1976 Billboard Disco Compilation Consensus Charts!!!

[markydefad]

DISCO MIX by Tom Moulton

November 27, 1976

No column printed this week.

[markydefad]

I've proofread the charts for 11/27/76 and I think I've corrected the major typos, errors & ommissions--if you see something that doesn't look right, let me know, I can edit for another day or so....will add the "What's It All About" column next weekend.

4 more charts to go until 1976 is complete!
December 4, 11, 18 & 25/1976.

[rhessel]

Hello Marky:

Do you know? I'm still here. Always looking for your "chart" posting.

Thank you so much. Have a nice weekend.

Cheers,

[markydefad]

Thanks rhessel...I appreciate the support from Brazil!!!

[remicks]

*****

First before your editing time runs out ... is there a meaning to the way certain songs are bold/underlined and others are not on the DISC-O-LA FORTUNE 500 Rankings: ??? And why #408. LET'S GET IT TOGETHER is in fuchsia ??

_____

markydefad:
DISCO MIX by Tom Moulton

November 27, 1976

No column printed this week.

that's kind of a bummer !!

suppose he was away from the city having a turkey dinner somewhere and forgot his laptop .......



_____________

The other thing is tmob's interesting info on this new entry getting local play out of Chicago :

69) * I'M HYPNOTIZED/ * ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE - Frannie Golde

Originally Posted by tmob

One correction/update to Mr. Marky's latest wonderful chart:
69) * I'M HYPNOTIZED/ * ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE - Frannie Golde
(Atlantic LP: 3:42/3:51)
Although those were the "official" charted titles, some of us in Chicago also played the pop-styled "Stop (And Look Around)" off the album.
Frannie Golde was a local singer who was big in cabarets and on the bathhouse circuit (how many other album credits include a "thank you" to Man's Country?). She had a pop chart single in '79 with "Here I Go (Fallin' in Love Again)," but has had more success as a songwriter, with a whole bunch of hits including the Commodores' "Nightshift" and Jody Watley's "Don't You Want Me." If anyone's interested, I'll post an album cover scan to the Vault.

Just wondering, seems Frannie Golde was perhaps to Chicago what Sharon McNight was to the San Francisco scene about then ....


*****

[markydefad]

Originally Posted by remicks

*****
First before your editing time runs out ... is there a meaning to the way certain songs are bold/underlined and others are not on the DISC-O-LA FORTUNE 500 Rankings: ??? And why #408. LET'S GET IT TOGETHER is in fuchsia ??
*****

Yikes!!! What are you seeing??? I only did Thelma Houston in fuschia---to note she was a new entry. I notice a lot of random color placement in other sections where I didn't put them. But I thought it might have to do with a marketing thing --is it some viral thing? I will have to check at work tomorrow and see what it looks like there. It's never easy.

[remicks]

**********************
*****



Detroit Emeralds
FEEL THE NEED

Originally Posted by STEPHEN L FREEMAN

No, it's not a cover. BUT... The track WAS release on Westbound Records, prior to The Detroit Emeralds, with a female lead vocal. Same music tracks and production. It was just recycled for the Detroit Emeralds. I wish I could remember her name, but I can't. Although a friend of mine who was a DJ in NYC back in 72-74 has a copy of it. I heard it when I was last at his house, in SFO.

RE: STEPHEN L FREEMAN ;"Feel The Need": It was definitely on Westbound Records and may have been a promo-only release. But I DID see and hear it in January of '06, when I was visiting an old DJ friend in San Francisco. Let me get the exact label info from my friend, who has the record.

Got the record ......

Stephen you are right - it is the same track & arrangement as used by The Detroit Emeralds .... w/ some extra guitar ... a more noticeable sax at times ... & a couple of times Damon says "listen" before singing a line ...
Main distinction ... male backup vocals that periodically squeal "feeeel it" (wise decision to have later dropped 'em )

My copy is a commercial release ... not a promo .... backed with a slow organ/guitar driven vocal : I'M WISHIN' .... something like Al Green's LOVE AND HAPPINESS .

Damon Shawn is a male BTW ......


