Month: October 1986

ODDS ‘N’ BODS

STEVE ‘SILK’ HURLEY ‘Jack Your Body’ has had to be abandoned, temporarily anyway, by London Records in the face of pressure from RCA, who thanks to the Chicago scene’s contractual untidiness reckon they also have a legitimate claim to it through their deal with J.M. Silk … Disco Aid’s benefiting charities are not only Band Aid, getting 25 per cent of the money raised, but also (with equal 15 per cent shares) Children In Need, Help The Aged, Schizophrenia A National Emergency (SANE), the Gloria Miles Cancer Research Foundation, and – except at the last minute they’ve ungraciously said they don’t accept anything less than 50 per cent — the Variety Club of Great Britain … Trouble Funk ‘Still Smokin’’ has appeared in a ‘Razor Mix Live‘ by Chad Jackson which includes bits of ‘Drop The Bomb’, ‘It’s In The Mix’ and ‘Say What?’ … Serious Records’ upcoming ‘Upfront 3‘ compilation includes current hot hits by Loose Ends, Hanson & Davies (for the first time here), Mel & Kim, DJ Hollywood, Tourist, One Way, Marshall Jefferson, TC Curtis, Calvin, Affinity, Robbie B & Jazzy J, UTFO, Ultra Magnetic MC’s … StreetSounds’ forthcoming album of classic soul weekender ‘Anthems‘ looks like being continuously segued, not such a good idea for DJs who might want to do their own mixes … Chico DeBarge on UK 12 inch turns out to be 0-114¾-0bpm, with 0-114½bpm LP Version flip … Womack & Womack like England so much that they and their large family will be dividing their time living in the countryside both here and in Virginia, Bobby Womack joining them for a London concert in January, while all the Womack brothers are recording a new album once again as the Valentinos … Danny Poku has stopped plugging for Hot Licks to concentrate on his Dancin’ Danny D remixing career … Elite Records have closed their disco promotion department, doubtless undermining their improved chart profile won by hard working Nikki Tovell, who’s thus job-hunting on 01-452 8829 (if Tommy doesn’t tempt her first!) … Steve O’Donnell is starting a DJ mailing list at Rise Records, 45 Crawford Street, London W1 … Wicked Pulse are running a ‘Post Holocaust Jam’ mystery tour warehouse party next Saturday (1) somewhere in Buckinghamshire not a million miles from Milton Keynes, for £9 including the video-equipped coach ride from London and Birmingham (details 01-701 7156) … Hank Ballard & The Midnighters may be doing a London date in December – they originated ‘The Twist’ – so no doubt Jay Strongman will be there in the front row? … I do think it’s a pity that, apart from Chris Hill’s self-interested efforts in plugging Georgie Fame, none of the Barry Island DJs collaborated to make any new record into THE hit of the weekend, for all to look back on in years to come as ex-Caister-ites can on such as McFadden & Whitehead, One Way, and so many more … Radio One’s inconsistency seems strange, banning ZZ Top ‘Velcro Fly’ because of its now surely generic brand name but playing Kurtis Blow ‘I’m Chillin’’ with its repeated use of the Transformers’ advertising jingle … Radio London’s Soul Night Out is at Watford’s Paradise Lost this Thursday (23) Bob James starts a new soul session Friday (24) at West Mailing s Greenways … Dartford Flicks has dropped soul on Fridays, but Saturdays stay much as before with Colin Hudd (whose twin Dennis does the other more “disco” nights!) … Gullivers remains open in Mayfair right through the New Year until it moves without a break into new West End premises … Glen Eggleton at Greenford Barbarellas on Wednesday plays the same hard funk, house and Sixties soul as he does at Camden Town Warehouse on Saturdays … Ian B Loveday and Colin Faver funk the house Thursdays at Charing Cross Heaven … DER RUMP DUMP DUM DUM DUMP DUM…

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JESSE SAUNDERS, the co-creator with Farley ‘Jackmaster’ Funk of ‘Love Can’t Turn Around’, proved to be the sensation of Barry Island with his excellent short live mixing sets. Together with VINCE LAWRENCE — maybe better known as VIRGO — he has compiled for us an exclusive list of the ultimate “house” classics in Chicago. You may be amazed! All are varying degrees of old, and many were originally big here in the Blackpool Mecca late Seventies era, while others are Hi-NRG classics:

