James Hamilton's Disco Page

ODDS ‘N’ BODS

LAST FRIDAY was premiere night at video-equipped clubs, all the little chickies screaming and squealing as Michael Jackson kept scaring them silly! . . . ‘Thriller‘, which evidently cost over double its original half-million dollar budget, was shown for a week in a Los Angeles cinema to make it eligible for an Oscar before having its US television debut also last Friday on MTV, who will be showing it four times daily until Christmas — the US-only hour long Vestron video previously mentioned will package ‘Thriller’ with candid coverage of its making, the live Motown 25 version of ‘Billie Jean’ plus excerpts from ‘Beat It’ and the Jacksons ‘Can You Feel It’ . . . MTV, the US 24 hour music video cable TV channel, admits to a rock orientated music policy but still gets criticized by the black record biz, which is why so many black acts (like EWF) now use rock rhythms in an effort to qualify — the channel is so influential in breaking new names that it’s getting exclusives ahead of radio, causing yet more bad feeling . . . Tyne Tees ‘The Tube’ earlier in the evening quoted extensively from our Boys Town/Hi-NRG Disco chart, without any mention of Record Mirror — thanks so much . . . Morgan Khan, unbeknownst to me while making its import lead review last week, has rush released Xena ‘On The Upside‘ on Streetwave 12in (catalogue number MKHAN 2 — such modesty!), the melodic chick sung 119bpm hip hopper being by the same team as Shannon and now sounding even stronger: he’s also picked up the Vintertainment label for Britain, so the B Boys can’t be far behind . . . Malcolm X ‘No Sell Out‘ has been withdrawn by Tommy Boy in the States pending a Sugarhill claim that it was cut in their studios using speeches from an album on Chess, which they control: Marshall Chess (son of the label’s founder and its current manager) did indeed get Sugarhill Gang drummer Keith LeBlanc to lay down the track before then signing it with Tommy Boy instead of Sugarhill, who say they’d assumed it would be theirs and had planned a new LP to include it . . . Evelyn ‘Champagne’ King’s new 12in sadly will be ‘Action‘ / ‘Let’s Get Crazy‘ from her LP, which contains better . . . Luther Vandross is producing Teddy Pendergrass for an all-new album due in February — on Elektra . . . Blackmarketing (262 Holloway Road, London, N7, 01-609 7017) are compiling a Hi-NRG mailing list for jocks who can prove their worth . . . Miquel Brown and her manager while driving through the New Jersey night ran into an unlit parked bus. Miquel suffering a broken collar bone, chipped skull, and dented chest . . . Ian Levine has remixed Norma (Lewis) ‘Life Is The Reason‘ for UK release . . . Norman Scott, getting pally with Wham!, reckons ‘Where Is My Man‘ has been the year’s biggest hit at Haringey Bolts and recently finished the night there with Eartha Kitt’s ‘I’m Just An Old Fashioned Girl‘ (RCA) to packed floors . . . Judy Garland recently returned to Toronto’s Club Mystique, complete with funeral procession, casket and hearse — how sick can you get? (and how long before someone here follows suit?) . . . Barbara Mason ‘Another Man‘ has exploded literally through word of mouth, everyone nudging each other and saying “listen to the words” when it comes on (the rap version gets ’em all in quickest) . . . London’s The Embassy in Old Bond Street has a Laura Pallas Christmas Ball this Thursday (8) and a Record Shack party featuring Laura again (and should have been Miquel Brown) on Tuesday (13) — the large lady is also skiing in the snow this Saturday (10) at the Euston Tavern and Oxford Street Spats . . . Chris Brown debuts at Hemel Hempstead Whip & Collar Thursday (8), when Ernie Priestman & Steve Naylor open revamped Old Hall in radioactive Egremont (just over the hill from Windscale) . . . Friday (9) finds Radio London soul broadcaster Tony Blackburn at Tottenham Eltons, Capital Radio Hi-NRG DJ Greg Edwards at Southend Zero 6, Pete ‘Pedro’ Tong and Jeff Young ‘& Strong’ at the Sheffield Arms (Sheffield Park, Sussex) with their R&B Review . . . Sunday’s Nottingham Rock City alldayer (3pm) stars Colin Curtis, Jonathan, Steve Dennis, Steve Allen, Paul Murphy etc . . . Phill Andrews at Derby’s Chamailles Nightclub jazz-funks Mondays, Fri/Sat being party nites and Thurs/Sun cheap cocktails . . . Dougie Welsh gets good ‘n’ funky Thurs-thru-Sun at Edinburgh High Street’s Claude’s . . . Steve ‘Walthamstow’ Day & Mark Eniver do Walthamstow’s Cats Wine Bar on Fridays now . . . Bob Heather (Romsey) has left Southampton’s Mecca Ice Rink after two and a half years to go back on the road — he must have cold feet (ouch) . . . John Vaughan, body popping DJ who helps at Mayfair Gullivers Mondays, is looking for warm-up gigs on 01-856 0388 . . . Gullivers really cooked last Saturday with Sid Haywoode flashing her legs — she, friend Mulligan from Fashion and CBS’s Steve Ripley were in for a nice long time but sadly missed an impromptu PA by Jimmy Cliff which got the joint jumping — what a night . . . Sid, whose dad is Don Haywoode (not Ron), had never heard his classic doo-wop with the Velours, 1957’s ‘Can I Come Over Tonight‘, until I played it for her on the headphones (Graham Gold chickened out of mixing it into Klique!) . . . ‘Dr Soul’s ’60s Stompers‘ on Disco Mix Club cassette is actually very similar to my old soul nights at Le Beat Route — any clubs want me to mix ’em like that live? (Bolton might even be within reach after Xmas!) . . . Shaun James (0296-20653) is after the instrumental version of T. Ski Valley ‘Catch The Beat’ (US Grand Groove 12in), Gary Allan (051-526 5407) wants the already deleted Amanda Lear ‘Love Your Body’ (German Ariola 12in), Graham Cambridge (0904-790686) needs the DJ Remix of ABC ‘Poison Arrow’ . . . VERY IMPORTANT! I need all your dates ‘n’ info NOW, this instant if not sooner, if you want any namechecks before Christmas — our deadlines are diabolical, so please help at this busy time of year and get charts to us if possible in time for the next two Mondays (12 & 19) and again for the first Wednesday of the New Year . . . Theo Loyla’s Super Jocks have the same top six as last week, “new” entries in their pop chart being Shannon, Major Harris, Curtis Hairston, Assembly, Cuba Gooding, New Order and Madness (I’m not taking the mickey, just stating the sad fact) . . . London’s LODJ association members are very perceptive, they reckon this column covers the club circuit . . . Phonogram’s acts are suffering the mailing list syndrome, jocks getting records in the mail which they chart before realising they’re rubbish, then drop fast . . . John ‘Thriller’ Landis’s new ‘Trading Places’ film is finally opening here, starring Eddie Murphy & Dan Akroyd with Bo Diddley as a pawnbroker and the eye-boggling Jamie Lee Curtis as a tart — fellahs, I implore you, don’t miss it! . . . ‘Street’ shock (the real Street, Hill that is): Michael Conrad, though well enough to start the new series in the States, has just died — he played the fancy talking desk sergeant whose catch phrase was the immortal “hey hey hey Hey! LET’S BE CAREFUL OUT THERE!” We’ll miss you.

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HOT VINYL

MARY WELLS: ‘My Guy’ (US Allegiance D-101)
Nearly twenty years later, Mary’s back with a lovely slowed down and stretched out languidly swaying 114-115bpm 12in remake of her all-time classic, produced now by Wayne Henderson (inst flip). Still a floor filler (try it out of Barbara Mason!), it sounds different enough in this treatment to happen all over again — with wide appeal.

WORLD PREMIERE: ‘Share The Night’ (US Easy Street EZS-7506)
A long effects intro leads into throbbing stereo drumbeats as the Jonathan Fearing-mixed sinuously weaving 0-108bpm 12in plodder picks up momentum behind excitingly arranged growling and wailing vocal interaction, the whole thing sounding bright and fresh enough to do very well indeed (inst breakdown/shorter inst flip).

WHATNAUTS: ‘Still I’ll Rise’ (US Pic Hit PH 1001)
A satisfying if low key return, the group-backed soulfully hoarse lead guy getting all het up over a burbling lurching 111bpm 12in shuffle ‘n bump undertow (bass led inst flip), sounding stronger the more you hear it. Continue reading “December 10, 1983: Mary Wells, World Premiere, Whatnauts, Lew Kirton, Lenny Welch”

ODDS ‘N’ BODS

LIONEL RICHIE’s ‘All Night Long’ instrumental was all set for the flip of his current UK 12in until nixed by Motown’s HQ, typically out of touch in LA — instead of running scared about alternative 12in imports from Britain messing up their US plans (and giving people what they actually want?), why don’t Motown move back to a ghetto, put people out on the street and find out where the energy’s really coming from today? . . . Brian Godson & Pete Funnell funk York’s Windmill in Blossom Street this Friday (2) — with Kelvin Knight they play more general stuff there Saturdays too (50p both nights) . . . Greg Edwards does Dartford Flicks Friday (2), when Dave Rawlings kicks off 4th birthday high jinks at Basingstoke Martines with a Pernod party before being joined on Saturday (3) by fire-eating Darryl Hayden’s video show . . . Miquel Brown flits between Bolts in Haringey this Friday and Brighton on Sunday (4) . . . Tony Prince & Steve Dennis co-host the Martini Screen Test finals at London Piccadilly’s Xenon early evening Friday (2) . . . Saturday lunchtimes are very jazzy indeed at London Oxford Street Spats with Darren Johnson, Ed Stokes & Gilles Peterson, the latter airing latin jazz Friday nights 10pm-midnight on the self-explanatory South London Broadcasting SLB 94.4 FM, sandwiched between Jerry Jones & Stu Wilson with a weekly guest show immediately preceding Gilles . . . Saturdays at Portsmouth Ritzy have taken off so well for him that Nick Ratcliffe will be there Thursdays too from next week (8) with Jeff Powell, getting as funky as they can, while Nick’s also back with John Dene on Fridays at Streatham Cat’s Whiskers and at Guildford Cinderella Rockerfellas next Tuesday (6) has a free admission army/nurse fancydress M*A*S*H night . . . Baz Maleedy & Baz Williams have started a specifically oldies disco/funk/soul/jazz Sunday at Manchester’s Gallery off Deansgate . . . Ernie Priestman, original partner in Whitehaven’s legendary Whitehouse, has returned to radioactive Egremont to transform the ancient Old Hall pub into a hi-tech disco opening next Thursday (8) with himself and Blackpool’s Steve Naylor getting as upfront as the locals will allow . . . Rayners Lane’s Record & Disco Centre has split in two with hardware, design/installation, disco hire etc at the new Middlesex Sound & Lighting just around the corner in Village Way East (01-866 5500), leaving records and video at the original shop (where the DJ elite meet!) . . . Steve Wiggins (Barry) wonders — fourteen weeks, eighty-eight quid and countless calls later — just when the Derek James Disco Centre will get around to supplying his projector bulbs . . . Luton’s recently opened Tropicana Beach (resident jock Mark West) is reaching its 750 capacity at weekends and wants PAs/promotion nights etc — call manager Mick Jordan (0582 458750) . . . Chris Britton at Watford Baileys shows up to twenty videos nightly to around 2,000 people (half of whom are seated) and would welcome any promo videos for guaranteed screening . . . David Grant’s had another haircut and is now practically a skinhead — the similarity of his new single to the Dazz Band’s ‘Let It Whip’, and all the spike-haired punks in its video, lead me to suspect that ‘Rock The Midnight’ is intended as an assault on the American charts rather than for here . . . Whodini’s story-telling video for the lacklustre ‘Rap Machine’ really brings it alive . . . Ebony Brothers turn out to be Pinky & Tony who danced on Top Of The Pops with Kelly Marie, Pinky’s brother Paul Pink being Capital Radio’s biggest engineer! . . . Eartha Kitt didn’t flatter herself on TV-am — she came across remarkably like Yoda from the Star Wars saga . . . Sharon Redd either bought her first record when aged just one, or else started out buying an oldie (see last week’s Profile and call me a cad!) . . . Sid Haywoode turns out to be the daughter of Ron Haywoode from the Fantastics, and before that more significantly the Velours, whose 1957 ‘Can I Come Over Tonight‘ was one of the all-time doo-wop greats . . . ‘I’m Out Of Your Life’ writer/Delegation producer Ken Gold, never out of Mayfair’s Gullivers these days, last week brought down this vaguely familiar looking guy — Paul Johnson, one of London’s DJ legends in the mid-60s (he did Brixton’s Ram Jam), latterly a record exec before leaving the business (I bought a whole pile of ska off him in ’66!) . . . ‘Kennedy’ on telly last week obviously sent all minds that are old enough back to that day twenty years ago — I was staying at an old school friend’s off the King’s Road, on the brink of joining the then incipient Beatles merchandisers Seltaeb Inc. washing up coffee cups when Paul McCartney & John Lennon came to call, and heavily into such sounds as Mary Wells ‘What’s Easy For Two‘, Stevie Wonder ‘Monkey Talk‘, Lloyd Price ‘Misty‘, Sam Cooke ‘Little Red Rooster‘ . . . ‘Dr Soul’s ’60s Stompers — The Girls’ on the next Disco Mix Club is a bit of a compromise I fear, the original medley was intended to end up with a further nine girlie group tracks out of the Bandwagon but they didn’t fit the time available, so for this continuation I built them up to twenty but by playing two verses instead of one I then had to cut back again at the end as only fifteen fitted — and the final three do come as a jolt now — the running order being Crystals ‘Da Doo Ron Ron’/Four Pennies ‘When The Boy’s Happy’/Chiffons ‘He’s So Fine’/Exciters ‘Do-Wah-Diddy’/Velvelettes ‘Really Sayin’ Somethin’/Tami Lynn ‘Gonna Run’/Betty Everett ‘Mighty Crowded’/Supremes ‘Where Did Our Love Go’/’Baby Love’/Martha & The Vandellas ‘Jimmy Mack’/Fascinations ‘Girls Are Out’/Mary Wells ‘What’s Easy For Two’/Chiffons ‘Sweet Talking Guy’/Candy & The Kisses ‘The 81’/Gloria Jones ‘Tainted Love’ (I had to end with that, right?!) . . . Disco Mix Club subscription details are on 06286 67276 . . . Al Jarreau will play Nat ‘King’ Cole in a biopic of the late star, next year . . . Capital’s reggaemeister David Rodigan plays the barman in TV’s current Malibu commercial! . . . Robert ‘Santa’ Bienman is heavily disguised as ‘Billy Jackson’ . . . MCA’s Katie Farmer seems to be taking a personal interest in Second Image! . . . Edgbaston Faces French Club Visage jock Jon Alsop for some strange reason now calls himself Jon David — he’s obviously after a job on hospital radio . . . Graham Hunter (Basingstoke) reckons the best disco in Paris, France is La Scala, in the Rue De Rivoli . . . ‘Street Sounds 7’ being heavily advertised on radio last weekend ahead of stocks being shipped was thoroughly irritating for record dealers, who now talk about “the late Morgan Khan” . . . Arnie’s Love seems to have peaked with the specialist audience, saleswise . . . LET THE MUSIC PLAY!

