Mike A

July 21, 1979: Al Wilson, Candido, Diana Ross, Switch, Peter Brown

Billboard’s Sixth Disco Forum proved once again to be no more than a good excuse for visiting the Big Apple to have a great time and meet interesting people on the periphery of the main event.

Old hands have by now learnt that the actual forum sessions are not worth attending and indeed people stayed away from them in droves, while even the only potentially interesting session about disco mixing (held in the Hilton Hotel’s “Sybil’s” Night Club) was a failure as the majority of jocks featured were so ill at ease with the Juliana’s-installed equipment that their mixing demonstrations suffered.

However, one comes to expect the forum to have its difficulties. The exhibition part of the event though was as well planned as usual. The noisy speaker, amplifier and total environment exhibitors had two floors of hotel suite to themselves while the main hall featured smaller stands for individual bits of equipment, disco fashion accessories and other items of supposed disco interest.

But with this forum falling less than five months after the last one, the number of visitors was noticeably down and the feeling among exhibitors was that this short gap was to blame. The next forum in February will be in Los Angeles, which should make good sense as the mid-summer New York show will then come as a completely separate event. And with LA only an extra £24 at current standby air fare rates, I for one will be heading there.

Next week there will be full news and scandal about the British delegation (smaller than expected), who did what to whom (hello Kerri), the fun we had, clubs we visited, sounds we heard, food we ate and all the dirt that’s fit to print.

Disco News

The Commodores’ new ‘Midnight Magic’ album (Motown STMA 8032) is due for rush release this week . . . Real Thing ‘Boogie Down (Get Funky Now)’ turns out to be on that nasty translucent piss-coloured vinyl again . . . Frantique ‘Strut Your Funky Stuff’, Jackie Moore ‘This Time Baby’ (both 12in) and Teddy Pendergrass ‘Turn Off The Lights’ (7in) are due next week, while Candido ‘Dancin’ & Prancin’’ / ‘Jingo’ and Lou Rawls ‘Let Me Be Good To You’ are on 12in early August . . . TCOJ debut on Utopia with ‘(I Found) Love On The Disco Floor’ next week, with a massive club tour lined up to promote it . . . Mark Hambley (Torquay Grange Court holiday camp, Goodrington) complains that though he’s playing to about 900 people six nights a week, all his mailing list applications have been met with “sorry – full up at the moment” replies from record companies: well, with umpteen thousands of jocks all trying to get on, its hardly surprising that the major companies (whose research tells them the best areas and clubs to service) do indeed have their lists full, and have to turf out one probably quite satisfactory jock to add another . . . Graeme Bilton (Croydon/Thames riverboats) suggests jocks into audience participation should find a local carnival supplies shop, as cheap “trumpet” squeakers and football whistles thrown out into the crowd can have a great effect!

UK Newies

AL WILSON: ‘Earthquake’ (RCA FC 9399)
Almost Brass Construction-like unhurried walking bass-pushed 117bpm tripper with soulful vocal, backup chix and powerful rattling-then-strings break, likely to be huge now that it’s out here on green vinyl 12in.

CANDIDO: ‘Dancin’ & Prancin’’ LP (Salsoul SSLP 1517) (BNDA debut 6/30/79)
Big with jazz-funk jocks, the LP’s four tracks all feature up-front rhythm, Latin flavour and varying intensities of instrumentation and/or girlie group vocal, the just about equally popular titles being the 8:02 ‘Dancin’ & Prancin’’ (110bpm), 10:52 ‘Jingo’ (121bpm), 8:55 ‘Thousand Finger Man’ (122bpm) and 8:51 ‘Rock & Shuffle (Ah-Ha)’ (125bpm).

DIANA ROSS: ‘No One Gets The Prize’ (from LP ‘The Boss’, Motown STML 12118) (BNDA debut 6/23/79)
Noticeably Nick & Valerie-penned 116bpm jogger winds up into even more of a ‘Love Hangover’ successor than the title track hit, while other action cuts include the lovely slow 99bpm ‘It’s My House’ tripper and more urgent 98bpm ‘I Ain’t Been Licked’ jolter. Continue reading “July 21, 1979: Al Wilson, Candido, Diana Ross, Switch, Peter Brown”

July 14, 1979: Chain Reaction, Freddie James, Francie Simone, Bunny Sigler, Curtis Mayfield

As you read this, Fatman, Froggy and myself will be settling into our private suite at New York’s Hilton Hotel. Yes, it’s Billboard Disco Forum time again, and next week hopefully you can read my account of what went on. The Forum rather inconsiderately is over the weekend this time, but I am assured that various couriers can get my copy to you before I get back myself. It looks as if an even bigger contingent of British will be there for this the sixth forum, so it should be really great fun though sadly not many ordinary DJ’s seem to be going, despite the cost being within the reach of most professionals. For anyone getting this before flying over, Ferne’s phone number is 201-945 (continued on page 52).

