April 23, 1983: Lenny White, Ingram, Wilton Felder, Joe Sample, Marcia Griffiths

ODDS ‘N’ BODS

CAISTER’S BIGGIES apparently were Lonnie Liston Smith, Booker Newberry III and Brass Construction (at least these were heard the most by my spy!), Fred Dove’s videos dominated the final afternoon and PA’s by Galaxy’s Phil Fearon and the solo David Grant evidently went down a storm . . . Elite snapped up the hot Steve Harvey ‘Something Special‘ for imminent release, and also have the simmering Strike One ‘Can’t Touch Me Anymore‘ on the way . . . TC Curtis ‘Bump And Slide’ is another long range forecast tip . . . Streetwave’s version of C.O.D. ‘In the Bottle’ includes another of my “hit piggyback” remixes (and I do mean re-mix this time), amidst electronically altered “gating” it slips into Tyrone Brunson ‘The Smurf’ . . . Roy Ayers Uno Melodic product has been picked up here by Pinnacle, who also have future James Brown recordings from his Churchill label . . . David Grant’s 7in is wrapped in a real glamour-job colour poster, with four “Jeffrey Daniel” poses! . . . Peterborough’s Jeremy Payne, who also builds up mixes on a cassette deck with its pause button broken from over-use, more importantly edits an amazingly ambitious (and successfully so) fanzine called ‘Alternative Mix’ which is a crammed 20p-worth of all-embracing reviews, news, articles and charts — potential advertisers/contributors/subscribers will be equally impressed if they get a copy from Jeremy at The Willows, Spalding Road, Frognall, Deeping St James, Peterborough PE6 8SA . . . Steve Walsh starts this week funking Saturdays at Peckham Kisses, while on Tuesday (26) at Ilford’s Room At The Top he plugs PRT product with John ‘Nick’ Osborne, who in turn joins him and David Rodigan every Sunday at Streatham’s Cat Whiskers . . . David Rodigan, Capital Radio’s reggaemeister and currently co-star of BBC TV’s ‘Shackleton’ series, recently returned from a Jamaican jaunt to report that radio there plays more American soft soul than home-grown reggae (so it’s radio programmers versus the world there too!), and far more singles are just on 7in as people can’t afford the 12in size — in fact David’s UK 12in dub plates were a major excitement there, in what people think of as the home of reggae! . . . Glen Ricks’ sweet slow 35bpm ‘Heart Of My World‘ (Jamaican Black Jack 7in) currently mash up de nation murderation style, produced by Glen (real name Ricketts) and our own Curtis Simon with strings added in Canada, and brought back here by the box load in Rodigan’s baggage! . . . Soul On Sound’s Tony Jenkins & Chris Ellis join the National Soul Festival line-up of Walsh/Washington/Westwood/Shaw at the May 2 Lyceum line-up . . . Chris Hill & Colin Hudd play cops ‘n’ robbers at Dartford Flicks this Friday (22) . . . Second Image continue their tour at Birmingham Snobs (Thur 21), Leysdown Stage 3 (Sat), Luton Pink Elephant (Sun), Glasgow Henry Afrika’s (Tues/Wed), Preston Clouds (Thur) . . . Andy Baker is now fully occupied jocking seven nights plus lunchtimes at Rhyl’s Orange Peel disco (on the promenade under the Haven Hotel) — I hope he doesn’t go round the twist (geddit?)! . . . Rowdy Yeats, yes, has left PRT now, again . . . Claes Ockenholt in Denmark — where records are indeed expensive but professional DJs earn around £1,000 a month all in, so (as he charmingly puts it) “somebody must make some bacon”! — now stocks over 3,000 12in singles titles, Soul On Sound and the air-mailed RECORD MIRROR at Ding Dong Records, Silkegade (behind Illum warehouse on Stroget), Copenhagen . . . Danes evidently dance to anything by Divine, and a Dutch remix of Wham ‘Young Guns’ is hot too . . . Canadian reader Vince Degiorgio, boss of the new Power label (Ambiance ‘Na Na Hey Hey’), recently rang me from Toronto and nattered for all of twenty minutes! . . . Bill Fredericks tells me ‘Too Busy Thinking About My Baby‘ was recorded long before Forrest, but began by being much faster . . . JFM’s Dave Collins was particularly impressive in his latest fill-in role on Capital’s dawn shift last week, playing a lot of great music and being very listenable no matter what the material . . . Michael Jackson ‘Beat It’ as suspected is certainly not a big “black” record . . . Norman St John Stevas had a chat about mixing at my gig last Saturday, but is not noticeably a good dancer to today’s rhythms . . . Nick Ratcliffe reckons he must be the first DJ to do a 21st party for a girl who later frolicked in the nude in the sea in the sun in The Sun with Prince Andrew, Tracey Lamb (she’d celebrated at Haslemere’s Good Knight Country Club)! . . . Al Dupres recommends Cardiff’s apres-gig eaters should try the Goldburger in Guildhall Place, open until 3am — seriously, let’s hear about more, all, or at least late, night eateries around the country . . . Jonzun Crew’s import album is on lovely white vinyl but contains nothing of note that we don’t already know . . . Phil Mitchell (Newcastle-upon-Tyne Julies) has as a featured oldie this month, the Blackbyrds ‘April Showers‘ — couldn’t he have found a version of ‘Stormy Weather’ instead? . . . if you think this column’s going to end with “yes indeedy” again, NO SIRREE!

