1976 Billboard Disco Compilation Consensus Charts!!!

[markydefad]

Part #3: October 2,1976

THE DISCO COMPILATION CONSENSUS TOP 40--PURELY BY POINTS:

Legend: (B) = bundled with other titles by Billboard; (B/U) = "Bubbling Under the Top 40"
Based solely on point totals of individual titles; in cases of point ties, the title on more charts gets precedence--if # of charts is the same, it's in alphabetical order and a {tie}/ * = debut

1) YOU SHOULD BE DANCING (136 points/ 15 Billboard charts) Billboard ranked: #3
2) CHERCHEZ LA FEMME (136 points/ 13 charts) BB ranked #1 (B)
3) MY SWEET SUMMER SUITE (134 points/ 12 charts) BB ranked #2
4) SOUR & SWEET (Lemon In The Honey) (127 points/ 13 charts) BB ranked #1 (B)
5) MIDNIGHT LOVE AFFAIR (125 points/ 13 charts) BB ranked #4 (B)
6) I'LL PLAY THE FOOL (123 points/ 11 charts) BB ranked #1 (B)
7) THE BEST DISCO IN TOWN (111 points/ 11 charts) BB ranked #8 (B)
8. YOU + ME = LOVE (101 points/ 8 charts) BB ranked #5
9) (Shake, Shake, Shake) SHAKE YOUR BOOTY (89 points/ 10 charts) BB ranked #12
10) I DON'T WANNA LOSE YOUR LOVE (83 points/ 7 charts) BB ranked #6

11) NICE 'N' NAASTY (12") (75 points/ 10 charts) BB ranked #13
12) HEAVEN MUST BE MISSING AN ANGEL (71 points/ 10 charts) BB ranked #14 (B)
13) DOWN TO LOVE TOWN (71 points/ 8 charts) BB ranked #7
14) ARABIAN NIGHTS (69 points/ 8 charts) BB ranked #8 (B)
15) PLAY THAT FUNKY MUSIC (64 points/ 6 charts) BB ranked #17
16) LET'S MAKE A DEAL/ I'VE GOT YOU UNDER MY SKIN (Medley) (61 points/ 9 charts) BB ranked #11 (B)
17) {Tie} BE MINE (Medley) (55 points/ 8 charts) BB ranked #11 (B)
17) {Tie} DON'T TAKE AWAY THE MUSIC (55 points/ 8 charts) BB ranked #14 (B)
19) NICE 'N' NAASTY (LP) (55 points/ 6 charts) BB ranked #9
20) LET'S GET IT TOGETHER (46 points/ 6 charts) BB ranked #16

21) CALYPSO BREAKDOWN (41 points/ 5 charts) BB ranked #10 (B)
22) GETAWAY (33 points/ 4 charts) BB ranked #20
23) YOU'LL NEVER FIND ANOTHER LOVE LIKE MINE (32 points/ 4 charts) BB ranked #22
24) THE RUBBERBAND MAN (32 points/ 3 charts) BB ranked #19
25) YOUNG HEARTS RUN FREE/ RUN TO ME (29 points each/ 3 charts) BB ranked #25 (B)
26) WHERE IS THE LOVE (28 points/ 3 charts) BB ranked #10 (B)
27) FULL TIME THING (25 points/ 5 charts) BB ranked #18
28. YOU’RE MY PEACE OF MIND (23 points/ 5 charts) BB ranked #15 (B)
29) LIKE HER! (18 points/ 3 charts) BB ranked #21
30) BEIN' WITH YOU (18 points/ 2 charts) BB ranked #14 (B)

31) (R) MAKES YOU BLIND (17 points/ 4 charts) BB ranked #35
32) * DAZZ (17 points/ 2 charts) BB ranked #24
33) LOWDOWN (16 points/ 3 charts) BB ranked #32
34) * CAR WASH (16 points/ 2 charts) BB ranked #23
35) (R) DON'T STOP THE MUSIC (15 points/ 2 charts) BB ranked #33
36) * LOVE BUG (15 points/ 2 charts) BB: not ranked; B/U: #41
37) * DAYLIGHT (14 points/ 3 charts) BB ranked #27
38. * I'M CRYING (14 points/ 1 chart) BB; not ranked; B/U: #42
39) TEN PERCENT (13 points/ 3 charts) BB ranked #29 (B)
40) {Tie} * CRIME DON'T PAY (13 points/ 1 chart) BB ranked: #4 (B)
40) {Tie} TAKE A LITTLE (13 points/ 1 chart) BB ranked: #28

__________________________________________________ _________________

Billboard National Disco Action Top 40 Titles Lacking Points to Make The Disco Compilation Consensus "Purely By Points” Chart This Week:

15) LIFE GOES ON (B) (12 points)
17) I FEEL SANCTIFIED (B) (5 points)
26) NIGHT PEOPLE/ LIES DIVIDED BY JIVE (7 points)
29) EVERYMAN/ (B) (0 points)
29) MY LOVE IS FREE (B) ( 6 points)
30) KNIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN/ (B)(11 points)
30) I WANNA FUNK WITH YOU TONITE/ (B) (11 points)
30) OH L'AMOUR (B) (3 points)
31) IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME (11 points)
34) MUSIC, MUSIC, MUSIC (6 points)
36) FULL SPEED AHEAD (6 points)
37) DISCO MAGIC (4 points)
38. PICNIC IN THE PARK (5 points)
39) DANCE (10 points)
40) I GOT YOUR LOVE (5 points)


BILLBOARD TOP 40 MAJOR POINT GAINERS: HEATIN' UP
+33 points from last week Midnight Love Affair (from 92 points last week to 125 points this week)
+30 points from last week My Sweet Summer Suite (from 104 points last week to 134 points this week)
+25 points from last week Cherchez La Femme (from 111 points last week to 136 points this week)
+20 points from last week Sour & Sweet (from 107 points last week to 127 points this week)
+19 points from last week Down To Love Town (from 52 points last week to 71 points this week)


BILLBOARD TOP 40 MAJOR POINT LOSERS: COOLIN'DOWN
-40 points from last week Nice 'N' Naasty (12") (from 115 points last week down to 75 points this week)
-36 points from last week You Should Be Dancing (from 172 points last week down to 136 points this week)
-35 points from last week Arabian Nights (from 104 points last week down to 69 points this week)
-29 points from last week Best Disco In Town (from 140 points last week down to 111 points this week)
-28 points from last week Don't Take Away The Music (from 83 points last week down to 55 points this week)

__________________________________________________ _____________

ONE YEAR AGO IN DISCO HISTORY
October 4, 1975

Billboard charts:
A= Top Audience Response Records in NYC Discos:
(#1= CASANOVA BROWN/(If You Want It) DO IT YOURSELF/HOW HIGH THE MOON (Medley)
B= Retail Best Sellers: Downstairs Records (NYC):
(#1= CASANOVA BROWN/(If You Want It) DO IT YOURSELF/HOW HIGH THE MOON (Medley)
C= Retail Best Sellers: Colony Records (NYC):
(#1= CASANOVA BROWN/(If You Want It) DO IT YOURSELF/HOW HIGH THE MOON (Medley)
D= Retail Best Sellers: Melody Song Shops (Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island):
(#1= CASANOVA BROWN/(If You Want It) DO IT YOURSELF/HOW HIGH THE MOON (Medley)
E= Top Audience Response Records in LA/ San Diego Discos:
(#1= LOVE ROLLERCOASTER)


5 charts with 15 items apiece;
15 points for a #1; 1 point for a #15; 1 point for #10 = 75 points max.

THE DISCO COMPILATION CONSENSUS TOP 5:
OCTOBER 4, 1975

1) CASANOVA BROWN/ (If You Want It) DO IT YOURSELF/ HOW HIGH THE MOON (Medley) - Gloria Gaynor
(MGM LP) (70 total points/ charts ABCDE)
4 weeks on the chat/Last week: #1 (+/-0)
2) FLY, ROBIN, FLY - Silver Convention
(Midland Intl. LP) (50 points/ABCDE)
10 weeks on the chart/ Last week: #2 (+/-0)
3) (NOBODY LOVES ME) LIKE YOU DO DO - Jeanne Burton
(Cotton 7") (40 points/ charts _BCD_)
4 weeks on the chart/ Last week: #13 (+10)
4) I LIKE IT - Silver Convention
(Midland Intl. LP) (38 points/ABCD_)
10 weeks on the chart/ Last week: #3 (-1)
5) YOU SET MY HEART ON FIRE (vocal & instrumental) - Tina Charles
(Columbia 7") (36 points/ABCD_)
5 weeks on the chart/ Last week: #4 (-1)
__________________________________________________ ______________

DISCO MIX by Tom Moulton

Column #98 / October 2, 1976

(Thanks to Toby T. for supplying & typing this entire column.)

[NEW YORK]— 20th Century Records will shortly release a new LP by The Love Unlimited Orchestra. The disk is titled “My Sweet Summer Suite” after the group’s hit of the same name. There are several cuts that are somewhat different from the sound the group has been doing. “Brazilian Love Song” starts off with percussion and bass then builds to the full orchestra, while retaining the Latin type sound. This song features the piano as the lead instrument. The tempo here is fast and contains a strong rhythm and vibe break. The length is 6:09 minutes.

