ODDS ‘N’ BODS
BRANDI WELLS, recently wed to Fat Larry singer Terry Price, will not be out via PRT but on Virgin, who now have WMOT here, just ‘Watch Out’ being on 12in next week (making PRT’s white label a real collector’s item!) . . . DJ Mick Clark has left Holborn’s City Sounds shop to head black A&R at Virgin, and Robert Blenman has left Rush Release to plug for Motown at RCA . . . Tomorrow’s Edition import 12in is now on US Atlantic RFC, but WEA don’t have it here . . . Touch have no plans to press any more copies of their extremely limited and long sold out ‘Keep On’ white label . . . Kleeer and other WEA LPs mentioned as due now have in fact been put back . . . Steve Walsh has taken over a club (Rowdy Yeates would have us believe it used to be a morgue — and so far nobody’s noticed any difference!), Soho’s Gossips just off Dean Street, where he currently jazz-funks Fridays and David Rodigan reggaes Saturdays . . . Nicky Peck guests with Dave Brown on BBC Radio Medway 290m this Friday (15) 7-8.45pm . . . Friday gigs also include Robbie Vincent at Dartford Flicks, Tom Holland at Southend Zero 6, Hipnosis at London Baker Street Barracuda — and Second Image at Barracuda on Monday (18) . . . Kool number 2 on the Capital Hitline! . . . RCA’s mystery white label last week is The Mood ‘Don’t Stop‘ (RCAT 171) . . . Orin Cozier is of course NOW continuing the tradition of Arista, rather than as misprinted in the Hammy Awards, while last week lots of stuff got left out including the rest of a POD Top 60 . . . Diana Ross ‘Tenderness’ and Four Tops are much bigger in this week’s POD, were there room for it . . . BPM’s last week were done on freezing cold decks, so adjust Scrunter +3, Brandi +1, Legato +1, D Spinners ‘Love Connection’ 112bpm (rest OK) . . . Beats Per Minute for recent 7in pop hits are Kraftwerk ‘Computer Love’ 0-63/126f / ‘The Model’ 62/125-0f, Philip Lynott 0-137f, Mobiles 0-38/77f, Geoffrey Burgon / Brideshead 29-0r, Ken Dodd 100-101-102c, Human League 0-51-103f, ELO ‘Moon’ 20-80-0-82-61f / ‘News’ 0-140-0-140f, Alton Edwards 0-121f, Stranglers 62f(waltz) . . . Breakers include Grandmaster Flash ‘It’s Nasty’, Whispers LP, Double Exposure ‘After All This Time’, Miss Man & Co ‘Give It All To Me’, Rick James ‘Ghetto Life’, Slyck ‘Love It Or (Beat The Bush)’, Four Tops ‘Don’t Walk Away’, Purple Flash ‘Creme Souflee’, Pigbag ‘Papa’s Got A Brand New Pigbag (Remix)’, Kasso ‘Kasso’ . . . now, SEE AN OCCULIST!
UK NEWIES
GEORGE BENSON: ‘Never Give Up On A Good Thing’ (Warner Bros K 17962T).
Dynamite brassily strutting 114bpm backbeat whomper on 3-track 12in with the frantic instrumental 138-0bpm ‘California PM’ and smoochy 43-0bpm ‘It’s All In The Game’ (both “live” oldies).
DIANA ROSS: ‘Mirror Mirror’ (Capitol 12CL 234).
Powerful juddering 104bpm 12in jolter with yowling guitar, surprisingly lukewarm as an LP cut but sure to smash now, c/w Brenda Lee’s 0-121-0bpm ‘Sweet Nothings‘.
RICK JAMES: ‘Ghetto Life’ (Motown TMGT 1250).
Good ‘Give It To Me Baby’-type 117bpm 12in smacker, c/w the frantic jerky 130bpm ‘Below The Funk‘.
GRANDMASTER FLASH & THE FURIOUS FIVE: ‘The Adventures Of Grandmaster Flash On The Wheels Of Steel’ (Sugarhill SHL 557).
