May 16, 1981: The Quick, Second Image, Benny Golson, Barbara Roy and Ecstasy Passion & Pain, Round Trip

ODDS ‘N’ BODS

DISCOSCENE ’81, the big Midlands equipment exhibition, is this Sunday (17) from noon until 7pm at Solihull’s St John’s Hotel in Warwick Road (M42 exit 2, A41 branching left through Solihull town centre, and it’ll be on the right), admission £1 . . . Linx’s LP has (guess what) been remixed for US release and is now in on import – so how many mixes of ‘You’re Lying’ does that make it? – and Light Of The World’s ‘Best Of’ has been remixed for Mercury LP release soon . . . Kool & The Gang ‘Celebration’ in a usefully different Spanish-sung ‘Celebremos’ 121-123-122-123bpm alternative version is on promo 12in and out here next week (as flip of ‘Take It To The Top’), along with Thelma Houston, Esther Williams, Leon Bryant ‘Something More’, Starpoint ‘I Want To Be Your Lover’ . . . Claudia Fontaine ‘Natural High’ has been picked up by Decca . . . David Bendeth’s official plugside is now ‘Just Demix’ . . . ‘Spur Of The Moment’ amazingly is the one track omitted from the 7in of Jeff Lorber Fusion’s single . . . Excaliber’s imminent release of Eastside Connection flipped by Love Symphony Orchestra kicks off a new label series tagged DJ Purposes Only featuring double A-side proven disco classics of yesteryear . . . CBS have re-released all four of Bob James’s original albums – ‘One’, ‘Two’, ‘Three’, ‘BJ 4’ – at just £2.74 each . . . Suzy Q ‘Get On Up And Do It Again’ vocal pattern is actually more Yarbrough & Peoples than Young & Company . . . Stephanie Mills’ 12in version is 107-108-107-108bpm, and Bobby Thurston’s ‘Is Something Wrong With You’ intro seems in fact to be nearer 111bpm to judge from the amount of vari-speed needed to mix out of Gino Soccio! . . . Evasions ‘Wikka Rap’ was turned down by most major record companies, who are now all queuing at Groove’s door begging for a bit of the action following the record’s explosion in London last week! . . . Evasions on 7in is more coherently edited and has a preferable fading instrumental finish, so it’s worth chopping out of the 12in instrumental into the last half of the 7in . . . Phil Blizzard (Stoke-On-Trent 0782-263876 afternoons except Thursday) is doing an in-store “radio” programme recorded at his own studio and repeated five times during Saturdays to plug new releases, special offers and the like in Hanley’s Lotus Records (Staffordshire’s major record store) – call him for details if you’ve anything to plug . . . Al Taylor is now resident at North Wales’s top country club/disco just outside Rhyl, Poppey’s – an excellent promotional showcase, sez Al, so interested record companies can call him on 0745-825111 ext 3 . . . Pinnacle have been building up their distribution network, but now with a redesigned label logo, plan more releases of their own including disco material again . . . Stuart Robinson (Leeds) wonders who’s plugging for Pye these days – a good question – isn’t it the ever-reliable Morgan Khan? . . . Abba fans are clamouring chequebook in hand for copies of the special Disconet remix for subscriber DJs only of ‘Lay All Your Love On Me’, which for copyright reasons is absolutely definitely unavailable to members of the public (annoying, innit?!) . . . Ellen Williams (Billingham) can’t find Tantra anywhere – why not try mail order from our advertisers? . . . Paul Doner of Ireland’s Waterford-based Suirside Radio produces a Disco Top 30 chart but can’t get a lot of the records – like Whispers, Shalamar, Freeez, LOTW, Kleeer, Shakatak, Level 42, Firefly, Gap Band, Dynasty, LAX, MFSB (if this isn’t an Irish joke, why even attempt to compile a show of unavailable records?!) . . . Holborn’s City Sounds record shop is actually staying open on Thursdays until 8pm . . . Mark Clark (Bracknell) suggests the best way to fly to New York is COSH – Concorde Out, Skytrain Home – which works out about the same as a charter flight and gives you an extra day in the Big Apple (but who wants to pay charter fare, or go to Gatwick?) . . . Phonogram’s ladykiller Orin Cozier has had his hair curled – talk about Nappy Brown! . . . Groove Weekly celebrated a year of publication with a party at Hemel Hempstead Hustlers last Sunday . . . EMI have a nice pair of badges, saying “Hi De Hi!” and “Ho De Ho!” . . . Mayfair Gullivers now boasts a pair of video projection screens upstairs, and downstairs starting next month George Power will be jazzing Tuesdays . . . Liverpool’s orange-coated Mike Davidson somehow came out as Mick last week, sorry . . . Kev Hill (Basildon Sweeneys) is touting local jazz-funk group Elixia . . . Michael Jackson must have been checking vintage Elvis Presley footage for his fancy footwork on TV . . . Peter Young’s first hour last Saturday morning on Capital Radio was red hot ‘n’ soulful! . . . Fred Dove must realise I’d love to review all WEA products if only he’d send them – or maybe he wants me to buy them and bill his managing director for a refund? Record Shack presumably will spell Michael McGloiry correctly on the label of his ever so “jazz-funk” single! . . . Neil Fincham (Dunbar Craigengelt), who has ’em doing mutual press-ups to ‘Humpin’, says the latest catchphrase up his way is “silly not to” . . . HI DE HI!