“I Am Falling In Love With You” is the most commercial of the cuts and gets a more together sound because of the effect of the strings. This song is melodic and uptempo and builds with excitement. “You I Adore” has a very interesting rhythm pattern, and is also melodic. “Strange Games & Things” is the funkiest cut on the LP and features flutes and guitars with occasional swells of strings.

The 5:01 minute version of the title tune is also included in this LP. The album is the first collaboration between Barry White and Gene Page since they both went in different directions about a year ago. It is good to see a winning team together again.

Westbound Records (distributed by 20th Century) has had a problem with the cover of the new Detroit Emeralds LP, so it has been delayed up until Oct. 15.

The TEAI (Telling Everybody About It) label out of Memphis has a good record with Five Special titled “The More I Get To Know You (Parts 1 & 2).” The record is reminiscent vocally of The Modulations with nice harmony. The part one side is very short (2:03) and part two fades up on the tag of the vocal, then into a good rhythm break. It then builds with a clavinet solo then into the full orchestra, then builds back into the vocals.

TK Records has picked up the rights to distribute the Contempo single of Tamiko Jones. The tune is “Let It Flow.” There will be a long version on a 12-inch disk that will be commercially available. It is longer than the regular 45 r.p.m. version. Both disks will have the instrumental version on the flip side. It is called “Let It Flow Tamiko.” The records will be available within two weeks.

“Norman Connors Presents Aquarian Dream” is the title of the debut LP by Aquarian Dream on Buddah Records. There are several good cuts and the strongest is “I’ll Always Love You.” It has a good vocal harmony sound and track with a lead synthesizer throughout. The overall sound is pop/soul and very commercial.

“East 6th Street” is a strong instrumental which also features the synthesizer and is commercial with a strong uptempo rhythm. There are some jazz overtones which makes it more exciting. “Phoenix” features lead vocalist Gloria Jones with the group backing her with some good vocal harmonies. This is also uptempo and has a good melodic hook. There are some nice horn lines, and the production is close to the Philadelphia sound. “Looking Ahead” has Latin style percussion, but the vocals and other instruments lean toward r&b. Here is a very strong production by Connors.

Buddah has also released a 12-inch disco disk on Life USA’s “Foxy Trot.” The group is pop and a lot like Crown Heights Affair.

The “Dynamite Explodes” girls are back making record, and their new release on Capitol is a new version of the Van McCoy/Brenda & The Tabulations classic, “A Little Bit Of Love.” It is basically the same as the original version with a busier and more predominant drum sound. The girls are still belting out the vocals and Bobby Martin has done a good arrangement and nice production.
__________________________________________________ _____________


What's It All About, Mar-keeey???

(Is it just for old disco we live???..... well IS it????)

One Step Forward....Two Steps Back...
Five weeks after it first topped the last Disco Compilation Consensus Chart half-based on charts from the New York City retailers (8/28/76), Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band, at long last, tops the Billboard National Disco Action Top 40 chart. This confirms my contention that the 2/3 NYC-centric old charts were approximately 4-5 weeks ahead of the rest of the country. New York City was ready for Dr. Buzzard at the end of August---now , the first Saturday of October, 1976--the rest of the country has caught on. However, technically Dr. Buzzard is tied for #1 with the previous champs, the Bee Gees with a rather weak 136 points each. To take that technicality one step further, the Bee Gees have 15 charts as opposed to 13 for DBOSB--so in the "Purely By Points" chart--the Bee Gees still win another week @ #1--but Billboard has given DBSOB a deserved week on top. Next week, we finally move forward with something topping the chart that's never been #1 before!!! It's about time.


"Nice" LP vs "Naasty" 12": Salsoul Style

This week we have the first case of Billboard charting a 12" single and an LP by the same artist with the same title--"Nice 'N' Naasty"--as two separate competing items. For the record, the 12" debuted first seven weeks ago. Last week, the 12" and several newly released LP tracks were bundled together @ #5. This week, Billboard has decided--King Solomon-style--to separate the 12" (@#13) from the LP (@#9--says "all cuts"-well, except probably for the ballad cover medley of "We've Only Just Begun/ Feelings"). Examining the actual city charts, those results seem skewed to me.

Adding up the actual points, the LP (listed as "all cuts" /or LP tracks) has 55 points, while the 12" single has 75 points. Yet, the LP is ranked 4 positions ahead of the 12". Only Pittsburgh, San Francisco, Seattle and Montreal don't chart the 12". It's highest ranking is #3 on both the Detroit and Phoenix charts.

The entire LP is charted in Atlanta, Baltimore-DC, Boston, Chicago, Houston and New York. Next week, Baltimore-DC actually charts BOTH the LP and !2" in separate positions within their Top 15.