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CHARTS

BRITAIN’S PUBLIC like dancing to what they already know. This was accurately reflected by our pop-orientated Nightclub chart, which unfortunately (from an editorial viewpoint) followed, rather than set the fashion, neither a pointer to the future nor even a useful shopping list. It’s gone. However, DJs who reckon their charts contributed towards it are still encouraged to send them in as Alan Jones will continue compiling them into a guide for the Performing Rights Society, amongst others — and along with the upfront soulful Disco and Boys Town DJs all remain eligible for the weekly £20 record token lucky draw. In fact it’s a hell of a job keeping the Disco and Boys Town charts as upfront as hopefully they are, and regular contributions from some of the jocks we ought to be hearing from yet who may feel it beneath them would be more than welcome. All charts (Top 20 or more, if possible, based on audience rather than DJ reaction) should reach us by Wednesday of the week before publication especially if enclosing any news items, sent to James Hamilton, Record Mirror, 40 Long Acre, London WC2E 9JT. Just in case you don’t know what’s big in Britain’s pop venues at the moment, record plugger Theo Loyla happens to have compiled a chart from all the clubs on his Super Jocks mailing list:

1. LIONEL RICHIE – ‘All Night Long’
2. MICHAEL JACKSON – ‘Thriller’
3. BILLY JOEL – ‘Uptown Girl’
4. McCARTNEY/JACKSON – ‘Say Say Say’
5. ROCK STEADY CREW – ‘Hey You’
6. SHARON REDD – ‘Love How You Feel’
7. SHALAMAR – ‘Over And Over’
8. CULTURE CLUB – ‘Karma Chameleon’
9. HOWARD JONES – ‘New Song’
10. STEVE HARVEY – ‘Tonight’

Yeah, and ‘Rock Around The Clock’ still gets ’em going, too!

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HOT VINYL

DAYTON: ‘The Sound Of Music’ (Capitol 12CL 318)
Rahni Harris takes the helm for a superb soulfully flowing 54½-112-114-112-114bpm groove with a really nagging repeated hookline, catchy vocoder scatting and sophisticated jazz-funk feel, now on 3-track 12in with the disappointing Zapp dominated 111bpm ‘Love You Anyway‘ and 1980’s good speedily romping 119-120-119-117(sax solo)-121-122bpm ‘Eyes On You‘ (whose tinny strings sounded dated when it was new). Pure class — but unlikely to break outside circles as sadly sophistication and groovability aren’t enough for a general public who basically can’t dance.

XENA: ‘On The Upside’ (US Emergency EMDS 6541)
Very similar to Shannon, an initially offputting “disco” chick (she put me off it for a fortnight!) singing somewhat at odds with the busily 118½bpm 12in hip hop electro framework — except they blend together in naggingly melodic style and are now exploding doubtless because she and Shannon mix so superbly (complex dub flip). How she ever managed to carry the tune through it all is a miracle!

GIRLS CAN’T HELP IT: ‘Baby Doll’ (US Sire 0-29773)
When originally out here ages ago on Virgin this seemed such a blatant pop rip off of something else that I resisted reviewing it — the trouble is, now I can’t remember what it’s copying and have spent hours trying to think! Help, please! Anyway, newly remixed and revived on import — to huge local success following plugs by Robbie Vincent on Radio London — the girlie trio are sorta Bananarama doing the Mary Jane Girls after listening to Meri Wilson’s ‘Telephone Man’, the nagging familiarity of the spoken-sung languidly jiggling 97bpm 12in structure only adding to its compulsive catchiness (inst flip). Its time has certainly come. Continue reading “December 3, 1983: Dayton, Xena, Girls Can’t Help It, Hi Voltage, The B Boys”

ODDS ‘N’ BODS

Robbie Vincent starts the new year on January 1st with a weekly Sunday 10pm-midnight soul show on BBC Radio One (simulcast on stereo Radio Two), “more or less a national version of my Radio London Saturday lunchtime show”, says Robbie . . . Dave Gregory on Southend’s Essex Radio (95.3 & 96.4 FM, 210/1359 & 220/1431 MW) not only has a Friday 7-9pm soul edition of his daily ‘The Gregamix’ but also now presents a Saturday 6-9pm ‘Electric Boogie’ with weekly disco DJ guests . . . Mayfair Gullivers DJ Graham Gold has David Joseph as guest on his very last Sunday 10am-midday JFM show, before switching next week to the Mon-thru-Fri 1.30- 4pm slot on the now 7 days a week 187/1602 MW London station . . . Wham are disclaiming all responsibility for their new ‘Club Fantastic Megamix‘ in an on-going argument with their record company Inner Vision, but have not unnaturally got its innocent mixer Alan Coulthard upset by telling their fans not to buy it (he needs the money!) . . . ‘Street Sounds Edition 7‘ will have Lydia Murdock ‘Superstar’/Curtis Hairston ‘I Want You’/Dayton ‘Sound Of Music’/ Tom Browne ‘Brighter Tomorrow’/Billy Griffin ‘Respect’/Lew Kirton ‘Talk To Me’/Instant Funk ‘You’ll Be Mine’/Lillo Thomas ‘I Love It’/Second Image ‘Don’t You’/Jones Girls ‘Knockin’, while Morgan Khan’s most ambitious project yet, the approximately 180 track ‘Dance Decade‘ boxed set has grown to 14 albums (or 9 cassettes) all for about £29, due in a fortnight or so . . . Island’s new club plugger Adrian Sykes is compiling additional mailing lists for experimental/alternative-type music, Hi-NRG, and video-using DJs — if you’re into one of those categories and can prove it, apply to Adrian at Island Records, 22 St Peters Square, London W6 . . . Angus Robertson is also compiling an alternative-type list at Illuminated Records, 452 Fulham Road, London SW6 . . . Mark Franklyn invites all nearby workers (and UB40 holders) to his Friday lunchtime soul club in The Royal Oak, Tooley Street, near London Bridge . . . Roger Dynamite has taken over his regular venue Tiffanys in Gt Yarmouth to promote his own ’60s/Motown night this Friday (25), when Steve Walsh funks Fleet Country Club and Jeff Young souls Dartford Flicks . . . Radio London soul broadcaster Tony Blackburn joins George Alexander and a PA by Phil Fearon at Harrow Leisure Centre this Saturday (26) . . . Greg Wilson & Chad Jackson mix up “The Perfect Beat” weekly on Mondays now at Bolton’s Dance Factory, where resident jock Peter Lee has moved ‘Dr Soul’s ’60s Stompers‘ to number one — Al Duprés (Cardiff Neros) and Nick Davies (Watford New Penny) are amongst those reporting great reaction, too . . . Norman Scott is calling Thursday at Haringey’s gay Lazers the ‘Stepping Back’ club with nothing but ’60s music and an opening special next week (1) of Helen Shapiro doing a one hour live show! . . . London Town Radio Roadshow is permanently at Bethnal Green’s Weavers Arms in Roman Road (free admission, pub hours), souled by The Big M Thur/Fri, Big Phil Etgart Sat/Sun . . . Peter Stringfellow opened his Hippodrome regardless that the lights weren’t working properly yet — and in fact their controlling computer is unlikely to be installed before Christmas . . . Dave Perry has already replaced the “too tired” Des Russell as resident jock at Edgbaston Faces French Club Jardine . . . Ian Gordon, upset by the national notoriety of King Kurt’s recent appearance there, left Liverpool’s Venue for calmer crowds at a the nearby Pembroke Sporting Club’s Brakes disco . . . Jonathan Guy, recently “blooded” by his first summer season in Wales now does the Cellar disco in Manchester University Students’ Union . . . Andy ‘Snake Hips’ Baker (0745-591135) is after a venue around the Mersey / Manchester / Cheshire / Lancashire area, and is not only a DJ but VJ too . . . Michael Sowden (24 St Annes Road, Caversham, Berks RG4 7PA) needs a 12in of Fantastique ‘Mama Told Me‘ — any offers? . . . Shaun James (Leighton Buzzard Unicorn) says one clever little member of the Aylesbury Posse pointed out the “get down” scratches on DJ Divine are from Raw Silk ‘Do It To The Music’ — Shaun also adds that with import 7in, UK 12in, LP, US 12in instrumental, Lionel Richie ‘All Night Long’ is getting just a bit expensive (but the instrumental is easier to mix into Herb Alpert ‘Red Hot’!) . . . Ray Parker Jr ‘N2U2‘ synchs sensationally right through Spence ‘Get It On‘, The System ‘Sweat‘ not surprisingly synchs ditto with Howard Johnson ‘Let’s Take Time Out‘ while Ronnie McNeir is great synched out of the Arnie’s Love fading tag . . . Instant Funk’s ‘Kinky’ LP, sleeve apart, is not so hot, other disappointing import sets being Maurice Starr, Howard Johnson, Earth Wind & Fire — though Womack & Womack is good soul, Ron Banks pleasant . . . Paddington’s Bluebird Records shop were dead impressed by the immediate reader response to their very first ad in RM last week, getting enquiries from places they’d never heard from before . . . Palo Alto Jazz has dropped the “Jazz” from its name, just by chance as the US label’s jazz saxist Richie Cole joins veteran country saxist Boots Randolph for an album reviving mainly ’50s C&W and R&B classics, including a 7in-issued remake of Randolph’s own raucous ’63 hit, ‘Yakety Sax’! . . . Trevor Hughes (Telford 592648) due to ill health is selling off lots of his Northern Soul and some Jazz/funk records . . . Steven Fay (Darwen) doesn’t have the Invitations ‘Skiing In The Snow‘ but gets great reaction to a version by the Beach Girls, which cost him a fortune anyway! . . Graham ‘Disco Kid’ Cambridge (York) asked over 500 of his mobile Outer Limits disco punters to compile an all-time chart and Little Eva ‘The Loco-motion’ came in at number five! . . . LET THE MUSIC PLAY!

