) (BNDA debut 5/17/80)
Narada Michael Walden-prod/penned set for the squeaky cafe-au-lait 14-year-old is a sizzler when most in his own current style as on this terrific 90(intro)-118-119-118-119(bass)-120(“go head”)-118-120bpm smacker and the equally typical 126(intro)-124-120-122-118-124-118-124bpm ‘Don’t You Want To Feel It (For Yourself)’, the 113-112bpm ‘You Know I Like It’ is ‘Good Times’-type, ‘Dynamite!’ a Jacksons-ish 115-114-115bpm chugger and ‘You Don’t Love Me Anymore’ a 102-101-102-101-102bpm half-stepper.

CAMEO: ‘On The One’ (from LP ‘Cameosis’, US Chocolate City CCLP 2011)
Dynamite soul set with every track good of its type, this spiky 114½bpm heavy funk semi-smacker suiting the mafia as it’s already got “wah-oh” chanting for their gigs, the heavily smashing jittery 116-115bpm bass-bumped title track funk burbler slotting into the Raydio-revived groove, sparsely but solidly smacking 124bpm ‘Shake Your Pants’ P-funker having a ‘One Nation’ flavour, and the soulful slower ones being even better! ‘We’re Goin’ Out Tonight’ is a lovely mellow Moments/Whatnauts-like subduedly jaunty 93bpm jogger that wails by the end, ‘Why Have I Lost You’ a gentle conversationally started 34-33bpm intense slow wailer (Tomi Jenkins presumably is the wailing lady who shares so many vocals now), ‘I Care For You’ a deep soul 18/37bpm smoocher and ‘Please You’ a jiggly little 111-110-111bpm jogger.

BT EXPRESS: ‘Takin’ Off’ (from LP ‘1980’, US Columbia JC 36333) (‘Give Up The Funk (Let’s Dance)’ BNDA debut 4/19/80)
Improving with familiarity, the goodies are this jetstream introed jittery 116bpm Brass Construction-style chugger with wheezling synth, an extended mainly instrumental 114bpm version of ‘Give Up The Funk (Let’s Dance)’ which builds a jazzy intensity, and a potential-filled pleasantly loping 117bpm ‘Does It Feel Good’ backbeat skipper with short scat and smacking breaks and trick false finish. ‘Funk Theory’ is a jiggly 111bpm chanter, ‘Heart Of Fire’ a brassy 128½bpm hollerer, ‘Have Some Fun’ a stolid 108bpm plodder with “disco” breaks, ‘Closer’ a jolting 43bpm slowie and ‘Better Late Than Never’ a 15/30½bpm dead slowie.

JEFF LORBER FUSION: ‘Fusion Juice’ (from LP ‘Wizzard Island’, US Arista AL 9516)
Good consistent instrumental jazz set, early reaction being to this cleanly attacking punchy 121-122bpm ‘Lava Lands’ stereo searer, naggingly familiar (Spyro Gyra?) 116bpm ‘Sweet’ jolter, and thundering 124bpm ‘Can’t Get Enough’ jitterer.

ADC BAND: ‘In The Moonlight’ (from LP ‘Renaissance’, US Cotillion SD 5221)
Chick-led smooth long 124-123-124-126-121bpm “rock” thumper with guitar and synth breaks has the flavour of a faster ‘Ladies Night’, while the thudding 113-112bpm ‘Hangin’ Out’ heavy funk bass burbler goes into good solos. ‘Work That Body’ is a Brass Construction-type tripping 128-127-126-124bpm chugger, ‘Tripwire’ a tapping little chunky 123-122-123bpm soul wailer with an old MG’s-like undertow, and ‘Hittin’ On Me’ a sparse 112bpm clopper.

FRISKY: ‘Burn Me Up (With Your Love)’ (US Vanguard SPV 30) (BNDA debut 2/9/80)
Fairly mundane thudding 115bpm 12in girlie group “disco” smacker saved by angrily growling beefy bass which makes it mix with Teena Marie.

RHYZE: ‘Just How Sweet Is Your Love’ (US Sam S-12332) (BNDA debut 5/10/80)
Glibly sung perky straightforward steady 118-119bpm 12in disco smacker is blandly pleasant.

IKIM & BACARDI: ‘Funk Rap’ (US Land Of Hits 802)
Rather hurried Master Gee-like chap and chick on – yawn – yet another 12in rapper, but the instrumental 122-123bpm B-side version is better.