First Choice ‘Let No Man Put Asunder’ (Salsoul),
Hamilton Bohannon ‘Let’s Start The Dance’ (Mercury),
Isaac Hayes ‘I Can’t Turn Around’ (ABC LP ‘Chocolate Chip’),
Thelma Houston ‘I’m Here Again’ (Gordy),
MFSB ‘Love Is The Message’ (TSOP),
Chi-Lites My First Mistake’ (Mercury),
Sister Sledge ‘Lost In Music’ (Atlantic),
Skatt Brothers ‘Walk The Night’ (Casablanca),
Black Ivory ‘Mainline’ (Brunswick LP),
Loleatta Holloway ‘Hit And Run’ and ‘Love Sensation’ (Salsoul),
Originals ‘Down To Love Town’ (Motown),
ESG ‘Moody’ (99),
South Shore Commission ‘Free Man’ (Wand),
Double Exposure ‘My Love Is Free’ (Salsoul),
‘D’ Train ‘You’re The One’ (Prelude),
Trussel ‘Love Injection’ (Elektra),
James Brown ‘Body Heat’ (Polydor).

The upcoming Fresh ‘What’s That’ will be a copy of ‘Body Heat’, while ‘Moody’ was the inspiration for Chip E ‘Like This’. Try to catch Jesse’s mixing at various record shops this weekend, the man is def!

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HOT VINYL

DISCO AID ‘Give, Give, Give’ (Total Control Records 12 GIVE 1)
Produced by Paul Hardcastle and written in catchy enough Cool Notes style by Steve Macintosh for a fairly simple singalong by over 60 assembled disco artistes and radio DJs (listed on the sleeve), with solos by such as Jean Carne, Kenny G and Edwin Starr, this jaunty little 112⅔bpm loper is the record created specially for next Saturday, November 1’s charity Disco Aid night — the hope being that every disco will play it every hour on the hour to synchronise a nationwide delving into pockets (all royalties also, of course, go to Disco Aid). The song really grows on one, and hopefully will be considered essential enough for every DJ to buy (no freebies), because its other effect will be to show by its entry position in the national chart just how powerful – or otherwise – the DJ market really is.

CARLTON SMITH ‘Excite Me’ (CityBeat CBE 1208)
Despite adding a Smith here this is just plain Carlton’s original import hit, a really nagging melodically juddering and tinkling (0-)110⅚bpm electro wriggler with nervily tense cool singing (Dub Mix flip), very effective.

ONE WAY ‘Don’t Think About It’ (MCA Records MCAT 1097)
Eumir Deodato-produced SOS Band-ish coolly tapping 104⅙bpm swayer with soulful vocals weaving through the chunkily clopping simple rhythm pattern to create subtle tension (in three mixes), classy stuff. Continue reading “October 25, 1986: “Jesse Saunders has compiled for us an exclusive list of the ultimate ‘house’ classics in Chicago. You may be amazed!””