Disco News

Olympic Runners ‘The Bitch’ (Polydor POSPX 63) is finally out this week, while Me And You ‘You Never Know What You’ve Got’ will be on Laser and not Scope . . . Spyro Gyra’s first US LP featuring ‘Shaker Song’ could be out here on Infinity soon . . . Double Exposure ‘Ten Per Cent’ belatedly reaches UK 12in next week (Salsoul SSOL 120), and WEA are readying Miroslav Vitous ‘New York City’ and Deodato ‘Whistle Bump’ for jazz-funk oldies fans . . . Gap Band ‘Baby Baba Boogie’ now looks set for Mercury 12in issue here at last, but Pye are probably too late with Poussez ‘Come On And Do It’ which always should have been the 12in . . . East Anglian DJ Assn meets this Sunday (15) at 2pm in Breckland Sports Centre, Crockston Road, Thetford (just off A134) to vote on withdrawing from the DJ Federation for reasons that will be outlined at the meeting – cor! . . . Dave Thomas (Shrewsbury 68985), who funks Shrewsbury’s Oak Hotel at Shelton every Thursday, is using that venue for a meeting on Monday, July 23rd, at 8:30pm, to hopefully form a Shropshire and Mid-Wales DJ association . . . Gonzalez, Hi-Tension and US of A join jocks Sean French, George Power, Steve Walsh ‘n more for an open air soul festival (and barbeque!) at Bracknell’s, South Hill Park on Sunday, July 29th (details on Reading 57561) . . . Ilford Room At The Top is the latest club to start a soft drinks-only teenage night, theirs being every Sunday . . . Creole Records report lots of hot product coming soon and want to revamp their DJ mailing list, so either call Cathy on 01-98 9223 or send full work details to Creole at 91-93 High Street, Harlesden, London NW10 . . . Sally Ormsby has settled at Handle Artists, 1 Derby Street, London W1Y 7HD (01-493 9637) where her Sally O service is currently plugging Kandidate, while veteran soul freak Nicky Sands takes on the Funk Function at St. Pierre Publicity in Greenwich . . . Decca’s Robert Blenman offers some spare Neil Ardley 12in copies to any jazz-funk jocks not already serviced, so write him at Decca Records, 18 Gt Marlborough Street, London W1V 2BL . . . Motown’s Les Spaine, formerly Liverpool’s Godfather of C&W, is currently in hospital (don’t bust the stitches laughing, Les!) . . . The Knack ‘My Sharona’ segues nicely with Wings and also Skids, if that’s your bag (guess what gigs I’ve been doing – right, well-paying ones!) . . . London’s Evening Standard social diary page actually referred last week to a record having 120 beats-per-minute – wherever did they learn such an expression? . . . Alan Jones features regional disco charts for Scotland and the South-East in his Chart File column this issue, but then he’s currently helping compile the UK Disco listing and does most of the back-busting work that used to be mine alone . . . Honey Bee Benson (Gloucester Tiffanys) reveals her statistics are a perfect 90-60-90 – no, hang on, that’s the metric equivalent! . . . Nell Fincham (Dunbar Goldenstones) would like advice about anyone prepared to print and supply promotional clothing like jackets and boilersuits but in small quantities; let me know, or call Neil on 0368-62356 . . . Dan Rafferty (Bristol Raquels) asks, is Anita Ward a tidy hospital? (He must be a Tony Blackburn fan!) . . . Hello to you, Dennis Lilley! . . . Mike Dallenger (Wimborne), there’s nothing Wally about your chart so don’t worry, and anyway: THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK – to someone, somewhere, everyone is a Wally.

UK Newies

Full reviews next week for these and more:

CANDIDO: ‘Dancin’ & Prancin’’ LP (Salsoul SSLP 1517) (BNDA debut 6/30/79)

SKYY: ‘First Time Around’ (Salsoul 12SSOL 119)

DIANA ROSS: ‘The Boss’ LP (Motown STML 12118) (BNDA debut 6/23/79)

ISLEY BROTHERS: ‘Winner Takes All’ LP (Epic EPC 88460) (BNDA debut 8/25/79)

PETER BROWN: ‘Crank It Up’ (TK 13-7545) (BNDA debut 6/9/79)

SWITCH: ‘Best Beat In Town’ (Motown 12TMG 1148) (BNDA debut 7/7/79)

MASS PRODUCTION: ‘Welcome To Our World’ / ‘Strollin’’ / ‘Cosmic Lust’ (Atlantic LV 31) (BNDA debut 11/6/76)

AL WILSON: ‘Earthquake’ (RCA FC 9399)

DAVID BENOIT: ‘Life Is Like A Samba’ (AVI AVISL 103)

ERIC GALE: ‘Part Of You’ LP (CBS 83464)

CANDI STATON: ‘Chance’ LP (Warner Bros. K 56641)

JOE THOMAS: ‘Make Your Move’ LP (TK TKR 83374)

PAUL BRETT: ‘Nineteen Ninety-Nine’ (RCA PC 5167)

HEATWAVE: ‘Therm Warfare’ (GTO GT 12-253)

EL COCO: ‘Dance Man’ (AVI AVISL 104) (BNDA debut 6/9/79)

CINDY & ROY: ‘Can You Feel It’ (WEA K 18053T) (BNDA debut 8/4/79)

FINISHED TOUCH: ‘The Down Sound’ (Motown 12TMG 1151)

WHISPERS: ‘Can’t Do Without Love’ (Solar FC 1590)

RICK JAMES: ‘Bustin’ Out’ (Motown 12TMG 1147)

OHIO PLAYERS: ‘Everybody Up’ (Arista ARIST 12268)

JOHN DAVIS & THE MONSTER ORCHESTRA: ‘Love Magic’ (CBS 13-7479) (BNDA debut 5/26/79)

TASHA THOMAS: ‘Midnight Rendezvous’ LP (Atlantic K 50572) (BNDA debut 4/14/79)

PETER TOSH: ‘Mystic Man’ LP (Rolling Stones CUN 39110)

WEATHER REPORT: ‘Birdland’ / ‘River People’ / ‘A Remark You Made’ (CBS 12-7701)

Imports

CHAIN REACTION: ‘Sweet Lady (Dance With Me)’ (US Jam Sessions JAM-L-101)
What a monster! The 128bpm syndrums intro has obviously been made especially to mix with Anita Ward – even a tone-deaf idiot should synchronize ‘em successfully! – before an imperceptible drop to 122bpm for a great happily jumping chunky funker that slides up again on 7:20 12in to a 125bpm break and 124bpm cold finish.

FREDDIE JAMES: ‘Get Up And Boogie’ (US Warner Bros. DWBS 8857) (BNDA debut 7/7/79)
Bass-bumped rattling 131bpm thudder on 7:02 12in is powerful and infectious enough to cut through the “slam bam wham jam” – chanting chix and what presumably is a juvenile chap singing the plaintive lead.

