ODDS ‘N’ BODS
Fuse One ‘Grand Prix’ / ‘Double Steal’ will be on UK 12in by the end of the month . . . Shakatak’s album is not in fact due until May, despite what Record Shack say . . . Champagne are releasing a UK Jazz-Funk compilation LP containing brand new remixes of Inversions ‘Mr Mack’, Funk Masters ‘Love Money’, Powerline ‘Double Journey’, Rah Band ‘Slide’, Not James Player ‘ Friends Again’ . . . CBS are going with that Dutch ‘Stars On 45’ cover version of ‘Bits & Pieces III’, concentrating on the Beatles section on 7in (which despite the European accents is likely to be a pop smash here . . . Chi-Lites ‘Have You Seen Her’ is now on US 12in (20th Century-Fox/Chi-Sound TCD 122) . . . Surface Noise’s previously released output has been compiled into an LP in Portugal, but it’s not for import as Chris Palmer is making a proper album here . . . Funktion follow their first all-niter with another at Brighton Top Rank on Friday 27th March, a pyjama party starring Chris Hill, Froggy, Sean French, Jeff Young, Tom Holland, Chris Brown . . . Ensign are making a TV pilot show at Canvey Goldmine on Sunday (15) with all their UK artists (LOTW, Beggar & Co, Incognito – well, that’s the groups – Ray Carless, Rudy Grant, Eugene Paul) as a sort of Brit-funk version of ‘TOTP meets Soul Train’, audience only by invitation but these are available from Chris Hill at the Goldmine this Saturday . . . Second Image’s first ever public appearance last Wednesday at Mayfair Gulliver’s was marred by local bikers battling, but otherwise showed the snappy dressers to be good at both slow jazzy numbers and flashy fast bumpers, the highlight being an audience participation acappella, which was their own exciting treatment of ‘Mysteries Of The World’ (running into ‘Dance, Dance, Dance’) being an especially strong highlight, as by the end the crowd was cooking . . . Gullivers on Saturday then held the Jazz Sluts (possibly soon to be regulars at the club) where they delivered a fluid guitar-led instrumental set inspired by Lee Ritenour / Dave Gruisin with Latin overtones, was made interestingly different to their Tuesday night set by lack of sax . . . Capital Radio’s Greg Edwards is trying to make people aware of the distinct difference between funk, jazz-funk and black product record shops are currently stocking, the poor Funk Masters ‘Love Money’ is an example (does it pretend to be anything other than cheap and cheerful Greg?) . . . Steve Dennis plans another DJ masterclass in Birmingham’s Faces for Sunday 4th October . . . Gary Woodford (how about some charts?) has started an Under-18s Sunday jazz-funk club at Harrow Leisure Centre, £1 membership having to be obtained in advance (details 01-866 9688) . . . Brighton Metro has closed for conversion into Busbys II, re-opening 27th April . . . Liverpool’s local hospital broadcasting station Sunshine Radio is hoping to move into new studios soon and could do with some sponsors . . . Mike Davidson (Liverpool Hollywood) can currently be seen walking around town in a fluorescent orange coat made of nylon carpet material with yeti boots to match – but why? . . . Staines Fusion Few plan such surprises in their forthcoming Caister fanzine as sexy poses by Carol Hill (inspired by Paula maybe?) and the wonderful world of Mrs Dickenson’s budgie! . . . Linx had a great stylish video on TISWAS – and ‘Intuition’ doesn’t appear to have been the problem to programme that many jocks initially thought, to judge from their massive chart leap! . . . Sugar Minott was way ahead as the winner of Capital Radio’s People’s Choice vote, with Heatwave a strong second . . . Jack Wood (Huddersfield Johnnys) honeymooning with Sylvia in the smoke and checking out Gully’s last week was chuffed to pick up Chick Corea ‘Central Park’ 12in promo from Our Price (what, them again?) . . . Victor Feldman’s latest jazz set is likely to set you back by as much as £20 . . . Funkadelic, with an import LP on L.A. International (LAX for short) are a splinter group formed by three original members who had fallen on hard times recently after being sacked and have equal rights to the name . . . Rufus’s import LP featuring Chaka Khan is very dull . . . Polydor have James Brown’s Soul Syndrome Part 2 LP, recorded at the same venues as Part One . . . Barry Lee Martin charts Nat King Cole ‘Let There Be Love’ and Nina Simone ‘My Baby Just Cares For Me’ . . . Don’t Look Now goofed last week – it was Teddy Pendergrass who ran off with Marvin Gaye’s wife and not the other way around! . . . Brian Blyth would like to see a reggae chart on this page, but to my regret very few jocks seem to list reggae, because no-one stocks it? . . . Richard Walmsley wants the timings of records mentioned – and listings to include, but with BPM’s as well this would become too cluttered, not to mention the time it takes to ‘time’ a record! . . . Richard Hart (Wells–Next–The–Sea) amongst other sick ditties says “If you want to wake up with a smile on your face, go to bed with a coat-hanger in your mouth!” . . . March 1963 was the era of Little Eva’s ‘Let’s Turkey Trot’ and the month I became a Disco DJ . . . KEEP IT GOOD!
