DONNA SUMMER: ‘Down Deep Inside’ (Casablanca CAN 111) (Billboard chart debut 7/2/77)
The theme from ‘The Deep’ is more ‘Love To Love’ than ‘Feel Love’, though the jittery thump beat is bang up to date. Instrumental flip.
LA BELLE EPOQUE: ‘Black Is Black’ (Harvest HAR 5133) (Billboard chart debut 6/18/77)
Huge Northern import from Europe, now 12-inched at 70p, is the old Los Bravos ‘I’m On Fire’ tune given the Munich sound.
‘Star Wars’, America’s blockbusting sci-fi movie smash, shown here later in the year – has sparked off a new craze and a US chart war of its own. The John Williams-penned main theme (a bit like ‘Born Free’ and ‘The Big Country’ combined) is a straight sound-track winner by London Symphony Orchestra (20th Century), but the disco battle rages between Meco (Millennium), Graffiti Orchestra (Prodigal) and David Matthews (CTI). Meco (Meco Monardo in mufti) has the most interesting version, being edited from a continuous 15:47 album track medley of all the film’s music in disco style, with great freaky synthesized sound effects on ‘Music Inspired by Star Wars, and Other Galactic Funk’ (Millennium MNLP 8001).
Mass Production ‘I Believe In Music’ (US Cotillion LP/Disco 12-inch) has been rushed out to a few key jocks prior to its UK release soon. A real hotsie, it combines rattling percussion, ‘Dazz’ bass and voice-box gimmickry with the group’s heavy brass and vocal sound for an almost overpowering onslaught. It sure is excitingly busy if not exactly tuneful – but as T-Connection managed to sell on its sheer disco power, then so should this. The ‘People Get Up’ flip has a good DJ intro before hitting a more Brass Construction groove. Continue reading “August 6, 1977: Star Wars singles, Mass Production, Instant Funk, Celi Bee & The Buzzy Bunch, Ritchie Family”
BRUCE JOHNSTON: ‘Pipeline’ (CBS 5514) (Billboard chart debut 7/16/77)
Dynamite disco retread of the Chantay’s old surfing instrumental, on 7-inch here in all its 6:50 power and glory.
PHILADELPHIA INTERNATIONAL ALL STARS: ‘Let’s Clean Up The Ghetto’ (Philadelphia Int’l PIR 5451) (Billboard chart debut 7/23/77)
Superb funky chugger featuring Messrs Rawls, Paul, Bell, Pendergrass, Levert and Ms Sharp. Try mixing with Marv’s ‘Got To Give It Up’!
Anchor Records’ set of 12-inch EPs on their ABC label – known as “+Fours” – feature 4 tracks each artist and cost 99p (normal price in 7-inch form though). The acts chosen are not very disco orientated, but useable tracks are JOE WALSH ‘Rocky Mountain Way’ / ‘Walk Away (Live)’ (ABE 12002), MAMAS & PAPAS ‘Dedicated To The One I Love’ / ‘California Dreamin’’ / ‘Monday Monday’ (ABE 12006), ALICE COOPER ‘Department Of Youth’ (ABE 12001).
Island Records have three reggae 12-inchers in their “Limited Edition” series – the freaky fast JUNIOR MURVIN ‘Tedious’ (IPR 2001), throbbing slow CONGOES ‘Congo Man’ (Black Swan BS 1) and cool bassy GEORGE FAITH ‘To Be A Lover’ c/w UPSETTERS ‘Rastaman Shuffle’ (BS 2).
New Spins
FLOATERS: ‘Float On’ (ABC 4187)
Much imported dreamy smoocher, 12-inched with elongated 11:49 and edited 4:13 sides. The last half of the long side is much stronger than the short singles version, which stupidly misses the catchy slow “Aquarius, Libra, Leo, Cancer” intro. A summertime smash!
SHALAMAR: ‘Uptown Festival’ LP (Soul Train FL 12289) (LP mentioned in Billboard column 4/23/77, LP Billboard chart debut 5/14/77)
For those without the 12-inch, here’s the full 8:52 version – plus a copy of the Jacksons’ great ’75 leaper, ‘Forever Came Today‘.