FRANCIE SIMONE: ‘Let Your Body Run’ (US BC BC-4001) (BNDA debut 8/4/79)
Exciting bright and breezy 130bpm romper from Brooklyn with Bombers-type pop appeal on 6:30 12in features lots of rattling percussion and almost Oriental effects (though the title is probably not to do with Chinese restaurant food!). Continue reading “July 14, 1979: Chain Reaction, Freddie James, Francie Simone, Bunny Sigler, Curtis Mayfield”

July 7, 1979: Harvey Mason, Kandidate, Me And You, Real Thing, Gibson Brothers

Disco News

Patti Boulaye ‘Disco Dancer’ appears now to be on 12in (certainly on promo 12in), Amii Stewart ‘Light My Fire’ is not only on 12in but “kleeer” vinyl too, while Gonzalez ‘Move It To The Music’ has evidently been withdrawn (despite being our lead review two weeks ago!) . . . Gap Band ‘Baby Baba Boogie’ / ‘Shake’ are back to back in 7:32 and 5:58 versions on import 12in (US Mercury MDS-4006) . . . Olympic Runners ‘Energy Beam’ (Polydor B-side) is of course 115bpm and not 155bpm, as printed, but – discovered totally by chance when playing a white label at the wrong speed – David Benoit ‘Life Is Like A Samba’ (AVI 12in, due soon) is dynamite when the 128bpm 45rpm 12in is spun at 33 1/3rpm, coming out at a much easier 96bpm without too much distortion even to the vocal bits! . . . Quantum Jump ‘Lone Ranger’ chop-mixes without missing a beat into Redbone ‘Witch Queen Of New Orleans’, should that be your punters’ bag, while Chic’s ‘Good Times’ instrumental section vari-speeds up to synch nicely with Richard Tee ‘First Love’ . . . Edinburgh and environs finally have their own Lothian & Fife DJ Association, with 40 members so far, full details from the Assn Secretary, Alistair Kay, c/o Setters Disco Centre, Bruntsfield Place, Edinburgh (031-229 6662) . . . “Disco” magazine has sadly been unable to find further finance so will not be reappearing, but you can expect Record Mirror to fill the gap with extended disco coverage soon . . . PVK Records are inviting DJ’s to send full work details for mailing list consideration to Phil Cooper, PVK Records, Hillbottom Road, High Wycombe, Bucks . . . Roger St Pierre’s various PR and associated companies are now based at 17 Nelson Road, Greenwich, London SE10 9JB (01-858 8892), but as already stated Sally Ormsby is no longer involved and is looking for central premises for her Sally “O” firm . . . David ‘Boogie Vibes’ Emery (Newcastle-Upon-Tyne) info’s that Newcastle’s famous Callers Record Store are currently flogging recent import LP’s for only £3-£3.50 in their summer sale . . . Southgate Royalty hit it lucky (they hope) next Friday 13th, when Chris Hill & Sean French celebrate a ‘Halfway to Caister’ party, it being 13 weeks since the last and 13 weeks until the next Caister Funk Weekender . . . Tony James (Southern Counties National Roadshow, Dorchester) moans about the price of records now, and says that at this rate we will soon have the £100 a night mobile – and why the hell not, say I? It appalls me how much disco operators undervalue their services, the majority seemingly going out for much the same money as one could get ten years ago. If you’re any good, charge what you’re worth! Remember, for twice the price you only need work half as much – and if you’re worried about “cowboys” getting your gigs if you jack your prices up, don’t forget to take your spurs off before going to bed.

UK Newies

HARVEY MASON: ‘Groovin’ You’ (Arista ARIST 12270) (BNDA debut 6/16/79)
Finally out here on 6:15 12in, this dynamite 121-122bpm Olympic Runners-type variety-filled “bom bom” bomber still sounds like a UK smash to me!

KANDIDATE: ‘Girls, Girls, Girls’ (Rak RAK 295)
Gorgeous harmony chanter, sadly only on 7in, lopes along at a bright and breezily clapping 116bpm with more than a trace of the Moments’ old ‘Girls’.

ME AND YOU: ‘You Never Know What You’ve Got’ (Deb MUSIC DEB 031)
Due soon also on Scope, this tremendously catchy 92bpm reggae reading of the Bell & James song will have you singing along before the 12in ends. Continue reading “July 7, 1979: Harvey Mason, Kandidate, Me And You, Real Thing, Gibson Brothers”