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HOT VINYL

EARTHA KITT ‘Where Is My Man’ (Record Shack SOHOT 11, via IDS)
The latest “diva” to revive her fortunes after adoption by Boys Town, the veteran growling and purring chanteuse sets all her cornily seductive tricks to a tuneful simple solidly pulsating 117bpm 12in rhythm produced by Jacques Morali (inst flip), good out of Madonna and likely to cross over massively once radio jocks follow Greg Edwards in playing it to death. You’ve been warned.

GERRY TREW: ‘Deeper’ (Bluebird BRT 6, via PRT)
Possibly Steve Jerome’s best-ever song, this softly starting then huskily crooned spurting and soaring 112bpm 12in hustler has female backups, exotic brass and thumping break, all rising to several exciting crescendoes and sounding extremely powerful on radio especially (where it should have wide appeal). Selling well in London after many plays on Capital, it’s looking like a hit for the Watford Baileys singer.

SHARON REDD: ‘Somebody Save The Night’ (LP ‘Love How You Feel’ Dutch Rams Horn RHR 5065)
Prod/penned by Eric Matthew with no mention of Steve Harvey amongst the sleeve’s fulsome thanks!), Sharon’s insubstantial but danceable set —oddly out first in Holland — revolves rhythmically around her now drastically slowed-down 112bpm title track hit, this 113bpm canterer and the faster 120bpm ‘You’re A Winner‘ both imperceptibly mixing with it for a good sandwich, while the chunkier ‘Activate‘ and ‘Got Ya’ Where I Want‘ are both 0-114bpm, the slightly Mtume-ish ‘Sweet Sensation‘ is a pleasant 92½bpm slow slinker, and ‘Liar On the Wire‘ a rock-tinged 109bpm throbber. Continue reading “November 26, 1983: Eartha Kitt, Gerry Trew, Sharon Redd, Kool & The Gang, George Benson”

ODDS ‘N’ BODS

London’s airwaves are reeling as all the Home Office-harrassed pirates join Radio Jackie on the Medium Wave, only London Weekend Radio being left on FM (for the moment), although JFM is doing split FM/MW broadcasts on Sundays to publicise that they’re in the process of pumping out soul 7 days a week on 187m/1602kHz MW . . . Dayton ‘Sound Of Music‘, Lew Kirton ‘Just Can’t Get Enough‘, Third World ‘Lagos Jump‘, Billy Griffin ‘Serious‘; Bobby Nunn ‘Don’t Knock It‘/’Private Party‘ are all set for UK 12in . . . Marvin Gaye’s newly extended ‘Grapevine’ originated in the States as a 12in promo for clubs to plug Motown’s unexpectedly successful soul oldies soundtrack album from hit US movie ‘The Big Chill’ — the LP’s own high sales to young white Americans despite its lack of a current single has caused some rock radio programmers to rethink their segregated oldies policy, while the continued resurgence of Top 40 radio formats is further rattling complacent AOR rockers out of their ruts . . . Channel 4’s Malibu World Disco Dancing world final actually saw reality rule as Italy’s Jay Janani delighted the London crowd by fitting break, smurf, webbo and other current moves into the 135bpm beat, winning the title with great credibility — however, if someone other than a muscleman had been allowed to win the UK final, it might have been a different story . . . Miss USA, Regan Miller, can come dance in my front room any time she likes, but was hardly representative of the best that America has to offer, while India’s enchantingly demure Ila Rani Jhunjhunwala made a refreshing change from all the disco puppets . . . Ken Gold’s co-penned ‘I’m Out Of Your Life’ originally appeared on an old Delegation album, Arnie’s Love picking it up only after it was recently submitted to Radar as material by the publishers — while Brian Mason (St Albans) reckons Delegation’s own current ‘It’s Your Turn‘ cops a like from Fantasy ‘You’re Too Late‘! . . . Mark Sherwood-Edwards is revamping the club mailing list at Interdisc, 249-251 Kensal Road, London W10 5DB (01-969 9414/3801) . . . Lance Nuttall urgently needs a resident “personality” jock at Hickstead’s Dance Factory in Sussex (0273-833795) . . . Tony Prince’s home studio for the Disco Mix Club wants a pair of Technics 1500 decks — call 06286-63227 if you can help . . . Pete King (0675-63554) is after PAs at Nuneaton’s Raffles Night Club, and Thursday gigs for himself . . . Graham Hunter (Basingstoke) missed a date last month, Andover’s Country Bumpkin burnt down before he got there . . . Paul Major & Tony Allen are chuffed at Hinckley’s Bubbles, which won Mecca Leisure’s ‘Club Of The Year’ award . . . Bob Jones jazz-souls Royston’s Bull Thurs (17), Benson-on-Thames Rivers Fri (18) . . . Chris Hill joins Colin ‘Kenwood’ Hudd at Dartford Flicks this Friday (18), when Dave Rawlings has “vicars and tarts” fancy dress at Basingstoke Martines . . . Dave Smith is back at Mayfair’s Samanthas (off Regent Street next to Rockafellas late nite eaterie) Mon/Wed/Fri, the latter night all drinks at 50p . . . Feminine Touch (Jackie & Lorraine) spin soul and funk on Saturdays at Upton Park’s JR’s Wine Bar in East London . . . Liverpool’s Venue bodypops every Wednesday now to DJ Electra Bop Master 1090, videos, abstract animation, spraycan graffiti and the whole ‘Fort Apache, Toxteth’ vibe — sounds interesting! . . . Eddie Gee takes over Loughborough Toff’s (ex-Adam & Eve) on Wednesdays for 50p admission electro/jazz/funk/reggae, the “perfect beat” . . . Steve Walsh this Wednesday (23) starts fortnightly at Copthorne’s Smugglers near Crawley, and for the next two Sundays at his new Brixton Ace residency the first 500 through the door get tickets for an Old Grey Whistle Test filming of Level 42 — oh yes, and big Steve’s left Soho Gossips . . . Steve Ogley gets fairly funky four nights a week at Lowestoft’s Snaps, while up the coast at Gt Yarmouth’s One Five One on Thur/Fri/Sat young Danny Smith is pleased to find the punters are beginning to understand good mixing, at last . . . Steve ‘Stevie Q’ Gladders (Winchester Seasons) re-edited a respectable extended version of ‘All Night Long (All Night)’ on cassette, but’ll have to re-do it now the instrumental’s in (incidentally, not forgetting the import 12in is ½bpm slower than the LP, both run together so perfectly you can get phasing from the inst/vocal combined) . . . Peter Lee (Bolton Dance Factory) knows how to suck up to people — he’s got my ’60s Stompers megamix tape, in his Top 10! . . . Super Jocks indie plugger Theo Loyla has moved to 6 Tomay Cottages, Hawthorne Corner, Herne Bay, Kent CT6 6TL (022786-604) . . . Tony StMichael (62 Talbot House, Harvist Estate, London N7 7LU) is after some guest spots around the Oakham area in Rutland (or wherever it is now!) . . . Al Dupres, basking under the new lights at Cardiff’s Nero ‘s Thurs/Sat, presents the Saturday 6-9pm soul show and Sunday l0pm-midnight rock show on local ILR station CBC, 221 MW/96 FM . . . ‘DJ Of The Year’ Franklin Hughes presents Portsmouth’s Radio Victory soul show every Saturday 6-9pm, and has just started Mondays 8-10pm on Nottingham’s Radio Trent . . . Geoff Dorsett, ex-Hallam, has turned up playing dance hits ‘n more on Saturdays 9am-noon at ‘The Sound Of South Shropshire’, Sunshine Radio 299/1017kHz MW . . . Butch McCartney & The Blackface Kid have shot up the sales chart not surprisingly following the impact of their incredible video — like a whole movie in miniature, wouldn’t it make a great full-length feature film? . . . Eddy Grant’s current video runs subtitles of the line “I don’t know what to do” across the screen, and then mind-messingly the “what to do” stays painted on his jacket when he moves! . . . New York’s Playboy Club is being up-dated for a new year reopening as a two million dollar video club, featuring 75 screens of widths from 1 to 10 feet, and a dome-shaped screen suspended over the dancefloor showing up to eight different video projections at the same time, all controlled by two VJs and a DJ . . . WEA’s US parent company Warner Communications Inc seems in trouble deep, despite the music side making money their Atari consumer electronics (and, to a lesser extent, MTV-operating Warner Amex cable company) have helped WCI lose an unbelievable 425 million dollars so far this year . . . James Ingram ‘Party Animal’ is only 111¼bpm . . . Baiser, about since the summer, has belatedly been taken up by the Thames Estuary mafia! . . . Steve Harvey used to drum for Bogaz . . . Per Cussion and his All Stars are Swedish, his real name being Per Tjernberg! . . . Quando Quango ‘Love Tempo‘ (top 3 US Dance/Disco) varies-down nicely out of ‘Cavern’ . . . Africali ‘Ayiko Bia‘ is a disappointment, the beat just isn’t quite right . . . I want you (all tonight), tonight, ALL NIGHT LONG!

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HOT VINYL

MADONNA: ‘Holiday’ (Sire W 9405T)
Hurrah! This is the one that’ll give her a (Christmas holiday?) hit — originally big in Boys Town before breaking wide open on New York radio and now in better UK clubs, this incredibly frisky bright and breezy Jellybean Benitez produced 115bpm 12in smacking skipper has all the elements of a massive pop smash (good 118bpm ‘Think Of Me‘ flip, too). Get it, right now!

AZYMUTH: ‘Make Mine Guarana’ (LP ‘Rapid Transit’ US Milestone M-9118)
The boys from Brazil are back with a dynamite long ultra jittery simple 113- 114-113-116-114-116-115-116bpm instrumental jazz-funk-latino groove powered by cleanly clinking and clonking percussion and their usual vocodered organ sound over an infectious bass line, “groove” being the operative word (the rest of the set through is really specialist either soft or frantic latin jazz). How about a 12in?

