1976 Billboard Disco Compilation Consensus Charts!!!

[Mixmachine]

49) * A TIME FOR CELEBRATION Faith, Hope & Charity with Choice Four
(RCA 7”) (1 point/ D)
1 week on the chart/ * DEBUT

mixmachine, Here , I give you a Van McCoy produced ,arranged, conducted song I never cared for, He uses Faith Hope and Charity with Choice Four, "A Time for Celebration" released in 1976, apparently McCoy got swept up in the Bicentennial Celebrations and was feeling very patriotic when he penned this to a Disco beat.

I never knew this record charted, wow:-o:roll:

[markydefad]

Yep, Van McCoy was feelin' the patriotic fever (the US Bicentennial is comin' up July 4, 1976)...so he attempted to make some $$$$ off it with this "A Time For Celebration" disk...will chart a couple of times...then poof! it's gone!!!

I have this on the FH&C LP--I played it once a while back--but it didn't really register anything from me..maybe I'll spin it again.

[Mixmachine]

Jaguar, a local label out of Hialeah Gardens, Florida, has released a 12-inch disco disk from the Viva. The song, "Bandolero '76," is an interesting combination of funky guitar & drum with breaks and a Latin sound in between vocals. Actually, it sounds like two different records mixed together that work.

I'm so surprised Tom Moulton mentioned this local records in his column, this track is really refreshing today, back in the day we hardly played this local stuff much since this Latin-Disco musical style was prevalent in many local clubs with house bands, this reminder came just in time for me, as I'm trying to put together a Theme CD with many of this local forgotten jewels. http://www.discomusic.com/records-more/7107_0_2_0_C/

[remicks]

Originally Posted by Mixmachine

I'm so surprised Tom Moulton mentioned this local record in his column,

I've noticed that Tom more often than not , seemd to mention songs and projects in his column that didn't go on to impact the charts much. I don't know if those were his intentions, to give notice toward the little guy .... or if he just didn't have the best ear for spotting the soon to be hot stuff ...... ........:roll: .....

*****

[markydefad]

Originally Posted by remicks

I've noticed that Tom more often than not , seemd to mention songs and projects in his column that didn't go on to impact the charts much. I don't know if those were his intentions, to give notice toward the little guy .... or if he just didn't have the best ear for spotting the soon to be hot stuff ...... ........:roll: .....

*****

I too have noticed this and someone called attention to it before. (Quinny, I believe)

My take is that Tom is giving mentions to things that are happening in one market that might have crossover appeal if DJs were aware...he surely doesn't need to ballyhoo the obvious stuff....usually there's one or two mainstream offerings (The Whispers this week) and several more obscurities. Remember, there was no internet--news traveled much more slowly at this time--DJs usually had to go to bigger cities like NYC to find out what was being played and stock up on the new hot records...I know in SF they used to talk about what someone was playing in NYC and trying to get their hands on these import or obscure titles....(granted this was later than 1976...)

However, the mentioning of obscurities does peak one's interest, doesn't it? Obviously, there were lots of records that never made these Billboard chartings but did get played in certain areas of the country....the charts actually get more HOMOGENIZED & BLANDER when the National charts are introduced. The oddball stuff the retailers sometimes mentioned is left out of the mix...or so it seems at this point in my perusals of what happens next.....

How many times do you need to call attention to Gloria Gaynor (next week he does) or Donna Summer's efforts??? They're sure-fire sellers at this point.

Besides, Tom with a "tin ear"???--Doesn't sound possible to me--he nailed it too often to have frequently fallible taste. That's my opinion.;)

[remicks]

Originally Posted by markydefad

I too have noticed this and someone called attention to it before. (Quinny, I believe)

....the mentioning of obscurities does peak one's interest, doesn't it? Obviously, there were lots of records that never made these Billboard chartings but did get played in certain areas of the country....the charts actually get more HOMOGENIZED & BLANDER when the National charts are introduced. The oddball stuff the retailers sometimes mentioned is left out of the mix...or so it seems at this point in my perusals of what happens next.....

Thank's for some good input Marky !! ( can we be friends again? :roll::p)
I agree ....these times ---- the early disco years are so much fun because disco was still a loose cannon... coming at you from every angle . The required disco formula hadn't been so instilled yet. So much creativeness and variety .... so many secret songs ( I love it ) .

Besides, Tom with a "tin ear"???--Doesn't sound possible to me--he nailed it too often to have frequently fallible taste. That's my opinion.;)

I think Tom was lucky to have been involved with many wonderful projects that more easily enabled him to be of help to them . He took good music and I presume , made it better. He was also involved with stinkers and his golden touch was ineffectual.
And don't forget his own disco label --- Tom & Jerry ..... he sure didn't seem to have his finger on the pulse with his output there ....:roll:

*****

[markydefad]

NEXT:

I'll provide several articles from Billboard that might be of interest:

5/15/76: Salsoul Has a 12-Inch Single

5/15/76: Club DJs Mixing Masters (RE: Walter Gibbons, etc.)

6/19/76: 12-Inch 45 Disco Disk Sales Brisk

6/26/76: New Labels Add 12-Inch Singles (The forthcoming releases in this format)

Will be up this weekend!!!

[markydefad]

[UPDATE: 7/16/06] THANKS TO MY NEW "HELPER", I can now provide the beginnings of 2 articles for which I previously only had the continuations.. this is the first....

Billboard--May 15, 1976

SALSOUL HAS A 12-INCH DISCO SINGLE


A New 12-Inch 45 Salsoul Disco Label
By Rudy Garcia

NEW YORK—Salsoul Records has launched a special discotheque label, Salsoul Disco, with the release of the first 12-inch 45-r.p.m. single for commercial sale.

Suggested list price for the product will be $2.98; however, with a distributor net price of $1.28, it is expected that the disco single will be available at discount retailers for about $2.

There are several distinctive features of the commercial 12-inch single. Each record is inserted in a special universal four-color jacket with a center hole punched for label information to show through. The jacket contains only the label designation, allowing it to be used for all of the product to be released for that special market.

“Actually, it costs us a penny more to manufacture than an album,” says Chuck Gregory, Salsoul Records executive. “They charge us the extra cent to die-cut the hole.”

Joe Cayre, president of Cayre Industries, Inc., the label’s parent company, says the new venture was undertaken at the suggestion of numerous record dealers in those cities with heavy discotheque action. (continued on page 38)





....Cayre admits that he is going after a specialized market.

"The disco dancer market often changes the concept of selling quality mixes for dancing, rather than music for easy listening, but if that's what this specific customer wants, we feel we have the expertise to give it to him."

"After all, with the enormous success of the Salsoul Orchestra album which has been charted for eight months and has a third hit single from it coming along, we feel we are pioneers in the disco business. If we're pioneers, then it falls on us to break new ground which we feel we're doing with this 12-inch single."