UK NEWIES
LIGHT OF THE WORLD: ‘Time’ (Mercury MERX 64).
Astoundingly good marathon 126-125-124-125-126-125-124-125 (outro)bpm 12in remix really IS a remix (and how!) with added jittery guitar intro and many brass breaks, it all sounding like a cross between Players Association ‘Turn The Music Up’ and now especially Crown Heights Affair ‘Galaxy Of Love’ (both of which can be mixed in and out of it). Serviced on white label, this may not be in many shops yet.
HEATWAVE: ‘Jitterbuggin’ (GTO GT 13-290).
This heavily thudding jolting 112bpm bumper always was THE cut for me from ‘Candles’ and now it sounds really strong on beefy 3-track 12in, with the resonantly booming 0-119-114bpm ‘Goin’ Crazy‘ strutter which drops into a quieter doodle before returning slightly slower, and the previously unissued jerky convulated 0-117½bpm ‘Wack That Axe‘ jiggler. The added 12in volume works wonders.
THE SCRATSCH BAND: ‘Your Place Or Mine?’ (Groove/EMI 12 EMI 5154).
Any similarity to Surface Noise is unavoidable as Chris Palmer’s behind this too, and it’s his best since ‘The Scratch’ (with one “S”!). A bass jolted smooth 0-111-110bpm 12in jazzy bumper, the vocal A-side with sax solo is less incisive than the really powerful piano played 111-110bpm instrumental which mixes nicely out of Coati Mundi.
ONE ON ME: ‘Body Music’ (RCA RCAT 46).
Editor’s note: Artist should be listed as ONE ON ONE.
Straightforwardly clomping bass thudded jittery 118bpm 12in disco bumper sung by an unhappy sounding guy who adds tension with his whimpering vocal tone.
TATA VEGA: ‘Love Your Neighbor’ (LP ‘Givin’ All My Love’ Motown STML 12136).
Surprisingly nice set which sadly will be missed by many import-orientated jocks who ignore the UK release browser bins. Really strong being this synth tone introed then bass snapped little 116-115 (vocal)-116bpm staccato though smoothly sung precise bubbly thudder, ‘(I’ve Got My) Second Wind‘ being a pretty gentle G.C. Cameron duetted 116-117bpm swayer, the title track an electronically strutting 124bpm smacker and ‘There’s Love In The World‘ a raucous 118bpm ‘Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground)’ clone.
DYNASTY: ‘Groove Control’ (Solar SOT-18).
Ultimately their most in demand LP track from last year now finally on 12in to coincide with their UK visit, it’s another easily mixable 118-119-120bpm Solar smacker which should join the rest to dominate our chart here long!
QUINCY JONES: ‘Ai No Corrida’ (A&M AMS 8109).
As of writing his eagerly awaited new LP has yet to arrive, though this happily skipping 123bpm 7in version of Chas Jankel’s Japanese movie-title tune is a nice taster.
SLY DUNBAR: ‘Hot You’re Hot’ (Taxi IPR 2045).
Rather effective sneakily powerful sinister slinky 84-86-88bpm 12in brassy reggae instrumental with dominantly plodding rhythm and a “when you’re hot you’re hot” chorus that’s evidently caught on in gay discos too.