Anyway, the 12" has more points than the LP this week and next week the stats are even odder...the LP has 81 points and is ranked @ #4 while the 12" has 83 points, but is dropped to #25! Ain't that peculiar???

A similar fate awaits the new Vicki Sue Robinson release "Daylight." Once the LP is released, the 12" has to take a backseat to the LP featuring "Daylight" and several other tracks.

Billboard, at this point in time, is still figuring out how to chart these things. They ultimately decide to combine the 12" and the LP listings as one item. Thank gawd.


"Come on y'all and sing it with me...
TALKIN' 'BOUT THE CAR WASH"

In addition to the #5 ranked Undisputed Truth's "You + Me = Love," prolific producer Norman Whitfield debuts his new group Rose Royce, with the title track from a new Universal comedy for which Whitfield had composed and produced nearly all the music. The Rose Royce tracks, with the exception of the title song, had been mostly recorded for a debut LP, but when Whitfield got the soundtrack gig, he decided to launch his group with the soundtrack. The film, "Car Wash," starred Richard Pryor, Franklin Ajaye, George Carlin and the even Pointer Sisters, among many other comic actors.

Interestingly, the screenplay about "workin' at a car wash" populated by an ensemble of largely Black characters was written by a white (gay,..shhhhh!) man from the New York fashion scene, Joel Schumacher, future A-list "semi-hack" film director (from "St. Elmo's Fire" to "The Lost Boys" to "The Client" to "Batman Returns/ Forever" to "The Phantom Of The Opera") Add to this the fact that Schumacher also scripted another 1976 Black-oriented film about a fictional Supremes-type girl group's rise to fame [before "Dreamgirls"] titled "Sparkle" featuring Irene Cara, Lonette McKee and a pre-"Miami Vice" Philip Michael Thomas, and it gets more interesting. "Sparkle" had a great score by Curtis Mayfield and none other than Aretha Franklin herself recorded all the tunes from the movie on an LP released in 1976....But why is a white gay NYC former window dresser/dress designer [ acid-tongued Oscar-winning producer, the late Julia Phillips called him "a better dress designer than a director" in her "You'll Never Eat Lunch In This Town Again" book] documenting the "Black Experience" in 1976 Hollywood??? Well, it was 1976 and although "Car Wash" had a Black director Michael Schultz, this was not the norm back then...so mostly white guys were behind the cameras on these films. Schumacher, further dipped his toes into Black culture by scripting "The Wiz" [atone for that one!!!]...and later wrote/directed "D.C. Cab" with Irene Cara & Mr. T!!!, an attempt to move the "car wash" vibe to a taxi company...[some good tunes on that soundtrack, however, Giorgio was involved!]

[I forgot this part....I could swear that when Mary J. Blige covered "I'm Goin' Down" from "Car Wash"... Joel Schumacher was credited as a song co-writer in the credits....looking at AMG today...it only lists Norman Whitfield as the writer---BUT I SWEAR I SAW THIS and was totally reminded of his participation on this film. I'll look it up when I get home and report back later. It just seemed that there must have been a little lawsuit at some point to get a songwriting credit. I thought what doesn't Joel do??? Seventies Renaissance Man??? --design the costumes/write the screenplay/direct the movie... then write the lyrics to the songs????!!!! ]

[correction: the credits on "I'm Goin' Down" on the Mary J. Blige cd "My Life" read:
Lyrics: Norman Whitfield
Music: Joel Schumacher!!! can anyone 'splain that????]

"Car Wash" will peak @#1 on the R&B chart (12/25/76) and #1 on the Pop chart (1/29/77). It debuts @ #23 on the Disco Action Top 40 this week, courtesy of LA & Phoenix charts. The soundtrack LP also featured two big ballads that would go Top 10 R&B: "I Wanna Get Next To You" & "I'm Goin' Down"--both superb.


The Last Spins Of Roulette

I want to mention the 4 titles charting on Roulette Records 12" singles this week: "Full Time Thing" @#18, "Like Her!" @#21, "I Got Your Love" @ #40, and Camouflage's "You've Got The Power", hangin' on @ #65.

Roulette Records, in business since the Fifties, was in their last years at this point and oddly had decided to release only disco records until they closed their doors in early 1978. A bunch of their 12" releases are compiled on a nice 1998 Brit cd titled: "Get Up And Move Your Body: Roulette Disco!"--(compiled and sequenced by Tony Rounce with welcome advice from Tom Moulton.) With the exception of Ecstasy, Passion & Pain's "Touch And Go," most of these tunes are largely forgotten today, but definitely worth exploring. The Roulette label had a distinctive orange and yellow alternating striped pattern [looks like that awful Halloween candy corn--those colors don't seem to exist in the color options here...or I'd do a pattern for ya!!!] that created a "primitive trip" as it rotated on the record player...["I Been Hyp-no-tized by the spinning Roulette!!!"]