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UK NEWIES

THE QUICK: ‘Zulu’ (Epic EPC A 13-1119).
Since reviewing the white label of this dynamite MFSB-type walking bass driven cool 0-117bpm 12in blue-eyed vocal thudder with abrupt crescendos, my initial expectations of its crossover potential have been exceeded as it packs floors not only at disco, futurist, pop and jazz-funk gigs but with middle-aged dancers at MoR gigs too, at first time of hearing! Try vari-synching out of MFSB ‘Mysteries’, then chopping in Jeff Lorber ‘Spur’. Now it’s on (slightly slower) commercial 12in, there should be no stopping it.

SECOND IMAGE: ‘Get Your Finger Out’ (Polydor POSPX 263).
Robbie Vincent-plugged (I wonder why?) exuberantly rough and ready enthusiastically chanted brassy 125bpm 12in bounder (an American recording would never have had this open a mix), jaggedly broken into for a few instrumental spurts but basically pounding all the way through to the acappella cold finish. About on white label, it may not be available in shops for a week or so.

BENNY GOLSON: ‘The New Killer Joe Rap’ / ‘The New Killer Joe’ (CBS A 13-1223).
Let’s get something straight, the great greasy jive talk introductory rap is by Ted Lange, the wailing lady is Mortonette Jenkins, just the soprano sax solo being by Benny Golson – who also arranged this beautiful classily strutting 118-119(rap)-120-121bpm lush jazz tune in similar style to the way in which it originally appeared on his co-writer Quincy Jones’s old ‘Walking In Space’ album. Benny’s own later recording was only on desperately sought rare import LP until recently included on the ‘Bitter Suite’ UK compilation, and now here it is on 12in too. Rarity created a demand that may now have been deflated, though the music’s as buoyant as ever. 

GRACE JONES: ‘I’ve Seen That Face Before (Libertango)’ (LP ‘Nightclubbing’ Island ILPS 9624).
Eagerly awaited in certain quarters and fusing reggae with futurism even more strongly than before, the set’s killer of killers (due on single) is this reggae-ish 131-133-134bpm ticker with cool synth effects and a gorgeous accordion accompaniment giving it a subtle taste of tango. Bill Withers ‘Use Me’ also getting a more powerful sensational sparse 136-137-138-139-140-139bpm reggae treatment. ‘Pull Up To The Bumper‘- (the single’s flip) being a blatantly “disco” aimed 108-110-109bpm bumper vocally patterned on ‘The Bottle’. ‘Walking In The Rain‘ a spoken/sung sultry 65/130-66/132bpm ticker. ‘Feel Up‘ a bumpy 106-107-108-109bpm jolter, ‘Demolition Man’ a rather ugly 71/142-145bpm Sting song and the Bowie / Iggy Pop-penned title track a stark dead slow 38/77-39bpm mood piece.

MARVIN GAYE: ‘Heavy Love Affair’ (Motown 12TMG 1232).
Far and away his recent album’s biggie, the glorious whistling-introed ‘What’s Goin’ On’-type deceptively rhythmic 99-98-99bpm jiggly swayer is on 12in at last in its original short form.

JAMES BROWN: ‘Funky Men’ (RCA RCAT 65).
Finally sense has prevailed and the ‘Soul Syndrome’ set’s other great groove is on 12in. A typically strung out 120-114-119-116(“bridge”)-120-118-119-120bpm jittering brassy chanter. Incidentally, this and ‘Rapp Payback’ were obviously flukes, to judge from the rest of the session that Polydor will be releasing soon – be warned!