"We're not really going into it blind. We have had encouraging reports from the main disco market areas and studied the problem for three months before deciding to move," Cayre explains.

Dealers will be given special promotional material to display with the product with heavy emphasis through the local discos.

"It may be that in some areas where dealers are reluctant to try the new 12-inch single we may have to make it available through the discos themselves, " Gregory says.

"But right now we hope that with in-store displays and demonstration play we'll be able to avoid that route and use it to bring a new specialty market to the retailers. The next releases will be by Carol Williams and will contain both an uptempo disco tune and a ballad which will also give us a chance to test the marketability of the music before releasing the regular single."

"One of the main purposes for providing this product for a specialized market is to get the disco dancers into the retail store," Cayre adds. "Disk jockey versions of innumerable disco hits are selling as collector's items, when available, for as much as $7 per disk, which leads us to believe that there is a viable market for this product."

Cayre and Gregory maintain that people who have spent a night dancing to the extended disco versions would like to be able to buy the same product the next day. Usually they can't because the record is commercially available only in the edited versions used for radio and regular album cuts."

The first Salsoul Disco release by Double Exposure, a group signed to Salsoul Records. Called "Ten Percent," it contains two different mixes of the same tune, one lasting 7:07 minutes and the other 9:15 minutes. It has been commercially available as a standard 45-r.p.m. 7-inch disk in a much shorter version.

"Through our disco and retail research," Cayre says, "we've discovered that a disco record often has a longer period of popularity than a standard pop record."

"As the demand for this type of product is increasing, and as most people's home listening and lighting equipment becomes more sophisticated, they can easily create the atmosphere of a disco in their own living rooms, and often prefer the better sounding extended versions which can be cut hotter as a result of the wider grooves."

"Of course, the other problem is that of mechanical royalties," Gregory goes on. "Naturally we can't expect to pay the same for a nine-minute version as we would for a three or four-minute cut. But deals can be made and accommodations worked out where everyone can benefit."

"I do see it limiting the use somewhat of outside material for songs for which the label also has the publishing rights. This is only to give the product a real chance to catch on in the street before having to pay out mechanicals."

Both Cayre and Gregory feel that the 12-inch disco disk is not an expensive item given the amount of music contained.

"A regular album contains about 36 to 40 minutes of music and our disco single will have between 16 and 18 minutes," Gregory says. "If you figure that a regular album sells for $6.98 list and the disco single for $2.98 it works out just about the same."

Some dealers have reacted rather skeptically to the idea; however, the Downstairs Store in New York, Record Museum in Philadelphia, Gary's in Washington and Grammophone Records in San Francisco all placed healthy initial orders, apparently believing the market exists. [RUDY GARCIA]
__________________________________________________ ______________

June 19, 1976

12-inch 45 Disco Disk Sales Brisk

by Rudy Garcia

[New York] Sales of the first commercial 12-inch 45 r.p.m. disco single released last month by the Salsoul Disco label have been "excellent" in the test market areas and will lead to the release of two more disks and a wider distribution program this month, according to Joe Cayre, president of the Caytronics Corp., the label's parent company.

Cayre's evaluation was substantiated by several retail outlets throughout the country which were asked to report on the popular acceptance of the product.

The 12-inch single provides lengthy disco versions of recorded product which previously had been made available as promotional copies to discotheques. Carrying a list price of $2.98, but selling for about $2.29, the record is packaged in a universal four-color album jacket allowing the pancake label to provide title and artist information.

The first release by Salsoul contains two versions, one of 7:07 minutes and one of 9:15 minutes, of the song "Ten Percent" sung by a new group, Double Exposure, featuring the Salsoul Orchestra.

"If both the 12-inch and the standard single had been released at the same time, the sales of the big record would have been even greater," Gary Friedman of Gary's Records in Washington, D.C. As it is, the sales are great, particularly for our kind of clientale who are really into disco. What happens is that when they hear the record in a club they want it right away, so a lot of our people already had the standard size single when the long version was released."

In Philadelphia, Albert Dakins of the Record Museum chain reports that sales of the 12-inch album-size disk have been impressive.

"The big record is selling very well. As a matter of fact, it's outselling the standard single by 10 to one. It's not only the r&b and club people who are buying it. We're even getting people who are into rock 'n' roll asking for the record," Dakins says.

Dakins adds that in-store play has helped sales, but that local radio has been instrumental in pushing the product.

"There are several stations in town which are playing the 7-minute version and one station which is heavy into disco sound, has been playing the 9-minute version at least once an hour. That has really helped sales because the people hear the long version and want to buy it," he says.

In New York, Dave Rothfeld of Korvette's reports that the first day the item was put on the 34th St. store's shelves, it sold over 200 units. "It's the hottest item I have had in years in that store. It looks like Joe Cayre has got a winner with this idea," he says.

At the Grammophone Shop in San Francisco, the report is that sales of the disco version are "phenomenal."

"We had to reorder several times in the first two weeks," says Dean Stamatopolos of Grammophone. "This record is a whole new thing for the industry and I think it's the biggest thing to hit the industry in a long time because it's giving the customer something between the small single and the LP."

Dean adds that the sales have been great, particularly for us since we're heavy into disco. [FYI, The Grammophone was located near the popular disco Buzzby's on Polk Street.] At the $2.29 price it's selling real well, but I kind of expected that because I've been an advocate for such a product for a long time. I just didn't think anyone would come out with it so soon."

"If they keep the quality of the product up, it will continue to sell. That's the key to the whole thing. We play it in the store and we have a window display, all of which helps. It's also good because the customers know they can stack these at home and really get to dance a while which they can't do with the standard single."

But the continued success of the item will always depend on the quality of the product. "If it's a bummer, I don't care how much of a novelty it is, it won't sell,' Dean says.

Chuck Gregory, Salsoul's marketing chief, believes another key is to produce the long single as a 45 r.p.m. item instead of the 33 &1/3 r.p.m., as is the case with the most previously released promotional discotheque versions.

"There are two reasons for the 45 r.p.m. speed," says Gregory. "One is practical and the other is psychological. On the practical side is the fact that the wider groove allows you to turn it up and play it real hot without popping the needle out of the groove."

'The psychological reason for the 45 r.p.m. speed is the fact that even a 9-minute version at 33 & 1/3 would still only take up a relatively small portion of the vinyl in a 12-inch pancake and the customer would see this and think he is being cheated. The faster speed takes up more space and doesn't call the customer's attention to a lot of unused vinyl space."

In future releases, one of which is set for new artist Carol Williams, plans are for each record to contain two different songs instead of two different versions of one song.

Apparently, reports on the brisk sales of the commercial 12-inch single have reached other ears because several companies with disco product are considering joining the bandwagon, although none have announced definite release plans as yet.
__________________________________________________ ______________
[UPDATED: 7/16/06] Now the beggining of this article is available for your reading pleasure. In case you don't wanna miss a thing....