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UK Disco Top 90 – May 10, 1980

01 02 Bobby Thurston – Check Out The Groove – Epic 12″
02 01 Brothers Johnson – Stomp! – A&M 12″
03 03 Rodney Franklin – The Groove – CBS 12″
04 05 Mystic Merlin – Just Can’t Give You Up – Capitol 12″
05 04 Leon Haywood – Don’t Push It Don’t Force It – 20th Century 12″
06 09 Narada Michael Walden – I Shoulda Loved Ya – Atlantic 12″
07 08 Jermaine Jackson – Let’s Get Serious – Motown 12″
08 06 Detroit Spinners – Working My Way Back To You – Atlantic 12″
09 07 Narada Michael Walden – Tonight I’m Alright – Atlantic 12″
10 14 Crown Heights Affair – Use Your Body & Soul / You Gave Me Love – De-Lite 12″
11 13 Mass Production – Shante – Atlantic 12″
12 12 Tony Rallo & The Midnite Band – Holdin’ On / Burnin’ Alive – Calibre 12″
13 10 Whispers – And The Beat Goes On – Solar 12″
14 11 Liquid Gold – Dance Yourself Dizzy – Polo 12″
15 15 Gibson Brothers – Cuba / Better Do It Salsa – Island 12″
16 17 Teena Marie – Behind The Groove – Motown 12″
17 16 Raydio – For Those Who Like To Groove / Two Places At The Same Time – Arista 7″
18 18 Shalamar – Right In The Socket (remix) / The Second Time Around – Solar 12″
19 25 Bobby Thurston – You Got What It Takes – Epic LP
20 19 Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway – Back Together Again – Atlantic 12″/US LP
21 NE Jermaine Jackson – Burnin’ Hot – Motown LP
22 29 Diana Ross & The Supremes – Supremes Medley / Love Hangover – Motown 12″
23 20 Brenda Russell – In The Thick Of It / So Good So Right – A&M 12″
24 30 Blondie – Call Me – Chrysalis 7″/Polydor LP
25 21 Sharon Paige – Tonight’s The Night – Source 12″
26 24 Chuck Cissel – Cisselin’ Hot – Arista 12″
27 33 Gary Bartz – Music / Rockin’ All Night / After The Love Has Gone / Need Your Love / After Glow – US Arista LP
28 28 Roy Ayers Ubiquity – Running Away / Can’t You See Me – Polydor 12″
29 37 Jerry Knight – Overnight Sensation – A&M 7″/US 12″
30 23 Michael Jackson – Rock With You / Get On The Floor – Epic 12″
31 40 Brothers Johnson – Light Up The Night / This Had To Be / Celebrations / Smilin’ On Ya / You Make Me Wanna Wiggle – A&M LP
32 27 Ben E. King – Music Trance – Atlantic 7″/US 12″ promo
33 22 Dayton – Eyes On You / Livin’ For Today / Dank – US UA LP
34 31 Phyllis Hyman – You Know How To Love Me – Arista 12″
35 43 Bunny Mack – Love You Forever – Rokel/RCA 12″
36 32 Fern Kinney – Together We Are Beautiful – WEA 12″
37 26 Trussel – Love Injection – Elektra 12″
38 34 Lonnie Liston Smith – Love Is The Answer (all cuts) – US Columbia LP
39 49 Stephanie Mills – D-A-N-C-I-N’ / Try My Love / Mixture Of Love – US 20th Century LP
40 36 Ronnie Laws – Young Child – UA 12″
41 50 V/A – Calibre Cuts – Calibre 12″
42 52 James Last Band – The Seduction (Love Theme) – Polydor 12″
43 38 Chico Hamilton – Strut / Magic Fingers / Alekasam / Mysterious Maiden – US Elektra LP
44 53 Prince – Sexy Dancer – Warner Bros. 12″
45 74 B.T. Express – Give Up The Funk / Taking Off / Funk Theory / Does It Feel Good / Heart Of Fire – US Columbia LP
46 41 Herbie Hancock – Go For It / Making Love / Tell Everybody – CBS 12″
47 67 Billy Ocean – Stay The Night – GTO 12″
48 35 Community People – Education Wrap – US Delmar Int’l 12″
49 51 Light Of The World – The Boys In Blue / This Is This – Ensign 12″
50 45 Dr. Hook – Sexy Eyes / When You’re In Love With A Beautiful Woman – Capitol 12″
51 61 Heath Brothers – For The Public – US Columbia 12″/LP
52 42 Herbie Hancock – Saturday Night / Stars In Your Eyes – CBS LP
53 39 Isley Brothers – Go All The Way / Pass It On / Don’t Say Goodnight / Say You Will – Epic LP
54 44 Chicago – Street Player – CBS 12″
55 NE Freeez – Keep In Touch – Pink Rhythm 12″
56 47 Atmosfear – Motivation / Extract – MCA 12″
57 60 Raydio – It’s Time To Party Now / Until The Morning Comes / Tonight’s The Night / Everybody Makes Mistakes – Arista LP
58 70 Change – A Lover’s Holiday / Searching / The Glow Of Love / It’s A Girl’s Affair – US RFC LP
59 84 Odyssey – Use It Up And Wear It Out / Don’t Tell Me, Tell Her – US RCA 12″
60 55 Con Funk Shun – Got To Be Enough / Happy Face – US Mercury 7″/12″/LP
61 56 Skyy – First Time Around (remix) / High – Salsoul 12″
62 77 Sho Nuff – It’s Alright – Ensign 12″
63 64 Randy Brown – The Next Best Thing To Being There / We Ought To Be Doin’ It – Casablanca 12″
64 46 Ronnie Laws – O.T.B.A. Law (Outta Be A Law) / Every Generation / As One – UA LP
65 54 Players Association – The Get Down Mellow Sound – Vanguard 12″
66 71 Stephanie Mills – Sweet Sensation – US 20th Century 12″
67 NE Average White Band – Let’s Go Round Again – RCA 12″
68 NE Aurra – When I Come Home / In The Mood – US Dream 12″
69 57 Wilbert Longmire – Hawkeye / Crystal Clear – Tappan Zee LP
70 80 Mandrill – Dance Of Love / Feeling Good / When You Shake – US Arista LP
71 63 Donald Byrd – Dominoes (live at the Roxy) – US Blue Note LP
72 68 Kleeer – Close To You – Atlantic 12″
73 78 Gap Band – I Don’t Believe You Want To Get Up And Dance – Mercury 12″
74 88 Voyage – I Love You Dancer / Do It Again / All The Way – US Marlin LP
75 72 Herbie Hancock – I Thought It Was You (Direct-Cut) – Japanese CBS/Sony LP
76 NE Stacy Lattisaw – Jump To The Beat / Don’t You Want To Feel It / You Know I Like It – US Cotillion LP
77 NE Kwick – I Want To Dance With You / We Ought To Be Dancing / Tonight Is The Night – US EMI America LP
78 NE Michael Jackson – She’s Out Of My Life – Epic 7″
79 NE Renzo Fraiese / La Pregunta / Rinder & Lewis / David Benoit – 12 Engle Street / Chameleon / Blue Steel / Los Angeles – Pye 12″ EP
80 69 Stone City Band – Strut Your Stuff – Motown 7″/US Gordy LP
81 NE Randy Crawford – Last Night In Danceland / Same Old Story / Tender Falls The Rain – US Warner Bros. LP promo
82 NE Breakwater – Splashdown (all cuts) – US Arista LP
83 76 Leo’s Sunshipp – Give Me The Sunshine / I’m Back For More – US Lyon’s LP
84 85 Manu Dibango – Goro City / Tek Time – Island 12″
85 NE Cameo – On The One / Cameosis / Why Have I Lost You – US Chocolate City LP
86 NE Jeff Lorber Fusion – Fusion Juice / Sweet – US Arista LP
87 73 Dynasty – Satisfied / It’s Still A Thrill – Solar 12″
88 RE Grey & Hanks – Now I’m Fine – RCA 12″
89 75 Al Johnson & Jean Carn – I’m Back For More – US Columbia 7″/LP
90 90 El Coco – Let’s Get It Together (remix) – AVI 12″ promo
NE = new entry; RE = re-entry