MARVIN GAYE: ‘Praise’ (Motown 12TMG 1225).
Samba-style lively tapping 0-117-116-117-118bpm 12in swayer with his time honoured harmony effects and a sneaky grow-on-you appeal and nice tootling trumpet may not be an immediately compulsive dancer but will improve with radio familiarity, the lush sensuously slinky 112-114-113bpm ‘Funk Me‘ being good value flip.
NEW YORK SKYY: ‘Superlove’ (Excaliber EXCL 507).
Piping jaunty synth tones spike this simple little jerky 122-123-122bpm disco clopper in the Young & Co tradition (it always used to chop sensationally out of Prince’s similar ‘Head’ but now could work out of Kleeer), on 3-track 12in with the pleasant well sung 116-115bpm ‘I Can’t Get Enough‘ and plodding slow 104bpm ‘Take it Easy’.
IMPORTS
ARNI EGILSSON: ‘Howduz Disco?’ (LP ‘Bassus Erectus’ US Inner City IC 1103).
For a fantastically exciting sequence with all lights flashing, try synching ‘Southern Freeez’ into ‘Space Bass’ into ‘Underwater’ into this grizzly Scandinavian jazz double bassist’s fast flying 132bpm instrumental sizzler, which is so similar (apart from jazzier playing) to Harry Thumann that you can leave both running together for ages! What a killer.
MEL SHEPPARD: ‘Can I Take You Home’ (US TSOB TS 2002 – The Sound Of Brooklyn!).
Useful precisely clapping basically quite trite 121-122-120(break)-121- 120bpm 12in simple sparse disco thudder starts with some great fruity synth tones and synches sensationally out of Kleeer’s break (and then quite nicely on into Second Image), the electronically clapping 111-112bpm ‘I Love Making Love To You‘ B-side swayer almost being good too.
JERRY KNIGHT: ‘Perfect Fit’ LP (US A&M SP-4843).
At last in a full length version if not on 12in, the title track exciting bass synth burbled driving 124bpm bashing stormer has searing acid guitar that’s great before Freeez and such an over abundance of zest that it far and away overshadows the only other real dancer, the jittery 121bpm ‘Turn It Out‘.
KID CREOLE & THE COCONUTS PRESENT COATI MUNDI: ‘Que Pasa/Me No Pop I’ (US Antilles AN 807).
The Dr Buzzard spin-off group hits a happy Latin groove on 110bpm 12in that’s perfect out of Joe Sample (or Sharon Redd), the longer, better B-side starting with Spanish-singing chix before seguing into a sort of Latin rapper that sounds less compulsive when alone on the A-side.
ISLEY BROTHERS: ‘Tonight Is The Night (If I Had You)’ (LP ‘Grand Slam’ US T-Neck PZ 37080).
Essential for the slowies alone, this beautiful delicately pulsating 48bpm exquisite smoocher and the bittersweet 41bpm ‘I Once Had Your Love (And I Can’t Let Go)‘ are infinitely superior to the tired formulas displayed on faster material like the ludicrously ‘That Lady’-like 126-128bpm ‘Young Girls‘, the 120-122-124-125bpm ‘Party Night‘ and 128-129-128-127- 126bpm ‘Who Said?‘ being better than the 122-123-124bpm ‘Hurry Up And Wait’, and 122-123-124bpm ‘Don’t Let Up’.
THE NIGHT PEOPLE: ‘Again’ (US TSOB TS 2001).
Lovely infectious languidly swinging 117bpm 12in duetted MoR disco revival of the tuneful standard starts with guy/gal chat before the deep bass bloke comes on like Bill Fredericks, this side being well worth checking by mobile jocks, while the 111(intro)-113bpm ‘Inflation‘ flip is a heavy funk message jitterer.
GENERAL CAINE II: ‘L.R.J. Pop’ (LP ‘Get Down Attack’ US Groove Time GTR 1004).
Good basic brassy heavy P’funk set with lots of burbling or twiddling synth and smacking beat, this charging 0-125bpm instrumental synching superbly out of Jerry Knight, while ‘Jungle Music‘ is a bass bumped chant-along buoyant 125(intro)-121bpm leaper, ‘Shake‘ a slow chatter-introed 102bpm jogger and the title track a less direct 101-103-104-105bpm meanderer, there being some rather soulful slowies too.