ODDS ‘N’ BODS

THE FIRST issue is out this week of rm’s sister magazine, the new monthly for DJs, JOCKS – so check the advertisement for details, should you not have received a copy. Supplementing rather than replacing these BPM pages, it’s designed as a complement to rm and carries totally different charts, including many interestingly detailed breakdowns by area and music type, plus a much wider range of news and opinion than there is room for here … Tony Blackburn is now playing Oran ‘Juice’ Jones ‘The Rain’, but only the seven inch version which ludicrously leaves out the vital talking finish, the whole point of the record and the controversial cause of its US success – are CBS mad? … Ian Dewhirst splits from Serious Records next month to take over running Fourth & Broadway … Phil Fearon’s next cover version revival is of the Showstoppers’ 1967 classic ‘Ain’t Nothin’ But A House Party’, due imminently (how long before he gets around to the Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose?) … Shep Pettibone has not necessarily improved Lionel Richie ‘Love Will Conquer All’ with his stolidly plodding (0-)99¼bpm extended remix (Motown LIOT 2R) … Anita Ward ‘Ring My Bell’ has had a new drum track added on reissued import (US Sunnyview Classics SUN 3309) … Bob Dylan is the surprise guest rapper on the droning 98bpm ‘Street Rock‘ on the new Kurtis Blow ‘Kingdom Blow’ LP (US Mercury 830 215-1 M-1); full review next week … Morgan ‘Southpaw’ Khan is making his favourite group available for a fantastic bargain, putting all 12 tracks of Blue Magic’s ‘Greatest Hits’ LP on one £3.99 12-inch (Streetwave XKHAN 508)! … Jessica Martin is the amazing impressionist featured as the Monty MC’s on ‘Holiday Rap With A Capital C‘ … Barbara Roy topped US Club Play, Stacey Q returned atop 12 Inch Sales in Billboard … Disco breakers here last week, with really quite strong support yet possibly still struggling outside the Top 100 (currently tough to get into), included Lionel Richie, Tamiko Jones, George Duke, Billie, Was (Not Was) remix, Schoolly-D, Billy Griffin, Company B, Robbie B & Jazzy J, Dazz Band, Steinski, The Naturals, Lady Peachena and The Movement … Rick Davis (01-669 8082, evenings) is looking for weekend PAs at Uxbridge Regals … Tuesday (21) Hardrock Soul Movement and Faze One are live at London’s Limelight … JACK THE HOUSE!

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BARRY ISLAND

LIVE WIRE’s soul weekender in South Wales at Barry Island was at the most compactly laid out holiday camp yet, beautifully sited (especially for sizzling Saturday), overlooking a sandy beach with one of Britain’s better fun fairs for free right next door. Working conditions were the best the DJs had ever encountered, but for some the actual accommodation was a bit primitive, and there were complaints from serious funksters of an ’18-30′ element in this, the biggest weekender crowd to date. Fatback played three hugely popular shows, the highlight of the event, though, being Georgie Fame’s Saturday lunchtime gig, which got him right back to 1986’s equivalent of his original 1963 audience. As anticipated, ‘Samba‘ got played a bit! The other surprise sensation was Jesse Saunders cutting up a storm at the decks, extending and remixing Chicago’s house hits ‘live’, and in fact house was so predominant that the “der rump dump dum dum dump dum” rhythm seemed at times to be running through everything! Lots of oldies, jazz and – note this – rap was played, but current stuff that stood out included Steve ‘Silk’ Hurley, Raze, Hercules, The Force, TC Curtis, James Brown ‘Goliath’, One Way, James (D-Train) Williams ‘Misunderstanding’, Company B, Sybil, Oran ‘Juice’ Jones, Lady Peachena, Kurtis Blow, Al Jarreau ‘Tell Me What I Gotta Do (Remix)’, while two big oldies were Younger Generation ‘We Rap More Mellow‘ and Kinkina ‘Jungle Fever‘. Alexander O’Neal ‘What’s Missing’ tore the roof off – the hit that CBS totally bungled! For the finale each DJ ‘sang’ a line from Side Effect ‘Keep That Same Old Feeling‘, and Chris Hill did one of his inimitable swinging raps to Boogaloo Joe Jones ‘Six Thirty Blues‘. A good one, and as if to prove it, already 2,000 applications have been received for the next one, again at Barry, which for the first time will be well into the season and spread over four days, the May 22-25 Bank Holiday weekend!

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HOT VINYL

RAZE ‘Jack The Groove’ (Champion CHAMP 12-23)
Cramming floors across the country, this Steve ‘Silk’ Hurley-style rhythm chattering 118⅔bpm jack track in fact was produced by Vaughan Mason in New Jersey, despite sounding pure Chicago!

GEORGIE FAME ‘Samba (Toda Menina Baiana Mix)’ (Ensign ENYX 605)
Created specifically for the Barry Island weekender, this Stock/Aitken/ Waterman-produced fast flying 102⅔/205⅓bpm samba is, as the title suggests, a purpose-built translation by Georgie himself of Gilberto Gil’s ‘Toda Menina Baiana’, the 12-inch starting in the original Portuguese while the B-side’s edit starts straight into English. Irresistibly infectious, it really bubbles and leaps along.