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Appeared in Billboard:
#1 (BNDA debut 3/1/80) / #2 (BNDA debut 2/23/80) / #3 (BNDA debut 5/17/80)
#5 (BNDA debut 2/23/80) / #6 (BNDA debut 12/22/79) / #7 (BNDA debut 4/5/80)
#8 (BNDA debut 10/20/79) / #9 (BNDA debut 12/22/79) / #10 (BNDA debut 3/22/80)
#12 (BNDA debut 1/5/80) / #13 (BNDA debut 1/12/80) / #14 (BNDA debut 11/17/79)
#15 (BNDA debut 4/7/79 & 9/8/79) / #16 (BNDA debut 3/29/80) / #17 (BNDA debut 5/17/80)
#18 (BNDA debut 10/20/79) / #19 (BNDA debut 3/1/80) / #20 (BNDA debut 4/5/80)
#21 (BNDA debut 4/5/80) / #24 (BNDA debut 3/8/80) / #25 (BNDA debut 2/16/80)
#26 (BNDA debut 1/12/80) / #28 (BNDA debut 9/24/77) / #29 (BNDA debut 4/19/80)
#30 (BNDA debut 8/18/79) / #32 (BNDA debut 3/1/80) / #34 (BNDA debut 11/10/79)
#37 (BNDA debut 12/8/79) / #44 (BNDA debut 11/10/79) / #45 (BNDA debut 4/19/80)
#46 (BNDA debut 7/14/79 & 4/19/80) / #47 (BNDA debut 4/11/81) / #52 (BNDA debut 4/19/80)
#53 (BNDA debut 4/26/80) / #57 (BNDA debut 12/6/80) / #58 (BNDA debut 3/29/80)
#59 (BNDA debut 4/5/80) / #61 (BNDA debut 3/8/80) / #65 (BNDA debut 3/22/80)
#66 (BNDA debut 4/12/80) / #67 (BNDA debut 7/12/80) / #68 (BNDA debut 5/17/80)
#70 (BNDA debut 4/19/80) / #73 (BNDA debut 3/8/80) / #74 (BNDA debut 5/17/80)
#76 (BNDA debut 5/17/80) / #77 (BNDA debut 6/14/80) / #82 (BNDA debut 6/14/80)
#87 (BNDA debut 1/19/80) / #88 (BNDA debut 3/8/80)

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No Bubbling Under titles this week.