June 30, 1979: Chantal Curtis, Chic, Donna Summer, Olympic Runners, Five Special

Disco News

Diana Ross ‘The Boss’, reviewed on import last week, is now on UK 12in (Motown 12TMG 1150) while Smokey Robinson ‘Get Ready’ follows next week (12TMG 1152) . . . Gino Soccio ‘Dance To Dance’ is indeed on 12in as Warner Bros held back some of their ‘Dancer’ pressings to make its original flipside now the A-side . . . Kiss ‘I Was Made For Loving You’ is also on 7:54 12in (Casablanca CANL 152), while Telex ‘Moskow Disko’ and Amii Stewart ‘Light My Fire’ are now on belated 12in and Bette Midler ‘Married Men’ is due on promo 12in only . . . Real Thing’s ‘Boogie Down (Get Funky Now)’ newie has been delayed for a John Luongo remix and will not sound like the acetate promo that’s been floating about . . . David Williams ‘Come On Down Boogie People’ (AVI AVIL 105) is due imminently – only 12 months late! – while up-coming are Uncle Louie ‘Full Tilt Boogie’ (TK), Black Ivory ‘Mainline’ (Buddah), Phyllis Hyman ‘Living Inside Your Love’ / ‘Loving You Losing You’ (Buddah), and a 3-track 12in by Miracle’s new Japanese disco acts called – wait for it! – ‘Nippon To The Dance Floor’ . . . Mike Morgan, calling his Confunction mobile the Atomic Wally Roadshow just for the night, holds a UN Year Of The Child charity disco at Ingatestone’s Anglo European School in Essex on July 7th, and would welcome record companies (or anyone) sending spare promo copies for use as prised to him at 281 Main Road, Broomfield, Chelmsford CMI 5AU . . . Jimmy Mack, funking Rotherham Adam & Eve’s hen party night from this Thursday (28), is jocking from noon to midnight this Saturday (30) for a disco dancing marathon on Sheffield hospital station Northern Radio in the Northern General Hospital, where all are welcome – especially dancers! . . . Preston Clouds re-opens next Thursday (5), while London Global Village has evidently NOT yet closed for conversion into a plush gay club (sorry about the goof) . . . Jason West’s Agency is looking to represent more big professional roadshows with something out of the ordinary to offer and able to travel long distances, so send details to him at 65 Argyle Street, Cambridge . . . Ken Briskham (Slough 35814) is handling the UK end of a 10 day Christmas/New Year UK disco tour by 30 members of a USA singles club, and would like to hear from any club which would like to be included – especially a Scottish club for Hogmanay! . . . Groove Records and their recently publicized Fast Lane mail-order service at 52 Greek Street, London W1, now charge £2.90 for 12in and £5.25 for LP imports, p&p as before . . . Larry Foster funks Fridays and Neil Darren souls Saturdays at the Mildmay Tavern in Balls Pond Road, Islington (to complete last week’s enigmatic misprint!) . . . Rob Harknett (Roydon 027 979 2339) offers for free a 3ft pile of Music Week back-numbers . . . Ian Williams, Danish-based and currently resident at the Diskotek Hestostalden in Varde’s Central Hotel, says that Record Mirror costs 49p in Denmark, but it’s worth the cost and the wait . . . Pye’s new disco promotion manager, Morgan Khan, must have unearthed a 50’s beatnik phrasebook, to judge from his newsletters’ hip (?) jivetalk!

UK Newies

CHANTAL CURTIS: Get Another Love’ (Pye 12P 5003) (BNDA debut 6/23/79)
Here it is, the French gal who sounds like Donna Summer singing to War’s backing, on 8:50 12in! The lovely intensifying 120-124-125bpm tripping swirler has harmonica behind her somewhat deadpan vocal and a busily building long instrumental break. A sure-fire smash.

CHIC: ‘Good Times’ (Atlantic K 11310T) (BNDA debut 6/23/79)
Rushed out here within a week of the imports coming in, but for Britain it’s been speeded up quite noticeably from 113bpm to 118bpm, altering its attack to a considerable degree. As stated last week, the 12in has a long plonking instrumental section after the ‘I Want Your Love’-like vocal part and will be huge.

DONNA SUMMER: ‘Bad Girls’ (Casablanca CANL 155) (BNDA debut 4/21/79)
Smoothly thumping 122bpm LP title track now on 4:55 12in and likely to be hotter than ‘Hot Stuff’ thanks to a catchy “toot toot beep beep’’ bit (which continues acappella at the end of great mixing potential – try it into Chic!). Continue reading “June 30, 1979: Chantal Curtis, Chic, Donna Summer, Olympic Runners, Five Special”

June 23, 1979: Gonzalez, Light Of The World, L.A.X, Nightfall, Patti Boulaye

Disco News

Chantal Curtis ‘Get Another Love’ will be out here on Pye, while Chantal herself (who turns out to be French – not so surprisingly when you consider all the French label credits) is due here this week for a whistle-stop PA tour of discos . . . Island’s future 12in releases will be at 33 rpm, starting with the Gibson Brothers ‘Ooh! What A Life’, the idea being that import-orientated jocks will find them more compatible with the US 12in speed . . . Teena Marie ‘I’m A Sucker For Your Love’ (Motown) does indeed have the sax-led instrumental version on the UK 12in B-side . . . 16 year-old Mark Turnbull from Redcar hopes for a Guinness Book Of Records mention when he jocks non-stop on Birmingham Hospital Broadcasting Service for seven days next month – not long, as records go, but then Mark is blind, and is currently getting the feel of things doing gigs with the Teesvalley Roadshow . . . Colin Hudd, now head of entertainments as well as jock at Dartford Flicks, is looking for other jocks capable of doing an 8 to 14 year-old kids’ lunchtime disco session and an over-30s night, so call him on Dartford 22423 (afternoons) . . . North Midlands Association of Disc Jockeys hold a disco forum on Wednesday, July 11th, at Hoyland’s Turf pub near Barnsley, and request all area jocks to call Sheffield 874280 as soon as possible . . . Preston Clouds has closed temporarily for the most lavish re-fit yet in a Rank Leisure services venue, with £70,000 of new furnishings and £80,000 of sound and lighting being installed . . . Tony Jenkins’s ‘Anthony’s’ soul club re-locates on Tuesday nights to the plush Denham Country Club, where swimming pool, barbecues, record promotions, party nights and regular appearances by Playboy Bunny Girls should make the funk extra fun – hmm, think I’ll look in myself, too! . . . Stevie Glover and Jez take turns to funk Sneaky Pete’s in Bournemouth’s Stateside Center, where – amazingly – it’s all import jazz-funk/soul/reggae every night, with the yellow-clad Sneakers funk brigade holding their own Juke Box Jury every Thursday when a National Funk Panel vote new releases as either “Funk” or “Junk” . . . Tony Pascoe’s Galactic Roadshow holds a DJ talent competition on Friday, July 6th, at Leyton Assembly Hall – details on 01-531 5319 (evenings) . . . Polystar’s Boogie Bus Dancers this week strut their stuff at Plymouth Fiesta (Thursday), Gt. Yarmouth Tiffanys (Friday) – that’s a seven hour drive, at least! – and Gary Hirst’s Jewish teenage club at London Sundown (Sunday) . . . John Douglas jazz-funks Tonight In Town at Braintree Weavers every Tuesday with an EMI Disco Dancing Competition running there for the next few weeks . . . Rossiter, funking Margate Atlantis every Saturday, would love some London gigs and is on 0843-26406 . . . Kate Corbin says that even if Steve Wiggins of Barry Rugby Club infamy is too busy to dress up in his sexy black undies and suspenders, he’s always got time to show her his 12in!