THIRD WORLD: ‘Dancing On The Floor (Hooked On Love)’ (CBS A 13-1214).
Finding them back on old form, this well produced interestingly progressing 57(intro)-115-116-117bpm 12in reggae based bubbler rather like Bob Marley (Jah rest his soul) has lots of pent up energy and a powerful mesh of staccato vocal patterns over intense rhythm playing.

HARVEY MASON: ‘How’s It Feel’ (Arista ARIST 12-399).
Macho grunting gruff chaps intro this then squeakily falsetto-sung bass-bounded happy fast 0-132bpm at times EWF-ish leaper. Flipped on 3-track 12in by the syndrum-spiked lightweight jiggly thumping 62-124-122bpm ‘On And On‘ and the much older (and to my mind better) chick-wailed jogging 105-106-107-108bpm ‘Till You Take My Love‘.

SHARON REDD: ‘It’s A Lie’ (Epic EPC A 13-1210).
Not another ‘Can You Handle It’ although similarly structured (including more great guitar), this purposeful tense little 110-111-110bpm 12in jitterer is far stronger than the official ‘Love Is Gonna Get Ya‘ A-side, a pleasant enough but fairly pedestrian 113-114bpm languidly jiggly swaying jogger.

BETTY WRIGHT: ‘Body Slang’ (LP ‘Betty Wright’ Epic EPC 84882).
Delightful sensuously sung slinky 0-112-114bpm bouncer which I successfully mixed out of ‘Back Together Again’ (which in turn was out of Stephanie ‘Two Hearts’) much to everyone’s pleasure. The sets other goodie being a dead slow deep soul 17bpm ‘One Bad Habit (And That’s Loving You)’, although Stevie Wonder attempts another ‘Let’s Get Serious’ on the jittering 110bpm ‘What Are You Going To Do With It?’, a miss here on 7in.

AURRA: ‘Nasty Disposition’ (Salsoul SALT 9).
Carefully crafted chunkily bumping 116bpm 12in disco thudder by youthful gal ‘n’ guys with possibly more undisputed DJ appeal (try mixing on into Fantasy ‘Funky Song’) than general punter sales potential, although its flipped for value by the jerkily burbling 54(intro)-109bpm ‘Are You Single’ US A-side.

MATERIAL: ‘Reduction’ (EP ‘Temporary Music 2’ Red Records RS 12.008).
Recently mentioned in passing, this completely pared down heavy thudding 98bpm instrumental bass riff is reduced to the bare essentials of the ‘Another One Bites The Dust’-type rhythm yet maintains an admittedly monotonous interest with a few futurist effects thrown in. A bit weird for some maybe, it’s on 4-track 12in with the synthetically throbbing fast Moroder-ish 0-138bpm ‘Secret Life‘.

LANDSCAPE: ‘Norman Bates’ (RCA RCAT 60).
Sombre stark slow 84bpm 12in remixed repetitive synth plodder full of monotonous atmosphere. Inspired by Tony Perkins’s ‘Psycho’ character (the 7in version including an explanatory narration).

STAR SOUND: ‘Stars On 45 – The Album’ LP (CBS 86132).
Jocks with the original ‘Bits & Pieces III’ obviously didn’t bother with the cover version, but even they should check this as side one contains nothing but Beatles snippets woven into an extended 124bpm medley ideal for parties.

L.A. BOPPERS: ‘La La Means I Love You’ (Mercury MERX 71).
Delfonics classic in a nice new swaying 113-115bpm 12in treatment with busily pattering bass and “shabadoobap” harmonies behind the squeaky lead. Flipped by their older sleazily jogging 97-99bpm ‘Is This The Best (Bop-Doo-Wah).

KELLY MARIE: ‘Love Trial’ (Calibre Plus PLUSL 7).
Topically useful “order in court” intro to a synthetically bubbled jolting little 110bpm 12in chugger with a midway “sentence” pronounced appropriately as a rap. All a lot less awful than usual apart from her piercingly shrill pop-aimed singing style.

VICTOR ROMERO EVANS: ‘At The Club’ (Epic EPC A1169).
Recent reggae monster presumably picked up in Minott’s wake. A soulfully sung lurching 83/41bpm 7in swaying beauty with electronic effects over the beat.