May 15, 1976

age 1—Club DJs Blend Cuts For Cos.’ Disco Disks By Jim Melanson

NEW YORK—Blending of final-mix disco tracks by club DJs for commercial and 12-inch promotional releases is the latest twist in the ongoing discotheque scene.

Both Scepter and Salsoul have opted to come with disks featuring spinner blending, Scepter on “Nice And Slow” by Jesse Green and Salsoul on “Ten Per Cent” by the group Double Exposure.

Walter Gibbons, DJ at Galaxy 21 here worked the Double Exposure tune while Howard Metz, spinner at Los Angeles’ Circus Maximus club, gets blending credit on the Scepter record. (continued on page 39)


CLUB DJS MIXING MASTERS

(continued from page 1)

Notably, the development stacks up as a mini-breakthrough for label-disco DJ relations, as a number of labels have sought to involve spinners in various phases of production of disks aimed at the dance set without much success to date.

In most cases, either the spinners weren't sophisticated enough for in-studio a&r work or they found their paths blocked by well-entrenched producers and mixers already familiar with the dance sound.

One exception, though, has been RCA's David Todd, DJ at Adam's Apple here, who's been acting in the capacity of a&r consultant and promotional coordinator on disco product from the label.

"We broke our first record via the discos and that's where our strength still is," says Salsoul's Ken Cayre. He explains that going to [Walter] Gibbons for a blending of two separate tracks (one a vocal, the other an instrumental) was part of a conscious effort to make product appealing to discos.

The tracks provided to Gibbons were final-mixes which ran approximately four minutes in length. The spinner, who blended the tracks at the Frank Ford Wayne Laboratories here and who was paid $185 for his efforts, produced the 9:45 version.

That version was used for 12-inch disco disks sent out for airplay (2,500 in all) and has recently been used on the flip side of a commercial 12-inch 45 r.p.m. record shipped by the label (see separate story).

Cayre says that the $185 broke down to $85 to cover Gibbons salary at the club for the night and $100 for the blending. Gibbons is given credit for the blend on both the commercial and promotional pressings.

The record, featuring the four-man group Double Exposure, was arranged by Norman Harris and produced by Baker/Harris/Young Productions.

"We feel that disco spinners are better equipped to judge the public's response to disco product," explains Cayre. He says that the label hopes to involve other area DJs in the future releases, for blending as well as for the mixing purposes.

Over at Scepter, label executive Mel Cheren says that [Howard] Metz' involvement happened inadvertently. The West Coast player received a promotional copy of the single "Nice and Slow," with a 3:05 vocal version on one side and a 4:40 instrumental version on the flip side, for club exposure.

Without being asked, Metz blended both versions and came up with a new 5:45 version and passed it along to Scepter's Patrick Jenkins, who sent it back to Cheren here.

Cheren, who mixed the original two versions, says that he was impressed enough with Metz' new versions to go back into the studio using the blended version as a guideline for a new mix.

The new Cheren/Metz blend-mix is the one going out to clubs via 12-inch promotional disks (1,600 copies).

How much Metz was paid Cheren wouldn't say, but he does state that Metz is given credit on the blended disk version.

It's also planned to use the new version for the second run of commercial copies pressed, adds Cheren.

Interestingly, the 12-incher also marks a first for Scepter in that it's used to promote product on separate labels. The flip side features the tune "I Get Lifted" by Sweet Music, which records for Scepter-distributed
Wand. "Nice And Slow" is on Scepter itself.

Cheren says he's long sought to involve club spinners in label activities and that he's hopeful that this latest development will help the flow of communication between the camps.

"The disco DJs are the kids with the ears," he says.

Midland International had used a local spinner on the production and final mix of Marboo's "What About Love" single last December but, according to a label spokesman, there are no plans at present to build on it. The feeling is that in-house capability meets the need.

__________________________________________________ _____________


June 26, 1976

NEW LABELS ADD 12-INCH SINGLES

By Tom Melanson & Tom Moulton

(NEW YORK) - A greater market impact from the new commercial 12-inch disco single is expected shortly as a number of labels here have given the go-ahead on releasing retail versions of disks previously used for promotional purposes only.

Indications are that within the next few weeks there will be more than a dozen titles commercially available on 12-inch disks. The goods will come from Roulette, CTI, Scepter, RCA-distributed Midland International and possibly Amherst.

In effect, a mini-bandwagon is being created behind Salsoul Records recent first move in this area. Salsoul itself is planning to add more 12-inchers as a followup to its groundbreaking release last month. (Billboard, June 19).


The $2.98 suggested list used by Salsoul has been uniformly picked up by other labels. Cost to distributors does vary from label to label, though.

It’s expected that actual store price on the disks will be in the range of $2.29, as has been the case with Salsoul’s ”Ten Percent” title.

Interestingly, the uniformity in the march into the 12-inch camp does break down when it comes to record speed. Both 33 & 1/3 and 45-r.p.m. disks will be involved.

Also noteworthy is that some of the records will couple two different artists performing their respective songs. The buyer, in effect, will be offered two A-side singles on the same disk.

First to follow Salsoul’s lead was Scepter, which shipped a 12-incher last week, featuring Jesse Green and the group Sweet Music, one of the coupled disks.

According to label executive Mel Cheren, only a couple of thousand copies were shipped, and only to such disco-oriented cities such as Los Angeles, Detroit and New York.

Even though Salsoul has reported strong response to the 12-inch single concept, Cheren explains that Scepter prefers to go slowly and test-market for itself.

Titles on the record are Greene’s ”Nice And Slow” (5:45) and Sweet Music’s ”I Get Lifted” (6:10).

He says that no free goods will be involved, and that distributor cost for each record is $1.50.

The Scepter disk is at 33 & 1/3 so as to allow listeners to play it without having to change speed from their LPs, explains Cheren.

CTI ships “Summertime 2001 (A-side) and ”Theme From Good King Bad” (B-side) Monday (21), says Jerry Wagner, vice president, marketing. The featured artist is George Benson.

Initial press run is 20,000 copies, explains Wagner. He adds that regular commercial 7-inch disks are also being shipped.

The 12-inch record has a 7:16 running time on the A-side and a 6 minute length on the flip side. The speed is 45 r.p.m.

Gross distributor price on CTI’s disk is $1.54, while the free goods net is $1.28.

At Roulette/Pyramid, four 12-inch releases are planned to hit the market by early July, according to Dennis Ganim, president, Pyramid, and Ira Leslie, national sales manager.

Each of the releases will feature coupled artists, four from the Pyramid labels and four from Roulette.

The Pyramid disks will pair D.C. LaRue (”Cathedrals” with Pat Lundy [says “Pay!”] (“Day By Day/ My Sweet Lord” medley) and Jakki (“Sun, Sun, Sun”) with Phil Medley & MVB (“Snap It”) .

