July 4, 1981: Spandau Ballet, Hi-Gloss, Mighty Fire, Richard ‘Dimples’ Fields, Cheryl Lynn

ODDS ‘N’ BODS

SOUTHGATE ROYALTY, home base of Showstopper Promotions, in a shock-gasp-horror move has had to knock jazz-funk on the head completely at the weekend due to early closure of the local tube station, Froggy now just jocking Wednesdays there, with Country Music taking over Fridays and the ’50s/’60s rock ‘n’ soul night moving in on Saturdays from Picketts Lock with Roger Scott and myself (starring this week) . . . Sho-Pro’s October Caister is sold out, and an additional weekender earlier in the month will now be back at Perran Sands in Cornwall on Oct 2/3/4 . . . Froggy joins Peter Powell on BBC Radio 1 for a weekly ‘Summer Groove’ soul show starting Friday 10th July 4.30–6.30pm, over nine weeks . . . Roger Scott’s ‘Cruising’ on Capital Radio switched last week on Wednesdays 6.00-6.30pm to soul oldies, all the records as usual from my own collection so you really can expect to hear some goodies! . . . John Grant, in another shock-gasp-horror announcement, intends (unless something fantastic happens in the interim) giving up his DJ activities to “pursue other interests” — “I need a break, and am continuing at Manchester Rufus up to around the end of August on Saturdays only, my very last all-dayer being on the 31st August, and no dates at all during the week” . . . Chris Britton at the end of August starts running mid-week jazz nights in Finsbury Park Rainbow’s new foyer club, with a mixture of club and radio guest jocks plus new Britfunk bands live every week, the best bands being gathered together for an all-dayer every two months or so, interested bands call Chris at the Rainbow on 01 272 9636 or outside office hours on 0494 451797 . . . Cameo’s up-coming UK release will be a double 12in pack, a 3-tracker with ‘Don’t Be So Cool’ / ‘The Sound Table’ / ‘On The One’, plus a one-sided ‘Freaky Dancin’! . . . Raydio have a 3-track 12in rushed this week with ‘Still In The Groove’ / ‘A Woman Needs Love’ / ‘So Into You’ (ARISTA 12392) — for sale at the price of a 7in! . . . CBS are releasing Abba ‘Lay All Your Love On Me’ after all (which’ll please Martin Platts of Blackburn), but only in the original LP version and not the Disconet remix — however, it’ll be a 12in . . . Stevie Wonder ‘Happy Birthday’ is on 7in right now . . . Unlimited Touch ‘Searching To Find The One’ belatedly gets UK release in three weeks, with Lamont Dozier ‘Cool Me Out’ and Cheryl Lynn scheduled soon on 12in too . . . Edit Point ‘Bright Side’ (which didn’t exactly set the chart on fire before) has been picked up by PVK, and Scandal / Lee Genesis, by Creole . . . Automatic’s Tantra 12in and 7in are completely new “definitive” versions unreleased anywhere else before, the 12in edit being an Italian remix and 7in a US Importe/12in promo version made for radio out of “everyone’s fave bits” . . . Cayenne ‘Roberto Who …?’ is being remixed for 12in . . . Nigel Martinez ‘Behind My Back’ could use a remix to cut through on the floor better . . . David Bendeth, visiting British haunts with wife Ruth, says his album is due out again soon in totally remixed, restructured and repackaged form . . . Disconet’s latest DJ subscription-only 12in twin-pack includes a dynamite remix of ‘Pull Up To The Bumper’ and a ‘1980 Top Tune Medley‘ mixer which interestingly reverses tradition by getting progressively slower, the final part being most useable here mixing ‘Celebration’ / ‘A Lover’s Holiday’ / ‘Love Sensation’ / ‘Can’t Fake The Feeling’ / ‘Rapture’ / ‘Upside Down’ / ‘Another One Bites The Dust’ (but other cuts on the set are tres gaie) . . . General Saint & Clint Eastwood’s reggae ‘Another One Bites The Dust’ (Greensleeves) in the 7in version even gets the catalogue number OINK 1! . . . Diana Ross’s new stage shows apparently won’t contain any Motown material at all — how will her fans like that? . . . ‘Wide Awake In A Dream’ was intended by arranger/producer Barry Biggs for its ’60s originator Philip James to re-record, but Philip didn’t like the basic backing track so Barry sang it instead! . . . Thames Valley DJ Assn starts marketing a range of products of use to DJs with a massively discounted Hermetite manufactured BCF fire extinguisher (good against electrical fires) at £7.50 inclusive of P&P, but with a further £1 discount to DJF members — cheques/POs (payable to TVDJA) with your orders to PO Box 39, Staines, Middlesex . . . TVDJA membership details are in a pamphlet from Steve Brandy at the same PO Box