BUNNY WAILER: ‘Riding’ (Solomonic SMS 001).
Bassily booming lazy soulful 54/108bpm reggae swayer working well for us at Gullivers, evidently on 12in.

SPOOKEY: ‘On The Rocks’ (Satril 12-HH 153).
Amazingly blatant crib on the old Heatwave format speeded up on 0-130bpm 12in, both backed on synthesizers and mixed by – you’ll never guess – Marvin Gaye!

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IMPORTS

BARBARA ROY AND ECSTASY, PASSION AND PAIN: ‘If You Want Me’ (US Roy B. RBDS-2516).
Potentially another Geraldine Hunt, this steadily chugging sinuously sung 116-114(main bulk)-115(last part)bpm 12in creamily clomping thudder goes into a synthetically burbling clapping break and, then a great bass drum accented long instrumental run out (the girls reappear once briefly), the whole thing adding up in a nicely understated way to be one hell of a powerful record.

ROUND TRIP: ‘Woman’ (LP ‘Round Trip’ US MCA MCA-5194).
This annoyingly familiar strange atmospheric rolling bass-bumped deceptively fast 130-128-125(break)-127-126bpm thumper with organ between soulful vocals from the six guys/two girls group builds an unexpectedly strong groove like Change’s ‘Searching’ in flavour though neither treatment nor sound, while the funkier 122-121-122(bass)-124-120-123bpm ‘Nothing Wrong With Dancing‘ is more like Hamilton Bohannon. Producer Al Perkins then pouring on the One Way connection via the coolly jolting 115/58(intro)-121-122bpm ‘Let’s Go Out Tonight‘, ‘Not In The Cards’ being a beautiful wailing 31-33bpm deep soul smoocher and ‘Higher Consciousness’ a galloping 126bpm thudder. It may not get through to everyone, but I rather reckon this set.

MARLON McLAIN: ‘Close To You’ (LP ‘Changes’ US Fantasy F-9606).
The guitar-totin’ singer’s set has sadly short tracks but impeccable sidement. This in itself not exceptional brassy 121bpm smacker being an incredible synch out of Rick James, while Jeff Lorber plays pretty piano on the jazzily swaying instrumental 54/107bpm ‘Pastel‘, which will get most specialist attention. Other cuts are the beefily smacking 117bpm ‘Shake It Up‘, pleasantly jogging 108/54bpm ‘Star Of My life‘, soulfully tense 37-38/79bpm ‘Why’, jittery 104bpm ‘Do You Miss That Feelin’, tender 35bpm ‘Together In The Afternoon’, blandly bumping 111bpm ‘Don’t Run Away From Love’ and 114bpm ‘Can We Still Be Friends’.

ESTHER WILLIAMS: ‘Inside Of Me’ LP (US RCA AFL1-4023).
If you haven’t already got her great 110bpm ‘I’ll Be Your Pleasure’ 12in you’ll find the same mix here, along with a superb set of really soulfully sung songs none of which are actually as strong as the single but together with it make a better value purchase. Of the dancers, best is the chunkily pattering 118bpm ‘You Can Have It All‘, while ‘Ready For Love‘ is a toe-curling 34(intro)-36/73bpm slowie, other cuts being the 124-126bpm ‘You Can Use It‘, 114bpm ‘Who Said It Was Wrong’, 119-121bpm ‘Make It With You’ and 90/45-92bpm ‘Inside Of Me’. Her voice harks right back to those classic soulful ’60s!

FREDDIE JAMES: ‘Music Takes Me Higher’ (LP ‘Freddie James’ Canadian Black Sun WLP-1028).
Geraldine Hunt’s teenage son has been getting initial gay reaction to this old fashioned galloping 127bpm disco pounder with nice sax, but for general audiences the catchy powerfully smacking bouncy 113-115-117bpm ‘She’s A Lady‘ with KC-style “uh-huh” hook sounds like a smash, while ‘Dance To The Beat‘ is a sparse simple solid “rapper” rhythm 114bpm thudder, ‘Everybody Here Do Your Thing‘ a buoyantly rolling 121-120bpm pumping churner, ‘Let Me Be Your Energy‘ a languid 115bpm bumper, ‘I’m Just Your Fool’ a jiggly 124bpm thumper and ‘In Love For The First Time’ an appealing attractive 108bpm swayer.