Out a while, this disjointedly freaky 107-112-111-113(“story”)-108-111-113-112bpm 12in rap mixer (based on Chic ‘Good Times’) actually works well and took off here in electro-funk venues (try Yvonne Gage chopped out of the halfway “ . . . pretty much like this”).
EVELYN KING: ‘Spirit Of The Dancer’ (RCA RCAT 179).
Beefily jolting jittery socking 123bpm 12in smacker. c/w the lurching ponderous 114bpm ‘I Can’t Take It‘.
DOLLY DOTS: ‘PS I Love You’ (WEA K 18829T).
Jolly chix chanted rolling bass boomed 113bpm 12in rap rhythm lurcher, often very like Positive Force ‘We Got The Funk’.
WHISPERS: ‘Love Is Where You Find It’ LP (Solar K 52344).
Disappointingly formula-driven smackers are the 114bpm ‘Emergency’, 109bpm ‘Turn Me Out‘ and (Erica Roe-dedicated?!) 114-115bpm ‘In The Raw‘, none with any special magic, while much better are slowies like the 41/82bpm title track, 98bpm ‘Cruisin’ In’ and beautiful 37/75bpm ‘Small Talkin’.
STEVIE WONDER: ‘That Girl’ (Motown TMG 1254).
Softly pressed long sombre slow 107/54bpm 7in ticker with harmonica solo, hopefully on 12in eventually, more a grower than an immediate groover.
MODERN ROMANCE: ‘Queen Of The Rapping Scene’ (WEA K 18928T).
Accordion accompanied rattling 125bpm 12in jitterer ending with an unidentified rapping lady. c/w the US-issued 123bpm ‘Can You Move‘ extended remix of just the rapping bit from ‘Everybody Salsa’ — which could be the hotter side.
FIVE SPECIAL: ‘Just A Feeling’ (Elektra K 12588T).
Squeakily harmonised jittery tugging 118bpm 12in backbeat smacker with staccato scat break, c/w their old remorselessly chugging Tempts/RR/Brass Construction-ish 121bpm ‘Why Leave Us Alone‘.
MIKE POST: ‘The Theme From Hill Street Blues’ (Elektra K 12576T).
Timely reactivation of the slow 0-48/97-0bpm TV theme on 3-track 12in with the old Northern Soul pounding 155bpm ‘Afternoon Of The Rhino‘ and meandering jazzy ‘Aaron’s Tune‘.
LIME: ‘Your Love’ (Excaliber EXCL 514).
Fast pounding 138bpm 12in gay galloper, c/w the Kat Mandu ‘Break’-ish better rattling 129bpm ‘Agent 406‘.
IMPORTS
ONENESS OF JUJU: ‘Every Way But Loose’ (US Sutra SUD 985).
Great infectiously bounding bass, percussion and brass prodded 115-116-115-114-115(break)-116-117bpm 12in chugging riff with the flow of Brass Construction ‘Movin’ and a flavour of Roy Ayers ‘Running Away’, the title line loosely chanted over party noises which continue through a powerful clapping break, label credits suggesting an African origin.
YVONNE GAGE: ‘Garden Of Eve’ (US Atlantic/RFC DM 4824).
Chick wailed big beefy resonantly thrumming 113bpm 12in rolling rap-rhythm jolter with ‘Another One Bites The Dust’ bass break and electronic twiddles. Pure disco perfection, due here in a fortnight.
GOLDIE ALEXANDER: ‘Show You My Love’ (US Chaz Ro CHDS-2521).
Luther Vandross-ish excellent creamily loping 118-117-116-117-118-117bpm 12in smacker with powerful synth, including a repetitive line like a musical pin table, and dynamite beat doubling break, c/w the nice mellow jogging 102bpm ‘Go Back‘.
THE WHATNAUTS: ‘Help Is On The Way’ (US Harlem International HIR 110).