“Big deal” 12-inch EP mania seems to be sweeping the record biz, with Pye’s set of 4-track 12-inchers being followed by Anchor and Capitol – the latter of whom in fact started it off with their hit Tavares effort a few months back. Capitol’s new “Soul Special” promotion sees two more EPs, available on 7-inch at 70p or 12-inch at 99p – BUT, if you buy both at the same time and in the more expensive form, you also get for free a ten-track “Capitol Soul Special” sampler LP! This features such as Maze, Sun, Caldera, Inner Circle, Rance Allen and Freda Payne, while the EPs are by the Sylvers and Natalie Cole.
Natalie Cole’s (CLX 101) also has a frantic newie, ‘Party Lights’, but the big attractions will be her jazzily clapping ‘This Will Be’, smoochy ‘Inseparable’ and funky ‘Sophisticated Lady’, all US hits.
New Spins
LOVERS: ‘Discomania’ (Epic EPC 5212) (mentioned in Billboard column 5/7/77, Billboard chart debut 5/14/77)
Here it is, the latest and possibly greatest disco medley! 12-inched, it combines tunes by Thelma Houston, Trammps. Ritchie Family, KC & The Sunshine Band, Vicki Sue Robinson and more (Boney M being substituted for Andrea True on the UK 7-inch edit). Cert smash! Continue reading “July 9, 1977: Lovers, NCCU, James Brown, Carrie Lucas, Isley Bros.”
Robbie Vincent and other import fans are currently raving about a punchy little platter by an all-star cast of Philadelphia International artists. Due for release here soon (and already played on Robbie’s Radio 1 show), the group is called literally the Philadelphia All-Stars and they sing a slab of social commentary by Gamble and Huff, ‘Let’s Clean Up The Ghetto’. Lou Rawls starts it conversationally over an infectiously chugging rift from MFSB before being joined with vocal support, and solos, from Dee Dee Sharp, Billy Paul, Archie Bell, Teddy Pendergrass and the O’Jays. Some stars, huh?!?
New Spins
CAMEO: ‘Rigor Mortis’ (Casablanca CAN 106) (Billboard chart debut 2/19/77)
Import monster for months, the Fatback-ish funker’s now flip to the more obviously thudding ‘Post Mortem‘. Double ‘A’ dynamite!
DONNA SUMMER: ‘I Feel Love’ (GTO GT 100) (Billboard chart debut 5/28/77)
The disco sensation that’s sweeping the nation, this fantastic Kraftwerk-like synthetic burbler is now rushed out on single, ahead of schedule.
PETER BROWN: ‘Do Ya Wanna Get Funky With Me’ (TK XB 2183) (Billboard chart debut 4/9/77)
Spaced-out subtly thudding funky monster US disco smash – really different and good. Freaky long rhythm flip too!
Grapevine is a Northern-aimed new label set up by Kings Lynn importer John Anderson with RCA, and its first three releases are now out.
RICHARD “POPCORN” WYLIE ‘Rosemary What Happened’ (GRP 100) is an interesting near-muddle which keeps on driving through the clutter, and SOUL TWINS ‘Quick Change Artist’ (GRP 101) is a traditional Fred Smith/’Duck’-type stomper. Both are from ’67 and the Karen label, while STANLEY WOODRUFF & THE U.S. TRIO ‘What Took You So Long’ (GRP 102) is an attractive oddly-arranged churner of recent vintage. Cheers!
New Spins
SLAVE: ‘You And Me’ / ‘Son Of Slide’ (Cotillion K 10967)
Cleverly edited funky faves, like Brass Construction with added acid-rock guitar, both sides are big already.
C.J. & CO.: ‘Devil’s Gun’ (Atlantic K 10956) (mentioned in Billboard column 10/23/76, Billboard chart debut 4/23/77)
Incredibly powerful catchy fast jumper (originally by Great Expectations), an obvious disco smash and already the biggest in America. Some lucky jocks will get a longer 12-inch.
T-CONNECTION: ‘Do What You Wanna Do’ (TK XC 9109) (mentioned in Billboard column 2/19/77, Billboard chart debut 2/26/77)
Out at last, this first British TK Disco 12-incher (15,000 pressed, 99p each) is a classic rhythm rattler that’s been enormous on import. Try mixing into Karma’s ‘Funk De Mambo‘ (A&M)!
James Hamilton's Disco Page 