HI VOLTAGE: ‘Love Is The Message’ (US One Way OW-007)
Began Cekic has recreated the old Vince Montana-arranged MFSB instrumental (a cult disco classic in New York), then with John Morales & Sergio Munzibai mixed it into a new (scratch-)116-120-121-116(rap on)bpm 12in form that’s still good mellow flowing jazz-funk like the original but with lots of scratching over it and an off-puttingly abrupt slower scratch ‘n “partay” rap break towards the end (the flip’s shorter different mix is minus rap). Combining the best of two worlds in ear-grabbing style, it could be huge. Continue reading “November 19, 1983: Madonna, Azymuth, Hi Voltage, Howard Johnson, David Joseph”

ODDS ‘N’ BODS

LIONEL RICHIE’s import 12in of ‘All Night Long (All Night)’ is the LP-length 108½bpm remix with, really usefully, its instrumental as flip (great for mixing in at singalong points to catch your crowd in full voice!) . . . UK 12in releases will only qualify for Gallup’s combined main national singles chart as from the end of this month provided they feature the exact same tracks as the equivalent 7in, although remixed/extended versions will of course still be allowed: this may hopefully decrease the amount of creatively marketed pop product in the 12in chart, but could cause problems in cases like the new Michael Jackson 12in when two different mixes of the main track are padded with a throwaway filler, the filler though being 7in flip (where it makes good sense) — which track in the future would the company sacrifice, rather than have a 3-track 7in? . . . A&M pressed up all their 12in copies of the Jeffrey Osborne remix (yet to be received) and it wasn’t until freelance plugger Orin Cozier told ’em that they realised somehow every single one featured an extended instrumental instead of the vocal! . . . Disco Mix Club’s November oldies floor-filler should have read last week as part one of ‘Dr Soul’s ’60s Stompers’, mixed “live” by myself and left in such a way that next month’s girlie group part two will follow on perfectly if both are transposed onto a separate cassette . . . Alan Coulthard’s current DMC megamix is of George Benson, but more importantly he’s also megamixed together three tracks from Wham’s album for commercial 12in release as their next single, probably called ‘Club Fantastic’ . . . Radio London soul broadcaster Tony Blackburn was thoroughly entertaining in a corny self-mocking way last week at Dartford Flicks (where you can get nervous exhaustion watching Colin Hudd mix!), but some soul fans were disappointed he was so “Radio One Roadshow” — however, after much discussion, he says that at his next proper soul gig he’ll get behind the decks for a while just to prove he can actually play a record! . . . Flicks found a little knot of observers all kitted out in fancy knits — Ian Reading (Southend Zero 6), Nicky Peck (Medway), Tom Holland (Flicks), Ralph Tee (Groove On), Orin Cozier (Pzzazz) and me! . . . Big Al Mayfield (Guildford & Purley Cinderella’s Rockerfella’s) has been voted Mecca Leisure’s entertainer of the year, a DJ for the first time beating all the groups and singers . . . Channel 4’s Malibu World Disco Dancing UK final with its 138bpm music was won by Frankie Johnson Jr (Cardiff) doing a body building routine, runner-up the buxom Anita West (Hornchurch), their competition being jerky over-animated marionettes apart from the excellent Ray Dillon (Warley) and Everett Jervis (East London), who didn’t even make the final five despite being the only glimpse of 1983 on display — don’t Malibu realise that all the new excitement in dancing (especially in the public’s mind) is being caused by body popping and other sinuous movements done to slower funk tempos? . . Peter Stringfellow’s new Hippodrome doesn’t actually open until Friday next week (18) — oops, I knew there was an 8 in the date! NY Skyy impressed everyone at Hammersmith, while there just ain’t no stoppin’ Brass Construction once their rumbling bass/smacking drums rhythm machine gets put into gear — great! . . . Mayfair Gullivers then saw several of the guys, plus gig-visiting Ralph Randell (Birmingham Powerhouse) and Roger Tovell (Severn Sound), the latter telling me that around Gloucester The Tribe ‘Jungle Rock‘ is currently huge . . . Discomart ’83 is this Sunday (13) from noon-5.30pm at Gloucester Leisure Centre in Station Road, £1 general admission, the equipment exhibition including a high power laser and periodical demonstrations of a full sound and light show . . . Rush Release (65 Bedford Hill, London SW12) are updating their Groovemasters mailing list for electro/rap/scratch jocks — and Lydon ‘T’ at Polo Records (351 Edgware Road, London W2), still looking for funky acts to sign, is updating his lists too . . London Records promoted The Walkers by sending DJs a slip mat — yes, just the one! . . . Shannon is now top US Dance/Disco hit . . . Slick ‘Space Bass’ (US Fantasy D-218) is out again on import in a slight remix . . . Charing Cross Heaven DJ/hot hi-NRG producer Ian Levine has megamixed together an excellent ‘Twelve Inches Of Pleasure‘ LP (Proto 1) full of fast Boys Town chart stuff . . . Pinnacle’s new Red Rooster label will be releasing Koffie here . . . Liverpool Concert Street jock Gary Allan is looking for a DJ capable of non-stop high energy mixing for possible work starting January (not necessarily in Liverpool) — if you’re really good, send career details and demo tape to him at 7 Gatley Drive, Maghull, Liverpool L31 3DH . . . Bob Jones miaows that the Caister chart should have been determined by all the jocks who worked there rather than just two — ooh! (but have you ever tried to get them all to agree on a chart?!), Bob ‘Dr Jazz’ is himself back reviving the goodies every Tuesday at Chelmsford’s Countryman in Victoria Road, and this Thurs (10) at Hemel Hempstead Whip & Collar, Fri (11) at Sheffield Green Sheffield Arms near Uckfield . . . Chris Dinnis starts souling Thursdays this week (10) at Taunton Kingstons in Station Road with a PA by David Grant (faint, swoonl) . . .Chris Hill joins Kev Ashman & Tom Felton at Charing King Arthur’s Court this Friday (28), when Robbie Vincent & Tom Holland soul Dartford Flicks, and Jeff Young joins Dave Collins at Staines Jacksons . . . King Enri at Deptford Cheeks (Fri) and West Kingsdown Kings Lodge (Sat) is after guest star PAs for both venues on 01-852 3900 (shop hours) . . . Grandmaster Flash ‘The Message’ has been adapted into a current Green Cross Code road safety jingle — so how long before they get around to STAY OFF THOSE YELLOW LINES!

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HOT VINYL

ARNIE’S LOVE: ‘I’m Out Of Your Life’ (Streetwave WAVEL 9)
The very soulful light voiced Arnie turns out to be Toney Lee’s brother, getting cooing support on a superb dreamily shuffling 0-104bpm 12in swaying jogger that’s already been an overnight sales sensation on import . . . possibly because side one’s fading tag is just like the start of side two’s jazzier instrumental version, making two copies pretty well essential so you can prolong the groove! Pure class.

RONNIE McNEIR & INSTANT GROOVE: ‘Just Can’t Let You Go’ (US Crossroad Entertainment Corp CR 12-2)
Bunky Shepherd’s new soul label now hits us with a fantastic pent-up jittery little 102bpm 12in shuffle, jiggle ‘n kick jogger based on the Herb Alpert ‘Rise’ riff (they mix divinely!), Ronnie and friends swapping lead vocals around bluesy harmonica, guitar and organ while whipping up an ultra-infectious storm (inst flip). It is dynamite!

CUBA GOODING: ‘Happiness Is Just Around The Bend’ (London LONX 41)
Arthur Baker powers this terrific zappily infectious 120-119-120bpm 12in revival of Cuba’s Main Ingredient oldie with a driving ‘Billie Jean’ beat and shrill supporting chix, setting up a frisky lick that’s got most dance crowds covered (119bpm dub/acappella flip). Sit still if you can! Continue reading “November 12, 1983: Arnie’s Love, Ronnie McNeir & Instant Groove, Cuba Gooding, Michael Jackson, Daryl Hall & John Oates”

ODDS ‘N’ BODS

Michael Jackson’s caption last week (which gained a stray “no” — there IS doubt that ‘Thriller’ will be a US single) now continues with the news that Vestron Video in the States are releasing a one hour ‘Michael Jackson: Making Of The Thriller Video’ which reportedly will contain the finished 10 minute ‘Thriller’ video along with candid footage of its filming, plus “major elements” of the ‘Billie Jean’ and ‘Beat It’ clips as well as older ‘Off The Wall’ material — out before Christmas, the US video will be about £20 there but its availability in UK-compatible formats has yet to be announced . . . Streetwave are rushing Arnie’s Love here, label boss Morgan Khan currently devoting his time to a boxed ten album set ‘Decade Of Dance Hits 1973-83‘, promised for the party season and full of original smash classics! . . . Clubhouse’s follow-up medley (already on promo) will be the far less notable 113bpm ‘Supergood‘ melding of Stevie Wonder ‘Superstition’ and Chic ‘Good Times’, while Freeez follow with the pace changing 50-100bpm ‘Love’s Gonna Get You‘ .. . David Joseph’s surprisingly amateurish “Britfunk” LP due soon has only two really dynamic dancers, the 95bpm ‘Joys Of Life‘ title track and 0-118bpm ‘Do You Feel My Love Now Baby‘ . . . Brass Construction/NY Skyy at Hammersmith Odeon this Friday sold out so fast that they’re there Sunday (6) now too! . . . Channel 4 televise the Malibu World Disco Dancing finals “live” tonight (Thursday 3) — the music last week actually dropped to only 132bpm, so there may be a hope for the more subtle contestants yet! . . . Peter Stringfellow’s daringly different Hippodrome opens (at London’s old Talk Of The Town) this coming Tuesday (8), and already has a TV variety show emanating from it . . . In Store Music previously free promo cassette programmes are being forced by the BPI to institute a nominal charge for their service (“music users should be educated to expect to pay for the use of recorded music”) and so have formed a “club” restricted to bona-fide working DJs, who must first prove they work in PPL licensed premises (or have a PPL licence if mobile — which is unfair as most mobiles doing private domestic parties don’t need one), cheques for £52 (year)/£30 (six months) being payable to Midas Records Ltd, 104 Harley House, Upper Harley Street, London NW1 4PR (full details on 01-935 3987) . . . Disco Mix Club’s November oldies medleys Mary Wells ‘My Guy’/ Jackie Wilson ‘Sweetest Feeling’/ Chairmen Of The Board ‘Give Me Just A Little More Time’/Four Tops ‘I Can’t Help Myself’/Miracles ‘Tears Of A Clown’/Isley Bros ‘This Old Heart’/Stevie Wonder ‘Uptight’/Vandellas ‘Dancing In The Street’/Jr Walker ‘Road Runner’/Show Stoppers ‘House Party’/Chubby Checker ‘(At The) Discotheque’/Edwin Starr ‘SOS’/ Frankie Valli ‘You’re Ready Now’/Billy Butler ‘Right Track’/Dobie Gray ‘Out On The Floor’/Bandwagon ‘Walls Of Heartache’ — all the chops/mixes being done “live” apart from one piano-to-piano tape edit (how much will boots of that be worth up North?) . . . Discoscene ’83 equipment exhibition is this Sunday (6) at Wishaw’s Belfry Hotel in Sutton Coldfield, noon-6pm . . . Simon Berwick (0706-216980 evenings) urgently needs a versatile smart pop jock for three months at a new hotel club in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, pay around £550 all-in per month — and alcohol is legal there! . . . The Chi-Lites and David Copperfield play Watford Baileys next week, Jr Walker returns to Mayfair Gullivers on Wednesday (9)… STAY OFF THOSE WHITE LINES!

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HOT VINYL

KLIQUE: ‘Stop Doggin’ Me Around’ (MCA MCAT 843)
Only Lionel Richie is stopping this from being the biggest black hit in the States at the moment, a fabulous rolling slow 54bpm revival of Jackie Wilson’s 1960 ‘Doggin’ Around‘ that’s true to his original catch-in-the-throat chokingly soulful treatment, here on 3-track 12in with the otherwise Shalamar-ish trio’s blandly clopping 117bpm ‘Honey (I Want To Be Your Lover)‘, and burbling 117bpm ‘Try It Out‘.

SHANNON: ‘Let The Music Play’ (Club LET 112, via Phonogram)
Hailed Stateside as the best electro dancer ever as it combines powerful hip-hoppery with a tuneful vocal, this chick-sung 0-114½bpm 12in judderer is actually a bit offputtingly “disco” in its vocal version, the far harder and freakier electro scratch instrumental 0-116½bpm flipside dub being more exciting — though both sides mixed together is best of all! A pop smash, no sweat.