Superb bass rumbled unhurriedly nagging soulful 0-103-104bpm 12in looping and bumping steadily building groove intensifies through the repetitive title line to a terrific instrumental finale with jazzy piano — the flip’s instrumental, so get two and keep it rolling right on around without end!
LAMONT DOZIER: ‘You Oughta Be In Pictures’ (LP ‘Lamont’ US M&M MM-104AE).
Sensational soulful 100(intro)-103bpm jogger likely to be huge, the McKinley Jackson—arranged album being better (apart from the 0-113-114bpm ‘Shout About It‘) for slowies like the 0-93/47bpm ‘I Ain’t Playing‘ rather than the serviceable 115-114bpm ‘Help Is On The Way’, 121bpm ‘The Pressure Is On’, 127-128bpm ‘Never Had It So Good’.
GILBERTO GIL: ‘Palco’ (LP ‘A Gente Precisa Ver O Luar’ German WEA 91050).
Absolutely gorgeous happily swinging Portuguese-sung and cluckingly scatted 0-108bpm brassy beauty, the rest being extremely specialist Latin sambas and slowies.
QT: ‘Want Some Get Some’ (US M&M MM100).
Briefly mentioned before, the acappella 8 bar intro of this somewhat Prince-ish 120-121-122-123-122-124-123bpm 12in thudder’s instrumental B-side mixes sensationally through “D” Train’s break, while NY Skyy ‘Call Me’ should work with the vocally similar A-side.
CENTRAL LINE: ‘Breaking Point’ (LP ‘Central Line’ US Mercury SRM1-4033).
With fewer tracks than the imminent UK LP, the big newie is a jazzily bounding 117(intro)-121-122-60/120-123bpm instrumental leaper, while the doodlingly introed 116-117bpm ‘I Need Your Love‘ is Chic-ish and 128-127bpm ‘That’s No Way To Treat My Love‘ (flip of ‘Walking Into Sunshine’) kinda Eddy Grant sings ‘Searching’.
GRAND MASTER FLASH & THE FURIOUS FIVE: ‘It’s Nasty (Genius Of Love)’ (US Sugarhill SH-569).
Extremely effective 0-102bpm 12in heavy funk rap treatment of Tom Tom Club’s underrated recent release, also done similarly by Dr Jeckyll & Mr Hyde.
SUGARHILL GANG: ‘Funk Box’ (LP ‘8th Wonder’ US Sugarhill SH 249).
Very strong 0-101½bpm steady funker more harmonised than rapped over a musically good backing, outstanding on an otherwise dull album.
PATTERSON TWINS: ‘New Wave’ (US Montage 7903). Yarbrough & Peoples-ish 97-98bpm 12in judderer loosens up as it builds stomping jittery tension to end by really cookin’.
LEONARD SEELEY’S HERITAGE: ‘Feel It’ (US Zoo York 4W9 02671).
‘Another One Bites The Dust’ bass bumped 111-110-109bpm 12in ponderous funker, slightly spoilt by freakout guitar halfway but good for mixing DJs.
JUNIOR: ‘Mama Used To Say’ (US Mercury MDS 4614).
Much stronger 119bpm 12in remix by Tee Scott of the UK recorded Michael Jackson-ish jolter. Could now work with Hall & Oates.
STONE: ‘Time’ (US West End WES 22139).
Chix ‘n’ chaps chanted 121-122bpm 12in burbling synth smacker blatantly like the Strikers ‘Body Music’.
BALLROOM ORCHESTRA: ‘In The Mood (Medley)’ (US Star ST-1940).
Straight big band medley of ‘In The Mood/Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy/Goody Goody/Pennsylvania 6-5000/Chattanooga Choo Choo’ on 12in, the instrumental flip much better than vocal A-side. It’s six years too late for the Swing Revival!