The Roulette releases will pair Four Below Zero (“My Baby’s Got ESP”) with Gentleman And Their Lady (“Like Her!”) and Poison (“Do You Wanna Do”) with Stratavarious featuring Lady (“I Got Your Love”).

Net cost to distributors will be $1.25. All records will be packaged in a cardboard jacket with a dye-cut center hole and shrink-wrapped. The record will be 45 r.p.m.

While an exact shipping date couldn’t be firmed for its first 12-inch commercial disco disk, word from Bob Reno at Midland International is that the next Silver Convention single will go out as both a 12-incher and as a regular single. Again, the suggested list will be $2.98, but what the RCA branch price to dealers would be was not available.

Amherst’s Barry Lyons, national marketing director, explains that the label is seriously toying with releasing 12-inch commercial copies. They are researching now and the status of the project is iffy, he explains. He does add though, that the company will eventually come with 12-inch retail disco disks.

The label has released a promotional copy of Chicago Gangsters’ ”Gangster Love” (7:32), but if the go-ahead is given, it will come in all likelihood on a forthcoming single by the group Whole Darn Family (Soul International label). Speed preference at Amherst is 33 & 1/3.

Also coming from Salsoul will be a commercial 12-inch disk from Carol Williams. [what was the title of this??? They keep mentioning her in every column yet fail to mention that Moment Of Truth will release a commercial 12" of "So Much For Love" b/w "Helplessly" (a longer mix than the 1975 version-- both mixed by Tom Moulton; however my 12" of "SMFL" has an instrumental version on the flip side...(???)]

It’s also expected that as more and more commercial copies find their way into the market, other labels releasing just promotional versions will follow the commercial route.

[remicks]

*****
8-)8-)8-)

Marky , it's quite wonderful that you've taken the time to transcribe these insightful articles.8-)

Reading them really brings forth the excitement of the times within an emerging segment of the the music industry.
Disco is busting out .... this despite the Rolling Stone/AOR-FM crowd's control at this time ( or so they think ;))....and is now taking matters into its own hands , molding the industry to suit its needs :razz: ... and in doing so , it's about to royally knock the recording establishment off its hippy-dippy ass !!

Notice it ain't CBS or RCA or WARNERS that's making this happen ....

.............. it's SALSOUL !!!!

How beyond cool is that !!!!...

*****

[remicks]

Originally Posted by markydefad

June 19, 1976



__________________________________________________ ______________



1) “WHERE THE HAPPY PEOPLE GO” LP (All Cuts) – The Trammps
(Atlantic LP) (75 points/ABCDEF)
9 weeks (LP)/ (“TWTHPG” single) 13 weeks on the chart (10 weeks prior to LP release)
8th week @ #1/ Last week: #1 (+/-0)

While I can't think of a more deserving project ....... even I am finding eight weeks at #1 to be (almost ) excessive. (Don't like to see that top position overly dominated .... Share the honour guys ... Don't deny 10% the privilege ) It is a conclusive reminder though just how HUGE this release was !!! But two months at #1 is really incredible .

Some great debuts this week :
DEBUTS: (+7)
16) * DON'T TAKE AWAY THE MUSIC - Tavares (D)
17) * DISCOVER ME - David Ruffin (D)
32) * HERE WE GO AGAIN - People's Choice (DE)
38. * NOW - Bill Pursell & The Nashville Sweat Band & Aides (C)
39) * WE GOT RHYTHM - People's Choice (D)
40) * ALWAYS THERE - Side Effect (AD)
41) * TRAVELIN' IN HEAVY TRAFFIC - Don Covay (D)



Particularly DON'T TAKE AWAY THE MUSIC -Tavares
and :
ALWAYS THERE - Side Affect ...some Bay Area disco .... one of the best jazz disco tunes of them all ....IMO... and Fantasy label's first charting in 1976. ... and their second act to score here ( They 've charted previously with a different act in 1975 .... anyone know who ? ;-) )

And as always, there are new tunes I dont recall/never knew ..five ouit of seven this week ! 8-)

What I've discovered from these so far :HERE WE GO AGAIN ( 5:56 ) by People's Choice ....great tune ! Written and arranged by Leon Huff himself for that solid Phily sound ... .. this song has got that O'Jays I LOVE MUSIC feel to it ... which must have pleased fans of that mega-tune.... same emphasis on the low end ... same drum /bass .... This is wonderful funky yet smooth disco ....a fast instrumental sans any strings or horns (!) ....it is all about the bass and organ and drumming including constant brushing ..... The only vocal is a male chorus announcing "Here we go again y'all " ....and an electronically tweaked "do-it do-it do-it do-it" ... the main change out is the addition of a voice coder during the last minute ( remember Peter Frampton was really scoring large with this right at this time ) . Anyway .... this one is a head bopper !!! 8-)
__________________

this week .... no Dirty Lowdown ??? :sad:

and OK ....I'll bite :razz:......

Coming Soon To a Disco Near You
NIGHT FEVER

.... is coming soon ? .... really ??

*****

[remicks]

:oops::-(

*****sorry heavy fingers

[markydefad]

oh remicks, you little chart-analyzer!!!!:p

well, The Trammps have tied People's Choice 1975 record for 8 weeks at #1; (Do It Any Way You Wanna)--if ya don't recall...will they break the record with 9 weeks or just end up as TIED???? All will be revealed.....

I've got the next chart almost done. Yesterday, I listened to all the records on the chart (IN DESCENDING ORDER, of course!!!) to get a better feel for what's happening here....some records sound so GREAT ("Lowdown"-"Always There"-"Young Hearts Run Free" -"You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine", etc)...others less so...it occurred to me that Roberta Kelly's LP probably was a welcome addition for DJs to mix with Donna's "Love Trilogy" since they are the only titles currently to have that Euro-synth sound...Giorgio's first solo is coming soon....

I too LOVE "Don't Take Away The Music"....what a great track!!!!:-):-):-)

I played the People's Choice "Here We Go Again" and noticed that this is on the Larry Levan At The Paradise Garage cd--last track on cd1, continued on cd2...sorta transitional in function....

As for 'Night Fever"...there may be another one-- just like the other one-- just like the one before...(that's an old cheer from high school days!!):oops::oops::oops:

This Saturday, June 24, 2006 the next chart for June 26, 1975 will be released-- 30 years from its actual published date!!!! This will probably be the FIRST and ONLY time I'm able to pull off this hat-trick!!!:p:p:p

[markydefad]

Originally Posted by remicks

ALWAYS THERE - Side Affect ...some Bay Area disco .... one of the best jazz disco tunes of them all ....IMO... and Fantasy label's first charting in 1976. ... and their second act to score here ( They 've charted previously with a different act in 1975 .... anyone know who ? ;-) )

Fantasy records charted several time in 1975 with titles by The Blackbyrds.

Originally Posted by remicks

this week .... no Dirty Lowdown ???