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HOT VINYL

LENNY WHITE: ‘Didn’t Know About Love (Till I Found You)’ (US Elektra 0-67923)
Superb creamily pulsating chick-sung 105-106½bpm jogger oozing class, on 3-track 12in with an instrumental version and the exotic slow 97bpm ‘Tell Him (Fala Para Ele)‘. A must!

INGRAM: ‘Groovin’ On A Groove’ (LP ‘Would You Like To Fly’ US Mirage 90075-1)
Ingram is the whole Ingram Family, not just James M Ingram, and while brilliant creators of musical texture they keep lyrics to a minimum (on all dancers bar the Bobby Womack-ish 106-109bpm title track), hottest newie being this irresistibly churning 121(start)-123bpm Peoples Choice-ish groove, not to forget the sensational 12in-issued 116-114-113-114-114½–114-114½-116½bpm ‘Smoothin’ Groovin‘, 108½bpm ‘DJ’s Delight‘ flip, and indecisively jolting 110-112bpm ‘We Like To Do It‘ plus some slowies. Lovely stuff!

WILTON FELDER: ‘Summer Nights In Rio’ (LP ‘Gentle Fire’ MCA MCF-3167)
Already rushed out here, the Crusaders saxist and Joe Sample kick up an infectious brassy 123-122-122½bpm Latin leaper with jazzy solos (also on promo 12in c/w Joe’s ‘The Hunter‘), mellow joggers being the lovely slinky 96-95-94bpm ‘Somewhere In My Past‘ and 94½bpm ‘Driftin’ On A Dream‘, but A Taste Of Honey’s two vocal tracks let the set down rather.

JOE SAMPLE: ‘Wings Of Fire’ (LP ‘The Hunter’ MCA MCF-3164)
Keyboardist Joe is the sole Crusader on an excellent all-instrumental jazz set with this catchy 119-120-121-120-122bpm bounder, the intricately nagging gentle (0)-91bpm ‘Night Flight‘, slightly blatant (0-)115-116-117- 118-117-118bpm title track, less danced-to 113bpm ‘Beauty And The Beast‘.

MARCIA GRIFFITHS: ‘Electric Boogie’ (Island 12IS 112)
Dead simple catchy little minimalist 106¾bpm electro ticker prod/arr/slyly interjected on by Bunny Wailer, possibly another ‘Ring My Bell’, on 12in in short, long and three different dub versions.

GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS: ‘Save The Overtime (For Me)’ (CBS A3314)
Sylvers-produced powerful chunkily rolling 109bpm jolter with Gladys in great soulful form, serviced to DJs on US promo 12in presumably ahead of UK pressings (it’s certainly a 7in).

MAZE FEATURING FRANKIE BEVERLY: ‘Love Is The Key’ (Capitol 12CL 290)
Not perhaps the best tempo for here but sure to grow on us, a lightly racing fluid 123bpm 12in canterer with chattering crowd noises and pretty harmonica.

DAVID DIGGS: ‘Gentle Thoughts’ (LP ‘Realworld’ US Palo Alto Jazz PA 8037-N)
Exceptionally pleasant lushly arranged 115-117-118bpm jazz instrumental with great atmosphere, thoroughly recommended — shame it’s not a single!

COATI MUNDI: ‘¿Como Esta Usted?’ (Virgin VS 585-12)
Structurally similar to but slower than ‘Me No Pop I’, a happily syncopated 100½-99½bpm 12in Latin romp with sleazy Spanish chix. Caramba!

WEEKS & CO: ‘If You’re Looking For Fun’ (US Salsoul SG 395)
Richly mixed by Shep Pettibone, a good if not quite great slinkily weaving 117bpm 12in chugger with gimmicky stop/start, acid guitar, chanting chix, and a ‘Master Dub Version’ flip (the new “in” description?).

DAVID JOSEPH: ‘You Can’t Hide (Your Love From Me) (Remix)’ (Island 12IS 101)
Sneakily slipped out here in limited 12in quantities (all now sold) to tickle the chart more. Larry Levan’s 115-116bpm vocal and 115½bpm instrumental remixes (still on Mango import) are not as bad as initially thought, making a useful variation.

MARY JANE GIRLS: ‘Candy Man’ (Gordy TMGT 1301)
Simple catchy galloping 122½bpm 12in girlie group obviously prod/penned by Rick James, but with an appealing vintage vocal sound giving pop potential.

HUMAN LEAGUE: ‘(Keep Feeling) Fascination’ (Virgin VS 569-12)
Organ introed electronically jerked monotonous 0-117½bpm 12in backbeater with “white” rap ‘n’ chant interplay and ‘Be My Baby’ chords, breakdown flip, all very urban contemporary!

LEON HAYWOOD: ‘Desire’ (LP ‘It’s Me Again’ US Casablanca 810 304-1 M-1)
Rhythmically tight and to the point as ever, Leon here hits an extremely Kashif/King 116bpm beat, Karen Roberts souls the smacking 115bpm ‘I’m Out To Catch‘, ‘I Wanna Do Something Freaky To You‘ is a ‘Ladies Night’-ish vocoder accented 108bpm update of his oldie, the ‘Mama Jama’-ish 113bpm ‘TV Mama‘ being least strong.

CAMEO. ‘You’re A Winner’ (LP ‘Style’ US Atlanta Artists 811 072-1 M-1)
This Impressions recalling lovely slippery soulfully squeaked 94bpm rolling slitherer, along with a 27-54-0bpm smooching of Elvis’ ‘Can’t Help Falling In Love‘ and the 0-31-0bpm ‘Heaven Only Knows‘, stands out from such formularised “American” funk as the 12in-issued Prince-ish 124bpm title track, 116bpm ‘Cameo’s Dance‘, 115-119bpm ‘Aphrodisiac‘, 118bpm ‘This Life Is Not For Me‘.

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DISCO TOP 85 – APRIL 23, 1983

01 02 Twist (Round ‘N’ Round) – Chill Fac-Torr – Philly World 12”
02 01 You Can’t Hide (Your Love From Me) – David Joseph – Island 12”
03 03 Joy / Instrumental – The Band A.K.A. – Epic Streetwave 12”
04 19 Weekend (Weekday Side) / (Weekend Side) – Class Action – Jive 12”
05 10 Smoothin’ Groovin’ / DJ’s Delight – Ingram – US Mirage 12”
06 07 Don’t You Give Your Love Away – Steve Shelto – Epic 12”
07 21 Dancing Tight / Instrumental – Galaxy – Ensign 12”
08 04 Rock The Boat – Forrest – CBS 12”
09 06 I Am Somebody – Glenn Jones – RCA 12”
10 08 Garden Party – Mezzoforte – Steinar 12”
11 05 Young Free And Single – Sunfire – Warner Bros 12”
12 11 Tonight / This Time / Turn Me Out – Whispers – US Solar 12”
13 22 Minefield / Give Me (Remix) – I Level – Virgin 12”
14 09 Never Too Late / Mystic Woman / Rainbows Of Love – Lonnie Liston Smith – US Doctor Jazz LP
15 13 I Just Gotta Have You (Lover Turn Me On) – Kashif – Arista 12”
16 17 Is This The Future – Fatback – US Spring LP
17 50 Music / Instrumental – “D” Train – US Prelude 12”
18 12 Get On Up – Jazzy Dee – Laurie 12”
19 24 You Are In My System – Robert Palmer – Island 12”
20 29 Mornin’ / Love Is Waiting / Step By Step / I Will Be Here For You / Black And Blues – Al Jarreau – US Warner Bros LP
21 26 Hip Hop Be Bop (Don’t Stop) – Man Parrish – Polydor 12”
22 16 I’m Down For That / She’s Got To Be (A Dancer) – Jerry Knight – Funk A&Merica 12”
23 14 Ooh I Love It (Love Break) – Salsoul Orchestra – Salsoul 12”
24 36 Take Me To The Top – Advance – US Polydor 12”
25 23 Do You Wanna Dance (Instrumental) – Lavias – US Golden Pyramid 12”
26 44 Love Town – Booker Newberry III – US Boardwalk 12”
27 52 Beat It – Michael Jackson – Epic 12”
28 35 Candy Girl – New Edition – London 12”
29 15 Billie Jean (Remix) – Michael Jackson – Epic 12”
30 18 Times Are Tight (Instrumental) – Jimmy Young – US Delirium 12”
31 33 Mr D.J. / Special Mega-Mix / Instrumental – Wish – Streetwave 12”
32 34 Let’s Dance – David Bowie – EMI America 12”
33 31 In The Bottle – C.O.D. – US Emergency 12”
34 20 Baby’s Got Another / Dub Version – Richard John Smith – Jive 12”
35 25 Special Lady (Instrumental) / Better Take Time – Second Image – Polydor 12”
36 30 Thriller / Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ / P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) / Baby Be Mine – Michael Jackson – Epic LP
37 28 Come With Me / Lost In Amazonia / Sementes, Graines & Seeds / Sangria – Tania Maria – US Concord Jazz Picante LP
38 48 The Music Got Me / Instrumental – Visual – Prelude 12”
39 43 You Meet My Approval / Nobody Can Be You – Steve Arrington’s Hall Of Fame – US Atlantic LP
40 32 The Girl Is Fine (So Fine) / Dance Version – Fatback – US Spring 12”
41 27 More Than Ever Now / Shoalin’ (Funky ‘N’ Half Hip) / She Was Once My Woman / If You Don’t Want My Lovin’ (Give It Back) – Muscle Shoals Horns – US Monument LP
42 47 Wings Of Fire / Night Flight / The Hunter – Joe Sample – US MCA LP
43 58 Summer Nights In Rio / Somewhere In My Past – Wilton Felder – US MCA LP
44 49 Don’t Hold Back Your Love – Loose Ends – Virgin 12”
45 70 Juicy Fruit – Mtume – US Epic 12”
46 39 Street Themes – Charles Earland – US Columbia LP
47 40 Sugar Pie Guy (Remixes) – The Joneses – Mercury 12”
48 51 Get Her Crazy / Yum-Yum – Nile Rodgers – US Mirage 12”
49 57 Be Bop Rock / Part 2 – Beat Boys – US Sugarscoop 12”
50 37 Keep On Lovin’ Me / Love For Love – Whispers – US Solar LP
51 54 You Can’t Hide Your Love (Remix) – David Joseph – US Mango/Island 12”
52 41 Falling (Remixes) – The Biz – Midas 12”
53 NE Didn’t Know About Love (Till I Found You) – Lenny White – US Elektra 12”
54 38 Never Too Much (Remix) – Luther Vandross – Epic 12”
55 46 Wired For Games – C-Brand – US Spring 12”
56 60 Help Yourself To My Love / Don’t Stop My Love / Rumors / The Mood / Stone Love – Kashif – US Arista LP
57 59 Suddenly / Lovin’ You / Be My Love / Just For You – Marcus Miller – US Warner Bros LP
58 45 Dance Groove – Transit – US Storm 12”
59 42 Young Free & Single – Lorita Grahame – Intense 12”
60 84 Walkin’ The Line – Brass Construction – US Capitol 12”
61 56 Love Is A Game (Remix) – Harry Ray – Sugarhill 12”
62 79 Knockout (Remix) – Margie Joseph – Jive 12”
63 72 Knocking Down Love – Goldie Alexander – Proto 12”
64 71 In The Streets / Tight Jeans / Move Your Feet (To The Beat) – Prince Charles & The City Beat Band – Greyhound Record Productions LP
65 NE Heat You Up (Melt You Down) – Shirley Lites – US West End 12”
66 69 New York Afternoon / Joy! – Rare Silk – US Polydor LP
67 62 You Can’t Run From Love (Club Mix) – Maxine Singleton – Creole 12”
68 NE Cash (Cash Money) / Jungle Stomp – Prince Charles – Virgin 12”
69 66 Be Thankful For What You Got – Craig Peyton – US Profile 12”
70 NE Groovin’ On A Groove / We Like To Do It – Ingram – US Mirage LP
71 NE Stop And Go – David Grant – Chrysalis 12”
72 61 Paradise Drive – Midnite – Tivoli 12”
73 65 He’s A Pretender – High Inergy – Gordy 12”
74 NE Blue Monday / The Beach – New Order – Factory 12”
75 53 Fire – Jerry Knight – US A&M LP
76 NE Let It Out (MF Mastermix) – Blue Feather – Mercury 12”
77 NE Raid – Lakeside – Solar 12”
78 RE Do You Like It … (Girl) – Slave – Atlantic 12”
79 77 Reach Out – Narada Michael Walden – US Atlantic 12”
80 NE Be With Me – Billy Griffin – CBS 12”
81 NE Do It Anyway You Wanna – Cashmere – Philly World 12”
82 73 She Talks To Me With Her Body (Remix) – Bar-Kays – US Mercury 12”
83 85 Little Bellflower / Limited Edition / Nice ‘N’ Greasy – Burgess Gardner – US MCA LP
84 81 Dancing Inner Space – Contact U – Challenge 12”
85 RE Sam The Samba Man – Rah Band – TMT 12”

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BREAKERS

BUBBLING UNDER the Disco 85 are:

Mary Jane Girls: ‘Candy Man’ (Gordy 12in)
Nile Rodgers: ‘The Land Of The Good Groovers’ (Mirage 12in)
Neil Lockwood: ‘Tell Tale Heart’ (Red Bus 12in)
Rene & Angela: ‘Banging The Boogie’ (US Capitol 12in)
Valentine Bros: ‘Money’s Too Tight’ (Energy 12in)
UK Players: ‘Love’s Gonna Get You’ (RCA 12in)
The System: ‘You Are In My System’ (Polydor 12in)
Lakeside: ‘So Let’s Love’ / ‘Real Love’ / ‘Untouchable’ (Solar LP)
Flowchart: ‘Ask The Boss’ (Greyhound 12in)
Stephanie Mills: ‘You Can’t Run From My Love (Remix)’ (US Casablanca 12in)
Jimmy Cobb: ‘Pistachio’ / ‘So Nobody Else Can Hear’ (US Contempo Vibrato LP)
David Diggs: ‘Gentle Thoughts’ / ‘Cloud Shepherd’ (US PAJ LP)
Maze: ‘Love Is The Key’ (Capitol 12in)
Grace Jones: ‘My Jamaican Guy (Remix)’ (Island 12in)
Bill Fredericks: ‘Too Busy Thinking About My Baby’ (Unigram 12in)
T-Connection: ‘Love Odyssey (Remix)’ (Capitol 12in)
Mass Production: ‘Victory ’83’ / ‘Sun Dancer’ (US Cotillion 12in/LP)
Carol Williams: ‘You’ve Reached The Bottom Line’ (US Vanguard 12in)
Patrick Simmons: ‘So Wrong’ (US Elektra 12in)
Rod: ‘Just Keep On Walking’ (Creole 12in)
War: ‘Five Spot’ (US MCA LP)
Billy Griffin: ‘Be With Me (Remix)’ (CBS 12in promo)
Omni: ‘All For The One’ / ‘Warriors’ (US Fountain LP)
Marcia Griffiths: ‘Electric Boogie’ (Island 12in)
Stargaze: ‘You Can’t Have It’ (US TNT Unlimited 12in)

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HIT NUMBERS

Beats Per Minute for last week’s Top 75 entries not previously covered on 7in (endings denoted by f/c/r for fade/resonant/cold):

Cliff Richard 75-0f, Thompson Twins 125½f, OMD 137f, Heaven 17 0-128f, Level 42 93½f, Belle Stars 131-129-0c, I Level 0-116½f, Musical Youth 69½/139-0c, Marillion 0-134-135f, New Edition 104½f.