******

[STEPHEN L FREEMAN]

Originally Posted by remicks

Stephen you are right it is the same track & arrangement as used by The Detroit Emeralds .... w/ some extra guitar ... a more noticeable sax at times ... & a couple of times Damon says "listen" before singing a line ...
Main distinction ... male backup vocals that periodically squeal "feeeel it" (wise decision to have later dropped it )
Damon Shawn is a male BTW ......
[color=Indigo][b]

Ahhhh... Thank you. I'd thought it was a male, too. But my friend who owns it was convinced it was a woman. But, no matter. Since it's distributed by 'Janus Recods' we know it came before the Detroit Emeralds. When Westbound was distributed by Atlantic. I feel a little vindicated.

Now I have to go through all those crates, yet again, to find my copy of "Sunny" and see what's up with that. I didn't find it on the first go-round, a couple weeks ago.

[remicks]

Originally Posted by STEPHEN L FREEMAN

Ahhhh... Thank you. I'd thought it was a male, too. But my friend who owns it was convinced it was a woman. But, no matter.

The clincher is heard on the commercial 45's "b" side ...

Cause girl, I'm wishin' .... ahhh that you'd let me in
Girl, I'm wishin'.... to be more than a friend

with those then followed by several other "Girl, I'm wishin' " lines ---


*****

[markydefad]

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

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

November 27, 1976

Historic Disco Debut:

"DON'T LEAVE ME THIS WAY"

Heretofore Hitless Houston Has High Hopes for Huge Hit!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Thelma Houston recorded her first LP "Sunshower" in 1969, under the tutelage of A-list composer/arranger/producer Jimmy Webb, then white-hot off a string of mid-late Sixties pop hits. "Sunshower," while critically well-received, yielded no hits, and Houston moved to Motown in the early Seventies where she remained a heralded newcomer without any hits until the release of "Don't Leave Me This Way" in November, 1976.

The only Houston title to even crack the Soul Top 100 was "You've Been Doing Wrong For So Long," which peaked at #64 in late 1974.

But producer Hal Davis, fresh off producing the classic "Love Hangover" for Diana Ross, got the idea for Houston to cover a LP track from a Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes 1975 album that was not released as a single, written by Gamble & Huff with Carry Gilbert.

Davis assembled the same musicians he used for the Ross recording: drummer: James Gadson; bassist: Henry Davis; guitarist: Art Wright, Crusaders' pianist: Joe Sample and backing group: The Waters...and magic was made again!

However, it is interesting that BOTH these dancefloor classics are non-DJ friendly in their opening passages...Ross switches to dance tempo from a sultry, lowgrade sizzle, slow-dancin' tempo several minutes into her tune and Houston's begins with a slow instrumental passage before the beat kicks in....but, while trickier to mix into, DJs played them and the crowds went nuts.

"Don't Leave Me This Way" is the last of four 1976 releases that would eventually be included in the Top 11 of the Disc-o-la Fortune 500:

#3) Try Me, I Know We Can Make It- Donna Summer
#9) Love Hangover - Diana Ross
#10) That's Where The Happy People Go - The Trammps
#11) Don't Leave Me This Way - Thelma Houston

Houston debuts this week on Billboard's Disco Top 40 at #14...by December 25, 1976 she will hit #1 on the Disco chart; by February 17, 1977: #1 on the Soul chart; by April 23, 1977, #1 Pop!!!! A grand chart sweep for the heretofore hitless Houston!

Elsewhere on the chart:

Donna Summer retains the #1 spot for the 3rd week.

"The Four Seasons Of Love" stats:
(161 points/ 14 charts)

#1= Boston/LA-SD/Miami/NYC/Phoenix
#2= Atlanta/Baltimore-DC/Pittsburgh
#4= Chicago
#5= Philadelphia
#7= Houston
#10= Seattle
#11= San Francicsco
#13= Detroit

not charted: Denver/Montreal [Denver gets dumped soon; Montreal will chart "Spring Affair" in January of 1977]

Only 4 records chart with over 100 points this week [next week only 2 records with over 100 points!!!]...the charts are less prone to consensus than they have been. Individual cities have minds of their own, lots of tunes to choose from... Note NYC, usually the consensus maker/leader, is not charting the #3, #4 & #5 records by Rose Royce, the Glitter Band & Stevie Wonder!!!

Two records crack the Top 10 for the first time: Grace Jones moves her Tom Moulton produced debut up to #9 and Crown Heights Affair lands at #10 with their 3 song bundle. That pushes Vicki Sue Robinson and Dr. Buzzard's Savannah Band out of the Top 10 this week.

Wake Up The Bundler!!!!

Six titles remain charted in the Top 40 that no longer have any chart support...

6 titles on NO CHARTS = (Far Out/Swahili Boogie/Fait Le Chat/I Shot the Sheriff/Baby I Love You (Yes I Do)/Where Is The Love)

I don't know if they are just typeset, so automatically get recharted...but some editing is called for!!

Conversely, some titles cry out for "bundling" that go unnoticed for a number of weeks....primarily new titles from The Supremes: "Let Yourself Go" and "Love I Never Knew You Could Feel So Good." Both "bubble under" this week...but "Let Yourself Go" is already charting on 4 charts with 29 points this week. That point total will get as high as 68 points and "Let Youself Go" will still be #41!!! The bundling with the Top 40 title "You're My Driving Wheel" will not occur until January 1977.

Similarly, Thelma Houston's "Anyway You Like It" will garner up to 44 points and not get bundled ...until January, 1977 as well.

Ch-ch-ch CHART... ch-ch-ch CHANGES

December, 1976 will see some chart upheaval...some new cities will appear, several will disappear--one temporarily and one for good...and 3 of the bottom-feeder charts: Seattle, Denver & Montreal will each commit the unpardonable sin of simply repeating their charts for 4 straight weeks!!!!

Mr. Moulton will not be ignored....So some changes get made...
Next week I'll the detail the changes and examine...

The Good, The Bad & The Canadian--in charts!!!

[SandraDee]

Originally Posted by markydefad

The Good, The Bad & The Canadian

[remicks]

*****

Marky,

--- there's a couple of things which caught my eye this disco week of November 27 , 1976 .

Most of the cities are in agreement as to their top tunes coming from those few more obvious top titles . Only one ( besides Chicago's CAR WASH ) breaks away from the pack this week with a more startling new #1 (well, OK and besides Tina Charles in Montreal ) ... and that is San Francisco by citing as their biggest crowd pleaser:

Mass Production's: WELCOME TO OUR WORLD (Of Merry Music)/WINE-FLOW DISCO/I LIKE TO DANCE

Originally Posted by markydefad

November 27, 1976



TOP AUDIENCE RESPONSE RECORDS BY CITY:

Atlanta: (#1= MY SWEET SUMMER SUITE/BRAZILIAN LOVE SONG ) (4th week)
Baltimore/Washington, D.C.: (#1= DOWN TO LOVE TOWN) (4th week)
Boston: (#1= * FOUR SEASONS OF LOVE (LP - all cuts) ) (1st week)
Chicago: (#1= * CAR WASH) (1st week)
Denver: (#1 = PLAY THAT FUNKY MUSIC ) (8th week)
Detroit: (#1 = ANOTHER STAR/I WISH/SIR DUKE/ISN'T SHE LOVELY) (5th week)
Houston: (#1 = * MAKES YOU BLIND) (1st week)
Los Angeles/San Diego: (#1= (R) FOUR SEASONS OF LOVE (LP - all cuts) ) ( Returns for 4th week)

Miami AREA: (#1= FOUR SEASONS OF LOVE (LP - all cuts)) (2nd week)
New York: (#1= FOUR SEASONS OF LOVE (LP - all cuts)) (3rd week)
Philadelphia: (#1 = * DOWN TO LOVE TOWN) (1st week)
Phoenix: (#1 = FOUR SEASONS OF LOVE (LP - all cuts)) (4th week)
Pittsburgh: (#1 = DAZZ) (7th week)

San Francisco: (#1= * WELCOME TO OUR WORLD (Of Merry Music)/WINE-FLOW DISCO/I LIKE TO DANCE) (1st week)

Seattle: (#1 = NICE 'N' NAASTY (12-INCH) ) (4th week)
+ 1 Canadian city:
Montreal: (#1 = * DANCE LITTLE LADY DANCE ) (1st week)


#1 Tally:
5 charts = FOUR SEASONS OF LOVE (Boston/LA-SD/Miami/NYC/Phoenix)
2 charts = DOWN TO LOVE TOWN (Baltimore-DC/Philadelphia)
1 chart = ANOTHER STAR/I WISH/SIR DUKE/ISN'T SHE LOVELY (Detroit)
1 chart = CAR WASH (Chicago)
1 chart = DAZZ (Pittsburgh)
1 chart = MAKES YOU BLIND (Houston)
1 chart = MY SWEET SUMMER SUITE/BRAZILIAN LOVE SONG (Atlanta)
1 chart = NICE 'N' NAASTY (12-inch) (Seattle)
1 chart = PLAY THAT FUNKY MUSIC (Denver)

1 chart = * WELCOME TO OUR WORLD (Of Merry Music)/WINE-FLOW DISCO/I LIKE TO DANCE (San Francisco)

1 chart = * DANCE LITTLE LADY DANCE (Montreal)

It strikes me odd that San Francisco winds up being this weeks seemingly most funky city. So I reviewed the songs that San Francisco charted and there does seem to be some funk commonality behind much of what SF is groovin' to:

1) " FOUR SEASONS OF LOVE" (LP-all cuts) – Donna Summer(Oasis LP)
Side A: 1) Spring Affair (8:30) 2) Summer Fever (8:04)Side B: 1) Autumn Changes (5:29) 2) Winter Melody (6:28.) 3) Spring Affair (Reprise) (3:50)161 points/ 14 charts = Atlanta/Baltimore-DC/Boston/Chicago/___/Detroit/Houston/LA-SanDiego/ Miami/NYC/Philly/Phoenix/Pittsburgh/SF/Seattle/___/ BDA Top 40: 8 weeks on chart/ Last week: #1 (+/-0)/ 3 weeks @ #1DCC chart: 8 weeks on chart

3) CAR WASH - Rose Royce
(MCA LP: 5:06)
101 points/ 10 charts = Atl/BaltDC/Bost/Chi/__/__/Houst/LA/__/__/Philly/Phnx/Pitts/SF/__/__/
BDA Top 40: 9 weeks on chart/ Last week: #8 (+5)
DCC chart: 9 weeks on chart

4) MAKES YOU BLIND - The Glitter Band
(Arista 7" & 12" single /Bell import 7": 3:11)
116 points/ 12 charts =
__/__/__/Chi/Denv/Det/Houst/LA/Miami/__/Philly/Phnx/Pitts/SF/Seattle + Montreal
BDA Top 40: 13 weeks on chart/ Last week: #5 (+1)
DCC chart: 14 weeks on chart

5) ANOTHER STAR/ I WISH/ SIR DUKE/ ISN'T SHE LOVELY - Stevie Wonder
(Tamla LP: 8:19/ 4:12/ 3:52/ 6:33)
"A.Star": 88 points/ 11 charts = Atl/BaltDC/__/Chi/__/Det/__/LA/Miami/__/Philly/Phnx/Pitts/SF/__/__/
"IW": 78 points/ 8 charts = Atl/Chi/Det/Houst/LA/Phnx/Pitts/SF
"SD": 59 points/ 7 charts = BaltDC/Denv/Det/LA/Philly/Phnx/Pitts
"ISL": 79 points/ 9 charts = BaltDC/Denv/Det/Houst/LA/Miami/Phnx/Pitts/SF
BDA Top 40: 6 weeks/ 6 weeks/ 6 weeks/ 5 weeks on chart/ Last week: #6 (+1)
DCC chart: 6 weeks/ 6 weeks/ 6 weeks/ 5 weeks on chart

6) WELCOME TO OUR WORLD (Of Merry Music)/ WINE-FLOW DISCO – Mass Production
(Cotillion LP: 7:32/6:08.)
"WTOW:" 62 points/ 6 charts = Atl/BaltDC/Bost/NYC/Phnx/SF
"WFD": 48 points/ 5 charts = Atl/BaltDC/NYC/Phnx/SF
BDA Top 40: 4 weeks EACH on chart/ Last week: #7 (+1)
DCC chart: 5 weeks/ 4 weeks on chart

9) SORRY/ THAT'S THE TROUBLE - Grace Jones
(Beam Junction 12-inch: 6:42/ 7:02) ["A Tom Moulton Mix"]
56 points EACH/ 9 charts EACH = Atl/BaltDC/Bost/LA/Miami/NYC/Philly/SF + Montreal
BDA Top 40: 3 weeks/ 5 weeks on chart/ Last week: #17 (+8.)
DCC chart: 3 weeks/ 5 weeks on chart

10) DANCIN’/ SEARCHING FOR LOVE/ FAR OUT – Crown Heights Affair
(De-Lite Records LP: 6:13/ 5:51/ 6:14)
"Dancin’ ": 39 points/ 5 charts = Baltimore-DC/Boston/Houston/NYC/SF
"SFL": 25 points/ 3 charts = Baltimore-DC/NYC/SF
"FO": 0 points/ 0 charts = n/a
BDA Top 40: 4 weeks EACH on chart/ Last week: #13 (+3)
DCC chart: 4 weeks EACH on chart

13) YOU'RE MY DRIVING WHEEL - The Supremes
(Motown LP: 4:20)
32 points/ 5 charts = Boston/Miami/NYC/Phoenix/SF
BDA Top 40: 3 weeks on chart/ Last week: #18 (+5)
DCC chart: 3 weeks on chart

18. FREEDOM TO EXPRESS YOURSELF - Denise LaSalle
(ABC LP: 4:00)
22 points/ 2 charts = LA-SD/SF
BDA Top 40: 2 weeks on chart/ Last week: #24 (+6)
DCC chart: 3 weeks on chart

21) DADDY COOL/ * TAKE THE HEAT OFF ME - Boney M
(Atco LP: 4:05/4:47)
"DC": 20 points/ 3 charts = Baltimore-DC/SF + Montreal
"TTHOM": 1 point/ 1 chart = Phoenix
BDA Top 40: 2 weeks/ 1 week on chart/ Last week: #28 (+7)/*DEBUT
DCC chart: 2 weeks/ 1 week on chart

26) * HA CHA CHA (Funktion) - Brass Construction
(United Artists LP: 5:51)
12 points/ 2 charts = Phoenix/SF
BDA Top 40: 1 week on chart/ *DEBUT
DCC chart: 2 weeks on chart / Last week: #78 (+52)

31) * YOU GOTTA LET ME SHOW YOU - Esther Williams
(Friends & Co LP/ promo 12-inch: 5:38.) ["A Tom Moulton Mix"]
8 points/ 1 chart = SF
BDA Top 40: 1 week on chart/ *DEBUT
DCC chart: 3 weeks on chart / Last week: #74 (+43)

38. BOY, I REALLY TIED ONE ON - Esther Phillips
(Kudu LP: 3:46/ 12-inch remix combined with "Magic's In The Air": 7:14)
3 points/ 1 chart = SF
BDA Top 40: 3 weeks on chart/ Last week: #38 (+/-0)
DCC chart: 3 weeks on chart

I could see creating a very successful night's set using Mass Production with Brass Construction, Crown Heights Affair, Stevie Wonder, Denise La Salle, and Rose Royce .... so it makes sense that MP would fair so well when worked in amongst them.


WELCOME TO OUR WORLD

____________________________


And finally ...

--- what an unexpected choice for only New York City and San Francisco to list in common :

78) ENJOY YOURSELF - The Jacksons
(Epic LP: 3:25)
2 points/ 2 charts = NYC/SF
BDA Top 40: n/c
DCC Top 40: 3 weeks/ Last week: #76 (-2)

ENJOY YOURSELF

You sittin' over there
Starin' into space
While people are dancin'
Dancin' all over the place

You shouldn't worry
About the things you can't control
Come on girl while the night is young
Why don't ya mix up the place, let go *




*****

*there doesn't seem to be a consensus on that line

[markydefad]

OK Remmy....I'll bite.

San Francisco Top 15: November 27, 1976

1) WELCOME TO OUR WORLD (Of Merry Music)/ WINE-FLOW DISCO/I LIKE TO DANCE
2) I WISH/ANOTHER STAR/ISN'T SHE LOVELY
3) MAKES YOU BLIND