No responses from "Dirty Lowdown".... what can I say? what can I do?:(:(

[markydefad]

30 years ago, this week...the last Saturday in June......

June 26, 1976

Billboard Pop Chart Top 10:

1) SILLY LOVE SONGS – Wings (4th nonconsecutive week @ #1)
2) GET UP AND BOOGIE (That’s Right) – Silver Convention
3) MISTY BLUE – Dorothy Moore
4) SARA SMILE – Daryl Hall & John Oates
5) SHOP AROUND – Captain & Tennille
6) MORE, MORE, MORE – Andrea True Connection
7) AFTERNOON DELIGHT – Starland Vocal Band
8. LOVE HANGOVER – Diana Ross (2 weeks @ #1)
9) I’LL BE GOOD TO YOU – The Brothers Johnson
10) KISS AND SAY GOODBYE - The Manhattans

Billboard Soul/R&B Chart #1:
1) SOMETHING HE CAN FEEL - Aretha Franklin (1 week @ #1)
(1 week @ #1)

(Items in BOLD have charted on the disco charts.)
__________________________________________________ ______

Disco Action
Record World "National Disco File Top 20" #1: DISCO PARTY (week #4); (This is the chart being used by Joel Whitburn in his book for this time period--you know, the one chart versus 5 or 6, sometimes 7-- chart thang.)

But I've resolved that issue by combining the current 6 Billboard charts into one.

New Rule: from now on there will be a constant 6 charts published each week through the end of August, 1976--when a national chart takes the place of this format. 3 NYC retailers and 3 audience response charts from NYC, LA/San Diego and a guest city will be printed each week.


Billboard charts:

A= Top 15 Audience Response Records in NYC Discos
(#1= “WHERE THE HAPPY PEOPLE GO” LP ( All Cuts)) (8th week) ( single “That’s Where the Happy People Go” charted #1 for 7 consecutive weeks prior to the LP release; so 15 weeks in total)
B= Top 15 Retail Best Sellers: Downstairs Records (NYC)
(#1= MOVIN’ IN ALL DIRECTIONS) (1st week)
C= Top 15 Retail Best Sellers: Colony Records (NYC)
(#1= “WHERE THE HAPPY PEOPLE GO” LP (All Cuts)) (8th week) ( single “That’s Where the Happy People Go” charted #1 for 7 consecutive weeks prior to the LP release; so 15 weeks in total)
D= Top 15 Retail Best Sellers: Melody Song Shops (Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island)
(#1= DON’T TAKE AWAY THE MUSIC) (2nd week)
E= Top 15 Audience Response Records in LA/ San Diego Discos:
(#1= HEAVEN MUST BE MISSING AN ANGEL) (1st week)
F= Special Guest City Chart: Top 15 Audience Response Records in Boston Discos:
(#1 = HEAVEN MUST BE MISSING AN ANGEL) (1st reported week)


6 charts with 15 items apiece; 15 points for a #1; 1 point for a #15; 90 maximum points. Add them up and voila!....
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THE DISCO COMPILATION CONSENSUS TOP 40 +9

Chart #88 (volume 2: #26 ): June 26, 1976


1)“WHERE THE HAPPY PEOPLE GO” LP (All Cuts) – The Trammps
(Atlantic LP) (74 points/ABCDEF)
10 weeks (LP)/ (“TWTHPG” single) 13 weeks on the chart (10 weeks prior to LP release)
9th week @ #1/ Last week: #1 (+/-0)
Side A: 1) Soul Searchin’ Time; 2) That’s Where The Happy People Go; 3) Can We Come Together;
Side B: 1) Disco Party; 2) Ninety-Nine And A Half (Won’t Do); 3) Hooked For Life; 4) Love Is A Funky Thing
2) HEAVEN MUST BE MISSING AN ANGEL – Tavares
(Capitol 7” (part 1 & 2) / 12" disco disk promo remix: 6:32) (49 points/A_C_ EF)
6 weeks on the chart/ Last week: #7 (+5)
3) I’M GONNA LET MY HEART DO THE WALKING – The Supremes
(Motown LP/ 7" single) (48 points/ AB_DEF)
10 weeks on the chart/ Last week: #3 (+/-0)
4) NICE AND SLOW – Jesse Green
(Scepter 45/ 12” promo remix 5:45/commercial 12" NOW released) (41 points/ AB__EF)
9 weeks on the chart/ Last week: #6 (+2)
5) CATHEDRALS (CA-THE-DRALS) – D.C. LaRue
(Pyramid LP/ commercial 12" single to be released) (40 points/ _BC_EF)
8 weeks on the chart/ Last week: #4 (-1)
6) TEN PERCENT – Double Exposure
(Salsoul 12” disco disk – Walter Gibbons Special Disco Version-now commercially available!!!)
(40 points/ A_C_E_)
9 weeks on the chart/ Last week: #2 (4th week) (-4)
7) TROUBLE-MAKER – Roberta Kelly
(Oasis LP) (38 points/AB_DEF)
4 weeks on the chart/ Last week: #5 (-2)
8. DON'T TAKE AWAY THE MUSIC - Tavares
Capitol LP/ 12" single to be released) (29 points/ _B_D__)
2 weeks on the chart/ Last week: #16 (+8.)
9) LOVE POWER – Roberta Kelly
(Oasis LP) (28 points/ AB__F)
3 weeks on the chart/ Last week: #10 (+1)
10) TAKE A LITTLE – Liquid Pleasure
(Midland Intl. 7” single) (25 points/ A_CD_F)
5 weeks on the chart/ Last week: #30 (+20)

11) DESPERATELY – Barrabas
( Atco 7” /Atlantic promo 12”) (21 points/ A__D_F)
3 weeks on the chart/ Last week: #29 (+18.)
12) LIPSTICK – Michel Polnareff
(Atlantic LP/ 7” / 12” promo remix only) (18 points/ EF)
7 weeks on the chart/ Last week: #13 (+1)
13) YOU’LL NEVER FIND ANOTHER LOVE LIKE MINE – Lou Rawls
(Philadelphia Intl. Records 7”/LP) ( 18 points/ BC)
6 weeks on the chart/ Last week: #14 (+1)
14) I’LL GO WHERE YOUR MUSIC TAKES ME – Jimmy James & The Vagabonds
(Pye 45 / 12” promo released later in ‘76) (15 points/ AC)
11 weeks on the chart/ Last week: #11 (-3)
15) * MOVIN' IN ALL DIRECTIONS - People's Choice
(TSOP LP) (15 points/ B)
1 week on the chart/ *DEBUT
16) (R) USE YOUR IMAGINATION - Kokomo
(Columbia LP/ 12" promo single 4:06) (14 points/ D)
2 weeks on the chart/ RETURN (last charted 4/10/76 @ #25)
17) * "NIGHT AND DAY" LP (B)/
TELL ME HOW YOU LIKE IT (EF) / I CAN'T STOP (F) - John Davis & The Monster Orchestra
(SAM LP) (4 +1 +8 = 13 points/ BEF)
1 week on the chart ("Night & Day" single charted for 11 weeks prior to LP release) / *DEBUT
18. “A LOVE TRILOGY” LP (All Cuts) – Donna Summer
(Oasis LP) ( 13 points/AF)
15 weeks on the chart / 3 weeks @ #1 / Last week: #8 (-10)
(LP Tracks: Side A: 1) Try Me, I Know We Can Make It
Side B: 1) Prelude to Love; 2) Could It Be Magic; 3) Wasted; 4) Come With Me
19) HERE WE GO AGAIN - People's Choice
(TSOP LP / 7”) (13 points/ DE)
2 weeks on the chart/ Last week: #32 (+13)
20) HOW’S YOUR LOVE LIFE – Lee Eldred
(Mercury 7”) (13 points/ B)
3 weeks on the chart/ Last week" #23 (+3)