The first record I recall purchasing on the Roulette label was "Easier Said Than Done" by The Essex in 1963. Later, all the Tommy James & the Shondells records from "Hanky Panky" through "Draggin' The Line" were on Roulette. But now, in 1976, though early 1978 when they closed shop, they devoted themselves almost exclusively to disco 12" singles!!! How cool is that?


Odd Things I've Noticed...DISCO FACT GEEK SQUAD:

1) Regarding "Midnight Love Affair"...Billboard never lists it as a medley of several tunes, however, I'm certain most DJs played the entire medley just as they would a 3-song Gloria Gaynor mixed LP side. So "Carol's Theme #1/ Midnight Love Affair/ Carol's Theme #2/ In The Morning/ Lie To Me" should technically be ranked @ #4--but Billboard doesn't do it that way, so I don't either. Billboard does do a bundle for a few weeks with another LP track, "Crime Don't Pay"; however, Joel Whitburn's "Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003" book lists "Midnight Love Affair/ Crime Don't Pay" as a number one; in reality, when "Midnight Love Affair" moves to #1, "Crime Don't Pay" has already been dropped. Conversely, Whitburn also lists "My Sweet Summer Suite/ Brazilian Love Song" as a future #1...the "Brazilian Love Song" tune actually gets charted after "My Sweet Summer Suite" moves down from #1! Them's the facts, Jack!...er.... Joel!!!

[correction: "My Sweet Summer Suite" returns to #1 for a final week and and that point it is bundled with "Brazilian Love Song."]

2) Also in Whitburn's book, Salsoul Orchestra's "Nice 'N' Naasty" LP is not charted as "all cuts," but like this: "Nice 'N' Naasty/ Salsoul 3001/ Don't Beat Around The Bush" (from "Nice 'N' Naasty" LP). No mention is made of the 12" single that is also charting simultaneously.

3) I've also noticed something odd dealing with the Whitburn ranking of Deniece Williams'"It's Important To Me." This is an LP track that is also the b-side of a promo 12" with the future hit "Free" on the a-side. Although, "Free" is never mentioned on a single Billboard disco chart, Whitburn lists this as "Free/ It's Important To Me." "Free" was the R&B/Pop hit, but at around 90 bpm--not an obvious dance tune--although revered in "morning music" circles. Only San Francisco ever charts this, but "Free" is never mentioned. Just keepin' it real.


BEAT THE BUSH???!!!!

Listening to Salsoul Orchestra's 2nd LP track "Don't Beat Around The Bush," I'm struck by the lines....

"Don't beat around/Don't beat around the bush
Don't mess around/ Don't mess around the bush
Don't fool around/ Don't fool around the bush
Don't play around/ Don't play around MY BUSH!!! [Patrick Adams, were you listening???]

The "bush" references in the Salsoul Orchestra and later Patrick Adams' Musique: "Push, Push In The Bush" tunes went right over my little pointed gay head. I had heard "Don't go in the bushes/ someone might grab ya" from the first Village People LP--so I thought "Pushin' in the bush" was "doin' it" in the bushes-- on Fire Island? in a park??? in the forest???...maybe??? I kid you not. The reference to a lady sex part...went totally over my head. Similarly, later... I thought the "Pull Up To (my) bumper... in your long black limousine" was about a high maintenance diva who wanted VIP curb access to the disco ("Fuck You driver--..I'm not walking from here!!!--pull up to the bumper of that limousine"] Oh yeah, I was not really payin' attention...had other things on my mind...and it sure wasn't BUSH!!!. Now "beatin' the Bush" dominates my life...but in a Dubya kinda-way. IMPEACH HIM!!!!

__________________________________________________ ______________

OK, now let's check to see where the recently charted items rank in the DISC-O-LA FORTUNE 500 ......

[first posted in the 3/26/76 column]

The rarefied air of the important CLASSIC records on the chart this week led me to take a look at their positions on the Disco-o-la Fortune 500 Discotheque Songs of the 70s list compiled by Ed Rothschild (with assistance from Johnny Tripp and Chipper McKearnin), that appears in its entirety in the back of Mel Cheren's book, Keep On Dancin': My Life and the Paradise Garage (2000); (Supposedly, this list came to fruition sometime in the Eighties; I don't know the specifics. The list goes back as early as the late Sixties for a few titles and then culls some from the early Seventies and stops at the end of 1979--no records from the Eighties are included--a few charted in 1980--but were actually released in late 1979)



DISC-O-LA FORTUNE 500 Rankings:

(Based on items in this weeks chart): 25 charting positions featuring 29 titles

#30) DOWN TO LOVE TOWN
#36) TEN PERCENT / MY LOVE IS FREE
#92) YOU SHOULD BE DANCING
#97) MAKES YOU BLIND

#101) I DON'T WANNA LOSE YOUR LOVE
#102) CHERCHEZ LA FEMME / SOUR & SWEET
#115) HEAVEN MUST BE MISSING AN ANGEL/ DON'T TAKE AWAY THE MUSIC
#145) MIDNIGHT LOVE AFFAIR
#157) YOU'LL NEVER FIND ANOTHER LOVE LIKE MINE
#175) YOUNG HEARTS RUN FREE /RUN TO ME
#179) YOU + ME = LOVE

#237) CAR WASH
#258. (Shake, Shake, Shake) SHAKE YOUR BOOTY
#271) THE BEST DISCO IN TOWN
#314) CALYPSO BREAKDOWN
#338. LOWDOWN
#366) DON'T STOP THE MUSIC
#372) PLAY THAT FUNKY MUSIC

#404) IF YOU CAN'T BEAT 'EM, JOIN 'EM
#408. LET'S GET IT TOGETHER
#420) SUN... SUN...SUN...
#423) MY SWEET SUMMER SUITE
#473) GET UP OFFA THAT THING (Release The Pressure)
#477) TAKE A LITTLE
#480) I GOT YOUR LOVE

__________________________________________________ ____________

Coming Soon To A Disco Near You...

YOU'RE MY DRIVING WHEEL
STUBBORN KIND OF FELLOW
THAT'S THE TROUBLE/ SORRY
SHOULD I STAY/ I WON'T LET YOU GO
I'M YOUR BOOGIE MAN/ KEEP IT COMIN' LOVE
DANCIN'/ SEARCHING FOR THE ONE/ FAR OUT
ANOTHER STAR/ I WISH/ SIR DUKE/ISN’T SHE LOVELY/AS
SOUL CHA CHA/SWAHILI BOOGIE/RHYTHMS OF THE WORLD
GOIN' UP IN SMOKE/THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES/MUSIC MAN
WELCOME TO OUR WORLD (OF MERRY MUSIC)/ WINE FLOW DISCO
& "THE FOUR SEASONS OF LOVE" LP

[discopsycho]

Marky,

I just want to join the chorus of those that have thanked you for all the work you do on these charts. I look forward to each new one, and have even printed out all previous charts for reference.

I am also always amazed at the knowledge you and others have about disco music. I thought I was pretty knowledgeable until I started visiting this site.

The only downside is that I have consequently gone on mad hunts for rarities and records/cds I don't already have and spent even more on my collection, but that's not necessarily all bad.

Keep up the great work.

[SandraDee]

Originally Posted by discopsycho

The only downside is that I have consequently gone on mad hunts for rarities and records/cds I don't already have and spent even more on my collection, but that's not necessarily all bad.

Tell me about it. Since I started visiting this site I can't afford to go away or to go out socialising or somtimes to pay bills 'cos I'm spending so much on music!!
Still, I can't think of a better way to spend money!

[markydefad]

Originally Posted by discopsycho

Marky,

I just want to join the chorus of those that have thanked you for all the work you do on these charts. I look forward to each new one, and have even printed out all previous charts for reference.

I am also always amazed at the knowledge you and others have about disco music. I thought I was pretty knowledgeable until I started visiting this site.

The only downside is that I have consequently gone on mad hunts for rarities and records/cds I don't already have and spent even more on my collection, but that's not necessarily all bad.

Keep up the great work.

Thanks discopsycho. I needed that. It gets lonely doing this...I can see people are reading, but few ever comment....but I trudge on against the obstacles...like the Disco Johnny Appleseed...sowing the seeds of disco for all to read!!!

[rhessel]

Hi MarkY:

You know that I don't write much in this forum, but you must be shure that I have read all your "Billboard" posts, since the very beginning.

I am addicted to charts, as we can see many obscure hits, and "not Top 10" not listed in the main charts.

Where, except in Marky's compilation, are we able to see such as "Madison' 76 by Venus"?

Thank you so much for you work. You are doing an amazing work.

You know, I have copied and pasted all charts to a Word file.

Cheers,

[markydefad]

Cheers Hessel, I've always appreciated your support from the start...so is "Madison '76" a must find???? I don't know it...Billboard actually lists it as "Venus"--by Madison '76....but I corrected it!!!

[clarification: the Billboard chart reporting "Madison'76" switched the title with the artist's name is what I'm trying to say.... but I switched it the right way, which is "Madison '76" by Venus....NOT "Venus" by Madison '76!!! Is that clear???]

[rhessel]

Hello MarkY:

Just checked at Venus "Madison 76 (Pt 1 And 2)" 45RPMs for sale - GEMM.com and says:

Artist: Venus
Title: Madison' 76 (part 1 and 2)
Columbia 161199

Are we talking about the same record? I think so...

Hope you have a nice week!!!

[rhessel]

Originally Posted by markydefad

9/25/76/Part #2:

PART 2: THE DISCO COMPILATION CONSENSUS
"BUBBLING UNDER" THE DISCO ACTION TOP 40

...
61) LOVE BITE - Richard Hewson Orchestra
(Splash 7"/ 12") (3 points/ 1 chart = Baltimore-D.C.)
BDA Top 30/40: not charted
DCC chart: 3 weeks on chart/ Last week: #73 (+12)
...

Hi:

Talking about obscure songs...

Anyone here has a sample of this song. I need to check and compare with a song a have for a long time and I can't identify it.

Thanks for your help.

[markydefad]

rhessel,

Barry Walters plays this on his radio show. Have you listened?

try: http://www.radioio.com/

Click on the Disco option...it seems to be working today...although the titles of the songs don't change on some days [like today!] like they used to!!! Hopefully it's all gonna be corrected in the future.

[remicks]

*****

Originally Posted by markydefad

...so is "Madison '76" a must find????

http://www.discomusic.com/records-more/6122_0_2_0_C/

Every one of your songs is a must find Marky ! But I have a feeling if you were actively thinning down your collection ... for a fair price ... you might let this one go . It's not terrible ... just not overly distinctive ...
A fast tempo number in the Philly vein with plenty of strings ( long held notes) and horns and cooing feline voices.... along with a bit of the action movie theme sound ... steady SHAFT wah wahs and a featured guitar that at times sounds a little Cerrone like .. . Piano , tambourine, double hand claps,.... no bongos .....no cow bell ....

.
http://www.discomusic.com/records-more/6122_0_2_0_C/


MAAAD -ison '76 ---- is repeated several times by a female trio, then:
ooo.--- oooo---ooo
MAD i-son MAD-i-son ............... (the cooing of these phrases are the song's weakest moments)

To the front two three four
To the back two three four
To the front two three four
To the left ------
To the right -----
ooooooo
you got it ...YOU GOT IT

then there's a slightly more raw "party" break with folks hootin' in the background while an urban sounding young lady explains the dance steps...

male voice: they doin' it in LA ya'll
female: OK everybody, by now you know what the Madison '76 is all about
male in background: I'll tell you what it's all about ( whistle)
female: Now when I say "git" I want 'chu all to just get on down here
crowd : alright!
female: now we gonna try four to the front
crowd: whooo
female:then we gonna try four to the back
now we gonna jump two times then we gonna mash four times
... etc era ...
Watch out now here it comes .....

then the break returns to a female chorus cooing once again:
Mad-i -son MAD i-son .....
.....to a fade

I only have a promo 45 copy with 3 1/2 minutes of Part 1 .... if it gets more wild in the Part Two .... maybe someone else can elaborate ... I'm wondering if the called steps of the original Madison aren't updated '76 style therein (?) .....

This mysterious group VENUS performing Madison '76 is a collaboration of Jeff Lane and Randy Muller (written arranged and produced ) .... better known for their mega disco successes with Brass Construction and Skyy

_________________


About the dance called "MADISON" :

The Madison is a novelty dance that was popular in the late 1950s to mid 1960s. The Madison was created and first danced in Columbus, Ohio in 1957.

The Madison is a line dance that features a regular back-and-forth pattern interspersed with called steps. Its popularity inspired dance teams and competitions, as well as various recordings, and today it is still sometimes performed as a nostalgic dance. The Madison is featured in the John Waters movie Hairspray; and it continues to be performed in the Broadway musical Hairspray. Both the film and the musical feature one of many songs released during the Madison "craze" in the US.

An example of a 1960 song and album featuring music for the Madison is "The Tunetoppers at The Madison dance Party" with calls by Al Brown.[2]

The Madison took on international flavor when Count Basie visited Columbus, Ohio in 1959 and adopted the dance as a feature of his entertainment when he played London and the continent, creating press notices in London. [3]

The Madison basic danced in the film Hairspray is as follows:

1. Step left forward
2. Place right beside left (no weight) and clap
3. Step back on right
4. Move left foot back and across the right
5. Move left foot to the left
6. Move left foot back and across the right

Called steps included the Double Cross, the Cleveland Box, The Basketball (with Wilt Chamberlain), the Big "M", the "T"” Time, the Jackie Gleason, the Birdland, and The Rifleman. --------wikipedia


_____________


Why MADISON '76 ....didn't do better .... besides being just a slightly better than average record ....I'm not sure disco crowds in the midst of doing their own contemporary dance floor styles : bumping and hustling etc. .. were particularly interested in going anywhere retro with their dance moves .....