GRANDMASTER & MELLE MEL: ‘White Lines (Don’t Don’t Do It)’ (Sugarhill SHL 130)
The realisation that this adventurously arranged 115bpm 12in rapper owes so much to Liquid Liquid’s distinctively rumbling ‘Cavern‘ rhythm track doesn’t detract from its exciting impact, and it should still be huge here as it’s ear-grabbingly different in ‘The Message’ class (alternative breakdown flip). Should it prove tricky to put across, just try running the “freeze!” start over Herbie Hancock’s ‘Autodrive’ break! Continue reading “November 5, 1983: Klique, Shannon, Grandmaster & Melle Mel, Armenta, Rufus & Chaka Khan”

ODDS ‘N’ BODS

LIONEL RICHIE’s ‘All Night Long’ 12in will now stay as it is, Motown merely emphasising that an extended remix is on his album — and really, at this stage, who can blame them? . . . Rufus/Chaka Khan ‘Ain’t Nobody’ is now evidently on UK 12in, Melle Mel ‘White Lines’ (without a remix) is due here imminently, Cuba Gooding has been grabbed by London (who don’t have automatic rights to Streetwise material), Steve Harvey’s next pressing of the ‘Tonight’ 12in will replace the flip’s versions with Steve’s own original mix plus ‘Something Special’ . . . Third World ‘Lagos Jump‘, unscheduled for 12in here, has turned up (unremixed) on two different import 12in pressings — US Columbia (44-04194) flipped by ‘Swing Low‘ and Dutch CBS (CBSA 12.3744) with ‘Love Is Out To Get You (Instrumental)‘ . . . Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes have just signed to Philly World, with new product in the new year . . . Tony Monson while on his record delivery round had his car burgled, losing three large export shipper’s boxes of the current hottest new imports plus a few one-offs, and (easiest to spot) some obscure Japanese albums — anyone with suspicions of their present whereabouts should call Monson Of The Yard on Orpington 22350 . . . Tom Wilson (Edinburgh Reflections) while helping on Graham Jackson’s Radio Forth soul show had an on-air phone chat with Randy Muller, who said Brass Construction were about to re-record ‘Movin’ in “a sort of 1983 version” — doubtless I’ll get more news when the guys are in town next week! . . . Dionne Warwick’s album is out here already but for some reason retitled ‘So Amazing’ (Arista 2057-55), the US’s ‘How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye‘ title track duet with Luther Vandross being on UK 12in . . . Herb Alpert’s old ‘Rise’, which in pre-quartz locked days I’d always believed was 100bpm, on its present UK 12in pressing (as flip to ‘Garden Party’) turns out to be 98 2/3bpm and very useful for mixers again — unless speed-spun at 133bpm! . . . Everett Jervis from Hackney Flappers thankfully managed to make something out of the dreadful 142bpm music to win last week’s semi-final of the Malibu World Disco Dancing contest in moderately realistic style, the tempo and background dancing ironically returning to complete reality when Junior Gee performed live! . . . The Rock Steady Crew’s own video is visually busy but surprisingly unspectacular when it comes to their break dancing . . . Birmingham’s Steve Dennis will soon announce plans to continue his annual DJ Convention, although wherever he holds it the date will now not be until early next year . . . Steve Walsh starts taking complete control of the Saturday 6-9pm ‘Street Life’ soul show on Guildford’s County Sound 96.6FM/203MW as from next week, and will fill TV screens on Tuesday (Nov 1) as a guest on Channel 4’s 10.30pm ‘Loose Talk’ chat show — evidently to make up for the musical other Steve Walsh having preceded him! . . . Phil Riley’s Friday ‘Soul Train’ on BRMB has been extended half an hour to run 7.30-10pm, starting now with a Midland Dance Floor Chart for which he’d welcome local jocks contributions — send your charts to Phil at BRMB, PO Box 555, Birmingham B6 4BX (and if you’re an electro jock in the Midlands, how about sending ’em to us as well?) . . . Radio Caroline is on 965kHz/319m MW . . . Her Majesty’s Home Office seem to be harassing London’s weekend soul pirates so much at the moment that most if not all have been off the air . . . US TV and cable stations have at last started a veritable bandwagon of black music video shows, at a local rather than nationally networked level to start with, and although new video material will obviously be in the pipeline now that it has an outlet, the stations are getting great reaction to all the old black videos that previously had gone unseen . . . Lionel Richie is top US Black single, Klique still at two . . . “Top 40” radio stations seem to be winning back ratings in some US cities, several significantly just like in the ’60’s mixing white and black records without the narrowcast segregation that in recent years took variety out of playlists (and all but the blandest black acts out of the pop charts) . . . I keep mentioning the state of US TV and radio because it does directly influence the records that we get . . . October 1963, twenty years ago exactly, was just about the birth of soul music in all its modern glory — certainly there was a sense of something different in the air, with acts like Major Lance, The Impressions, Martha & The Vandellas, Garnet Mimms & The Enchanters, Wilson Pickett, Marvin Gaye and so many more making memorable records, plus the whole Motown machine getting its gears in order with the first of its classic “formula” releases: is it any wonder that this was about the time that I started going over the top as a record collector, getting Billboard every week to tick off all the soul hits I’d got?! . . . US publishers Holt, Rinehart & Winston have just put out ‘Showtime At The Apollo‘ by Ted Fox, reputedly an excellent much-illustrated account of the famous Harlem variety theatre where all the black stars appeared, I used to go there every week in ’64, and to the Baby Grand and Small’s Paradise (the latter included in the photo montage on import CBS 12in sleeves) . . . Curly King, another name much more known in nightlife circles twenty years ago, these days is successfully manufacturing an interlocking tubular plastic King Plan display and stacking system which could well be ideal for mobile disco use — coming in various smart colours, the tubes lock together in any cube-based permutation you want, take no time to set up/take down, weigh next to nothing yet support up to four tonnes per square metre, and fitted with shelves or with boxes just put straight across the top must be a useful alternative to boring old tables for all your gear at gigs (details from King Plan Marketing, Unit 12, Elizabeth Industrial Estate, Juno Way, Deptford, London SE14 (01-692 9657) . . . Lee Taylor (01-385 6955/0506) as well as wanting a quality venue himself, for some mysterious reason needs a good Barbadian DJ el pronto, like fast! . . . Hidden Charms, promoting their white pop-reggae 0-142½bpm ‘Lover’s Rock’ around the clubs, are after more PA’s and radio interviews — contact John Walsh on 01-567 1668 or PRT’s Robert Blenman and Kenny Barker on 01-262 8040 . . . Halloween lasts the whole weekend at Hinckley Bubbles with Paul Major, Tony Allen & Leigh Clark keeping the witches cauldron boiling through Sat/Sun/Monday, while elsewhere the predictable horror theme gets played to the hilt on Saturday (29) by Gary Oldis at Aycliffe Bee Jay’s Country Club (free for appropriate fancy dressers), Tricky Dicky at Stratford’s The Pigeons in Romford Road (Boys Town), and similarly Norman Scott at Haringey Bolts, Brighton Bolts 1am bar extension party being on Sunday (30), as are an alldayer at Bolton’s Dance Factory with Greg Wilson, Colin Curtis, Mike Shaft, Richard Seeding, Peter Lee ‘n more and another alldayer at Birmingham’s Hummingbird with Frenchie T and presumably more, Radio London soul DJ Tony Blackburn joining Colin Hudd at Dartford Flicks on Monday (31), when Dave Rawlings at Kensington’s The Park lets in fancy-dressers for free, and Kelly combines Halloween with the 1st birthday at Boscombe’s The Academy . . . Darren Fogel, soul/jazzing Kensington’s Thackeray’s winebar Fri/Sat, is joined weekly this Thursday (27) by Steve Walsh at Tufnell Park’s Boston Club . . . Julian Palmer, playing Liquid Liquid ‘Cavern‘ for some time amongst his more left-field electrofunk on Fridays at London’s Oxford/Tottenham Court Road The Pleasure Dome, is after more West End/Surrey residencies on 01-409 2211 . . . Capital’s Phil Allen does Dartford Flicks this Friday (28) rather than last week, Bob Jones joins Pete Tong at the Sheffield Arms near Uckfield on the A275, and Tom Felton joins Kev Ashman weekly at Charing King Arthur’s Court from this Friday too . . . Chris Ramrachia, just back from Mauritius and looking for a club residency (messages on 01-422 6338), has a special Mauritian night downstairs at Mayfair Gullivers this Saturday (29) . . . Cino Berigliano, whose cheeky attempt to get the records he’s promoting into our chart is being totally ignored (so save your stamps!), joins Carol at London’s Lyceum every Saturday and would welcome PAs on 01-688 3699 . . . John Dene provides funk and Paul Kristian fun (like Max Bygraves!) every Saturday at Dunstable Tiffany’s, John also doing Streatham Cats Whiskers (Fri)/Guildford Cinderfellas (Mon) and wanting more mid-week gigs on Eaton Bray 220310 . . . Disco Dave Singleton, big in Eccles for years, this Sunday (30) starts a new nightly video show at Warrington’s Lord Rodneys (pub hours) and Eccles Rainbow (after hours), his twin giant screen video show going out from Newton-Le-Willows 6018 . . . Pete Tong souls Bermondsey Dockhead’s Swan & Sugarloaf with Nicky Holloway on Monday (31), the Chi-Lites play Mayfair Gullivers on Wednesday (2) . . . Stevie Wonder’s campaign paid off, the third Monday every January will be an American public holiday, Martin Luther King Day (it being closest to his ‘Happy Birthday’), . . . Prince’s current US pop smash from his year-old double album is the rhythmically ambivalent jaunty 100/200bpm ‘Delirious‘ — as you may have noticed now the US charts are back in your caring sharing RM! . . . Gene Chandler’s old 115bpm ‘Get Down‘ is interesting out of Melle Mel, while last Friday my set ended in mellow style with a full floor to Kevie Kev, Herb Alpert ‘Rise’, Hubert Laws, Mary Jane Girls ‘All Night Long’ (Inst), Teena Marie ‘Playboy’, Atlantic Starr ‘I Want Your Love’, Lionel Richie ‘Love Will Find A Way’, Dennis Brown ‘Love Has Found Its Way’ . . . Whiz Kid, scratching partner of rapping MC G.L.O.B.E., did the scratches on Freeez ‘Scratch Goes My Dub‘ . . . import buyers had to be rich last week — I picked up about 90 quid’s worth and still didn’t get everything . . . what happened this week to Hardcase’s “now you’re cookin” which looked like a handy catchphrase? . . . STAY OFF THOSE WHITE LINES!

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MICHAEL JACKSON is right now in the middle of filming with director John Landis the previously mooted half-million dollar video of an extended 10-minute version of ‘Thriller’ (however only the LP version and a new shorter remix will be on the UK 12in due next week! By supplying slightly more finance than CBS for this venture, Michael retains all rights to the video, which together with his older ‘Billie Jean’ and ‘Beat It’ clips could possibly end up on sale to the public! Meanwhile in the States, where promo pressings of ‘Thriller’ may be serviced to radio and clubs, there’s no doubt that it will actually follow ‘P.Y.T.’ as the seventh single to be pulled off the one LP . . . although, after its inevitable UK success, who knows?

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PETE TONG fleshes out last week’s simple list of the obvious big newies at the Caister soul weekender with a more in-depth look at the other tracks that were equally big but mainly of a more specialist jazz or oldies type. Although the general influence of this event has greatly decreased, it’s still interesting to see what the soul purists are currently playing.

1. ALL ABOUT MY GIRL – Jimmy McGriff – Sue/Ensign 7” EP
2. BAIHIA – Gilberto Gil – French WEA LP
3. AC/DC – Paz – Paladin LP
4. JAMAICAN GIRL – Love Unlimited – Unlimited Gold LP
5. FOOT IN THE DOOR – Onward International – Paladin 12”
6. WHEN SLY CALLS – Michael Franks – US Warner Bros LP
7. GOT MY MOJO WORKING – Jimmy Smith – Verve LP
8. SOUL LIMBO – Booker T & The MG’s – Stax 7”
9. BRIGHTER TOMORROW – Tom Browne – US Arista LP
10. WET MY WHISTLE – Midnight Star – Solar 12”
11. LOVE HOW YOU FEEL – Sharon Redd – Prelude 12”
12. JUST CAN’T GET ENOUGH – Lew Kirton – US BID LP

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HOT VINYL

SPENCE: ‘Get It On’ (Arista ARIST 12547)
In short supply on Dutch import although immediately massive for all who found it, this floor-packing ultra-beefy bass bumped 112bpm 12in thudder builds from street noises into a great ‘Funkin’ for Jamaica’ groove (synch ’em to excite your punters!) breaking after chant backed light lead vocals into some electro hiccups near the end. There ain’t no stoppin’ it now!