21) * "SUMMERTIME" LP - MFSB
(P.I.R. LP) (13 points/ D)
1 week on the chart/ * DEBUT
LP Tracks:
Side A: 1) Picnic In The Park ; 2) Summertime; 3) Plenty Good Lovin'; 4) Sunnin" & Funnin'
Side B: 1) Summertime And I'm Feelin' Mellow; 2) I'm On Your Side; 3) Hot Summer Nights; 4) We Got The Time
22) ALWAYS THERE - Side Effect
(Fantasy LP/ 7” single/ special promo 12” mix) (12 points/ ABDE)
2 weeks on the chart/ Last week: #40 (+18.)
23) DISCOVER ME / FIRST ROUND KNOCKOUT - David Ruffin
(Motown LP) (12 points each / D)
2 weeks/ 4 weeks on the chart/ Last week:#17 (-6)
24) * BROADWAY STAR - Barrabas
(Atco LP / Atlantic 12" promo: b-side of "Desperately") (11 points/ F)
1 week on the chart/ * DEBUT
25) LOWDOWN – Boz Scaggs
(Columbia LP/ 7” single) (11 points/E)
5 weeks on the chart/ Last week: #24 (-1)
26) LOVE CHANT – Eli’s Second Coming
(Silver Blue Records 7”) (10 points/ A)
5 weeks on the chart/ Last week: #12 (-14)
27) FOXY LADY – Crown Heights Affair
(De-Lite 7” single) ( 10 points/ D)
9 weeks on the chart/ Last week: #20 (-7)
28. LOVE HANGOVER – Diana Ross
(Motown LP/12" promo) (9 points/ AF)
18 weeks on the chart/ 4 weeks @ #1/ Last week: #9 (-19)
29) NEW YORK CITY – Miroslav Vitous
(Warner Bros. LP/ 12” promo) (9 points/ B)
5 weeks on the chart/ Last week: #35 (+6)
30) RAIN FOREST – Biddu Orchestra
(Epic 7” / promo only 12” disco disk just released: 4:40) (9 points/C)
10 weeks on the chart/ Last week: #44 (+14)

31) * ONE FOR THE MONEY - The Whispers
(Soul Train LP/ 7” single (Part 1 & 2) / 12" promo disco disk: 5:13) (8 points/ AD)
1 week on the chart / *DEBUT
32) CALL ME / KEEP IT UP LONGER – Andrea True Connection
(Buddah LP) (8 points each / C)
5 weeks on the chart / Last week: #15/ #22 (-17 / -10)
33) CAN’T STOP GROOVIN’ NOW, WANNA DO IT SOME MORE – B.T. Express
(Columbia LP/ 12" promo) (8 points/ D)
4 weeks on the chart/ Last week: #21 (-12)
34) GIVE A BROKEN HEART A BREAK / HAPPY MAN – Damon Harris & Impact
(Atco 7”/ LP /both titles on a 12" single) (7 points each/ A)
3 weeks on the chart/ Last week : #37 (+3)
35) AMERICAN MUSIC – Dooley Silverspoon & Jeanne Burton
(Cotton 7” single) (7 points/ C)
3 weeks on the chart/ Last week: #33 (-2)
36) YOUNG HEARTS RUN FREE – Candi Staton
(Warner Bros. 45) (7 points/F)
11 weeks on the chart/ Last week: #25 (-11)
37) (R) IT'S BETTER THAN WALKING OUT - Marlena Shaw
(Blue Note LP/ 12” promo remix 5:20) (6 points/ C)
3 weeks on the chart/ RETURN (Last charted 6/12/76 @ #40)
38. PARTY LINE / FILL ME UP (Heart To Heart) – Andrea True Connection
(Buddah LP) (6 points each/ E)
5 weeks on the chart/ Last week: #18 / #31 (-20/ -7)
39) SUGAR BOOGIE – Bobby Thomas & Hotline
(MCA 7” ) (5 points/ CF)
5 weeks on the chart/ Last week: #45 (+6)
40) PARTY – Van McCoy
(H & L LP/ 7” single) (5 points/ E)
5 weeks on the chart/ Last week: #43 (+3)

41) (R) YOU'VE GOT THE POWER - Su Kramer
(London 7") (5 points/ C)
2 weeks on the chart/ RETURN (Last charted 6/5/76 @ #31)
42) (R) DANCING FREE - Hot Ice
(Rage 7") (3 points/ F)
7 weeks on the chart/ RETURN (Last charted 5/29/76 @ #22)
43) * ONE MORE TRY - Ashford & Simpson
(WB LP/ 12" promo single) (3 points/ B)
1 week on the chart/ * DEBUT
44) BE MY BABY – Frankie Gee
(Lipstick 7” single) (2 points/ C)
6 weeks on the chart/ Last week: #46 (+2)
45) (R) NIGHT JOURNEY - Doc Severinsen
(Columbia LP) (2 points/ E)
2 weeks on the chart/ RETURN (Last charted 6/5/76 @ #40)
46) (R) PRETTY MAID - Pretty Maid Company
(Ariola America 12" promo/ 7" single) ( 2 points/ B)
3 weeks on the chart/ RETURN (last charted 6/5/76 @ #33)
47) (R) A TIME FOR CELEBRATION - Faith, Hope & Charity + Choice Four
(RCA LP/ 7 " single) (2 points/ D)
2 weeks on the chart/ RETURN (Last charted 6/12/76 @ #49)
48. * BLACK SOUL MUSIC - Black Soul
(Beam Junction 7") (1 point/ B)
1 week on the chart/ * DEBUT
49) * CHERCHEZ LA FEMME - Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band
(RCA LP) (1 point/ C)
1 week on the chart/ *DEBUT

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The Chart Of LEAST Consensus

I’ve decided to type out the chart or charts that most bucks the consensus results of my Top 10 each week to show where the disparities lie.
Chart A= charts 8 items in my Top 10
Chart B= charts 7 items in my Top 10
Chart C= charts 5 items in my Top 10*
Chart D= charts 5 items in my Top 10*
Chart E= charts 7 items in my Top 10
Chart F= charts 8 items in my Top 10

* This week we have a TIE between Chart C (Colony) & the once again, chart D (Melody Song Shops)....