UK Disco Top 90 – January 16, 1982
01 01 Kool & The Gang – Get Down On It – De-Lite 12”
02 04 ‘D’ Train – You’re The One For Me (Instrumental) – US Prelude 12”
03 03 Alton Edwards – I Just Wanna (Spend Some Time With You) – Streetwave 12”
04 06 New York Skyy – Let’s Celebrate / Call Me – Epic/Streetwave 12”
05 05 Brandi Wells – What Goes Around Comes Around / Watch Out – US WMOT LP/White Label 12”
06 08 Tom Browne – Fungi Mama / Funkin’ For Jamaica – Arista GRP 12”
07 02 Earth Wind & Fire – Let’s Groove – CBS 12”
08 07 Gayle Adams – Love Fever – Epic 12”
09 14 George Benson – Never Give Up On A Good Thing – Warner Bros LP
10 13 Lessette Wilson – Caveman Boogie / Saturday Nite Groovin’ / Corrida (Ai No Corrida) – US Headfirst LP
11 12 Imagination – Flashback / Burnin’ Up – R&B 12”
12 16 Grover Washington Jr – Little Black Samba / Jamming / Be Mine (Tonight) / East River Drive – Elektra LP
13 09 George Benson – Turn Your Love Around – Warner Bros 12”
14 34 Daryl Hall & John Oates – I Can’t Go For That – RCA 12”
15 11 Jones Girls – Nights Over Egypt / (I Found) That Man Of Mine / ASAP (As Soon As Possible) – US Phil Int LP
16 21 Aurra – Make Up Your Mind – US Salsoul 12”
17 30 T.C. Curtis – Bodyshake (Instrumental) – Groove Production 12”
18 10 Kool & The Gang – Steppin’ Out – De-Lite 12”
19 44 Vicky ‘D’ – This Beat Is Mine – US SAM 12”
20 18 Second Image – Can’t Keep Holding On – Polydor 12”
21 15 Bohannon – Let’s Start II Dance Again – US Phase II 12”
22 26 Bohannon – Take The Country To New York City / A Happy Song For You / You’re The One / Start The Dance (Inserts) – US Phase II LP
23 52 Central Line – Don’t Tell Me – Mercury 12”
24 27 Lamont Dozier – Shout About It – US M&M 12”
25 19 Alphonze Mouzon – I’m Glad That You’re Here – London 12”
26 33 J. Walter Negro & Loose Jointz – Shoot The Pump – Zoo York 12”
27 28 Letta Mbulu – Kilimanjaro – US MJS 12”
28 23 Shock – Let Your Body Do The Talkin’ / I Think I Love You / Let’s Get Crackin’ – US Fantasy LP
29 22 Shakatak – Easier Said Than Done – Polydor 12”
30 72 Bar-Kays – Nightcruising – Mercury 12”
31 25 GQ – Shake – Arista 12”
32 69 Tomorrow’s Edition – U Turn Me On – US Mel-O/Atlantic RFC 12”
33 37 Jumpp – Bouncy Bouncy / The Bounce – RCA 12”
34 17 Norman Connors – Mr. C / Stay With Me / She’s Gone – US Arista LP
35 36 Earth Wind & Fire – I’ve Had Enough / Lady Sun – CBS LP
36 64 Syreeta – Quick Slick – Motown 12”
37 20 Mike & Brenda Sutton – We’ll Make It – US SAM 12”
38 29 Rose Royce – R.R. Express – Whitfield LP/12”
39 49 Human League 100 – Don’t You Want Me – Virgin 12”
40 45 Slave – Snap Shot / Wait For Me / Party Lites / Steal Your Heart – Cotillion LP
41 32 Tom Browne – Bye Gones / My Latin Sky / Can’t Give It Away / Come For The Ride / Lazy Bird – Arista GRP LP
42 41 K.I.D. – Hupendi Muziki Wangu?! – US SAM 12”
43 38 Luther Vandross – Never Too Much – Epic 12”
44 76 Detroit Spinners – Love Connection / Knack For Me / Can’t Shake This Feelin’ / You Go Your Way / Got To Be Love – Atlantic LP