UK Newies

GONZALEZ: ‘Move It To The Music’ (Sidewalk 12YSID 108)
Mainly instrumental jaggedly jumping 133bpm funk filer on 7:36 12in features some female vocal with the guys and keeps the dominating rhythm thinly fleshed this time, minus any whistling Latin party atmosphere to clutter the hard exciting drive.

LIGHT OF THE WORLD: ‘Midnight Groovin’’ (Ensign ENY 2912)
‘Swingin’ – Part 2’ leaps along at 134bpm, but this Chris Hill-remixed 7:19 12in misses out the LP version’s mixable quiet intro – thus emphasising the similarity to their last one even more (although the 3:25 7in version introduces some piano halfway for airplay-aimed variety).

L.A.X.: ‘Dancin’ At The Disco’ (Pye 12P 5002) (BNDA debut 6/2/79)
Jauntily chugging chunky 131-129bpm thumper on up-coming 12in, big already on import, with funkier instrumental flip. Continue reading “June 23, 1979: Gonzalez, Light Of The World, L.A.X, Nightfall, Patti Boulaye”

June 16, 1979: Deniece Williams, Earth Wind & Fire, The Jones Girls, Amii Stewart, Cheryl Lynn

Disco News

Joe Thomas of ‘Make Your Move’ and ‘Plato’s Retreat’ fame, as reported by members of the Floaters, was senselessly shot and killed while leaving a Detroit nightclub recently . . . Detroit Spinners ‘Are You Ready For Love’ (Atlantic K 11286) is indeed on commercial UK 12in, while Eddy Grant ‘Frontline’ is now only on full 12in-length 7in . . . Five Special 12in is due imminently, but – as suspected – Hilary ‘Do It’ was scrapped . . . Miracle Records’ new 12in sleeves have a nice ‘30s comic book-type design . . . Switch ‘Best Beat In Town’ is coupled on US 12in with their older ‘We Like To Party . . . Come On’ (US Motown M 00025 D1) . . . Olympic Runners ‘The Bitch’ / ‘Energy Beam’ is due on 12in early July, while Pete Winfield has left the group to concentrate on sessions and his solo career . . . Sally Ormsby has split from Roger St Pierre’s South London-based PR firm to set up her own more centrally located company . . . Fatman Graham Canter hosts David Simmons’s Soul ’79 show on Radio London tonight (Thursday) and next week, 8:30-10pm . . . Robin Nash takes Frenchies to Wales when he opens a Sunday funk night at Cardiff’s Lloyd’s Club in Great Western Lane on June 24th . . . DJs Mark Wesley, Rob Jones & Tony Prince take the Radio Luxembourg 1979 Summer Roadshow around Britain’s major seaside resorts for the next six weeks, with fun and games including a Disco DJ contest . . . Liverpool’s Mr George (stage name – not being formal!), says the recent Plas Coch DJ competition on Anglesey was very entertaining – but then he was the winner! . . . Radio One’s Simon Bates and Capital’s Kerry Juby have summer residencies at Bournemouth New York New York on Thursdays and Tuesdays respectively . . . Mike Tarbuck (Blackburn Galligreaves Hotel) and Franklin Sinclair (Prestwich) both sit for their law finals in the next few days – if they then get together we could see the first firm of soliciting DJ’s (dee jaying solicitors?)! . . . Tony Green (Ainsdale Tiffanys) discovered a slow-spin by accident when playing Brainstorm ‘Don’t Let Me Catch You With Your Groove Down’ (the 45rpm UK Tabu 12in flip) at 33rpm, only realising halfway he was wrong but infinitely preferring the resultant heavy 96bpm funk . . . Tom Wilson (Edinburgh Rutland) says mixing Theo Vaness into Patrick Hernandez and vice-versa works well – I’m sure it does, dear we’ve all heard of Theo FitzPatrick and his friend Patrick FitzTheo! . . . Donald (Rothesay) encloses a magazine clipping about a new clothing company called – wait for it – Wally Leisurewear Ltd! . . . Brighton Metro seems to have something called the Sweat Shirt Shop Disco Dancing Championships ’79 on June 20th, which hardly sounds like haute couture (alright, John Lewis, I know the “no jeans” policy doesn’t apply during the summer!) . . . Bob Jones seems short of funk gigs yet again, so the “four-eyed funky soul spinner of some twelve years’ standing” wants work on Chelmsford 62924 (he obviously doesn’t lie down on the job!) . . . Dave T-C now spins funk and New York disco at Billy’s on Meard Street, Soho . . . Scott Wilson (Edinburgh Euro Disco) manages a shop called Asylum Records with its own brand new Asylum Roadshow comprising Citronic stereo mixer, four Cerwin Vega 200W speakers and 10,000 Watts of lighting, and asks “who is Froggy?” – answer, someone with rather more equipment than that! . . . anyway, like I always say (and this is serious), it isn’t what ya got it’s the way that you use it.

UK Newies

DENIECE WILLIAMS: ‘I’ve Got The Next Dance’ (CBS 13-7399) (BNDA debut 6/16/79)
Hit-bound fabulous happily springing and smacking 124bpm strutter backed by Earth, Wind & Fire on 6:21 12in (in a new CBS sleeve design that’s oddly upside down). Of course, ‘Boogie Wonderland’ chops perfectly out of it.