BLISS: ‘Fun’ (US Rap City RC-302).
American recorded though somewhat British sounding bubbling jittery building jazzy 118(intro)-122-123-118-123-124bpm 12in romper has effete harmonies over lickety-spit percussion and deserves to pick up more attention than it’s had to date.
STARS ON 45: ‘Long Play Album’ (Dutch CNR 655 115).
Recording in traditional Europop medley style instead of mixing the original records in bootleg style, this is the Dutch cover version of ‘Bits & Pieces III’ stretched out to LP length with side one taken up totally by an expanded “Beatles” medley (starting at 123bpm). A version of their abridged ‘Stars on 45’ being joined on side two by a couple of rock ‘n’ roll medleys by Long Tall Ernie And The Shakers. Wally mobiles will love it.
SMOKEY ROBINSON: ‘Can’t Fight Love’ (LP ‘Being With You’ US Tamla T8-375M1).
Typically classy tender soft soul set, the only dancer being this subdued diluted 117(intro)-120-121-124bpm sorta ‘Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground)’, the lovely breathily quavering vintage-style 53/106- 110/55bpm title track swayer already being on UK 7in (TMG 1223).
JIMMIE & VELLA CAMERON: ‘Be Fair To Me’ (LP ‘Song Painters’ US Unlimited Gold JZ 35132).
Barry White-produced pleasant lightweight set, this sleazily jolting rolling 106½bpm swayer being attractively duetted in unison throughout like a less searing Ashford & Simpson.
UK Disco Top 90 – March 14, 1981
01 01 Freeez – Southern Freeez / Version – Beggars Banquet 12”
02 04 Sharon Redd – Can You Handle It – Epic 12”
03 09 Beggar & Co – (Somebody) Help Me Out / Rising Sun – Ensign 12”
04 02 Yarbrough & Peoples – Don’t Stop The Music – Mercury 12”
05 10 Kleeer – Get Tough / De Kleeer Ting – US Atlantic LP
06 03 Gap Band – Burn Rubber On Me – Mercury 12”
07 05 Rah Band – Slide – DJM 12”
08 11 It’s A Love Thing – Whispers – Solar 12”
09 06 Heatwave – Gangsters Of The Groove – GTO 12”
10 07 Blondie – Rapture – Chrysalis 12”
11 08 MFSB – Mysteries Of The World – TSOP 12”
12 15 T.S. Monk – Bon Bon Vie – Mirage 12”
13 35 Jacksons – Can You Feel It / Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground) – Epic 12”
14 20 Harry Thumann – Underwater – Decca 12”
15 13 Gil Scott-Heron/Brian Jackson – The Bottle – Vintage Champagne 12”
16 16 K.I.D. – Don’t Stop – Groove/EMI 12”
17 29 Second Image – Dance Dance Dance / The Jazzy Dancer – Polydor 12”
18 14 Fantasy – You’re Too Late – Epic 12”
19 49 Linx – Intuition / Together We Can Shine – Chrysalis 12”
20 38 Sister Sledge – All American Girls – Atlantic 12”
21 17 Whispers – Imagination / I Can Make It Better / Up On Soul Train / Continental Shuffle – Solar LP
22 18 Joe Sample – Burnin’ Up The Carnival – MCA 12”/LP
23 34 Ray Carless – Tarantula Walk / New Born Child – Ensign 12”
24 28 Bernard Wright – Bread Sandwiches / Master Rocker / Firebolt Hustle – US Arista GRP LP
25 12 James Brown – Rapp Payback – RCA 12”/LP
26 42 Young & Company – Strut Your Stuff (Sexy Lady) / Waiting On Your Love – Excaliber 12”
27 48 Kool & The Gang – Jones Vs Jones / Summer Madness – De-Lite 12”
28 43 Firefly – Love (Is Gonna Be On Your Side) – Excaliber 12”
29 40 Gene Dunlap – Love Dancin’ / It’s Just The Way I Feel / Surest Things Can Change – Capitol 12”
30 39 Lakeside – Fantastic Voyage – Solar 12”
31 19 L.A.X. – All My Love – Epic 12”
32 23 T.S. Monk – Candidate For Love / Can’t Keep My Hands To Myself / House Of Music – Mirage LP
33 63 Manu Dibango – Goro City / Happy Feeling – Island 12”
34 46 Alphonze Mouzon – By All Means / Do I Have To? / The Jogger – US PAUSA/German Metronome LP
35 24 Breakfast Band – L.A.14 – Disc Empire 12”
36 21 Cloud – All Night Long / Take It To The Top – UK Champagne 12”
37 22 (New York) Skyy – Here’s To You / No Music – Excaliber 12”
38 27 Ned Doheny – To Prove My Love – CBS 12”
39 50 Spectrum – Taking It To The Top – Smokey 12”
40 66 Blackbyrds – Don’t Know What To Say / Rock Creek Park – Fantasy 12”
41 33 Billy Ocean – Nights (Feel Like Getting Down) – GTO 12”
42 37 Millie Jackson – I Had To Say It – Spring 12”
43 45 Spandau Ballet – The Freeze – Reformation 12”
44 36 Marvin Gaye – Heavy Love Affair / Praise / Funk Me / Love Party – Motown LP
45 73 Shakatak – Living In The UK – Polydor 12”
46 25 Stevie Wonder – I Ain’t Gonna Stand For It – Motown 12”
47 41 Unlimited Touch – I Hear Music In The Streets / In The Middle – Epic 12”
48 32 George Benson – What’s On Your Mind – Warner Bros 12”
49 56 Altitude – Six Nine Shuffle – UK Champagne 12”
50 64 Earth Wind & Fire – And Love Goes On / Faces – CBS 12”
51 31 Sheila Hylton – The Bed’s Too Big Without You – Island 12”
52 67 Leprechaun – Loc-It-Up – US Citation 12”
53 71 Shalamar – Make That Move – Solar 12”
54 26 Light Of The World – I Shot The Sheriff – Ensign 12”
55 58 Fuse One – Grand Prix / Double Steal – Japanese/German CTI LP
56 44 Mystic Touch – Get Yourself Together – Champagne 12”
57 61 Rudy Grant – Lately – Ensign 12”
58 NE Bernard Wright – Just Chillin’ Out / Spinnin’ – Arista 12”
59 51 Various – Bits & Pieces III – Canadian Special Disco Mixer 12”
60 47 Odyssey – Hang Together – RCA 12”
61 60 Lenny White/Twennynine – Fancy Dancer (Remix) – Elektra 12in promo
62 69 Shock – Angel Face / R.E.R.B. – RCA 12”
63 65 Tom Browne – Midnight Interlude / Magic – Arista GRP 12”
64 54 Nick Straker Band – A Little Bit Of Jazz – CBS 12”
65 55 Ozone – Love Zone / Mighty-Mighty / Jump On It / Ozonic Bee Bop / Rock And Roll, Pop And Soul – US Motown LP
66 52 Wilton Felder – Insight – MCA 12in
67 53 Funk Masters – Love Money – Tania Music 12”
68 62 Central Line – (You Know) You Can Do It – Mercury 12”
69 81 Johnny Bristol – Love No Longer Has A Hold On Me (Remix) – Ariola Hansa 12”
70 83 Free Expression – Chill-Out! – Vanguard 12”
71 88 Sister Sledge – Music Makes Me Feel Good / If You Really Want Me / I Don’t Want To Say Goodbye – Atlantic LP
72 57 Inversions – Mr Mac / Passport – Groove Production 12”
73 68 Freda Payne – Band Of Gold – Vintage Champagne 12”
74 NE Arni Egilsson – Howduz Disco? – US Inner City LP
75 NE Light Of The World – Time (Remix) – Mercury 12” promo
76 59 Hot Cuisine – All Fired Up / Dancin’ Me To Ecstacy – Kaleidoscope 12”
77 80 Frankie Valli – Soul – MCA 12”