*****

http://www.discomusic.com/records-more/6122_0_2_0_C/

[remicks]

*****

from Tom Moulton's latest column :

The “Dynamite Explodes” girls are back making record, and their new release on Capitol is a new version of the Van McCoy/Brenda & The Tabulations classic, “A Little Bit Of Love.” It is basically the same as the original version with a busier and more predominant drum sound. The girls are still belting out the vocals and Bobby Martin has done a good arrangement and nice production.

Of this my question is: who are ' the "DYNAMITE EXPLODES" girls' ??




******

[markydefad]

Originally Posted by remicks

*****

from Tom Moulton's latest column :

Of this my question is: who are ' the "DYNAMITE EXPLODES" girls' ??


******

Good question, I didn't understand that one either. I didn't type it so I have no source material...but I went to AMG and it appears it may be this:

Group: HONEY & THE BEES (Barry Walters says it should be Gentle Persuasion; Honey & the Bees must have recorded the same song...I guess??? afterthought...it may be a totally different song with a similar title!!! to be determined.....)
LP: DYNAMITE!

looks like song title should have been "Dynamite EXPLODED"....



This disc has 14 of their Arctic sides (four previously unreleased), nine of which are from 1966-69 singles. Lamentably, the liner notes do not include any dates or original release information. Although Honey & the Bees were more competent than distinctive as vocalists, the material and arrangements amount to some pretty decent Philadelphia soul from a time when the genre was starting to coalesce around the Gamble-Huff-Bell sound. What's here is not as slick or commercially successful as the Gamble-Huff-Bell blockbusters of the early and mid-1970s, which is fine, as it has an airiness that often escaped such blockbusters. The Gamble-Huff-Bell comparisons, however, are not gratuitous: Huff himself plays piano on some of the cuts, and the rhythm section includes Ron Baker, Earl Young, Bobby Eli, and Norman Harris, all of whom were present on many Philly soul smashes in later years. Honey and the Bees were versatile performers who could handle styles and songs ranging from emotional, melodic ballads ("Make You Mine") and midtempo dance tunes ("Why Do You Hurt the One Who Loves You") to harder, funkier outings betraying the influence of more progressive soul trends ("Love Addict," "Music (Makes You Want to Dance," "Baby, Do That Thing"). Fred Wesley of the JBs, who married group member Gwen Oliver, wrote the liner notes.
Tracks
Title
Composer
Time
1 I'm Confessin' Parker 3:00
2 Make You Mine Copyright Control 3:28
3 (You Better) Go Now Felder 3:24
4 Why Do You Hurt the One Who Loves You Bishop 2:30
5 Love Addict Bell, Bishop, Broomer, Harris 2:48
6 I'll Be There Felder 3:48
7 Music (Makes You Want to Dance) Bishop, Broomer, Epstein ... 2:47 Composed by:Bishop, Broomer, Epstein, Mitchell
8 These Old Memories Copyright Contro 3:22
9 Together Forever Bishop, Harris 3:03
10 Dynamite Exploded Bailey 3:15
11 You Pulled a Fast One Copyright Control 2:26
12 Boys Traditional 3:29
13 Baby, Do That Thing Bishop, Broomer, Harris 2:46
14 A Sunday Kind of Love Belle, Leonard, Prima, Rhodes

[afterthought:

it looks like Moulton intended to write "The "Dynamite Exploded" girls, _________(insert group name) and somehow the group's name was omitted by Billboard.

Toby typed it as "Dynamite Explodes"-- indicating it was the name of a song...and I, in my haste of editing, mistakenly thought that was the name of the group...and edited out the underline....so confusion ensued!!!! sorry but now I know who they are!!! ]

[MixMasterMax]

Marky,

I just wanted to let you know what a wonderful thing you have done and are doing with these threads. After reading some other folks recognize your effort I feel pretty lousy that I have been reading and using these without giving thanks. Keep up the great work.

Long time lurker,
Max

[markydefad]

Originally Posted by MixMasterMax

Marky,

I just wanted to let you know what a wonderful thing you have done and are doing with these threads. After reading some other folks recognize your effort I feel pretty lousy that I have been reading and using these without giving thanks. Keep up the great work.

Long time lurker,
Max

Hey Max, thanks for the note.... No need to feel guilty.... But it is nice to hear-- from time to time-- that others are enjoying the posts.

[sfbeary]

hey marky and remicks,

the "Dynamite Explodes" girls of which Mr. Moulton writes belong to a group known as Gentle Persuasion