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NIGHTCLUB CHART

01 01 Let’s Dance – David Bowie – EMI America 12”
02 02 Rock The Boat – Forrest – CBS 12”
03 03 You Can’t Hide (Your Love From Me) – David Joseph – Island 12”
04 17 Beat It – Michael Jackson – Epic 12”
05 04 Billie Jean – Michael Jackson – Epic 12”
06 05 Joy – The Band A.K.A. – Epic Streetwave 12”
07 07 Garden Party – Mezzoforte – Steinar 12”
08 09 Blue Monday / The Beach – New Order – Factory 12”
09 15 Young, Free And Single – Sunfire – Warner Bros 12”
10 25 Church Of The Poison Mind – Culture Club – Virgin 12”
11 11 Is There Something I Should Know – Duran Duran – EMI 12”
12 18 Thriller – Michael Jackson – Epic LP
13 08 Snot Rap – Kenny Everett – RCA 12”
14 22 True – Spandau Ballet – Reformation LP
15 19 Twist (Round ‘N’ Round) – Chill Fac-Torr – Philly World 12”
16 21 Hip Hop Be Bop (Don’t Stop) – Man Parrish – Polydor 12”
17 12 Rip It Up – Orange Juice – Polydor 12”
18 26 Ooh To Be Aah (Construction Mix) – Kajagoogoo – EMI 12”
19 06 Get On Up – Jazzy Dee – Laurie 12”
20 13 Love On Your Side (Rap Boy Rap) – Thompson Twins – Arista 12”
21 27 Weekend – Class Action – Jive 12”
22 10 Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) – Eurythmics – RCA 12”
23 34 Breakaway (Well Extended And Remixed) – Tracey Ullman – Stiff 10”
24 16 Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye – Bananarama – London 12”
25 14 I Am Somebody – Glenn Jones – RCA 12”
26 42 Minefield – I Level – Virgin 12”
27 38 You Are In My System – Robert Palmer – Island 12”
28 — Love Is A Stranger – Eurythmics – RCA 12”
29 23 Tonight – Whispers – Solar 12”
30 — (Keep Feeling) Fascination – Human League – Virgin 12”
31 35 Don’t You Give Your Love Away – Steve Shelto – Epic 12”
32 24 Ooh I Love It (Love Break) – Salsoul Orchestra – Salsoul 12”
33 43 Dancing Tight – Galaxy – Ensign 12”
34 47 Candy Girl – New Edition – London 12”
35 29 I Just Gotta Have You (Lover Turn Me On) – Kashif – Arista 12”
36 20 Baby’s Got Another – Richard Jon Smith – Jive 12”
37 49 Boxerbeat – JoBoxers – RCA 12”
38 — Mr D.J. – Wish – Streetwave 12”
39 28 Speak Like A Child – Style Council – Polydor 7”
40 33 Don’t Hold Back Your Love – Loose Ends – Virgin 12”
41 48 Don’t Talk To Me About Love – Altered Images – Epic 12”
42 39 Stubborn Kind Of Fellow – Fat Larry’s Band – WMOT 12”
43 45 Der Komissar – After The Fire – CBS 12”
44 — Words – F.R. David – Carrere 12”
45 36 Knocking Down Love – Goldie Alexander – Proto 12”
46 32 Get Loose – Evelyn King – RCA 12”
47 — Cash (Cash Money) – Prince Charles & The City Beat Band – Virgin 12”
48 30 Too Shy – Kajagoogoo – EMI 12”
49 37 Never Too Much – Luther Vandross – Epic 12”
50 46 Last Night A D.J. Saved My Life – Indeep – Sound Of New York 12”

Selections from this chart are played on Radio Luxembourg 208m between 9 and 11pm on Fridays and 11pm and 1am on Mondays.

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BOYS TOWN CHART

01 01 The Night – Azul Y Negro – Italian Mercury 12”
02 03 Maybe This Time – Norma Lewis – ERC 12”
03 02 The Beach / Blue Monday – New Order – Factory 12”
04 06 I’m Alive / Instrumental – American Fade – Proto 12”
05 04 Got You Where I Want You Babe – Stereo Fun Inc. – US Moby Dick 12”
06 07 I’m Free – Celi Bee – US Paris International 12”
07 09 Can We Try Again – Technique – US Arial 12”
08 05 Rock The Boat – Forrest – CBS 12”
09 08 Don’t Stop – Sylvester – US Megatone 12”
10 10 Breaking My Heart – Roni Griffiths – US Vanguard 12”
11 19 Angel Man (G.A.) – Rhetta Hughes – US Aria 12”
12 14 Party – Julius Brown – US West End 12”
13 11 Under My Thumb – Fast Radio – US Radar 12”
14 13 Weekend (Weekend Side) – Class Action – Jive 12”
15 18 Electricity – Ashaye – Record Shack 12”
16 24 Going Home (Remix) – Patrick Cowley – US Megatone 12”
17 16 Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) – Eurythmics – RCA 12”
18 17 High Fashion Dance Music (Mixer) – Various – Dutch High Fashion LP
19 12 Shake It Up – Divine – Dutch Break 12”
20 15 Red Light Lover – Gwen Jonae – US Arial 12”
21 23 Let’s Dance – David Bowie – EMI America 12”
22 25 Rock Your Baby – Disco Connection – PRT 12”
23 20 Shot In The Night – Paul Parker – US Megatone 12”
24 21 Shoot Your Shot – Divine – “O” 12”
25 22 Living On Video – Trans-X – Canadian Illusion 12”
26 26 Be With You (Remix) – Sylvester – German Ariola 12”
27 — Too Busy Thinking About My Baby – Bill Fredericks – Unigram 12”
28 28 I Love You So – Manny’s – Canadian DJ 12”
29 — I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself – Cheri Lewis – Creole 12”
30 — Words – F.R. David – Carrere 12”

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DJ TOP 20

RATHER THAN oblique reference to the music I use at mobile gigs, here in fact are my off the wall biggies at a party in Warwickshire last weekend. You have to realize that, despite the stuff I review here, my whole mobile act revolves around getting as far from ordinary pop music — let alone funky disco — as possible!

Saturday night actually took a while to lift off into pure silliness, but really got going once the chandelier’s candles had been snuffed out (OK, I work truly “up market” country houses, for which a civilised accent is a help!), and then Sunday afternoon it all began again with Ravel’s ‘Bolero’ leading ultimately to Musical Chairs and children’s-type party games.

Most of the records will be extremely hard to find, as all are old and some were pressed in the ’50s — which is where junk shops, market stalls and oldies shops become your best hunting ground. All but one are on 7in, which I find much easier to use in a hurry (they’re all segued/chopped without any chat) to keep the mood going, and the old pressings especially have far more volume in the grooves. In most cases the catalogue number is superfluous as long deleted, but to aid identification it’s included with an indication of the most recent release date. Good hunting!

1. WALTZ FROM TCHAIKOVSKY’S SWAN LAKE – Andre Kostelanetz – Philips SBF 265 (mid ’50s?)
2. I WANNA BE LIKE YOU / BARE NECESSITIES – Louis Prima/Phil Harris (‘Jungle Book’ s/track) – Buena Vista DF 461 (’67)
3. NOW YOU HAS JAZZ – Bing Crosby/Louis Armstrong (‘High Society’ s/track) – Capitol 45 CL 14643 (’56)
4. WELL DID YOU EVAH – Bing Crosby/Frank Sinatra (‘High Society’) – Capitol CL 15953 (’78)
5. THINGUMAJIG – Shoestring Band – CBS 1284 (’73)
6. SWINGALONG REELS (LEWIS LILT/ETC) – Bobby MacLeod (‘This Is Scotland’ Various Artists LP) – RCA BGBS 0934 (’72)
7. THE LIBERTY BELL – Band Of The Grenadier Guards – Decca F 13107 (’70)
8. HOKEY COKEY / I CAME I SAW I CONGA’D / BOOMPS-A-DAISY – Phil Tate (‘Party Dances’ – EP) – CBS EP 6170 (’60)
9. MARCH OF THE MODS – Joe Loss – HMV POP 1351 (’64)
10. PERCOLATOR POLKA – Al ‘Cocoa’ Czelusniak – US Rex RX 680 (good luck!)
11. CASATSCHOK – Dimitri Dourakine – Columbia DB 8526 (’69)
12. ZORBA’S DANCE – Marcello Minerbi – Durium DRS 54001 (’65)
13. DISCO BOUZOUKI – Bouzouki Disco Band – Decca FR 13783 (’77)
14. DOWNTOWN STRUTTER’S BALL – Brad Swanson – US Thunderbird 518 (good luck again!)
15. THE BLUE DANUBE – Halle Orchestra – Columbia DB 8607 (’69)
16. LA CUMPARSITA – Stanley Mack (‘Disco-ver The Tango’ EP) – Decca DFE 8684 (’76)
17. BUONA SERA – Louis Prima – Capitol CL 14841 (’58)
18. PARTY TIME PAUL JONES (PT. 2) – Victor Sylvester – Columbia SCD 2106 (mid-’50s?)
19. THE DAMBUSTERS MARCH – Billy Cotton – Decca F 10630 (’55)
20. I COULD HAVE DANCED ALL NIGHT – Julie Andrews – Phillips 45-PB 846 (’58)

Apart from the Seventies releases which I got as they came out, everything else was unearthed while rummaging through oldies shops — so it’s not impossible to find these or equally useful alternatives, just difficult!