45 57 Gwen McCrae – Funky Sensation – US Atlantic LP
46 48 Earl Klugh – Twinkle – Liberty 12”
47 58 Kryptic Krew – Jazzy Sensation – US Tommy Boy 12”
48 NE Oneness Of Juju – Every Way But Loose – US Sutra 12”
49 47 Level 42 – Starchild – Polydor 12”
50 31 Kool & The Gang – Take My Heart / Good Time Tonight – De-Lite LP
51 59 Dynasty – Love In The Fast Lane – Solar 12”
52 46 Rick James – Superfreak – Motown 12”
53 40 Twennynine/Lenny White – Twennynine (The Rap) / Rhythm / Movin’ On – Elektra LP
54 24 Modern Romance – Ay Ay Ay Ay Moosey – WEA 12”
55 87 Jerry Carr – This Must Be Heaven – US Cherie 12”
56 NE Central Line – Breaking Point / That’s No Way To Treat My Love – US Mercury LP
57 50 Ray Barretto – Pastime Paradise / La Cuna / The Old Castle – US CTI LP
58 55 Prince – Controversy – Warner Bros 12”
59 43 Mirage – As From Now – Copasetic/12” promo
60 82 Henderson & Whitfield – Dancin’ To The Beat – US Park Place 12”
61 42 Melba Moore – Take My Love – EMI America 12”
62 NE Empire – Freakman – Canadian Quality RFC 12”
63 NE Yvonne Gage – Garden Of Eve – US Atlantic RFC 12”
64 54 Garfield Fleming – Don’t Send Me Away – US Becket 12”
65 NE Direct Drive – Time Machine / Don’t Depend On Me – Oval 12”
66 60 Tracy Weber – Sure Shot – Canadian Quality RFC 12”
67 NE Whatnauts – Help Is On The Way – US Harlem Int LP
68 NE Gilberto Gil – Palco – German WEA LP
69 78 Mynk – Get Up An’ Dance – US Posse 12”
70 62 Bob James – The Steamin’ Feelin’ – Tappan Zee 12”
71 56 Perry Haines – What’s Funk? – Fetish Funk Rox 12”
72 75 Hawk & Co – Nitelife – Epic/12” promo
73 61 Zafra Bros – Will You See Me Tonight – US Eastbourne 12”
74 51 Fatback – Do It (‘Til The Feelin’ Runs Out) / Gigolo / Rockin’ To The Beat / Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Her Goodbye – US Spring LP
75 68 Main Ingredient – Evening Of Love – US RCA LP
76 NE T.S. Monk – Too Much Too Soon / You’re Askin’ Me / First Lady Of Love – Mirage LP/12” promo
77 74 Modern Romance – Clubland Mix / Queen Of The Rapping Scene / Bring On The Funkateers – WEA LP
78 63 Brooklyn Express – Sixty-Nine – US One Way 12”
79 67 Northend – Tee’s Happy / Happy Days – US Emergency 12”
80 86 Kano – Can’t Hold Back / Don’t Try To Stop Me / Round And Round – US Mirage LP/12” promo
81 NE Touch – Keep On – White Label 12”
82 84 Lowrell Simon – Love Massage – US Zoo York 12”
83 89 Beggar & Co – Bahia De Palma / Got To Get Away / Laughing On – RCA LP
84 71 Lava – The Ratter / Give It Up – Norwegian Polydor LP
85 77 Godmoma – Godmoma Here – US Elektra LP
86 NE Lamont Dozier – You Oughta Be In Pictures – US M&M LP
87 NE QT – Want Some Get Some – US M&M 12”
88 NE Diana Ross – Tenderness / Medley – Motown 12”
89 NE Goldie Alexander – Show You My Love – US Chaz Ro 12”
90 88 Fine Quality featuring Cuz – Ahh Dance – US Sugarhill 12”
BREAKERS
Briefly listed in Odds ‘N’ Bods this week.
POD (Pop Orientated Dance)
No chart this week.
HIT NUMBERS
Listed in Odds ‘ N’ Bods this week.
James Hamilton's Disco Page 