(Items in italics & CAPS are in the current DCC Top 10)

Colony Records Top 15:
1) *WHERE THE HAPPY PEOPLE GO" - The Trammps (Atlantic LP)
2) *CATHEDRALS - D.C. LaRue (Pyramid LP)
3) *TEN PERCENT - Double Exposure (Salsoul disco disk)
4) I'll Go Where Your Music Takes Me - Jimmy James & The Vagabonds (Pye)
5) *HEAVEN MUST BE MISSING AN ANGEL - Tavares (Capitol)
6) You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine - Lou Rawls (PIR) (sys "Pye")
7) Rain Forest - Biddu Orchestra (Epic LP-English import)
8. Call Me/ Keep It Up Longer - Andrea True Connection (Buddah LP)
9) American Music - Jeanne Burton & Dooley Silverspoon (Cotton)
10) It's Better Than Walking Out - Marlena Shaw (Blue Note)
11) You Got The Power - Su (says "Sue") Kramer (London)
12) Sugar Boogie - Bobby Thomas & Hotline (MCA)
13) *TAKE A LITTLE - Liquid Pleasure (Midland Intl.)
14) Be My Baby - Frankie Gee (Lipstick)
15) Cherchez La Femme - Dr. Buzzard's original Savannah Band (RCA LP)

Melody Shop Songs Top 15:
1) *DON'T TAKE AWAY THE MUSIC - Tavares (Capitol LP)
2) Use Your Imagination - Kokomo (CBS LP)
3) Summertime - MFSB (PIR LP)
4) Discover Me/ First Round Knockout - David Ruffin (Motown LP)
5) "WHERE THE HAPPY PEOPLE GO" - The Trammps (Atlantic LP)
6) Foxy Lady - Crown Heights Affair (De-Lite)
7) *I'M GONNA LET MY HEART DO THE WALKING - The Supremes (Motown)
8. Can't Stop Groovin" - B.T. Express (Columbia)
9) One For The Money - The Whispers (Soul Train)
10) Desperately - Barrabas (Atco LP)
11) Here We Go Again - People's Choice (TSOP)
12) *TAKE A LITTLE - Liquid Pleasure (Midland Intl.)
13) *TROUBLE-MAKER - Roberta Kelly (Oasis LP)
14) A Time for Celebration - Faith, Hope & Charity + Choice Four (RCA)
15) Always There - Side Effect (Fantasy)

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ONE YEAR AGO IN DISCO HISTORY….June 28, 1975

THE DISCO COMPILATION CONSENSUS TOP 5
June 28, 1975

1) DREAMIN' A DREAM - Crown Heights Affair
(De-Lite 45) (52 points/ ABCD_)
4 weeks on the chart/ Last week: #2 (+1)
2) FOREVER CAME TODAY – The Jackson Five
(Motown LP) (50 points/ AB_DE)
4 weeks on the chart/ Last week: #1 (-1)
3) FREE MAN - South Shore Commission
(Wand 45) (48 points/ ABCDE)
11 weeks on the chart/ Last week: #3 (+/-0)
4) K-JEE - MFSB
(PIR LP) (38 points/ _BCD_)
3 weeks on the chart / Last week: #27 (+23)
5) THE HUSTLE – Van McCoy & The Soul City Symphony
(Avco 45) ( 29 points/ A__DE)
11 weeks on the chart/ Last week: #4 (-1) / (2 nonconsecutive weeks @ #1)
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STATS:
18 items: #9, 15, (tracks) 17, 20, 23, 27, 32, 33, (half) 34, 35, 37, (half) 38, 39, 44, 45, 46, 47 & 48 NOT listed in Joel Whitburn’s Hot Dance/Disco (1974 – 2003) book.

DEBUTS: (+8.)
15) *MOVIN' IN ALL DIRECTIONS - People's Choice (B)
17) *"NIGHT & DAY" LP / TELL ME HOW YOU LIKE IT / I CAN'T STOP - John Davis & The Monster Orchestra (BEF)
21) * SUMMERTIME (LP) - MFSB (D)
24) *BROADWAY STAR - Barrabas (F)
31) * ONE FOR THE MONEY - The Whispers (AD)
43) * ONE MORE TRY - Ashford & Simpson (B)
48, * BLACK SOUL MUSIC - Black Soul (B)
49) * CHERCHEZ LA FEMME - Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band (C)

RETURNS: (+7)
16) (R) USE YOUR IMAGINATION - Kokomo (D)
37) (R) IT'S BETTER THAN WALKING OUT - Marlena Shaw (C)
41) (R) YOU'VE GOT THE POWER - Su Kramer (C)
42) (R) DANCING FREE - Hot Ice (F)
45) (R) NIGHT JOURNEY - Doc Severinsen (E)
46) (R) PRETTY MAID - Pretty Maid Company (B)
47) (R) A TIME FOR CELEBRATION - Faith, Hope & Charity + Choice Four (D)

DROPPED OFF: (-10)
* SOUL MAN - Calhoon (was #19/ 9 weeks on the chart/ *will return)
DISCO CARNIVAL - El Coco (was #26/ 10 weeks on the chart)
* DON'T FIGHT THE FEELING - Willie Collins (was #27/ 2 weeks on the chart/ *will return)
* TURN THE BEAT AROUND - Vicki Sue Robinson (was #28/ 19 weeks on the chart/ *will return)
* THIS IS IT - Melba Moore (was #34/ 11 weeks on the chart/ *will return)
WHO LOVES YOU BETTER - Isley Brothers (was #36/ 3 weeks on the chart)
NOW - Bill Pursell (was #38/ 1 week on the chart)
* WE GOT THE RHYTHM - People's Choice (was #39/ 1 week on the chart/ * will return)
* TRAVELIN’ IN HEAVY TRAFFIC - Don Covay (was #41/ 1 week on the chart/ *will return)
* MAKING LOVE - Sammy Gordon & The Hip Huggers (was #42/ 6 weeks on the chart/ * will return)

MOVIN’ ON UP: Biggest Movers
+20 TAKE A LITTLE (from #30 up to #10)
+18 DESPERATELY (from #29 up to #11)
+19 ALWAYS THERE (from #40 up to #22)

I’M GOIN’ DOWN: Biggest Drops
-20 PARTY LINE (from #18 down to #38.)
-19 LOVE HANGOVER (from #9 down to #28.)
-14 LOVE CHANT (from #12 down to #26)

IN THE LONG RUN: Longest Chart Runs
THAT’S WHERE THE HAPPY PEOPLE GO (20 consecutive weeks: 1st as single for 13 weeks/ now as part of the LP)
LOVE HANGOVER (18 consecutive weeks)
” A LOVE TRILOGY” LP (15 consecutive weeks)



THE FINAL TALLY, HO
49 items this week; last week 46
+8 debuts +7 returns / -10 dropoffs
1 record on all 6 charts (Trammps) (*Tavares- if you combine both titles)
2 records on 5 charts (Supremes, Roberta Kelly)
5 records on 4 charts (Tavares, Jesse Green, D.C. LaRue, Liquid Pleasure, Side Effect)
4 records on 3 charts
9 records on 2 charts
28 records on only 1 chart
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What's It All About, Mar-keeey???
(Is it just for old disco we live???.....;) well IS it????)