address — and Steve (Ashford, Middlesex 54714) wouldn’t mind jazz-funk gig offers . . . Kev James, resident weekday lunchtime and Thurs/Friday nights at the Raglan in City of London’s St Martins Le Grande, still does Tuesdays at Golders Green Great Expectations with live bands and invites interested bands (regular well paid work) to send an audition tape plus photos to him at 113 Bute Road, Wallington, Surrey . . . Norman Scott now runs a gay ‘Bolts’ night on Thursdays at the well-appointed Lazers in Green Lanes, Harringey (or, as Norman spells it, Harringay!) . . . Paul Rae & Ralph Randell, packing ’em in on their futurist Thursdays at Manchester’s Legend, also feature an hour of solid jazz on their popular jazz-funk Wednesdays . . . Excaliber/R&B Records reliable Morgan Khan needs more up-front club jocks (who can break new material) for his mailing list, so if you fit the bill send full work details to him at 34 Salisbury Street, London, NW8 8QE — but only If you’re in a major mainland UK town or city other than London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield, Nottingham, Newcastle-upon-Tyne (where his quota is already filled) . . . Robbie Vincent and Jeff Young have another special VE Night at Dartford Flicks on Thursday 16th July, with last year’s searchlight plus (it’s rumoured) a tank, and a certain bearded disco journalist/DJ who will make a guest appearance playing authentic 1945 dance records while wearing his dad’s equally authentic sailor suit! . . . Colin Curtis, Frenchie & Pete Haig take to a boat on Ullswater for a jazz-funk cruise on Saturday 18th July — strictly limited £5.50 tickets from Chris Tittley, 244 Vicarage Lane, Marton, Blackpool, FY4 4NG (PO/cheque plus SAE) . . . Froggy, Jeff Young, Pete Tong & Colin Hudd the following day Sunday (19) then cruise around the Isle Of Wight — details on 01 723 1362 . . . Jacques Fred Petrus, French West Indies-born producer and Italian colleague Mauro Malavasi formed Change after first collaborating on Macho’s ‘I’m A Man’ in ’77. Petrus now producing BB&Q Band . . . Record Shack’s Jeff Shack has written to me saying “I would like to apologise to you for suggesting that you were gay. I didn’t actually mean to suggest that in my advert but it came out like that” . . . Michael McGloiry meanwhile has finally shown up in our chart, mainly it must be said as a result of gay disco play . . . Erskine T is currently secretive about an interesting new affiliation which should bring him in close contact with another somewhat lookalike disco plugger! . . . Phonogram’s John Waller implores his secretary Karin Rasborcheg, “Please don’t go – we love you too much! . . . Alan Costa (Brighton Kings Club/Kings II) has been playing Lamont Dozier ‘Going Back To My Roots’, but people keep coming up asking for the original by Odyssey — it had to happen, right?! . . . Craig Dawson (Edinburgh Road Runner Mobiles) reports currently number one in the Dutch disco chart appropriately is Frankie Smith ‘Double Dutch Bus’ — also of course finally huge Stateside, and the 119-120bpm US WMOT 12in is proving useful here again too (try Fatback ‘Kool Whip’ out of it for instance) . . . Sylvester’s eagerly sought dynamite promo 12in remix of ‘Give It Up’ is terrific out of the Sharon Redd remix – it’s 112(intro)-110(chix)-109(sax/rhythm)-110(“give it up”)-109-111(Sylvester)bpm, flipped by the nice 42/83bpm ‘Here Is My Love’ sexy duet, should you be lucky . . . Cerrone ‘Hooked On You’ is brilliant synched with Odyssey, don’t forget . . . R D Hart (Wells-Next-To-Sea) asks, “How the hell are you supposed to mix Shakatak ‘Brazilian Dawn’ with anything else — the nearest thing I can find is ‘Nut Rocker’ ” . . . like it, like it! . . . Mass Prod ‘I Got To Have Your Love’ is 119bpm, not 190bpm as printed(!) . . . Top Of The Pops two weeks ago was the most soulful ever, with something like six out of nine acts being black, while of last week’s pop Top 75 a good third was soul/disco and only an arguable six records ware futurist . . . Plan B worked then, all the no substance trendies jumping off soul and onto another bandwagon, leaving the charts wide open to people who spend money on music rather than clothes! . . . ‘Wikka Wrap’ is probably the biggest disco hit yet to go national without a major label being involved . . . Tony Clarke, jocking his way around Scandinavia, recommends Mikie Burke’s Record Shop in Grimstad, a seaside town in Southern Norway — Mikie was a jock himself and stocks current US/UK imports at reasonable prices . . .