ARMENTA: ‘I Wanna Be With You’ (US Savoir Faire SF 201)
Exploding faster than dynamite and obviously the next Unique (it’s like a less crisp version, and terrific out of Haywoode), this Amir Bayyan-prod chirrupy chix wailed 0-114½bpm 12in pounder has nice open tuned guitar amidst the hard knocking beat, and great vocoder on Part 2 picking up from Part 1’s outro.

DAYTON: ‘The Sound Of Music’ (LP ‘Feel The Music’ US Capitol ST-12297)
Rahni Harris’s group come blazing back with a sensational soul set on which even the duffer tracks at least have great singing, this jazzily flavoured flowing vocoder scatted 55/110-112-113-114-112-0-115bpm roller being the big floor filler, the 7in-issued ‘It Must Be Love‘ a lovely 81-82bpm jogger and ‘Out Tonight‘ a Kashif-ish 113bpm jolter, oddly the Zapp Family Troutman-masterminded 111bpm ‘Love You Anyway‘ being weakest of all, while others are the Staples-ish 87bpm ‘Lookin’ Up’, 51½-106-104bpm ‘Promise Me’, 0-32-65½bpm ‘Caught In The Middle’, 125bpm ‘So What’, 0-136bpm ‘Eyes’. They have it! Continue reading “October 29, 1983: Spence, Armenta, Dayton, Lionel Richie, Arnie’s Love”

ODDS ‘N’ BODS

NORTHERN SOUL roots united high energy producers Ian Anthony Stephens (Hazel Dean/Marsha Raven/Flirtations) and Ian Levine (Miquel Brown/Eastbound Expressway) to record the Yvonne Gidden-fronted Reputations on a disco remake of the legendary Invitations ‘Skiing In The Snow‘, due through Record Shack before winter sets in . . . Capital Radio’s 10th birthday ‘Best Disco In Town’ featured Gonzalez live, backing Al Matthews reviving his old ‘Fool‘ hit (he was really wailin’ by the end, too, yes indeedy!), followed immediately by the Al Green-like excellent Oliver Cheatham — who so enjoyed his subsequent PA at Mayfair’s Gullivers he returned for another on Monday! . . . Al Matthews ruefully confesses he blew £7,000 backing the ‘Boogolator’ electronic Beats Per Minute counter, which to judge from the queries I get now was obviously too far ahead of its time . . . Dave McAleer’s latest in a line of labels (last was TMT) is S.O.U.N.D. Recordings, distributed via Pinnacle . . . Brass Construction together with New York Skyy play Hammersmith Odeon on Friday Nov 4 — what a bill! — while Bobby McFerrin is at London’s Duke of York’s theatre for two nights the following weekend . . . Channel 4’s World Disco Dancing really is an insult with its awful fast witless 139bpm music — anyone would think sponsors Malibu are into cigs rather than coconut rum — compere Leee ‘Cue Card’ John doing his best to reinforce the public’s prejudices about all things “disco” . . . Alan Coulthard’s ‘Gonna Get You Megamix‘ of all the tracks off the Freeez LP, on Disco Mix Club cassette, is now also on Beggars Banquet promo 12in to promote the album (which is why it slurs down towards the end to fit in even the slower songs) . . . Froggy hopefully didn’t say too much about Radio Caister on ‘Steppin’ Out’ this Monday? . . . Arthur Baker seems well informed about Britain, reportedly saying “From what I’ve heard, the white kids who have something to prove by liking black music are less apt to get into electronics, whereas the black people who are into music are into electronics.” . . . I luckily stumbled across my old Main Ingredient ‘Happiness Is Just Around The Bend‘ 7in, and while obviously minus the remake’s ‘Billie Jean’ beat at 122-125bpm it could still be useful . . . Melle Mel ‘White Lines’, which evidently is based on Liquid Liquid ‘Cavern‘ (US 99 12in EP), can admittedly be tricky to get into but is a sensational synch if the “freeze!” bit starts during the break a third through Herbie Hancock ‘Autodrive‘, after which mix you’ll suddenly find it’s a smash! . . . Edgar Winter has updated ‘Frankenstein 1984‘ for Tommy Boy owner Tom Silverman’s new rock-funk Body Rock label . . . Richard Jon Smith has been recording with Darryl ‘NV’ Payne in New York, where on radio they call him “RJ Smith” . . . Jazzy Dee ‘Put It To The Test‘, enjoying the dubious chart benefit of a UK-only pre-release promo mailout, is an untidy 123bpm jolter with offputtingly loud rap bits chorusing chix and odd booming beat . . . Paul Anthony celebrates the 2nd birthday of Wolverhampton Eve’s with a star-studded party this Friday (21), when Sandy Martin at Swindon Brunel Rooms has his annual St. Trinians party (school uniforms admitted free!), Steve Harvey PAs at Bolton’s Dance Factory, Capital’s Phil Allen funks Dartford Flicks, County Sound’s Steve Walsh funks Fleet Country Club . . . Friday also finds Graham ‘Funky Scot’ Hunter having shorts & whistles fun at Andover Country Bumpkin (Graham wants recommendations about non-Wally clubs in Paris, France, for a visit there next month), as well as John Dene & Owen Washington funking Streatham Cats Whiskers weekly (late ’70s classics — the last records Owen bought? — from 8.30-9.30pm, while offers of PAs would be welcome on 0582-862733) . . . John Dene cheekily suggests a car sticker saying “Even The Tories Do It” . . . Saturday (22) Neil Fincham celebrates Motown’s 25th anniversary at Edinburgh Mad Hatters, threatening if it goes down well to repeat the process for the next few Thursdays too, and Chris Brown & Sean French recap Caister at Windsor Safari Park’s revamped New Safari Club . . . Sunday (23) sees a 3pm all-dayer at Leeds Merrion Centre Tiffany’s with Colin Curtis, Jonathan, Trevor M, Frenchie, Baz Maleady, Simon Walsh etc, leaving refugees Mike Shaft & Kev Edwards free to venture dahn the smoke to join Steve Walsh, Toby Perkins, Ralph Tee & Kev Ashman at London’s Charing Cross Road Busby’s 2pm alldayer . . . Greg Wilson, Mike Shaft & Richard Searling start a Soul Appreciation Society night at Bolton’s Dance Factory on Monday (24) — Steve Harvey PAs at Guildford Cinderella Rockerfellas on Tuesday (25), when Chris Kaye starts a new free admission soul night at Tonbridge’s Loggers pub beside the station (part of it’s a Pizza Hut) . . . Nick Ratcliffe has found the crowd at Portsmouth’s Ritzy are into hi-energy fodder, and Divine/New Order notwithstanding, the biggest hit is still Roni Griffiths ‘The Best Part Of Breaking Up‘ . . . Adrian Dunbar, bussing in the boys from Bournemouth, Portsmouth, Brighton and Newbury to his gay Friday cabaret nights at Southampton’s Warehouse, has switched his night at Bournemouth Adams to soul/disco oldies on Tuesday so Richard Hunt now does the uptempo Wednesday . . . Brian McCaig, boogying with the boys at Bristol’s Oasis Club, complains a lot of DJs still don’t count their 4/8/16/32 bar progressions when mixing, a good point — you see, ideally, you ought to synch the record you intend to mix so that the start of its appropriate bar structure coincides with a similar point in the record already playing (count the beats 1234, 2234, 3234 etc from the start of each obvious progression and like as not you’ll find the changes occur in multiples of 8) . . . Norman Scott (Haringey Bolts) should try following his big audience participation number Doris Day ‘Whatever Will Be Will Be (Que Sera Sera)’ with Danny Kaye ‘Wonderful Wonderful Copenhagen’ (and/or Max Bygraves ‘Tulips From Amsterdam’!) . . . Dave Crane (Wolverhampton Poly) synchs Howard Jones ‘New Song’ out of Herbie Hancock ‘Rockit’ . . . Bryan O’Connor is still doing some freelance plugging for Island — but more to the point, what’s happening at A&M and PRT, as their stuff on 12in just is not arriving? . . . WEA should shelve their clever game plans and get on with releasing UK singles of Madonna ‘Holiday’ (huge!), Manhattan Transfer ‘Spice Of Life‘ and Rufus/Chaka Khan ‘Ain’t Nobody’ — the latter is now top US Black single, with the great Klique ‘Stop Doggin’ Me Around‘ at number 2 and even climbing the pop chart . . . Justin’s dad Jeremy Lubbock has been busy arranging for Jennifer Holliday, Four Tops, Manhattan Transfer — anyone else I’ve missed? . . . Radio Caroline is really pumping it out on 319m/96KHz MW, the music excitingly sequenced with little interruption (but then they’ve no legal need to stop the flow) . . . John Clancy needs a stand-in to run “Kent’s leading radio-styled mobile disco” while he’s in hospital — all gear, roadies and records provided plus full weekend work — send him an audition tape at 67 College Avenue, Gillingham . . . Tony Tiger (Liverpool) was so inundated after his request in RM for DJs (all places now filled) that he regrets he can’t answer them all . . . NOW YOU’RE COOKIN’!

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JEFFREY DANIEL’S new group Eclipse obviously know the importance of a good haircut, amongst the styles they sport being a perfect pompadoured Charlie Foxx (as in Inez & . . . )! Jeffrey tells me that following the break up of Shalamar, Solar succeeded in getting Howard Hewitt to stay singing under the established group name with two new recruits, instead of going solo — which surely would have been a more sensible move for Howard?

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CAISTER TOP 10

1. ALL NIGHT LONG (ALL NIGHT) – Lionel Richie
2. HAPPINESS IS JUST AROUND THE BEND – Cuba Gooding
3. STEPPIN’ OUT – Slave
4. SPICE OF LIFE – Manhattan Transfer
5. TONIGHT – Steve Harvey
6. ALL MY LIFE – Major Harris
7. MOVE YOUR BODY – Bernard Wright
8. PRIVATE PARTY – Bobby Nunn
9. I WANT YOU (ALL TONIGHT) – Curtis Hairston
10. I WANNA BE WITH YOU – Armenta

Wot, no electro?!

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HOT VINYL

THIRD WORLD: ‘Lagos Jump’ (LP ‘All The Way Strong’ CBS 25473)
Far hotter in the States and now here than their 12in, this subtly infectious 109bpm brassy afro chanter is not reggae at all and has an understated steadily clapping rhythm with more hidden depths than a casual listen might suggest, great for mixing especially out of Lionel Richie! Check this one quick!

CAPTAIN RAPP: ‘Bad Times (I Can’t Stand It)’ (US Saturn Records SAT-2003)
Gradually gathering a reputation, this burbling 119½bpm backbeat lurcher whips up a driving lick behind stridently squawking chix and a rapid-fire Mike T-type rapper (good stark break), on 3-track 12in with a sparser dub and strong instrumental (which some may prefer). Likely to grow on real dancers.