COMMODORES ‘Goin’ To The Bank’ (Polydor POSPX 826)
Enthusiastically leaping 116bpm chanter with some amusing double-entendre dialogue between a female bank teller and the group’s English-accented J D Nicholas about making an “early withdrawal” (dub/edit too, plus the also 116bpm slightly ‘All Night Long (All Night)’-ish snappy ‘Serious Love‘). Continue reading “October 18, 1986: Raze, Georgie Fame, Commodores, Chico DeBarge, Sybil”

ODDS ‘N’ BODS

GWEN GUTHRIE’s unidentified singing partner on ‘Save Your Love For Me‘ turns out to be Fred Owen, a friend who also appears as the “rent” payer in her video – meanwhile, a US remix of ‘Outside In The Rain’ could prove scarce here as imports apparently are banned to give ‘Close To You’ a clear field … US Cable TV’s Disney Channel on November 18 is showing an hour long ‘The Making Of Disney’s “Captain EO”‘, which in ‘Thriller’ style may possibly end up as a commercial video — though whether much of the complete 17 minute, Michael Jackson starring, George Lucas produced, Francis Ford Coppola directed $20,000.000 ‘Captain EO’ fantasy extravaganza will be included is doubtful, as the whole purpose of its making was that it should remain an exclusive attraction only to be seen by visitors at Disneyworld (Michael’s two featured songs, ‘We Are Here To Change The World’ and ‘Another Part Of Me’, seem unlikely to be on his new LP, due hopefully by Christmas) … Michael’s siblings continue to spread themselves around on different labels, Marlon Jackson signing solo to Capitol (and Cheryl Lynn would appear to be on Manhattan now) … Farley ‘Jackmaster’ Funk’s vocal remix of ‘Love Can’t Turn Around’ actually slipped out here in limited quantities a few weeks ago, so quietly that not even the lads at London knew! … Danny Poku’s 105¾bpm messy Dancing Danny D and better Hip Hop N’ Go Go remixes of Timex Social Club have finally appeared (Cooltempo COOLR 133), flipped by the Shep Pettibone and original US mixes, while similarly Nick Martinelli’s mix of Loose Ends now flips a neat Herbie Laidly-medleyed 101⅔…120½-0bpm ‘Mastermind Turntable Mix‘ of familiar Ends material (Virgin VS 884-13) … Loose Ends ‘Stay A Little While, Child‘ stiffed here but is snorting up the US Black chart, which Cameo topped (their album is now out here, Club JABH 19) although Oran ‘Juice’ Jones remained biggest seller in Billboard … US radio really seems to be waking up to the fact that lots of white people prefer listening to black “urban” stations, the hottest format now fast becoming an Urban Top 40 hybrid, while the soft soul-jazz “Quiet Storm” format continues to attract older listeners of all colours too … Brian Chin, my counterpart in Billboard, is over here for a couple of weeks to take in both this weekend’s massively sold-out Barry Island and next weekend’s Caister soul weekenders (remember to take an FM radio!) … Incredible Mr Freeze will be at Barry … Meli’sa Morgan was produced by Terry Lewis (of Jam And Lewis) some time before signing with Capitol, the record never being released – will it be now? … Radio London jazz jock Gilles Peterson has been busy again, compiling ‘Blue Bop‘ (Blue Note BNSLP 2) made up of very early Sixties’ jazz including the much sought Don Wilkerson ‘Dem Tambourines‘ … Damon de Cruz, having split from Serious Records, is now helping put Rhythm King and Flame Records product into the right shops … Baad Records actually continues independently, having left Cherry Red, now being run by ‘Evil Eddie’ Richards and Steve Rumney (on the Wicked Pulse hotline 01-701 7156), looking for “street” material to release or record — Eddie, incidentally, pioneered the technique two years ago of electronically sampling and sequencing with a computer other records’ rhythms for use in his live club mixes, but became so discouraged by lack of industry interest that he no longer bothers lugging the gear to his gigs (like Camden Palace Fri/Sat) … Arista picked up Sharon Dee Clarke, following all the radio plays by Tony Blackburn and Greg Edwards, which has made Nellie ‘Mixmaster’ Rochefort a little richer! … I just knew the Kartoon Krew’s hip hopping ‘Batman‘ theme was a hot one, and sure enough It hit John Sach’s listeners-voted Hitline on Capital Radio last week (luckily after my enthusiasm had prompted Champion to schedule it here!) … Marie Birch is extending her DJ mailing list at Sound Promotions, Suite 6, Graham Court, Eastcote Lane, Middlesex UB5 4HT … Bluebird Records last Saturday opened its new shop doors at 378 Edgware Road, with hot chicken wings and such guests as (inevitably!) Juliet Roberts, Loose Ends, Phil Fearon … Steve Walsh walks through a brick wall looking large and shouts “Listen!” in the current Streetsounds TV commercial! … Private Possession featuring Hunter Hayes’ ‘This Time‘, originally on US Mega Bolt some months back (first pressings confusingly credited Les Lee), has turned up again on US Fourth & B’way – and in fact, there currently seem to be more repressed oldies than newies on import, for some reason … Gary Hickson (Blackburn Kaleidoscope) reports a mega revival of 1982’s Spencer Jones ‘How High (Garage Mix)’ … Viktor Lazio turns out to be the name of the female singer! … Raze really has penetrated remarkably deep across the country while still only on import … Jan Allen-Willmot (Hampden Park Gullivers/Eastbourne Shimmers) reports the new lyrics currently sung at his gigs to ‘Jack Your Body’ are unprintable!… JACK THE HOUSE!

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HOT VINYL

NOCERA ‘Summertime, Summertime’ (Fourth & Broadway 12BRW 54)
Late for the season even on import and now more aptly retitled ‘Indian Summertime’, surely, this Mantronik-mixed juvenile girl’s jerkily skittering wriggly 116¼bpm jolter has proved to be as nagging as originally predicted, her sometimes almost painful voice fighting through the beats (in three mixes).

SWEET D ‘Thank Ya’ (US Trax Records TX 119)
Clapping out a happy fast offbeat between bursts of simply chorded catchy melody, this jumpy little 120⅔-119¼-0bpm “house” instrumental is showing signs that it has what it takes to be one of the biggies, even if it did make its initial showing in the Eurobeat chart! The flip’s 123bpm ‘Turn It‘ usefully borrows the ‘Love Can’t Turn Around’ riff (0-122¼bpm ‘Do Do It‘, 0-57/114bpm ‘Dig I Da-Dig I Da‘ too).

PRINCESS ‘In The Heat Of A Passionate Moment’ (Supreme Records SUPET 109)
Although still quite Hi-NRG, this breezily bounding 117⅔bpm galloper has been solidified a bit for The Final Frontier Mix and totally restructured much dubbier Garage Mix alternative ‘A’ side. Catchy candyfloss. Continue reading “October 11, 1986: Nocera, Sweet D, Princess, Cyndi Phillips, Oran ‘Juice’ Jones”

ODDS ‘N’ BODS

BRUCE FORSYTH was the most famous person spotted at Wembley digging Al Jarreau, whose musical director on keyboards was Neil Larsen: it wasn’t as exciting a show as two years ago (when of course, it was being videoed and recorded) … George Benson’s follow-up is ‘Shiver‘, so reason has prevailed … Omni Records have signed Rose Royce, produced by Nick Martinelli and Arthur Baker for their initial LP … Music Of Life are now reissuing Sylvia Striplin ‘Give Me Your Love‘, and have drastically remixed LaToya Jackson for commercial release … Was (Not Was) ‘Robot Girl’ is already about as a remix, the more basically percussive 111⅔-0bpm Paris Mix flipped by the violent 0-111⅓bpm East Grinstead mix cutting in “gimme a beat” … Ronnie Laws and Stanley Clarke have classy import albums mainly for home listening, likely “sleepers”, and George Duke’s is now out here (Elektra 960 480-1) … Bluebird Records this week have a big record sale prior to moving their Paddington Green shop around the corner into much larger Edgware Road premises — will they include a hairdressing salon there? … Ian Levine has now produced Darryl Pandy in a duet with Hazell Dean on the old Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell ‘Ain’t Nothing Like The Real Thing’ (the song is Coca Cola’s current US Jingle), at around 116bpm for EMI … Sylvester – the Darryl Pandy of the Seventies? – has signed to Warner Bros and evidently will be in funkier style than before … CBS snapped up Ricky Dillard ‘You Can’t Hide‘ produced by Chicago Warehouse mainman DJ Frankie Knuckles … Sunday (5) Essex Radio soul presenters Tony Monson and Disco John Leech cruise the Thames from Bermondsey’s Cherry Garden Pier aboard the good ship Mayflower Garden between 2-6pm, advance booking being advisable on 01-599 1471 … Danny Smith and guest DJs soul Great Yarmouth’s Scruples (ex-Aquarius) on Fridays 3 and 24 … Lynton Elcocks funks Pashas Thur/Fri, saying it’s open later than any other club around Swindon … Pete Haigh now souls Sundays at Blackpool’s Lips … Peter C. Helyer’s funk nights are Thurs at Bristol Studio and Mon at Newport (Gwent) Rockerfellas, which he pops Wed/Fri/Sat too … London’s KISS-fm airplay is forcing the reissue of Bunny Wailer’s ‘Back To School‘ from 1982 … Chris Nat (“Luge & Legal”) has temporarily left Radio TKO … Hereward Radio’s Thurs/Sat soul presenter Steve Allen, also hosting upfront Sunday evenings at Peterborough’s Manhattan Bar, confirms that Gil Silverbird’s title was originally printed, pre-Meli’sa Morgan. as ‘Fool’s Paradise’ … SEDA members meet this Sunday (5) in Wrotham’s Royal Oak at 7.30pm … DJ Pinney (South Ockendon) says that ‘Le Freak’ isn’t requested anything like as much as Chic’s ‘Good Times’ – which never was 12 inched here at the right tempo, being speeded up for the UK, so a reissue could even now be really useful … Kevin Kane (Exmouth Samanthas) reckons the way things are going ‘The March Of The Mods’ must be next for reissue! … JOCKS, if it’s to run the much requested charts like Alternative and Hip Hop, can’t do so unless we get enough returns from the relevant DJs, so send ’em in pronto … JACK THE HOUSE!

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JAY STRONGMAN (above), renowned warehouse DJ and occasional rm contributor, is running Mute Records’ new “collectable funk” label subsidiary Flame Records, a replacement for the short lived Baad logo. The debut release from Memphis is the enthusiastic-sounding ROBERT & TOM SANDERS ‘Doing Bad’ (Flame Records MELT 1T), a squidgily chugging 117bpm funk rap flipped by the slightly go go-ish 114¼bpm ‘Jamming In The Big “M” Town’, both with more atmosphere than they’d have had if recorded in New York, although stylistically up to the minute.

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HOT VINYL

GWEN GUTHRIE ‘(They Long To Be) Close To You’ (Boiling Point POSPX 822)
Selling in upfront shops already, although not strictly out until next week, Larry Levan’s tougher 96⅔bpm remix of Bacharach & David’s all-time classic Carpenters song now kicks straight in with the mellow beat, and is obviously a crossover smash. Her ‘Good To Go Lover’ LP (Boiling Point POLD 5201) provides the slow 53-0bpm ‘You Touched My Life‘, joined as flip by the bonus of a previously unheard lovely sultry 96⅔/48⅓bpm ‘Save Your Love For Me‘ duet with an uncredited classily soulful chap. Who he?

ONE WAY ‘Don’t Think About It’ (US MCA Records MCA-23659)
Produced by Eumir Deodato in Jam & Lewis style, this coolly tapping 104⅙bpm swayer becomes totally mesmerising as soulful vocals weave through the tension building repetitive simple rhythm, creating hidden depths the longer you let it wash over you (on five versions). Continue reading “October 4, 1986: Gwen Guthrie, One Way, Wally Jump Junior, J.M. Silk, Q-Pid featuring Nikki Q”