This chart marks the end of the first half of 1976--6 months down, 6 more to go....

Two things of note this week: 1) a CHART RECORD is BROKEN and 2) an a new record makes an auspicious DEBUT...FIRST....

TRAMMPS CROWNED #1 CHAMPS!!!!!

(Yeah, I can play with the bells & whistles too....now how do I turn em off???)

This week, The Trammps grab a 9th consecutive week @ #1--beating the previous holder of this title for 8 weeks, People's Choice for their 1975 chart-topper "Do It Any Way You Wanna."

Let's look at exactly what The Trammps have achieved thus far...

Chart A = first the single "THAT'S WHERE THE HAPPY PEOPLE GO" charted #1 for 7 weeks (2/28 - 4/10/76); then it fell to #2 allowing Donna Summer's 'A Love Trilogy" to reign #1 for 3 weeks; then the LP "WHERE THE HAPPY PEOPLE GO" moved into the #1 spot (where it will stay til 7/17/76--that's 11 weeks + 7 weeks = 18 weeks @ #1!!!!!

Chart B = 4 weeks @ #1

Chart C= 7 weeks @ #1 (single); then 9 weeks for LP = 16 consecutive weeks

Chart D = 1 week (single) + 5 weeks (LP)

Chart E = peaked @#5 (1 week for the single /1 week for the LP @ #5)

Chart F = ranked #1 in Boston (3 times); Washington, D.C. (2 times); once in Houston and eventually in Omaha, Nebraska on 8/14/76!!!

All told it will spend 25 weeks in the Top 10!!!!!
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The next #1 is on the chart and just waiting to get it's ducks in a row for enough points to claim the top spot at long last.;)

This week the Top 10 admits 2 new titles, "Don't Take Away The Music" @ #8 and @ #10 "Take A Little."

"Desperately (#11), "Always There" (#22) & "Here We Go Again" (#19) all make big leaps upward this week.

Notable debuts come from The Whispers @ #31 (Top 10 bound) and....most auspiciously....


"CHERCHEZ LA FEMME" by Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band!!!!!

"They'll tell you a lie with a Colgate smile.....hey hey, baby...."

Colony Records (chart C) has the first sighting of this new record @#15--a perfectly original melding of Latin rhythms, Big Band arrangements, witty lyrics & jazzy female vocals adding up to one of the all time GREAT RECORDS!!!! :D:D:D

(More on this later...it drops off next week...but then returns....)

Next week, the U.S. Bicentennial (200 years old, baby!!!) is celebrated on the chart dated July 4, 1976 and the chart goes a little crazy. (I was on ACID or something like it that evening and maybe the chart was too!!!):lol::lol:

We get a total of 55 titles!!!; 5 titles enter the Top 10 for the first time, 9 titles return and 17 titles dropoff the chart altogether. 2 titles in this weeks Top 10 fall down to # 40 next week!!! It's a weird transitional week--old hits are fading---charts are seeking new product--they just can't agree on the same titles; hence we get 55!!! :roll::roll::roll:

11 records debut including titles by The Rimshots, Curtis Mayfield, Zulema, Lou Courtney, Motown Magic Disco Machine, Carol Townes & 5th Avenue, Bottom Line, The Glass Family and 2 from Nature Zone. In addition, there's a second title from Candi Staton's new LP, which will eventually actually help move Candi's "Young Hearts Run Free" upwards on the chart after almost 3 months of charting sporadically on one chart or another!!!!
__________________________________________________ ____________

DISCO MIX By Tom Moulton

June 26, 1976
(Thanks as always to shootyourshot for providing me with this column)


[NEW YORK] MGM is releasing Gloria Gaynor’s new ”I Got You” LP July 15. The label will have special test pressings of the medley side of the album out for discos by July Fourth weekend.

There are three songs making up the medley ”Let’s Make A Deal,” a bouncy melodic number that’s reminiscent of ”Lonely Days, Lonely Nights”; ”I’ve Got You Under My Skin,” which has an intro that sounds like bees swarming over a heavy bass drum (the buildup becomes that “Broadway sound” that’s familiar now to many of Gaynor’s songs); and ”Darling Be Mine,” the most energetic of the three. The latter song has a break consisting of just guitars with high hat. It builds back to a full orchestra sound.

Side B has some funky material, especially with ”Talk, Talk, Talk,”, a cut where the songstress reminisces about earlier dance hits like ”Reach Out,” “Casanova Brown,” & “Never Can Say Goodbye.”

Originally, the album was not aimed at the dance set. Word is, though, that there were so many inquiries as to when Gaynor’s next disco LP was coming that it was decided to go back into the studio and re-mix a dance medley for the A-side, something that’s become standard on her albums.

Atlantic releases two 12-inch disco disks this week. ”Desperately” b/w “Broadway Star” by Barrabas and ”Give A Broken Heart A Break” b/w “Happy Man” by Damon Harris & Impact. Both artists have been getting strong response to the songs from the LP releases.

RCA’s going to have a solid disco title in ”Dr. Buzzard’s Original Savannah Band” LP. The music is a takeoff on the forties sound with similar, but not as strong as those of the Manhattan Transfer. Basically, there are two strong cuts. ”Sour & Sweet / Lemon In The Honey," where the rhythm is contemporary while the horns rally around what sounds like riffs from the forties.

Vocals move back and forth from sounds of both periods. The second strong cut,”Cherchez La Femme,” starts off like the standard ”Whispering” but again, it’s a marriage of the old and new that produces the unique sound.

UA has just released a new Mark Radice LP with featured instrumental backing coming from the Brass Construction. There is one cut that a number of discos are playing—”If You Can’t Beat ‘Em, Join ‘Em.” Radice handles lead vocals and plays synthesizer. The song has a sound of the B.T. Express and Brass Construction.

Motown legend Mary Wells is in Philadelphia working on her new album, which will be released on Philadelphia International (probably sometime this fall). You can expect a single soon, though. [Did this ever get released? Or is it another “never happened” or “never released” project like Thelma Houston working with Van McCoy??? Hmmmm…] :-o:-o:-o

Candi Staton’s new LP ”Young Hearts Run Free” (says “YOUNGSTERS :oops: Run Free”!!!):p has three strong cuts: ”Run To Me” (the strongest), ”I Know”</