THE WHISPERS: ‘I Can Make It Better’ (US Solar YD-12233).
Well known from their LP of course, this simple smooth 0-120-121bpm 12in smacker with busily bumbling bass undertow should soon be on UK 12in too (SOT 19). Last week’s BPM for Keni Burke (who is indeed a Stairstep) should be reduced to 119-120bpm. Happy birthday Stacey, sez Rowdy!

CASIOPEA: ‘Asayake (Sunrise)’ (LP ‘Eyes Of The Mind’ US Alfa AAA-10002).
Harvey Mason-produced Nipponese jazzers now on the recently started less expensive US version of their Japanese label with a highly acclaimed specialist instrumental set, hottest dancer being this percussively upfront acid guitar played attractive 112-113-114bpm plodder, while ‘Magic Ray‘ is a 34-35bpm synth smoocher, ‘Space Road‘ a frantic 143-147bpm Brazilian flier, ‘A Place In The Sun‘ a comes-and-goes 115-116bpm jogger, ‘Black Joke’ a 0-115bpm jagged jitterer and the title track a spiky 0-117-120-119bpm jolter.

THELMA HOUSTON: ‘Never Give You Up’ (LP ‘Never Gonna Be Another One’ (US RCA AFL13642).
Quite a nice set led off by this gently jittering 97-99bpm jogging swayer, with an interesting thudding 119bpm update of ? & The Mysterians ‘96 Tears‘ and lovely 27-56bpm deep soul revival of Dionne Warwick’s early ‘Don’t Make Me Over‘, while the title track is a jerky 105bpm tripper and ‘Hollywood’ a 60-120-121bpm lurcher.

T/SKI VALLEY: ‘Catch The Beat (Rap And Breaks)’ (US Grand Groove 7701).
Good natured interestingly structured steady slow bubbly 103-104-105-103bpm 12in rapper put across with more authority and finesse than most (with an ‘Instrumental & Breaks’ flip by Grand Groove Bunch).

STEPHANIE MILLS: ‘My Love’s Been Good To You’ (LP ‘Stephanie’ US 20th Century-Fox T-700).
Someone’s obviously told young Steph that she sounds like Diana Ross, the result this time being a beautifully packaged but rather bland set on which the grittiest cut is this steadily tapping 108/54bpm jogger, ‘Winner‘ being a lurching 122bpm jitterer, ‘Top Of My List‘ a creamily rolling 115bpm smooth thumper, ‘Don’t Stop Doin’ What ‘Cha Do’ a pleasant 37bpm smoocher, and ‘I Believe In Love Songs’ a sweetly tripping 111-110-111-110bpm swayer.

KLIQUE: ‘I Think You Know’ (LP ‘It’s Winning Time’ US MCA MCA-5198).
ConFunkShun co-produced two guys and a gal sound strongest on this jauntily tripping soulfully strained little 121-120-119bpm chugger with strings-like synth noises, the title track being a steadily jittering 123-122-123bpm smacker with a good break, ‘Middle Of A Slow Dance’ a lovely gentle 35-36-0bpm smoocher, while more mundane are the bass synth bumped 118bpm ‘Love’s Dance’, 122bpm ‘So In Love With You’ and 121bpm ‘From Now On’.

THE DEBARGES: ‘Dance The Night Away’ (LP ‘DeBarges’ US Gordy G8 1003M1).
Family four-some offshoot from Switch sound Michael Jackson-ish on this perky shrill steady little 117-118bpm clopper but get gruffer on the choppier beefier chunky 116bpm ‘Hesitated‘ jolter, and EWF-ish on the staccato jaggedly strutting 125-123-124bpm ‘Strange Romance‘ bounder, plus they sing slowies sweetly.

JAYMZ BEDFORD: ‘Just Keep My Boogie’ (US Gold Mink GMD-7003).
Roy Ayers co-produced rather inflexibly smacking 117-118-119-120-121bpm 12in busy bass burbler with husky vocal making it all a bit monotonous.