78 72 Freeez – Flying High / Mariposa (Butterfly) / Sunset / Caribbean Winter – Beggars Banquet LP
79 NE Not James Player – Friends Again – Ultimate 12”
80 85 Sylvia Striplin – Give Me Your Love – Champagne 12”
81 74 Azoto – San Salvador – Dutch Rams Horn 12”
82 79 Diana Ross – It’s My Turn – Motown
83 76 Alicia Myers – Spirit Of The Boogie / Don’t Stop What You’re Doin’ – US MCA LP
84 NE Unlimited Touch – Searching To Find The One / Happy Ever After / Feel The Music – US Prelude LP
85 78 Frank Hooker & Positive People – Ooh Suga Wooga / This Feelin’ (Remix) – US Panorama LP
86 75 ConFunkShun – Too Tight / Play Widit – Mercury 12”
87 RE Stevie Wonder – Lately – Motown
88 89 Stevie Wonder – Happy Birthday – Motown LP/12” promo
89 82 Powerline – Journey / Double Journey – Elite 12”
90 NE Jerry Knight – Perfect Fit – US A&M LP
BREAKERS
BUBBLING UNDER the UK Disco 90 with increased support are:
Sugar Minott: ‘Good Thing Going’ (Hawkeye 12in)
Strikers: ‘Body Music’ (US Prelude 12in)
One Way: ‘Push’ / ‘I Didn’t Mean To Break Your Heart’ (US MCA LP)
Willie Mitchell: ‘Sparkle’ / ‘Reachin’ Out’ (US Bearsville LP)
Adrian Baker: ‘High Time’ (Polo 12in)
Mel Sheppard: ‘Can I Take You Home’ (US TSOB 12in)
Scratsch Band: ‘Your Place Or Mine? (Instrumental)’ (Groove / EMI 12in)
Me & You: ‘La La Means I Love You’ (Castro Brown 12in)
Revelation: ‘Feel It’ (US Handshake 12in)
Carol Jiani: ‘Hit ‘N’ Run Lover’ (Canadian Matra 12in)
Casiopea: ‘Eyes Of Mind’ / ‘Ripple Dance’ (Japanese Alta LP)
Isley Brothers: ‘Tonight Is The Night’ (US T-Neck LP)
Nobuo Yagi: ‘Mi Mi Africa’ (Japanese Invitation LP)
Roy Haynes: ‘Vistalite’ (US Galaxy LP)
Shirley James / Danny Ray: ‘Why Don’t You Spend The Night’ (Black Jack 12in)
Cold Fire: ‘Daydreamin’ (US Capitol LP)
Uncle Louie: ‘Tilt Boogie’ (US TK 12in)
Smokey Robinson: ‘Being With You’ (Motown)
Mystic Merlin: ‘Sixty Thrills A Minute’ / ‘Hideaway’ (US Capitol LP)
Barbara Mason: ‘Love Having You Around’ / ‘Yes I’m Ready’ / ‘All Inside Of Me’ (US WMOT LP)
Bob James: ‘Westchester Lady’ (Tappan Zee LP)
Atlantic Starr: ‘When Love Calls’ (US A&M LP)
Tierra: ‘Latin Disco’ / ‘Together’ (US Boardwalk 12in)
Tata Vega: ‘Love Your Neighbor’ (Motown LP)
Night People: ‘Again’ (US TSOB 12in)
Jermaine Jackson: ‘You Like Me Don’t You’ (Motown)
Ronnie Jones: ‘Video Games’ (US Polydor 12in)
Boz Scaggs: ‘Miss Sun’ (US Columbia 12in promo)
Morning Noon & Night: ‘Bite Your Granny’ / ‘Feelin’ Strong’ (UA LP)
Al Wilson: ‘Spread Love’ (ABC 12in)
DORC (Disco Featured Pop Hits)
1(2) Visage, 2(1) Adam ‘Antmusic’, 3(11) Roxy Music, 4(5) Joe Dolce, 5(3) Ultravox, 6(4) Lennon ‘Woman’, 7(6) Susan Fassbender, 8(7) Barbara Jones, 9(12) Coast To Coast, 10(10) Rainbow, 11(9) The Look, 12(24) Pretenders, 13(23) Stray Cats, 14(18) Sheena Easton, 15(19) Kelly Marie, 16(13) Madness, 17(14) Cliff Richard, 18(15) Bad Manners, 19(8) Phil Collins, 20(25) Talking Heads, 21(29) Jam, 22(-) Yoko Ono, 23(27) Spandau ‘Story’, 24(30) Police ‘Voices’, 25(20) Lennon ‘Imagine’, 26(26) XTC, 27(-) Kiki Dee, 28(17) Dire Straits, 29(21) Slade, 30(-) Shakin’ Stevens.