EDDY GRANT: ‘Till I Can’t Take Love No More’ (Ice ICET 60)
Typical see-sawing 113-114-115bpm 12in stuff, slower than usual, flipped yet again (is this its third outing?) by the far stronger ultra-catchy old 121-122-123bpm ‘California Style‘ soca leaper — here thankfully in a straightforward treatment ending with a long percussion last half, great for parties. Get it for the flip. Continue reading “October 22, 1983: Third World, Captain Rapp, Eddy Grant, Sunfire, Oliver Cheatham”

ODDS ‘N’ BODS

MELLE MEL ‘White Lines’ is being rushed out by PRT, possibly with a WBLS-type remix included . . . Sybil Thomas is due soon, Shannon’s been snapped up by Phonogram, and sadly Teena Marie’s Epic debut will indeed be ‘Fix It’ (which died on import) . . . Imagination finally get vigorous with their rock-disco ‘New Dimension‘, which will be on 12in at 33 1/3rpm due to a Japanese-style extra large label and corresponding die-cut sleeve . . . Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson ‘Say Say Say’ could soon be about on very limited promo in an exclusive UK disco remix, toughening it up considerably . . . Sinitta ‘Never Too Late‘ on commercial copies is a Jellybean Benitez remix (instrumental flip), but the song’s still a bit flabby . . . Motown are about to release a major reunion, the Four Tops back with the label and unbelievably produced by the veteran Holland-Dozier-Holland team on one side of their excellent LP, which also includes duets with Aretha Franklin and the Temptations — which is more significant, the Tops or H-D-H? . . . Lionel Richie’s promo 12in has been released commercially here as an interim measure (it’s the same as the 7in), but may yet be superceded should an alternative longer version result from the final mixdown of his still unfinished but imminent LP . . . Radio London soul DJ Tony Blackburn (and Arnold!) is advertising Paddington Green’s Bluebird Records shop during Capital’s soul shows, while “Blackburn’s playing it” is a comment increasingly heard in the record company corridors of soul power . . . Steve Walsh is planning to open an amusement arcade in Church Street market, over the Edgware Road from Bluebird . . . Capital Radio was rocking with laughter last week, not only because the franchise was retained, but especially because a certain big London disco jock came in for an audition! . . . Channel 4’s Malibu World Disco Dancing finals use awful fast music (remakes produced by ex-Shakatak/soundalike specialist Nigel Wright) for all the contestants, and noticeably the good actual dancers mainly from London were poorly served by a tempo which dictates Wally white athletic high jinks rather than any subtlety . . . Ashaye’s ‘Michael Jackson Medley‘ in no way even approximates Alan Coulthard’s megamix of the genuine article, so why are the Disco Mix Club raising such a ruckus? . . . Alan’s October DMC mixes are lugubrious UB40, good KC & The Sunshine Band, and (for the first useable half) excellent Freeez medleys, but star of the tape is Peter Romer’s floorfiller mix which is so smooth it’s almost bland (though The Rake was a bad way to start it) . . . CBS seem to be suffering from the “mailing list syndrome”, with El Chicano and now Lew Kirton rocketing up the chart for a week after jocks got ’em for free, only to plummet back to their earlier more realistic import level (and RCA seem to be having similar trouble with Tavares and the Jones Girls) . . . Spence’s ultra-hot Dutch import is only slow moving through lack of copies in the shops . . . Carl Kingston, still at Hull’s Peppermint Park, has joined the DJ rota of Radio Caroline 319MW aboard the MV Imagine, weekend boat trips to which and further details about Caroline being available in the Cleveland area DJ Assn’s Disco Reaction mag, free with a large SAE from Graham Murray, 30 Pilkington Street, North Ormesby, Middlesbrough, Cleveland (DJ Association/Disco Mix Club members given priority) . . . Chris Ryder’s recent request for DJ demo tapes to audition for the soon-come Skyline Radio actually related to London area jocks, as no pay is involved (see RM Oct 1) . . . Terry Lees (021-707 1925) is organising the Midlands club and mobile disco equipment expedition Discoscene ’83 on Sunday November 6 at Wishaw’s Belfry Hotel, Sutton Coldfield . . . Oliver Cheatham PAs this Friday (14) at Mayfair’s Gullivers, where last week by coincidence airtime rivals John Sachs (Capital) and Susie Barnes (Radio London) were both in the club following their respective shows! . . . Gullivers’ previously charisma-lacking downstairs room has undergone a total transformation, becoming a really classy comfortable cocktail lounge with a new dancefloor moved further out of earshot . . . Strawz, above Applebaum’s in South Molton Street (Mayfair), is an “exciting” new cocktail bar handy for music biz people (especially ERC’s Marvin Howell, upstairs!), recently opened by travelling camp cabaret artists Kevin Sebastian and Sacha Vitorovich — the latter recording interviews there with the likes of Wham! for Yugoslav radio . . . Jeffrey Daniel gave his hairstyle an airing last weekend at Rockafella’s late-nite eaterie (next to Samantha’s off Regent Street), where live jazz on Sundays can include harmonica by Larry Adler . . . Greg Wilson joins resident Peter Lee plus the Broken Glass Street Crew body popping break dancers at Bolton’s Dance Factory this Thursday (13), when most drinks will be 50p too . . . Robbie Vincent joins Colin Hudd at Dartford Flicks this Friday (14) . . . Saturday (15) sees the opening of new weekly venue The Icebox above the Fridge in Brixton, which promises to be a bit different with constant live acts and even an ice cream/waffle bar . . . Paul Major & Tony Allen have “outrageous” fancydress at Hinckley Bubbles on Saturday (15), when Derby’s revamped Blue Note has an optional fancy-dress 4th Anniversary Ball (followed on Sunday by electro-funk with DC Connection) . . . First Approach play live jazz-funk on Sunday (16) at Camberley Frenchies in the Cambridge Hotel . . . CBS’s Al Dupres now does Cardiff Nero’s, Chas Marshall & Guy Francis do Edinburgh’s refitted Bentleys Nightscene (Wed-Sun), Paul Johnson does Bedford’s “good value” Apples & Pears Nightclub (let me guess — its on the ground floor, right?) . . . Des Russell takes over the Club Jardine at Edgbaston Faces Thur/Fri/Sat . . . Dave Rawlings (Basingstoke Martines/Kensington The Park/Reading Out Of Town) justifies his allegiance to WEA’s product with the valid point that they’re the only company who regularly send him albums, on which he finds lots of slowies to use . . . Rick James’s powerfully attractive duet with Smokey Robinson, ‘Ebony Eyes‘, which should be the one to break him here on radio, is not in fact his new single in the States despite all the airplay it’s getting there — instead they’ve gone with the fast ‘U Bring The Freak Out‘, which Motown in Britain are rightly trying to bypass . . . Norman Scott (Haringey Bolts) reports the holiday smash in Gran Canaria was Miquel Brown ‘So Many Men‘ . . . Gary Low is not Ryan Paris . . . Chill-Fac-Torr follow their revival of ‘The Twist’ with — guess what — ‘Shout‘! . . . Latin percussionist Willie Bobo (49) and early R&B star Roy Milton (76) both recently died . . . I bumped into Mick Fleetwood and Peter Barden by chance last week — back in early ’66 they were The Cheynes, playing regularly at a Balham gig (promoted by then Moody Blues managing Tony Secunda) where I was the DJ, just back from living in New York and heavily into ‘Shotgun’! . . . Ensign/Island kick off their reissues of vintage ’60s classics from the old Sue label with six EPs (jazz freaks should check Hank Jacobs and Jimmy McGriff) plus a terrific 25-track cassette-only compilation ‘Maximum R&B‘ (ENSUC 3) including a sensational doo-wop wailer by the Matadors, most material having been red hot imports of their day (weird though that may now seem) . . . Motown’s two twin-pack ‘Cruisin’ With Motown’ cassette-only compilations are well worth examining from a tactile point of view — they’re see-through cassettes with scaled down reel-to-reel spools looking large and dramatic, housed back-to-back in a chunky butch double-door box (unfortunately I had to open one up to stop a bent spool snagging the tape) . . . ‘Motown 25‘ the ratings-grabbing 25th anniversary US TV show soon to be expanded for video release, won an Emmy award — and Gary Byrd will be introducing clips from it (as he did on stage with the Commodores) when he tours UK clubs . . . ‘Party Train’ by the Gap Band has the most incredible video, filmed at Venice Beach in LA and full of poppin’ ‘n’ breakin’, contortin’ ‘n’ flauntin’ flesh, an eye boggling smash (which reminds me, Jamie Lee Curtis’s stunning appearance in the ‘Trading Places’ film could be rivalled for some by Bo Diddley playing a pawnbroker!) . . . I’m gradually getting through all my New York radio tapes (many recorded while I was actually out or asleep) and now realise that KISS-fm on Saturday nights have a 3½ hour commercial free Mastermix Dance Party, mixed during my visit by Darryl Baird/Bayard Beyer (?) . . . New York disco and oldies show Downstairs Records has relocated around the corner at 20 W. 43rd St as its original site downstairs in the subway arcade at 42nd & 6th has been blocked off to become the foundation for a new skyscraper! . . . 25 cents for the Staten Island Ferry at night is the most spectacular sightseeing value ever, all South Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty lit up as you glide away (and back again without paying extra if you’re clever!) . . . I’m dieting after so much Big Apple eating — too much Haagen Dazs ice cream actually stopped me doing full justice to the unlimited prawns, salads, soup and puddings (let alone lobster tails and goldfish bowl cocktails) at Cookies in White Plains . . . hey, hey, hey — KEEP OFF THOSE WHITE LINES!

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HOT VINYL

CUBA GOODING: ‘Happiness Is Just Around The Bend’ (US Streetwise SWRL 2214)
Don’t be frightened by the frisky tempo and chirruping chix that start this madly infectious thriller, in which the ex-Main Ingredient singer revives their Brian Auger-penned oldie over an incredibly joyful Arthur Baker created bounding 120-119-120bpm beat (synthetic but not in his electro style), soulfully scatting and skipping up to a beefier vibey break, on 3-track 12in with 119bpm dub instrumental and acappella flip. Pop, soul, electro and MoR all in one, this will be massive!

LEW KIRTON: ‘Just Can’t Get Enough’ (LP ‘Talk To Me’ US Believe In a Dream FZ 38956)
Making a strong play for Teddy P’s crown, husky Lew will win here with this fantastic cleanly bounding 117½bpm smacker which is already burning up the hipper floors, the more delicately unfurling but beefy 115bpm ‘Don’t Give Up Your Dreams (Hang On In There)‘ also sounding strong, the (0-)117½bpm ‘Here’s My Love‘ less so, while his mellow romantic smoochers are the 76bpm ‘I Can’t Live Without You’, (0-)33-66bpm ‘Hooked On You’, 0-29-30/60bpm ‘Always Will’, 0-34-69bpm ‘Got To Find Somebody To Love’. He’s gonna be big!