EARTH, WIND & FIRE: ‘I Am’ LP (CBS 88084) (‘Boogie Wonderland’ BNDA debut 6/2/79)
Dazzling set of goodies, sure to be hits of the future, the songs dividing into lurching slowies – ‘Wait’ (70bpm), ‘You And I’ (85/42bpm); jerky strutters – ‘In The Stone’ (113bpm), ‘Rock That!’ (126bpm), ‘Boogie Wonderland’ (129-131bpm, but only 4:49 here); a squeakily-sung rolling tripper like, er, a soulful Bee Gees – ‘Star’ (103bpm); and a dead slow then 33/66bpm ‘After The Love Is Gone’ from which doodling sax bridges into the false start of ‘Let Your Feelings Show’, a 121-126bpm full-tilt strutter that together with the also 126bpm ‘Can’t Let Go’ is likely to be the biggest new dancer.

THE JONES GIRLS: ‘You Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else’ (Philadelphia Int’l PIR 18-7361) (BNDA debut 5/12/79)
Gamble & Huff-prod/penned insistently jiggling 106-107bpm jitterer accumulates a nagging hypnotic power on 8:08 12in as the squeakily wailing chix rhythm with beefy bass patterns pushing along underneath it all. Although only 5:17 on their US import ‘Jones Girls’ LP (JZ 35757), this also has a beautiful easy paced 55/111-114bpm ‘Life Goes On’, popular too. Continue reading “June 16, 1979: Deniece Williams, Earth Wind & Fire, The Jones Girls, Amii Stewart, Cheryl Lynn”

June 9, 1979: Turn On The Tap EP, Gregg Diamond Bionic Boogie, Teena Marie, Richard Evans, GQ

Disco News

Global Village under London’s Charing Cross Station has been bought by the Embassy’s owners, is now closed, and reopens mid-September as “the World’s biggest and plushest gay club” . . . Al Matthews of ‘Chimes’, ‘Fool’ and ‘Sloosh’ fame now jocks BBC Radio One’s Discovatin’ show and Chris Jones gets the Radio One soul slot in place of Robbie Vincent, while Greg Edwards becomes permanent host this Friday of Capital Radio’s Best Disco In Town . . . Morgan Khan replaces Sue Winter in Pye’s disco team, which still includes Roan Wynter and boss Dave McAleer, and Phonogram’s John Wailer is now assisted by Orin Cozier . . . Phonogram incidentally have run out of Kool ‘Boogie Vibes’ promos so don’t ask! . . . Theo Loyla, what do you expect us to do with just one RSO slipmat?! . . . Motown’s Les Spaine, once Liverpool’s Godfather of Punk, has bought a luxury bungalow near his hometown . . . WEA’s Fred Dove, upset at having to cut his mailing list back, is faced with 400 new applicants and only 250 places – which include the best of his original 350 jocks . . . War ‘Good Good Feelin’’ is being re-promoted by MCA with a special promo-only ‘Evolution Of War’ LP featuring the group’s members rapping between their oldies . . . Alton McClain ‘It Must Be Love’ and David Naughton ‘Makin’ It’ are on promo 12in here, but ELO ‘Shine A Little Love’ (Jet 12 144) is on white vinyl commercial 12in . . . Direct Current’s follow-up could be ‘Rock Around The Clock’ done disco! . . . James E Myers (pen-name Jimmy DeKnight), composer of the aforementioned, would welcome a copy of Merrick Farran Concert Orchestra ‘Rock Around The Clock – Symphonic Variations on a Rock ‘n Roll Theme’ (Melodisc LP), out in the early ‘60s, so let me know if a miracle happens . . . Rosebud ‘Have A Cigar’, from their 1977 disco variation on a Pink Floyd theme, is now hitting US discos! . . . Ian Turner (Colwyn Bay) reports the recent Anglesey “four day disco extravaganza” at Plas Coch Disco ranked lower than a museum visit on the entertainment scale, their DJ competition being particularly poor . . . Rob Grose says Truro Hospital Radio is short of sounds so could generous record companies contact him at 32 Kenwyn Street (Truro 77950)? . . . Paul Clark (Brighton 698699) wants a new Friday night home for his import funk and many South Coast followers . . . Super Shaft Danny spins reggae ‘n’ funk on Friday nights at the Phoenix in London’s Cavendish Square, where recently he had three separate sound systems set up and seguing one from the other in rotation for an amazing effect! . . . Stuart Swann now hits Bolton Rockerfellas early week Mon-Wednesdays . . . Steve Walsh (London Lyceum) speed spins Nino Tempo ‘Ronan’s Road’ (US A&M 12in B-side) at 45rpm, but varied down a bit . . . Tony Jenkins (Uxbridge Anthonys), recent Hot Vinyl contributor, is piqued at being misprinted “Perkins”! . . . Neil Fincham (Dunbar Goldenstones) says that in his part of Scotland, wallies means dentures! . . . “Nytro Express? That’ll do fine, sir.”

UK Newies

VARIOUS: ‘Turn On The Tap’ (Tappan Zee CBS 13-7333)
Finally, here it is – a four-track 12in EP for £1.99 containing four jazz-funk classics! RICHARD TEE ‘First Love’ is a gorgeous ultra-catchy 122-125bpm piano skipper (it and the similarly happy 121bpm ‘Strokin’’ are also on his LP (CBS 83339), which here fades to a segue into the long-awaited WILBERT LONGMIRE ‘Black Is The Colour’ import smash from last autumn, a naggingly catchy 125bpm jazz driver with sizzling cymbal offbeat – one of the classiest disco hits ever. BOB JAMES ‘Touchdown’ is a melodic comes-and-goes 118/59bpm jazzy jogger, followed by MONGO SANTAMARIA ‘Watermelon Man’, a forcefully rattling and stamping 133bpm remake of his infectiously happy 1963 Latin hit. Go get ‘em!

GREG DIAMOND BIONIC BOOGIE: ‘Chains’ (Polydor POSPX 50) (BNDA debut 11/11/78)
Brilliantly produced exciting powerful 116bpm chugger on remixed noise-filled 6:47 12in with wailing guys and not a gap unfilled – much better than I remembered it, and it always was my favourite LP track. Check the amazing break near the end!