. . . OF THINGS
01 01 The Freeze – Spandau Ballet – Reformation 12in
02 02 Fade To Grey – Visage – Polydor 12in
03 05 Vienna – Ultravox – Chrysalis 12in
04 03 Planet Earth – Duran Duran – EMI 12in promo
05 04 Einstein A Go Go / Japan – Landscape – RCA 12in
06 09 The Model – Kraftwerk – Capitol LP
07 06 Angel Face / R.E.R.B. – Shock – RCA 12in
08 07 Once In A Lifetime – Talking Heads – Sire
09 11 All Stood Still / Herr X / Western Promise – Ultravox – Chrysalis LP
10 10 Tar / Blocks On Blocks / Moon Over Moscow / Visage Dancer – Visage – Polydor LP
11 NE Fuel To The Fire / Debris – Music For Pleasure – Rage
12 16 A Crow And A Baby / Rock And Roll / Being Boiled / Only After Dark – Human League – Virgin LP
13 15 She’s Lost Control / Atmosphere – Joy Division – Factory 12in
14 NE The Passenger – Iggy Pop – RCA LP
15 08 Mind Of A Toy / We Move / Frequency 7 – Visage – Polydor 12in
16 12 Empire State Human – Human League – Virgin
17 13 Dead Man’s Curve – Nash The Slash – DinDisc
18 14 Seconds Too Late – Cabaret Voltaire – Rough Trade
19 NE Scary Monsters – David Bowie – RCA
20 NE Life In Tokyo – Japan – Ariola 12in
21 NE Enola Gay – Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark – DinDisc
22 NE To Cut A Long Story Short – Spandau Ballet – Reformation 12in
23 17 19th Nervous Breakdown – Nash The Slash – DinDisc
24 NE Boys And Girls – Human League – Virgin
25 19 Demolition Man – Grace Jones – Island 12in
26 NE Transmission – Joy Division – Factory 12in
27 NE Guilty – Classix Nouveaux – Liberty 12in promo
28 NE Reward – Teardrop Explodes – Vertigo
29 18 Beginning Of The Heartbreak / Don’t Don’t – Love Of Life Orchestra – Beggars Banquet 12in
30 NE Photographic – Depeche Mode – Mute
ABOVE, you see a problem. The Futurist / New Romanticism / Electronic / Hi-Tech / Bright Young Thing scene is musically so wide open that although we now have a lot of charts coming in, they all feature a huge range of records so that only the most obvious of newies and classic oldies are common for enough of them to appear in our final listing. The answer is possibly to print an individual DJ’s chart every week, doing a composite chart to show the current state of play maybe on a monthly basis. This week the more up-front jocks have been joined by several who merely list the obvious biggies, thus distorting whatever forward look the chart might have been getting. Of our new contributors the most up-front is certainly Marten from the Monday ‘Electrow Diskow’ at Leeds Warehouse, others including Jimmy Mack (Chesterfield Fusion), Tom Myles (Wirral-based City Discos), Brian Stevenson (Royton Assembly Hall), and the Angel jocks in Chester and Burnley. The emphasis is certainly on the Midlands and North at the moment. Manchester’s Legend, already fitted with “hi-tech” furnishings, has started a ‘Danceamatic’ futurist night on Thursdays with DJs Paul Rae and Ralph Randell, who will doubtless be adding their charts soon too. Other news is that Visage hit number one in Germany last week, while Rusty Egan furthers the futurist-funk fusion by planning to record with Linx! Finally, anyone interested in electronic and synthesizer music can contact Electronic Synthesizer Sound Projects by sending a medium-sized SAE to The Sound House, PO Box 37b, East Molesey, Surrey, KT8 9JB, where ESSP offer free advice and lists compiled of records, tapes and books from their extensive catalogue.
James Hamilton's Disco Page 