CURTIS HAIRSTON: ‘I Want You (All Tonight)’ (RCA RCAT 368)
Rightly huge on import the chix-backed and often confusingly chick-like wailing new soulster’s superb creamily striding 114bpm 12in chugger has indeed lived up to its Philly-style classic feel but may not have enough general crossover appeal to justify the mega-bucks it must’ve cost for Britain — which is not to discourage anyone, as it’s excellent (dub/edit flip). Continue reading “October 15, 1983: Cuba Gooding, Lew Kirton, Curtis Hairston, Phil Fearon & Galaxy, Time Zone”

ODDS ‘N’ BODS

TEDDY PENDERGRASS has returned to recording, doing soundtrack songs for a film called ‘Choose Me’ . . . Curtis Hairston whose price was rising the hotter he got on US radio, has finally been bought here by RCA for imminent release — and Polydor snapped up Major Harris! . . . ‘Street Sounds — Electro 1‘ is due now, with Captain Rock, West Street Mob, G-Force, The Packman, Newcleus, Project Future, C-Bank, K-9 Corp — talk about wikki-wikki! . . . Steve Harvey’s ‘Tonight‘ is out next week, and sounds brighter when speeded up for a killer synch out of his ‘Something Special‘, which in turn is superb out of Sharon Redd — so much so in fact, that Steve’s publishers are taking steps about the similarity . . . WEA’s Fred “Listen” Dove has re-serviced a promo of the old 109bpm Prince ‘D(ance) M(usic) S(ex) R(omance)‘ a whole year after its debut at Caister, and a US Qwest promo of James Ingram’s Quincy Jones-produced 111¾bpm ‘Party Animal‘ which coincidentally also sounds like a gruffer Prince . . . Gap Band ‘I’m Ready‘ has been dragged down to 117bpm for remixed 12in next week, while for some crazy reason CBS have ruined Haywoode ‘A Time Like This’ with a dreadful remix which now replaces all commercial copies in the shops — they can keep it! . . . MCA have withdrawn Oliver Cheatham’s current ill-advised 12in to put out ‘Bless The Ladies‘ instead — yay . . . Take Three ‘Tonight’s The Night (All Right)‘ has turned up on import Dance-Sing 12in remix, now more sparsely clomping with a freakier ‘Tonite (All Right)‘ flip, but both versions will be re-edited again and included with both earlier UK promo versions on the finally due 4-track commercial UK copy . . . Showstopper Promotions have had to cancel this month’s second Caister “overflow” weekender, they say following “the non-availability of the main Caister centre for the later dates”, but have relocated where possible people booked for Part 2 into increased accommodation at the now obviously completely full first Oct 14-16 weekend . . . Showstoppers have also joined forces with man-about-North London Joe Williams (01-487 5584) to set up Club Attack, which aims to provide properly co-ordinated liaison between artistes and clubs for PAs, charging clubs a realistic fee for a guaranteed appearance by star names with full back-up services for both parties . . . Bryan O’Connor has disappeared from his Island plugger’s job, just like that . . . Sinnita Renet turns out to be the vary tasty 18 year-old daughter of Miquel Brown, and niece of Amii Stewart! . . . ‘New Blackbeat’ deep soul fanzine (£3.75 well spent for six densely packed issues from 101 Sevenacres, Orton Brimbles, Peterborough PE2 OXJ) reveals in its full Frankie Beverly discography that his first-ever record around 1962 was the Madara & White-produced ‘Loveable Girl‘ as by The Butlers — which I’ve had for years without knowing (offers in excess of £200 only!) . . . Steve of the above mag should note that High Fashion record in Italy with European producers, and that several of the mag’s early London soul listings are in fact country & western singles! . . . Lyndon T is now promotions/A&R manager at the increasingly dance orientated Polo Records, 351 Edgware Road, London W2 1BN, where he’d welcome funky demos — plus he’s jocking with Shaun Healy every Wednesday at Kensal Green’s Tropical Palace in Chamberlayne Road (free before 9.30pm), electro-boogie ‘n soul . . . Shaun Healy also crops up with Greg Trotman & Gordon Antony as of this Saturday (8) electro-phunking Hammersmith Broadway’s Clarendon Hotel (again free before 9.30pm) . . . Hereward Radio’s Steve Allen celebrates the 4th anniversary of Slickers at Peterborough’s Cresset Centre this Sunday (9) with a 4pm alldayer (arrive before 5.30 for a special present) starring Martin Collins, Jonathan, Paul Murphy, Malcolm James, Jerry Little & Trevor Mack . . . Tony Blackburn, always a champion of Motown on his old Radio One brekky show, is now rapidly making such a reputation as “Radio London’s soul jock” he’s being inundated with club gigs! . . . Paddington Green’s Bluebird Records have taken over the shop next door just to sell US deletions and cut outs, while Kev Edwards, as threatened when he quit Manchester’s Spinn Inn, has indeed opened his own Hott Waxx record shop in Earlstown, Newton-Le-Willows — I’m sure our advertising department would love to hear from both (after all, this is the paper most read by DJs) . . . Peter Lee reports from Bolton’s Dance Factory that our mention of their recent lazer light show brought in extra punters . . . Lance Nuttall has renamed the old Cinderella’s disco at Sayers Common’s motel in Sussex (Hickstead), calling it with great imagination the Dance Factory too, the expensively refitted club now having its own Attica dance troupe made up of ex-punters who involve customers in their routines rather than just doing a cabaret spot, and Lance (0273-833232) is after other dance acts to appear there (Wednesdays everything is 50p, drinks/burgers/admission) . . . Alan James Jewell, briefly back in Blighty after poking around the Orient, has left the Bacchus fold to make a fortune jocking in Hong Kong at the Hollywood Boulevard, where high energy rules . . . I took part in what could have been a Neil Simon scenario when attending the New York wedding of Capital Radio producer Mike Childs & Jan Sedofsky at Marylou’s restaurant in Greenwich Village (haunt of Jack Nicholson), where the amazing wise-cracking showbiz rabbi (it was the full glass-stamping thing) had to get the background music turned off before uniting the couple — and guess what was playing, ‘Sexual Healing’! . . . Capital’s one-time late night producer Robbie Barish and his Dairy Milk-chomping wife Susie were my hosts, yet again (incidentally I used to live in the city a long time ago, so it’s not exactly new to me!) . . . ‘Trading Places’ starring Dan Aykroyd & Eddie Murphy (plus an eye-boggling Jamie Lee Curtis) was the only movie I caught, good John Landis-directed fun mainly for fellahs . . . Chaka Khan and Kashif were appearing together in Newark last Sunday (New Jersey, that is!) . . . Broadway’s musical version of the French film ‘La Cage Aux Folles’ looks like fuelling the Boys Town chart for months to come, Gloria Gaynor and Le Jeté already leading the race to discotize its songs . . . Men Without Hats video for ‘The Safety Dance’ is the opposite of the techno/electro you might expect — it’s a medieval morris dancing scene! . . . “We are Pepsi Free” goes a US radio commercial, to the tune of Sister Sledge’s ‘We Are Family’ . . . Graham Hunter (Basingstoke) either had his Christmas card lost in the post last year or else he’s first with one this year! . . . TWO, THREE BREAK!

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NEW YORK NEW YORK – JAMES HAMILTON hot from the Big Apple

URBAN CONTEMPORARY radio’s big catchphrase in New York City is “commercial free music”, meaning that the three main black stations either haven’t got or are prepared to lose all advertising for great swathes of airtime lasting anything from half to three and a half hours! This does not result in chatter free radio though, as all the DJs have the irritating habit of following every record with “I am Mary Thomas” (or whoever) and a station identification.

WBLS is still the most consistently listenable, programmed by evening DJ Frankie Crocker who initiates most of the gimmicks copied by the here better publicised WRKS (KISS-fm) — in fact last week he actually joked on air “Why don’t they pay me for programming that other station too!” MIKTU is less high energy and more soulful with a long slow late morning “Love Break”. Despite a lack of commercials, only WBLS seems to make any attempt at completely mixed programming, disco DJ Jonathan Fearing being in evidence on occasion doing some neatly segued continuous sweeps (and a killer mix of Hot Streak/Raw Silk). Shep Pettibone’s main effort on KISS last week was a remix of G.L.O.B.E & Whiz Kid ‘Play That Beat Mr. DJ’ incorporating bits of hits every time it goes “mastermix those number one tunes”, but the big remixes were on WBLS with Grandmaster & Melle Mel ‘White Lines’ (gigantic there!) and the much played West Street Mob ‘Break Dancin’ — Electric Boogie‘, this by Charlie Casanova & Sergio Munzibai, the latter probably being responsible for Melle Mel too.

Against all expectations there was not a lot of electrophonic phunk on the airwaves, nor that much UK-derived “new music” . . . in fact, there wasn’t much anywhere that we don’t already know about here, very disappointingly. The surprising fact is that we are better served with imports (and by radio in London at least) than are soul fans in New York. The legendary NY equivalent of City Sounds/Groove/Record Shack/Bluebird, the now relocated Downstairs Records at 20 West 43rd Street (just off 5th Avenue) were amazed by how upfront our Disco Chart is, John there having to remark “You’ve got it all, there’s nothing we can sell you” — and indeed it wasn’t until I got home and went to Rayners Lane that I could see what was actually new!

To give you a very accurate idea of what’s currently being played by black urban contemporary radio in New York, the following is an exhaustive list of the stuff I heard most: Lionel Richie, Melle Mel, West Street Mob, Klique ‘Stop Doggin’ Me Around’, Tavares ‘Deeper In Love’, Rick James ‘Ebony Eyes’ / ‘Cold Blooded’, Twilight 22, Love Bug Starski, Curtis Hairston, Madonna ‘Holiday’, Jones Girls, Rufus/Chaka Khan ‘Ain’t Nobody’, Stephanie Mills ‘Pilot Error’, Michael Wycoff ‘Tell Me Love’, O’Jays ‘Heads’, Herbie Hancock ‘Rockit’ (the last three still rising there), Peabo/Roberta, Jennifer Holliday ‘I Am Love’, The SOS Band, Gladys Knight ‘You’re Number One’, Mary Jane Girls ‘All Night Long’, Hot Streak, Raw Silk, Ronnie Dyson, Lew Kirton, Lillo, NV, Colors, Herb Alpert ‘Red Hot’, Peech Boys ‘On A Journey’ (sounds better on radio), Manhattan Transfer, Pure Energy, Aretha Franklin ‘Every Girl Wants A Guy’, Gloria Gaynor ‘I Am What I Am’ (from ‘La Cage Aux Folles’), Koffie ‘And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going’ (discotization of Jennifer Holliday’s ‘Dreamgirls’ biggie), Hazell Dean, Donna Summer, Spandau Ballet ‘True’, Rick Springfield ‘Human Touch’, Bonnie Tyler ‘Total Eclipse Of The Heart’, and (in heavy rotation as it was number one nationally) a Jellybean Benitez remix of the 181bpm Billy Joel ‘Tell Her About It’.

Billy’s video of his album’s ‘Uptown Girl’ (a garage-set Four Seasons meets Busby Berkely production number) was the best to be seen on video-saturated cable television, MTV pumping ’em out 24 hours a day in initially addictive but then sense dulling rotation. Best cable viewing was SuperStation WTBS Atlanta, whose evening video slot was better than MTV (at one time at the weekend there were five channels all showing videos, two of them black orientated), WTBS also including a great game show called ‘Starcade‘ in which two kids compete on video games!

However, with all this music being thrust at once, there were few stations worth staying tuned to, and in fact for me the most entertaining listening was oldies station WCBS’s Sunday night doo-wop show! Yeah, but what about the clubs and disco DJs, I hear you ask? Well, as threatened I did a lot of eating and didn’t actually go to any clubs at all, instead having a lovely time with a nice Jewish girl from Brooklyn called Rhonda! Help Me!

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HOT VINYL

GRANDMASTER & MELLE MEL: ‘White Lines (Don’t Don’t Do It)’ (US Sugarhill SH-465)
Taking rap to another higher plane in the most daring record of the year more controversial even than ‘Street Justice’ and more innovative than ‘The Message’, this adventurously arranged 115bpm 12in judderer may sound strange at first but once you’re into it you’ll be hooked . . . and that’s the subject, cocaine. The rumbling rhythm in West Street Mob style is non “electro”, with brassy crescendos, ‘Twist And Shout’ climaxes, and all the way through an inciting vocal variety (harder, freakier flip with mixing elements). Given the breaks this could go Top 20, but it’ll certainly blow your mind, if not freeze your teeth!

HERBIE HANCOCK: ‘Autodrive’ (CBS TA 3802)
Terrific bass resonance underpins another mixture of Material-programmed synthetic hip-hoppery and Herbie’s keyboards, this time acoustic jazz piano in an interesting 115bpm combination (try starting Hot Streak’s acappella flip over the freaky break a third through!), on 3-track 12in with last year’s ‘The Bomb‘ (already flip to the 7in of ‘Rockit’) and a remix of his vintage jazz fusion ‘Chameleon’.

INSTANT FUNK: ‘(Just Because) You’ll Be Mine’ (US Salsoul SG 410)
Producer Bunny Sigler sets up a great bouncily driving beefy 116bpm beat, especially on the 12in extended club version flip, before the guys get meshed into it to end up chanting a familiar “right on time you’ll be mine” (anytime?!), the beat having strong floor impact. I got this on white label in New York only to find finished copies a day later in Rayners Lane! Continue reading “October 8, 1983: New York radio report, Grandmaster & Melle Mel, Herbie Hancock, Instant Funk, Skool Boyz”