TEENA MARIE: ‘I’m A Sucker For Your Love’ (from LP ‘Wild And Peaceful’, Motown STML 12109)
Rick James prod/penned and largely sung great raunchily rolling, thumping and bumping 116bpm funk burbler, due next week also on 5:54 12in (12 TMG 1146) . . . although I’m unsure if it’ll feature the US 12in mainly instrumental sax-led flip (US Motown M 00024 D1), which many jocks now prefer. Thanks to this 12in, it’s overtaken the originally hotter strutting and stamping 110bpm ‘Don’t Look Back’, the LP’s other main attraction. Continue reading “June 9, 1979: Turn On The Tap EP, Gregg Diamond Bionic Boogie, Teena Marie, Richard Evans, GQ”

June 2, 1979: Joe Thomas, Hi-Tension, Jackie McLean, Third World, Dynasty

Disco News

Amii Stewart ‘Light My Fire’ is due imminently on Atlantic 12in and picture-disc 7in despite ‘Knock On Wood’ riding high still . . . Sylvester ‘Stars’ is on Fantasy 12in next week with ‘Body Strong’ flip or on pink vinyl 7in with different coupling, while Gino Soccio ‘Dance To Dance’ follows-up ‘Dancer’ as it was only the 12in flip before . . . Paul Brett ‘1999’ should be promoed prior to RCA 12in late June – a Sea Level-meets-Ian Dury 105bpm jazz-funk instrumental, it’s worth looking out for . . . Five Special and Dee Dee Bridgewater are due soon on Elektra 12in . . . Sandy Mercer ‘Now That You’re In’ has been remixed for UK 12in via Phonogram in July . . . Nytro ‘Nytro Express’ is now on freshly edited 8:00 US 12in that’s evidently tighter than the longer original . . . Gabor Szabo is currently recording for Atlantic . . . Brainstorm and Anita Ward 12in reviews last week should have had the £1.99-indicating 13- prefix, while of course Eddy Grant is 140/70bpm and Hot Chocolate is 118bpm (and not as printed!) . . . Pointer Sisters ‘Happiness’ turns out to be on clear red vinyl 12in packaged like Kleeer was . . . NRG ‘Get It Right’, reviewed last week, is also on 12in (MCA PSLP 288) . . . Mick Jackson ‘Married Men’ (Atlantic) is rivalled by Bette Midler (US Atlantic 12in) and Bonnie Tyler (RCA), but while Bette’s sounds good I still haven’t heard Bonnie (how about it, RCA?) . . . Mecca have the first-ever “Ladies Only” disco dancing competition starting at Hinckley Bubbles this Saturday (2), with further heats on June 8th, 14th, 18th and grand final on Monday 25th, the one prize of £100 for the overall winner . . . Ilford Room At The Top actually lost its Music and Dancing Licence appeal but can carry on pending a further appeal to the Crown Court . . . BADEM’s disco equipment exhibition at London’s Bloomsbury Centre Hotel during September 11-18th this year seems likely to coincide with a nearby DJF forum plus a lavish DJ Gala night at the Cafe Royal . . . Roger Squire’s Glasgow Disco Centre has a travelling disco exhibition currently visiting various Scottish hotel venues, advertised in RM’s Disco Scene last week (and this?) . . . Sandy Martin, voted Tayside’s top DJ two years running, has left Dundee Bloomers to start this last Monday at Swindon Brunel Rooms (thinks: at last, a chart contributor in that area!) . . . Chris Brown, Sean French, Jeff Young, Robin Nash and Pete Tong have a “funky pirates” voyage around the Isle Of Wight on Sunday, July 22nd, limited £5 tickets (plus SAE) from Outfront ‘78, c/o 153 Praed Street, London W2 . . . Chris Brown’s recent Tuesday opening night at Slough Blues in Cippenham saw the triumphant return of appalling dancer Ian Moore (mobbed by a screaming crowd!) and a flooded dance floor for Aqua Boogie water sports (not intentional but much appreciated by Let’s Get Wet fans!)

UK Newies

JOE THOMAS: ‘Make Your Move’ (TK TKR 13-7544)
Dynamite 6:56 Brass Construction-ish churner suddenly hits an ear-splittingly compressed and phased 130bpm clapping percussion break that’s great on its own, and terrific fun for mixers. Huge on import for ages, it’s now a 12in and could really explode.

HI-TENSION: ‘Latin Inspiration’ (Island 12XWIP 6489)
Totally rhythm orientated 131bpm instrumental throbber on 5:02 12in (and that’s all – no 7in!) is actually the B-side but looks like being much bigger with dancers than the monotonously repetitive jittery 128bpm ‘Funktified’ charter, which is in their expected but less exciting than usual style.

JACKIE MCLEAN: ‘Doctor Jackyll And Mister Funk’ (RCA PC 1575)
Stolidly thumping 116bpm driver remixed for 6:00 12in features wailing jazz sax with guys ‘n gals chanting through the first half, and again for much of the jazzier second part after a rattling break. A personal fave, it’s great in front of Richard Evans ‘Burning Spear’. Continue reading “June 2, 1979: Joe Thomas, Hi-Tension, Jackie McLean, Third World, Dynasty”