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DIONNE WARWICK —proving that good bone structure lasts a lifetime — is back with a double LP that’s great for listening, ‘Hot! Live And Otherwise’ (Arista DARTY 10), the “otherwise” being mainly some Michael Masser slowies (‘Some Changes Are For Good’ creating a US radio stir as her new single there) while the “live” majority includes a marathon medley of her hits. Nostalgic femme fans will dig.

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UK NEWIES

SPANDAU BALLET: ‘Chant No.1 (I Don’t Need This Pressure On)’ (Reformation CHS 122528).
They’ve kept saying that their music was “funk” and now for real it really is. In an absolutely amazing amalgamation with — wait for it! — the sizzling brass of Beggar & Co, creating a sensational funkily thudding and motoring 0-121-0bpm 12in groove that chantingly builds to a dynamite break. Totally compatible, it mixes well with ‘Wikka Wrap’ for instance, the vocal side’s break actually being stronger than the whole of the shorter instrumental B-side. You’re unlikely to hear anything else as astounding this week!

HI-GLOSS: ‘You’ll Never Know’ (EPC A13-1387).
Although hotly contested by other cuts on the terrific import album, this gorgeous soulful chix-sung sleazily jolting 99bpm 12in clapped jogging swayer has so far come out on top as lead track, the great value flip’s Phillip Baliou-sung lovely lazily bumping cool 113bpm ‘I’m Totally Yours‘ being the closest contender and still potential winner. Class disco at its very best.

MIGHTY FIRE: ‘Love Fantasy’ (LP ‘No Time For Masquerading’ (Elektra K 52294).
Recently reviewed in full on import but now out here, the hottest hit by far is this superb spaciously arranged unhurried 126-127-128-129bpm mellow soul trotter with lovely jazzy solos from guitar, trumpet, sax and bass that are true jazz-funk, ‘Sweet Fire‘ being an equally good Harold Melvin-ish 121-123-124bpm rolling swinger, and ‘Love Attack‘ a monotonous jittery 128bpm thudder. 

STAR SOUND: ‘Stars On 45 Volume 2’ (CBS A13-1407).
Following the exact same format but now creating its own mixes, this uncannily accurate sounding 12in medley of mainly ’60s soul and folk-rock/pop oldies culminates with the much publicised seven Abba songs sandwiched neatly between the ‘Stars On 45’ ditty (presumably all ready for extraction on 7in), fluctuating around 124-123-124bpm.

SHALAMAR: ‘Uptown Festival’ (Golden Grooves/RCA GOLDT 515).
A monster exactly four years ago but then only on promo 12in, this pioneering 128bpm disco medley of Motown classics is now not only on readily available 12in, but flipped to boot by the shuffling cymbal-shushed 118bpm ‘Take That To The Bank‘ from ’78.

LOBO: ‘The Caribbean Disco Show’ (Polydor POSP 302).
Harry Belafonte oldies of the ‘Banana Boat’ ilk given the old 0-124bpm 7in disco medley heave-ho. Perfectly useable for pop gigs.

GIDEA PARK: ‘Beach Boy Gold’ (Sonet SON 2162).
Now evidently on 12in and subtitled ‘Surfing Stars On 45’, this expertly recreated 0-149-38-149bpm surf medley from ’78 is such an accurate soundalike that (amongst other reasons) multi-tracking Adrian Baker has actually been asked to join the real Beach Boys.

TOM TOM CLUB: ‘Wordy Rappinghood’ (Island 12WIP 6694).
High in the pop chart already but I only just got it, this typewriter-introed 123bpm 12in futurist girlie group rapper in the Ze style is lotsa fun as you probably know and perfectly compatible for all but strict soul gigs, running on into a long electronically jiggling instrumental break.

SIDE EFFECT: ‘It’s Got To Be Love’ (LP ‘Portraits’ Elektra K 52295).
Great naggingly familiar and infectious choppily chunky full-tilt 126bpm soul romper with electronics in amongst the soul singing and soaring sax. ‘Make You Mine‘ being an attractive Al Hudson-ish 107-109-110bpm loper.

STEVE WINWOOD: ‘Night Train’ (Island 12WIP 6710).
Instrumentally interesting haunting 127bpm 12in rock-fusion guitar and synth jiggler, may be rhythmically complex but once you get into the groove you’ll be hooked, jazz jocks especially by the instrumental flip.

HOME-T: ‘Soul Shake Down Party’ (Decca FX 13905).
Bob Marley-penned unusual thickly textured chunky 68bpm 12in reggae chugger soulfully sung by a group often associated with Barry Biggs. Obviously of interest right now.

DILLINGER: ‘Melting Pot’ (A&M AMSP 8133).
Well made but lightweight 84/42bpm 12in reggae jiggler with gimmicky vocoder and chanting chix giving it more pop than roots appeal.

CHANGE: ‘Stop For Love’ (WEA K 79217T).
Soul slowies consistently score bigger pop hits than disco tracks do, but this attractively packaged lush wailing 31/63bpm 12in lurching smoocher lacks the atmosphere of Champaign, say, the sparse bass-bubbled 113bpm ‘Heaven Of My Life‘ being interestingly cool if rather empty.

BILL WITHERS: ‘I Want To Spend The Night’ (CBS A1403).
Prettily pattering lazy easy listening 53/106bpm 7in swayer from ’77.

ADC BAND: ‘Celebrate’ (LP ‘Brother Luck’ Cotillion K 50795).
Mass Production-produced buoyantly pounding 124bpm rolling funk-a-boogie smacker, ‘Hot Box‘ being a less punchy jagged slow 113bpm brassy jogger.

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IMPORTS

RICHARD ‘DIMPLES’ FIELDS: ‘I Like Your Lovin’ (LP ‘Dimples’ US Boardwalk NB1 33232).
The week’s outstanding set, this distinctively soulful light voiced guy has a great Smokey Robinson / Deon Jackson-like little quaver in his throat and every track is in its way a gem, though most are more for listening than dancing. This lovely soaring shuffling 100bpm joyous jogger is most infectious. The deeply soulful 20bpm ‘She’s Got Papers On Me‘ (divorce papers, that is) culminates in a dynamite abrasively nagging rap by Betty Wright as the wronged wife. ‘Let Me Take You In My Arms Tonight‘ is a hum-along 0-46/93bpm duet also with Betty, ‘I’ve Got To Learn To Say No!’ being a whomping buoyant 117bpm protestation that he’s got “too many ladies”, ‘Let The Lady Dance’ a less compulsive 113bpm chugger, ‘Lovely Lady’ a Lenny Welch-like 0-32/64bpm smoocher, ‘Don’t Ever Take Your Love’ a hurtin’ 33bpm deep soul acher, while his revivals of the Penguins 33/66bpm ‘Earth Angel’ and 5 Satins 46/92bpm ‘In The Still Of The Night (I’ll Remember)’ are pleasant but possibly the least satisfying selections. Vintage soul fans especially, check this out!

CHERYL LYNN: ‘In The Night’ LP (US Columbia FC 37034).
The now Ray Parker Jr-produced ex-‘Gong Show’ discovery returns with two really strong dance cuts, the excellent happily strutting 121bpm acappella-ending ‘Shake It Up Tonight’ in full 12in length (initially underrated by me, it’s dynamite with BB&Q!), and the cleanly jolting 110-0bpm title track which vari-synchs well out of Sharon Redd’s remix. Less compulsive are the jerkily loping 121bpm ‘If You’ll Be True To Me‘, emphatically tripping 118bpm ‘What’s On Your Mind’, chunkily jogging 101bpm ‘I’m On Fire’, wailing slow 36bpm ‘Show You How’ and lugubriously lurching 95bpm ‘Baby’.

THE REDDINGS: ‘If You Feel It’ (LP ‘Class’ US Believe In A Dream FZ 37175).
Very disappointing compared with last year’s excellent debut LP, the best disco cut is this cheekily clomping 115-117-118-119bpm flowing smacker although the Bugatti & Musker-penned ‘Razzamatazz’-ish infectious squeakily skipping 0-120-122-124bpm ‘Love Dance‘ might ultimately pull pop play, ‘Main Nerve’ being a jazzily jogging 41/82bpm slow instrumental with nice piano, ‘You’re The Only One’ (the US single – harshly remixed by Larry Levan for promo 12in) a dull repetitively rolling 114bpm lurcher, and the title track a bitty 109bpm jerky thudder.

ROBERTA FLACK: ‘Lovin’ You (Is Such An Easy Thing To Do)’ (LP ‘Bustin’ Loose’ US MCA MCA-6141).
Soundtrack from a new Richard Pryor movie with its share of typical smoochers and instrumental fillers, this nice booming bass-jogged languid 111bpm swayer lazily claps along with writer Marcus Miller’s bass doing all the work (as well as driving the inconsequential 122bpm ‘Rollin’ On‘ instrumental), ‘Qual E Malindrinho‘ being a very specialist 59/118-117bpm Latin-jazz instrumental, ‘Children’s Song’ a Brazilian flavoured semi-instrumental 113-115bpm singalong, ‘Hittin’ Me Where It Hurts’ a slow 93bpm jolter and the Luther Vandross-penned ‘You Stopped Loving Me’ a comes-and-goes 54/109bpm slowie.

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UK Disco Top 90 – July 4, 1981

01 01 Odyssey – Going Back To My Roots – RCA 12”
02 02 Thelma Houston – If You Feel It – RCA 12”
03 06 Evasions – Wikka Rap – Groove Production 12”
04 03 Smokey Robinson – Being With You – Motown/12” promo
05 05 Starsound – Stars On 45 – CBS 12”/LP
06 08 Coati Mundi – Que Pasa/Me No Pop I – Ze 12”
07 09 Strikers – Body Music – Epic 12”/Dutch Rams Horn 12” remix
08 04 Rick James – Give It To Me Baby / Ghetto Life / Fire And Desire / Super Freak – Motown LP/US 12” promo remix
09 07 Enigma – Ain’t No Stopping – Disco Mix 1981 – Creole 12”
10 11 Whispers – I Can Make It Better – Solar 12”
11 19 Imagination – Body Talk – R&B 12”
12 13 Third World – Dancing On The Floor – CBS 12”
13 12 Gino Soccio – Try It Out / Closer – Atlantic 12”
14 14 Kool & The Gang – Take It To The Top / Celebremos – De-Lite 12”
15 15 Keni Burke – Let Somebody Love You – RCA 12”
16 22 Quincy Jones – Razzamatazz – A&M 12”
17 21 Grace Jones – Pull Up To The Bumper – Island 12”
18 28 Linx – Throw Away The Key / Together We Can Shine – Chrysalis 12”
19 10 Champaign – How ‘Bout Us – CBS 12”
20 24 Human League – The Sound Of The Crowd – Virgin 12”
21 30 Michael Jackson – One Day In Your Life – Motown
22 31 Barry Biggs – Wide Awake In A Dream – Dynamic 12”
23 35 Evelyn King – I’m In Love – RCA 12”
24 18 Aurra – Nasty Disposition / Are You Single – Salsoul 12”
25 16 Esther Williams – I’ll Be Your Pleasure – RCA 12”
26 45 Bobby Thurston – Very Last Drop – Epic 12”
27 20 Jacksons – Can You Feel It – Epic 12”
28 36 BB&Q Band – On The Beat – Capitol 12”
29 17 Quincy Jones – Ai No Corrida – A&M 12”
30 25 It’s A Love Thing – Whispers – Solar 12”
31 23 Shalamar – Make That Move – Solar 12”
32 27 The Quick – Zulu – Epic 12”
33 33 Lamont Dozier – Going Back To My Roots – Warner Bros 12”/LP
34 26 Carol Jiani – Nit ‘N’ Run Lover – Champagne 12”
35 47 Hi-Gloss – You’ll Never Know / I’m Totally Yours / It’s Up To You / I Want Your Love To Last – US Prelude LP
36 34 Harvey Mason – How’s It Feel – Arista 12”
37 37 Mighty Fire – Love Fantasy / Sweet Fire / Love Attack – US Elektra LP
38 52 Incognito – Incognito (Remix) / Shine On (Live) – Ensign 12”
39 29 Second Image – Pinpoint The Feeling – Polydor 12”
40 68 Heatwave – Posin’ ‘Til Closin’ – GTO 12”
41 55 Wish – Nice And Soft – US Perspective 12”
42 38 Barbara Roy – If You Want Me – US Roy B 12”
43 32 Eddy Grant – Can’t Get Enough Of You – Ensign 12”
44 50 Gino Soccio – Hold Tight / Street Talk – Atlantic LP
45 63 Touchdown – Ease Your Mind – Record Shack 12”
46 59 Material – Bustin’ Out – Ze 12”
47 67 Cheryl Lynn – Shake It Up Tonight – US Columbia 12”
48 46 Teena Marie – It Must Be Magic / Square Biz – US Gordy LP
49 40 Stargard – High On The Boogie / You’re The One / Back To The Funk / It’s Your Love That I’m Missin’ / Here Comes Love – US Warner Bros LP
50 43 Atmosfear – Invasion / Interplay / Return Of LB – MCA LP/12” promo
51 NE Carl Carlton – She’s A Bad Mama Jama – 20th Century-Fox 12”
52 77 Voggue – Dancin’ The Night Away – Canadian Celsius 12”
53 57 Was (Not Was) – Wheel Me Out – Ze LP/US Antilles 12”
54 RE Tantra – Hills Of Katmandu / Wishbone / Top Shot – Automatic 12”/US Importe/12 LP
55 44 Cameo – Freaky Dancin’ / The Sound Table / Don’t Be So Cool – US Chocolate City LP/12” promo
56 49 Debra Laws – On My Own – Elektra 12”
57 NE Shakatak – Brazilian Dawn – Polydor 12”
58 74 Randy Crawford – You Might Need Somebody – Warner Bros 12”
59 42 Mystic Merlin – 60 Thrills A Minute – Capitol 12”
60 54 Wanda Walden – Don’t You Want My Lovin’ – Elektra 12”
61 65 Ramsey Lewis – Expansions / Romance Me / Lakeshore Cowboy – CBS LP
62 60 Eddy Grant – California Style / I Love You Yes I Love You / Give Yourself To Me – Ice LP
63 56 Quincy Jones – The Dude / Betcha Wouldn’t Hurt Me / Just Once – A&M LP
64 58 Bunny Wailer – Dancing Shoes / Walk The Proud Land – Island 12”
65 NE Tee Mac – Sound Of the Universe – Ensign 12”
66 69 Chaka Khan – What Cha Gonna Do For Me / I’m Every Woman – Warner Bros 12”
67 66 Proton Plus – Pay-Up – UK Champagne 12”
68 RE Shirley James / Danny Ray – Why Don’t You Spend The Night – Black Jack/Arista 12”
69 72 Randy Crawford – Rainy Night In Georgia – Warner Bros LP
70 75 France Joli – Gonna Get Over You – US Prelude 12”
71 79 Sharon Redd – Can You Handle It – US Prelude 12”
72 RE Abba – Lay All Your Love On Me – Epic LP/US Disconet 12” promo
73 53 Various – Bits & Pieces III – Canadian Special Disco Mixer 12”
74 NE Fatback – Kool Whip / High Steppin’ Lady – Spring LP
75 89 John Klemmer – Hummingbird Bay / Hush – Elektra LP
76 NE Cayenne – Roberto Who…? / Little Sunflower – Groove Prod LP
77 73 L.A.X. – Possessed (Remix) – US Prelude 12”
78 64 Grover Washington Jr – Just The Two Of Us – Elektra 12”
79 62 Jermaine Jackson – You Like Me Don’t You – Motown 12”
80 NE Sylvester – Give it Up – US Fantasy/Honey LP/12” promo
81 NE Rafael Cameron – Funtown USA – US Salsoul 12”
82 80 Mastermind – Uncle Slam Wants You – US Half Moon 12”
83 NE Starsound – Stars On 45 Volume 2 – CBS 12”
84 81 Claudia Fontaine – Natural High – Decca 12”
85 RE Future Flight – Red Light Row / Hip-Notic Lady / Don’t Pull The Plug – US Capitol LP
86 NE Michael McGloiry – Won’t You Let Me Be The One – Pinnacle 12”
87 NE Tom Tom Club – Wordy Rappinghood – Island 12”
88 61 Freddie James – She’s A Lady / Music Takes Me Higher – Canadian Black Sun LP
89 86 Impressions – Fan The Fire – US 20th Century-Fox LP
90 NE War – Cinco De Mayo – US LAX 12”

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BREAKERS

BUBBLING UNDER the UK Disco 90 with increased support are:

Morrissey Mullen: ‘Dragonfly’ / ‘Pass The Music On’ (Beggars Banquet 12in)
Bob Marley: ‘No Woman No Cry’ (Island 12in)
Spandau Ballet: ‘Chant No.1’ (Reformation 12in promo)
Lime: ‘Your Love (Remix)’ / ‘Agent 406’ / ‘You’re My Magician’ (US Prism LP)
Change: ‘Paradise’ (WEA 12in)
Carol Jiani: ‘The Woman In Me’ / ‘Hit ‘n’ Run Lover (Remix)’ (Canadian Matra LP)
Boystown Gang: ‘Remember Me/Ain’t No Mountain High Enough Suite’ ‘Cruisin’ The Streets’ (US Moby Dick 12in)
T/Ski Valley: ‘Catch The Beat’ (US Grand Groove 12in)
General Saint & Clint Eastwood: ‘Another One Bites The Dust’ (Greensleeves 12in)
Steve Winwood: ‘Night Train’ (Island 12in)
Sadane: ‘One Way Love Affair’ / ‘Sit Up’ (Warner Bros 12in)
Graingers: ‘Shine Your Light’ (US BC 12in)
Love Unlimited Orchestra: ‘Lift Your Voice And Say’ (US Unlimited Gold 12in)
Mother (F): ‘Hot Wax’ (Canadian Matra 12in)
Gidea Park: ‘Beach Boy Gold’ (Sonet 12in)
Dazz Band: ‘Let The Music Play’ / ‘Don’t Stop’ (US Motown LP)
Victor Romero Evans: ‘At The Club’ (Epic/Special Request 12in)
Fatback: ‘Take It Any Way You Want It’ (Spring 12in)
Bits & Pieces: ‘Don’t Stop The Music’ (Island 12in)
Roberta Flack: ‘Loving You (Is Such An Easy Thing To Do)’ / ‘Qual E Malindrinho’ (US MCA LP)

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DORC (Disco Featured Pop Hits)

1(1) Ultravox, 2(21) Specials, 3(4) Kim Wilde, 4(2) Adam, 5(5) Kim Carnes, 6(6) Toyah, 7(3) Shakin’ Stevens, 8(9) Hazel O’Connor, 9(22) Bucks Fizz, 10(-) Bad Manners, 11(13) Tenpole Tudor, 12(7) UB40, 13(14) Phil Collins, 14(18) Stray Cats, 15(11) Jam, 16(12) Nolans, 17(25) Madness, 18(24) Kate Robbins, 19(8) Duran Duran, 20(19) Gary US Bonds.

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HIT NUMBERS

Beats Per Minute for the last two weeks pop chart entries on 7in (endings denoted by “f” for fade, “c” for cold, “r” for resonant) are:
Specials 0-75-0f, Bad Manners 0-155-0f, Quincy Jones 0-121f, Rainbow 0-157f, Tom Tom Club 0-123f, Gillan 0-139c, The Beat 78f, Dave Edmunds / Stray Cats 171r, Grace Jones 108-109-110f, Barry Biggs 65/33f, Psychedelic Furs 135f, Sheena Easton 0-85/42-0r, Iron Maiden 0-294-0r, Gap Band 44-45/91-46/92f, Kinks 70-140f, Evelyn King 115f, Thelma Houston 121f, REO Speedwagon 38-39/79-0r, Keni Burke 120-121f.

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DJ TOP TEN

SEAN HAMPSEY, who I recently met mooching around the record stall in Bawtry’s Sunday market, claims with some reason that Rotherham is now the North’s new soul centre. He himself spins ’60s, ’70s and some ’80s sounds for the Malc Burton Hi-Style Review every Sunday evening at the Windmill Club, every other Friday the Alan Senior & Steve Croft-promoted all-niter at the Clifton Hall in Wharncliffe Street attracts (he says) the country’s biggest crowds, while weekly soul sessions at Edlington’s White Greyhound also help pull punters from miles away to Rotherham. Sean sees in the area a new found appreciation for modern soul intermingled with the ever-present love for sounds of the past, a chart combined from the Windmill and White Greyhound gigs coming out like this:

1980 Janice – Skip Mahoney – Salsoul 12in
1980 Your Song – Dells – 20th Century-Fox 12in
1980 Feel It – Revelation – Handshake 12in
1976 Somewhere Around – Milt Matthews – Rip-Off
1976 What Hurts – Grover Mitchell – Vanguard
1975 I Wanna Give You Tomorrow – Benny Troy – De-Lite
1970 Please Give Me One More Chance – Clyde McPhatter – MCA LP
1969 I’m The One Who Loves You – Darrell Banks – Stax
1968 Dearly Beloved – Jack Montgomery – Scepter
1968 I Found A Goodie – Chris Bartley – Bell
1966 It’s Rough Out There – Jerry Jackson – Cameo Parkway

(I know that’s eleven titles, but at least they’re all soul, and not ‘Northern’ pop!)