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UK Disco Top 90 – May 16, 1981

01 01 It’s A Love Thing – Whispers – Solar 12”
02 07 Sugar Minott – Good Thing Going – RCA 12”
03 03 Freeez – Flying High / Remix – Beggars Banquet 12”
04 04 Light Of The World – Time (Remix) / I’m So Happy – Mercury 12”
05 02 Linx – Intuition – Chrysalis 12”
06 06 Shalamar – Make That Move – Solar 12”
07 05 Jacksons – Can You Feel It – Epic 12”
08 11 Quincy Jones – Ai No Corrida – A&M 12”
09 12 Quincy Jones – Razzamatazz / The Dude / Turn On The Action / Betcha Wouldn’t Hurt Me – A&M LP
10 08 Carol Jiani – Hit ‘N’ Run Lover – Champagne 12”
11 09 Level 42 – Love Games – Polydor 12”
12 27 Rick James – Give It To Me Baby – Motown 12”/US promo remix
13 10 Gap Band – Humpin’ – Mercury 12”
14 16 Thelma Houston – If You Feel It – US RCA 12”
15 19 Starsound – Stars On 45 – CBS 12”
16 14 Kleeer – Get Tough / De Kleeer Ting – US Atlantic LP
17 13 Heatwave – Jitterbuggin’ – GTO 12”
18 26 Eddy Grant – Can’t Get Enough Of You – Ensign 12”
19 28 Jeff Lorber Fusion – Spur Of The Moment / Monster Man / Magic Lady – Arista 12”
20 15 Sharon Redd – Can You Handle It – Epic 12”
21 24 Spandau Ballet – Glow / Muscle Bound – Reformation 12”
22 32 The Clash – The Magnificent Dance / The Magnificent Seven – CBS 12”
23 21 Webster Lewis – El Bobo / Let Me Be The One / Kemo-Kimo / ‘Bout The Love / You Are My Life / Flying High – US Epic LP
24 33 Champaign – How ‘Bout Us – CBS 12”
25 22 Incognito – Shine On / Sunburn / Chase The Clouds Away / Interference – Ensign LP
26 18 Freeez – Southern Freeez / Version – Beggars Banquet 12”
27 17 Alphonze Mouzon – By All Means / Do I Have To? – Excaliber 12”
28 23 Firefly – Love (Is Gonna Be On Your Side) – Excaliber 12”
29 29 Strikers – Body Music – US Prelude 12”
30 52 The Quick – Zulu – Epic 12”
31 36 Imagination – Body Talk – R&B 12”
32 20 Leprechaun – Loc-It-Up – Excaliber 12”
33 25 Landscape – Einstein A Go-Go / Japan – RCA 12”
34 47 Esther Williams – I’ll Be Your Pleasure – US RCA 12”
35 46 Harvey Mason – How’s It Feel / On And On / We Can Start Tonight / Going Through The Motions – Arista LP
36 31 Stevie Wonder – Lately – Motown
37 39 Jay Hoggard – Reverend Libra – US Contemporary LP
38 30 Dave Pike – Swan Lake / Spirit’s Samba – US Muse LP
39 35 Unlimited Touch – Searching To Find The One / Carry On – US Prelude LP
40 41 Revelation – Feel It – Handshake 12”
41 57 Atmosfear – Interplay / Free Tonight / Duende / Invasion / Return Of LB / Funk The Rock – MCA LP
42 54 Bobby Thurston – Is Something Wrong With You / Main Attraction / Very Last Drop / Keep It Going – US Prelude LP
43 43 TW Funk Masters / Powerline / Not James Player / Inversions / Rah Band – Love Money / Double Journey / Friends Again / Mr Mack / Slide – Champagne LP
44 50 Dynasty – Groove Control – Solar 12”
45 77 Isley Brothers – Tonight Is The Night / Who Said? – Epic/LP
46 49 Raydio – Still In The Groove / It’s Your Night / A Woman Needs Love / Old Pro / So Into You – Arista LP
47 48 Enigma – Ain’t No Stopping – Disco Mix 1981 – Creole 12”
48 58 Players Association – Get On Up Now / Let Your Body Go – US Vanguard 12”
49 71 Teddy Pendergrass – The Whole Town’s Laughing At Me / Love T.K.O. / Take Me In Your Arms Tonight – Phil Int 12” promo
50 45 Burundi Black – Burundi Black – Barclay 12”
51 40 Fuse One – Grand Prix / Double Steal – CTI 12”
52 NE Gino Soccio – Try It Out / Hold Tight / Closer – Canadian Celebration LP
53 79 Heath Bros – Dreamin’ / Use It (Don’t Abuse It) – US Columbia LP
54 42 Jerry Knight – Perfect Fit – A&M LP
55 37 Bernard Wright – Just Chillin’ Out / Bread Sandwiches / Master Rocker – Arista GRP LP
56 62 Aurra – Nasty Disposition / Keep Doin’ It / Party Time / Send Your Love – US Salsoul LP
57 63 Sun – Jammin’ In Brazil / Reaction Satisfaction – US Capitol LP
58 72 Eastside Connection – You’re So Right For Me – US Rampart 12”
59 76 Chi-Lites – Have You Seen Her? – 20th Century-Fox 12”
60 53 Mel Sheppard – Can I Take You Home – US TSOB 12”
61 65 Rah Band – Downside Up – DJM 12”
62 61 Various – Bits & Pieces III – Canadian Special Disco Mixer 12”
63 55 Midas Touch – Too Much Too Soon – Maaw 12”
64 70 L.A.X. – Possessed (Remix) – US Prelude 12”
65 84 Coati Mundi – Que Pasa/Me No Pop I – US Antilles 12”
66 81 Tata Vega – Love Your Neighbor – Motown 12”
67 NE Heaven & Earth – I Really Love You / Kick It Out / He Don’t Really Love You – US WMOT LP
68 67 Jack McDuff – Kisses / Say Sumpin’ Nice / Nasty / Primavera – US Sugarhill LP
69 RE Not James Player – Friends Again (Re-Remix) – Ultimate 12”
70 59 Stevie Wonder – Happy Birthday – Motown LP/12” promo
71 RE Lakeside – Fantastic Voyage – Solar 12”
72 NE Evasions – Wikka Rap – Groove Production 12”
73 64 Benny Golson – The New Killer Joe (Rap) – CBS LP
74 NE Space – Tender Force / Robbots – PRT 12”
75 69 Duran Duran – Planet Earth (Night Version) – EMI 12”
76 85 Eighties Ladies – Turned On To You – US Uno Melodic 12”
77 NE Times Square – You’re Hot – US New York City Records 12”
78 NE Barbara Roy / Ecstasy, Passion & Pain – If You Want Me – US Roy B 12”
79 RE Passage – Power / I See The Light – A&M LP
80 75 Victor Feldman – In My Pocket / Skippin’ / Rio – US Cohearant Sound LP
81 78 People’s Choice – Hey Everybody (Party Hearty) – US West End 12”
82 89 Jeff Lorber Fusion – Galaxian / Bright Sky – US Arista LP
83 60 Scratsch Band – Your Place Or Mine? (Instrumental) – Groove/EMI 12”
84 88 Vera – Take Me To The Bridge – Canadian Rio 12”
85 80 Rick James – Fire And Desire / Ghetto Life – US Gordy LP
86 RE Rufus – Tonight We Love / Party ‘Til You’re Broke – MCA 12”
87 NE Barbara Carroll – From The Beginning – UA LP
88 NE Mystic Merlin – 60 Thrills A Minute – Capitol 12”
89 NE Master Dub Band – For The Love Of Money – Good City 12”
90 RE Nobuo Yagi – Mi Mi Africa – Japanese Invitation LP

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BREAKERS

BUBBLING UNDER the UK Disco 90 with increased support are:

Smokey Robinson: ‘Being With You’ (Motown 12in promo)
Ronnie Jones: ‘Video Games’ (US Polydor 12in)
Soft Cell: ‘Memorabilia’ (Some Bizzare 12in)
Starpoint: ‘I Just Want To Be Your Lover’ / ‘Keep On It’ (US Chocolate City LP)
Claudia Fontaine: ‘Natural High’ (JB 12in)
Kool & The Gang: ‘Celebremos’ (De-Lite 12in promo)
Hot Cuisine: ‘Who’s Been Kissing You’ (Kaleidoscope 12in)
Whispers: ‘I Can Make It Better’ (US Solar 12in)
Stephanie Mills / Teddy Pendergrass: ‘Two Hearts’ (20th Century-Fox 12in)
Love Symphony Orchestra: ‘Let Me Be Your Fantasy’ (Miracle LP)
Casiopea: ‘Asayake (Sunrise)’ / ‘Magic’ Ray’ (US Alfa LP)
Kat Mandu: ‘The Break (Remix)’ (Canadian Unidisc 12in)
Project: ‘Love Rescue’ (Creole 12in)
Blackbyrds: ‘Don’t Know What To Say’ / ‘Rock Creek Park’ (Fantasy 12in)
Parliament: ‘Crush It’ (Casablanca 12in promo)
Shirley James / Danny Ray: ‘Why Don’t You Spend The Night’ (Black Jack 12in)
Third World: ‘Dancing On The Floor’ (CBS 12in)
(New York) Skyy: ‘Superlove’ / ‘Take It Easy’ / ‘I Can’t Get Enough’ (Excaliber 12in)
Heatwave: ‘Posin’ ‘Til Closin’ / ‘Turn Around’ / ‘Dreamin’ You’ (GTO LP)
Fantasy: ‘(Hey Who’s Gotta) Funky Song’ / ‘Too Much Too Soon’ (US Pavillion LP)
Paulette Miller: ‘You Really Got A Hold On Me’ (Black Jack 12in)
Joe Thomas: ‘Make Your Move’ (TK 12in)
Congress: ‘That’s Jazz’ (Congress Productions 12in)
Leon Bryant: ‘Something More’ (US De-Lite LP)
ConFunkShun: ‘Lady’s Wild’ (US Mercury 12in promo)
Victor Romero Evans: ‘At The Club’ (Special Request 12in)
Marlon McClain: ‘Close To You’ / ‘Pastel’ (US Fantasy LP)
James Brown: ‘Funky Men’ (RCA 12in)
Keni Burke: ‘Let Somebody Love You’ (US RCA 12in)
Freddie James: ‘Music Takes Me Higher’ / ‘She’s A Lady’ (Canadian Black Sun LP)
Round Trip: ‘Nothing Wrong With Dancing’ / ‘Woman’ (US MCA LP)
Frank Hooker: ‘Ooh Suga Wooga’ (US Panorama 12in)
Metropole: ‘Miss Manhattan’ (Canadian PBA 12in)
Flakes: ‘Take It To The Max’ (US Salsoul 12in)
T/Ski Valley: ‘Catch The Beat’ (US Grand Groove 12in)

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DORC (Disco Featured Pop Hits)

1(3) Adam ‘Stand’, 2(2) Bucks Fizz, 3(-) Shakin’ Stevens ‘Crazy’, 4(1) Shakin’ Stevens ‘House’, 5(8) Nolans, 6(6) Visage, 7(5) Kim Wilde ‘Kids’, 8(4) Adam ‘Kings’, 9(10) Ennio Morricone, 10(-) Madness, 11(14) Graham Bonnett, 12(7) Liquid Gold, 13(12) Hazel O’Connor, 14(15) Bad Manners, 15(23) Bill Haley, 16(11) Coast To Coast, 17(13) Dave Stewart, 18(21) Keith Marshall, 19(12) Heaven 17, 20(-) Barry Manilow, 21(-) Tenpole Tudor, 22(9) Adam ‘Antmusic’, 23(17) Toyah, 24(-) Stray Cats, 25(20) Duran Duran, 26(26) Bauhaus, 27(28) Polecats, 28(-) David Bowie, 29(-) The Beat, 30(-) Kim Carnes.

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HIT NUMBERS

Beats Per Minute for last week’s pop chart entries on 7in are:

Adam & The Ants FX-143f, Kim Wilde 0-184c/r, Spurs Squad 138-140-137f, Kim Carnes 58-116-117f, The Who 0-127-63-127f, Duran Duran 162f, Vangelis 34-0r, Smokey Robinson 54/108-110-112f, Talking Heads 102f, Echo & The Bunnymen 167-177-0r, Marc Bolan 153-151f, Kraftwerk 137f, Champaign 36f, Japan 113f.

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RECORD SHACK . . . GOSSIP FROM THE SHACK

Editors Note: The war of words enters a third week. Record Shack say…..

“Firstly, congrats to Morgan Khan, not as reliable as James thinks, you’ve actually got a No.1 in my Charts! The ‘Ain’t No Stopping’ mixer bounded back to No.3 with huge increased sales and the Vogue 12” looks like it’s going to be this years monster. (You see, James and I do agree sometimes!).
We’ve edited a great 7in on Michael McGlory and put an instrumental remix on its flipside.”

Editors observation: Interesting to note that there was no ‘Electro-Disco’ section in this weeks column, no mention of anything Futurist in Odds ‘N’ Bods and only one Futurist single reviewed (Landscape) and it wasn’t described as such. In fact the word ‘Futurist’ and the name ‘Rusty Egan’ never appeared anywhere in the column for the first time in ages, which may well be in response to Record Shack’s comments of the last 2 weeks and the power of advertisers. However, James still managed to get a dig at Record Shack in Odds ‘N’ Bods, as seen above … (“Record Shack presumably will spell Michael McGloiry correctly on the label of his ever so “jazz-funk” single!”).