May 26, 1979: Anita Ward, Sister Sledge, Slick, Eddy Grant, Pointer Sisters

Disco News

Billy Paul and The Jones Girls are now scheduled for UK release, but still no definite plan for The Force . . . Pye persevere with Poussez ‘Never Gonna Say Goodbye’ as their 12in choice despite it being the LP’s coldest cut; however, there’s a 12in remix due of Bennoit ‘Life Is Like A Samba’ . . . EMI’s Pete Dyos follows WEA’s Fred Dove by installing a 24hr ansaphone for use by mailing list jocks to register reaction reports, LP requests, etc . . . Salsoul and even Fantasy Records are rumoured as possible new neighbours for the YMCA, though it’s a tall tale to swallow . . . Heatwave’s Johnnie Wilder was hurt worse than was first thought in his Dayton, Ohio, car crash and is now suffering from paralysis: brother Keith and the band are meanwhile with him in Dayton, routining a stand-in for their US tour until Johnnie hopefully recovers . . . Watneys and Rank are promoting Schlitz malt liquor with a solo disco dancing competition, starting on June 7th with a heat and then local final at nineteen Rank venues, the winner of the final at Bournemouth’s Stateside Centre on Jul 5th getting a ten day US trip for two (including a visit to the Schlitz brewery in Milwaukee – hi, LaVerne and Shirley!) plus £250 spending cash, the finalists and even local runners-up all copping for a share of £3,000 total prize money . . . Dartford Flicks celebrates VE night (that’s Victory in Europe) on June 14th with a wartime fancy dress party, uniformed punters with the correct vintage coinage getting 200 pints of Charringtons beer at 1945 prices – er, wanna borrow my Winston Churchill records, Robbie? “This is YOUR victory, etc etc” . . . Vanguard Hand Tally Counters (or BPM Counters) are rubbish – mine broke after just three weeks! . . . Greg Edwards hasn’t stopped laughing since! . . . Wally Webb (Norwich Scamps) says he wishes he had a quid for every time his Christian name’s been mentioned on this page – but how often do we mention a Walter? . . . Paul Anthony (Birmingham Rum Runner/Sloopys/etc) is fed up with “student” types who “demand” Ferry and Bowie all night while he’s working out mixes like The Force into Anita Ward.

New Spins

ANITA WARD: ‘Ring My Bell’ (TK TKR 12-7543) (BNDA debut 4/14/79)
Smash-bound compulsively catchy little ditty on 8:08 12in gets everyone going ‘‘pwoo’’, “pwoo’’, “pwoo’’ along with the syndrum sound while fragile-voiced Anita innocently wails a perfect pop song (with some subdued bell chimes, of course), all skipping along at 127bpm. How could I have thought it dull the first time I heard it!?

SISTER SLEDGE: ‘We Are Family’ (Atlantic K 11293) (BNDA debut 2/10/79)
Immediately identifiable as the catchy companion to their ‘Greatest Dancer’ hit, this similar yet different 117bpm rolling jiggler is on limited 8:06 12in.

SLICK: ‘Space Bass’ (Fantasy 12YFTC 176)
Unavailable elsewhere in 7:05 12in form, this coolly pounding 130bpm bass churner originally appeared in edited form on a special Midem sampler LP, to be snapped up by UK jocks for its simple drive (with rattling rhythm, slick strings ‘n cooing chix) and – especially – a sizzling, searing electronic siren-type effect . . . which could do with some repetition. Continue reading “May 26, 1979: Anita Ward, Sister Sledge, Slick, Eddy Grant, Pointer Sisters”

May 19, 1979: “Tory rule should improve bookings for up-market mobiles”

Disco News

Isley Brothers ‘Shout’ is getting so popular as a silly singalong at Chris Hill-type Funk Mafia gigs that RCA plan a 12in reissue of Parts 1 and 2 spliced together, their classic 1959 original version having been produced by none other than England’s own Mike Collier, of current Carlin Music/Flamingo Records fame! . . . Ian Dury backing tracks may well be remixed for an instrumental jazz-funk LP . . . Michael Jackson ‘You Can’t Win’, due on picture-disc 12in, has had to be withdrawn by Epic for legal reasons . . . Ashford and Simpson ‘Flashback’ is on Warner Bros. picture-disc 7in, though . . . Hudson People ‘Trip To Your Mind’ has definitely been remixed and restructured for future Ensign 12in . . . Tory rule should improve bookings for up-market mobiles – certainly, I’ve had lots since the election! . . . Edwin Starr was superb live last week at Watford Baileys, while Light Of The World lived up to high expectations despite playing nearly everything at 132bpm . . . Bournemouth’s recent all-dayer saw a stoical crowd suffering appalling sound, poor bar service and steam heat (though the “let’s get wet” water pistol brigade helped a bit!), the much-vaunted Village refit into the Stateside Centre apparently amounting to little more than new carpets and a sign over the burger serving hatch saying Walt’s Diner! Promoter Peter Matthews is now scouting for new non-Mafia jocks for future Purley fests . . . Dorset doesn’t have local radio so my brief holiday there meant listening to awful Radio One “new wave” (?) caterwauling and a repetitive rota of Ironhorse, Amii Stewart, Linda Clifford, Melba Moore, Pointer Sisters – who seemed to be on every show: if that’s what a lot of you have to put up with, no wonder the chart’s the way it is! . . . Chris Browne’s recent DJ contest at Elephant and Castle Charlie Chaplin’s was won by Jude Wolfe, now of Marble Arch Queen of Hearts, runners-up being Ian King and Larry Foster, the event attracting liggers Chris Brown (no “e”), Robin Nash, Sean French, John DeSade and various disco pluggers – but next to no punters! . . . Nikki Peck (Chatham Scamps) now writes the ‘Discopekin’’ [sic] page every Friday in the Kent Evening Post, and does the opening night next Thursday (24) at Oxford’s new Bogarts, St Clements . . . John Lewis, ever controversial, now says that jeans ARE allowed during the summer season at Brighton Metro! . . . Paul Anthony (Birmingham Rum Runner/Sloopys/Zoo) says he’s heavily into mixing at the moment despite obsolete equipment . . . Graham Bond and Martin Gibbon of the Ormesby (Middlesbrough) based Teesvalley Roadshow report an upsurge of interest in the North, yet again, for old Motown and 60’s soul.

UK Newies

Hot weather, sleepless nights, mobile gigs, radio programmes and a summer cold have prevented me from catching up with the large backlog of UK releases this week, sorry, but ones to look out for include: